Justice Will Be Served

PASTORAL PRAYER

O Lord, Why do the wicked ones boast in their ways? Why do they mock your truth? We live among people of unclean lips and evil motives. Help us to be like Noah and live righteously in a world dominated by evil; As Lot was tormented by the perverted conduct of the people in Sodom, So we are tormented by the perverted actions of many people of influence. Lord, please protect parents and grandparents from the wicked influences of society, Protect them from their pride and self-righteousness, Protect them from the power of sin and the flesh, Make them walk in the paths of righteousness and be examples of holiness. Lord, please protect our children from the wicked influences of society; Protect them from celebrities, athletes, musicians and other so called heroes, People whose minds are not set on the things above, People whose hearts are consumed in selfish ambition and are far from You. Lord, protect our church from the wicked influences of society; Protect us from the traps laid out for us in the world, Traps that lead to compromising the authority of Your Word and being at enmity with You, Strengthen us to boldly and unashamedly stand on and proclaim the truth of Your Word. Let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, our rock and our redeemer. To You be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

When I was in high school, Dan Brown was a very popular read among many of my peers. The friend I hung out with the most spoke very highly of Brown’s Angels & Demons and the more popular The Da Vinci Code. Not being a reader myself, I chose not to indulge.

After several years of Bible college, and hearing The Da Vinci Code come up again and again in dialogue, I learned quickly the truth about these books by this author: false teaching.

In The Da Vinci Code concerning the Council of Nicaea in 325: until that moment in history, Jesus was viewed by His followers as a mortal prophet…Jesus’ establishment as ‘the Son of God’ was officially proposed and voted on by the Council of Nicaea.

FACT: the Council of Nicaea did not decide that Jesus was the Son of God...it merely affirmed what had been taught in the Scriptures and what martyrs had died believing for nearly 300 years. There was no new doctrine decided on at the Council.

Now, Dan Brown himself is not a professing believer.

He grew up an Episcopalian

He abandoned the faith when his bishop was unable to reconcile scientific claims with the Bible.

His books are deeply engaged with Christian themes and “historical fact”.

Many people (including immature believers) have been led astray by what Dan Brown presents in the book.

A couple weeks ago, we saw how Peter was used of God to give forewarning of the wolves in sheep’s clothing

They will rise from within the ranks of the church

They will subtly introduce their heresies

Those who follow their teaching, away from the Word of God, will be damned for eternity

Last Sunday, we looked at how false narratives have arisen concerning the Resurrection, which people follow, away from the Word of God, into a Christless eternity. On Monday, the world lost a major world leader who may be the biggest, most glaring, wolf in sheep’s clothing: the Pope.

This office leads an institution that damns millions of people.

They have added books to the Bible, to buttress their a-biblical teachings

They teach infused righteousness at the time of baptism and the need to keep it by way of good works, sacraments, and indulgences.

They teach that at the Mass, Jesus is being re-sacrificed for your sins and that the elements are the real body and blood of Jesus Christ (transubstantiation).

They teach that Mary was born sinless and is co-redemptrix, co-mediator, and co-advocate alongside Jesus before the Father

They take from the glorious work accomplished by Jesus Christ alone and give equal credit to His mother, Mary.

They take honor reserved for Jesus Christ alone and give it to the Pope as the “vicar of Christ,” the man sitting in the seat of Christ as the head of the church.

Both Peter and Paul (2 Timothy 4) warn of false teachers rising up in the church to lead away the weak or unbelieving.

Yet, we are not left without the hope of retribution

These false teachers leading people to their damnation will also receive their just punishment.

Justice Will Be Served.

It is important to remember a few things about God before we dig into this text in 2 Peter.

First, He is a God of truth.

Isaiah 65:16 Because he who is blessed in the earth will be blessed by the God of truth

John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Hebrews 6:18 it is impossible for God to lie.

Romans 3:4 Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, that you may be justified in your words, and prevail [in your judging]

John 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life…

God cares about truth.

He is a God of truth.

He always speaks truth.

He has revealed His truth in His Word.

He expects it to be proclaimed exactly and entirely as He revealed it.

He expects men to speak truthfully.

Facebook meme: Preach the truth whether it fills up a room or clears it out.

Since God cares so much about the truth, He will judge the untruthful teacher

Isaiah 9:15 (God will destroy the false prophet) So the Lord cuts off head and tail from Israel...the head is the elder and honorable man, and the prophet who teaches falsehood is the tail.

Read Jeremiah 23:25-34 (God will destroy the false teachers)

The truth is a big deal to God...and those who misrepresent it will receive His wrath.

Let’s continue on to our passage for this week... Read 2 Peter 2:1-10

Peter was intent on demonstrating that God will judge false teachers and others who sin against Him and His Word. As demonstrated in this passage, history gives ample verification of this truth.

God didn’t spare angels (v. 4)

If God judged angels...creatures more more majestic and elevated than man...

Why would man think that he will escape God’s judgment?

Why do people think that God is just going to grant a “free pass”...a “get out of judgment free card” to everyone?

There is no creature that is too exalted so as to not fall under God’s judgment for breaking the rules.

How did these angels break the rules? What did they do to receive this punishment? It is not made clear for us in this passage, but a little deduction can go a long way.

The other two examples used in verses 5 and 6 are taken from the book of Genesis (chapters 7 & 19)

In Genesis 6, there is a reference to the sons of God… a phrase used in the Old Testament to refer to angels (Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7; Psalm 29:1, 89:7)

Jude 6-7 indicate that there were angels who did not keep their own domain, but went after strange flesh, seemingly what takes place in Genesis 6

Without knowing for sure, we must hold loosely the understanding that these angels are the ones that are referred to in Genesis 6:1-4.

These angels have left their proper place and have done what is improper.

They have crossed the line and God dealt with them.

Read Genesis 6:1–4

These angels left their domain and sought after strange flesh...and God judged them.

He cast them into hell (lit: tartarus), until the time of their final destination in the Lake of Fire.

They are committed to chains of gloomy darkness. These angels are not waiting for their judgment to be handed down.

The trial has already come and gone

They are waiting for their final sentencing.

God didn’t spare the ancient world (v. 5)

The immediate context following these angels who did not keep their proper abode and went after strange flesh, presents this next example of God’s judgment on unrighteousness…

Read Genesis 6:5–8

The judgment of the Flood made quite an impression on Peter, as he refers to it three times in his two epistles (1 Peter 3; 2 Peter 2 & 3).

The fact is here that there is no number too great for God to judge.

The heavenly court system is not based on majority rules.

It is not about who can “grease the palm” of the judge more to get the ruling in their favor.

The world may be full of false teacher. They may seemingly have all the money and power on their side. But judgment day is coming with an impartial judge who loves righteousness.

Noah, was a herald (preacher) of righteousness.

He did not just let the ungodly world go on living their wretched lives without a witness to the truth.

It took him about 55-75 years to build the ark which provided salvation from the judgment of the Flood.

Seemingly, he warned people about the judgment to come and the need for them to repent.

Undoubtedly, it was a long ministry of loneliness and ridicule.

Folks, our society gets darker by the day.

Bible reading and prayer have long been banned in schools

LGBTQ+ is required instruction in many institutions

People love darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil.

Yet, it is our calling to go..make disciples of all the nations (Matt. 28:19). As the Apostles in Acts 5:42, we need to keep right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

God didn’t spare angels, indicating position does not matter.

He didn’t spare the ancient world, indicating the number does not matter.

God didn’t spare cities (v. 6)

God didn’t spare cities, indicating the example that judgment serves for others.

And that is the purpose of what has been recorded in His Word. The Word of God records the good, the bad, and the ugly...and it’s all for our benefit.

Romans 15:4

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

1 Corinthians 10:6

Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.

1 Corinthians 10:11

Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

The judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly.

God issues His warning for people about what will happen when they disobey His Word. And it’s like people do not take Him seriously:

Garden of Eden: God warned Adam that he would die if he disobeyed. “Hello original sin.”

Ancient World: God warned about a devastating flood. “Hello fossil record.”

Babel: God told the people to fill the earth. “Hola, idiomas.”

The fact is, God warns us what will happen when we disobey. And do we listen?

No!

It’s like we say, “well, maybe this time He will overlook it,” or, “maybe this time He won’t see me.”

God wants people to follow the rules.

He has given His Word for our righteousness sake.

He has carried out judgment, to assure us of His seriousness.

False teachers know good and well what the Word of God says about their practice, and they do it anyway.

They may seem to be getting away with it now, but they are going to hit a brick wall and the trap door is going to open under them when their time of judgment comes.

CONCLUSION

Hebrews 9:27 It is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.

We must all stand before God in judgment and give an account of our lives. These false teachers who seem to be thriving and being blessed by God will receive their just reward on Judgment Day.

There is no position too high

No number too great

No sin too trivial to be judged by God.

He will see it through. That is a promise we can take to the bank. Justice Will Be Served.

But the good news is that we do not need to bear the punishment for our sins.

God sent His Son, Jesus, to bear the penalty on our behalf.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Romans 5:8 God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 10:9–10 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Repent, and believe that Jesus is Lord! Place your trust in Him alone for your salvation. Receive the free gift of eternal life, today!