Lot - God’s Justice & Mercy

Sometimes when you’re watching a movie or a show, there’s a character that’s just a real jerk. They keep doing the wrong thing and being awful. Maybe sometimes they seem to get it and be sorry, but it doesn’t last long. But they keep getting chance after chance. And you’re just like, “no more chances! they need to lose!” It aggravates you, right! You want justice to be served!

But now what if I tell you that’s us. That’ll change your tune a little bit right? Now we want mercy!

In the account of Sodom and Gomorrah, we see that God is both just and merciful. That He will judge sin, but after offering mercy.

This is important because we are all sinners and sin brings death! We need mercy then! We need it offered and we need to receive it!

We will start at the end of Genesis 18…

Who remembers which direction Abraham’s nephew Lot went when they separated in Gen 12?

I need to give you a warning. When I was younger, one of the things that was a part of the movies was at the very beginning this green screen with a bunch of type would come up and explain the rating of the movie. I honestly am not sure if they still do that or not, but I need to start this sermon off with a warning.

God is just and merciful towards stubborn and sinful humans.

pray

explain the beginning of the chapter, then read 18:22

The Trinity - We have one God who exists in three persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Our God is one in nature and essence, but three distinct and separate persons, all fully and wholly God.

23-26

God is just

He punishes evil. He does not punish good. That’s what justice is…

Abraham prays on behalf of Sodom, or maybe just his nephew Lot…

This is a great example of what is called intercessory prayer, that’s just a fancy way of saying praying for other people.

1 Timothy 2:1 ESV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

He asks God according to God’s character! This is how we get yesses for our prayers!

Abraham keeps asking God for a little more… until he gets down to ten. God tells him if there are ten righteous people in Sodom, He will not destroy the city.

God is merciful

For the ten righteous, if they’re there, He will spare the city.

Mercy is withholding punishment that is deserved.

When I was a freshman or sophomore in HS I went rolling one night. It was me, a couple of my friends, and my friend’s older sister drove, and her boyfriend went with us. We went to roll one of the people in her grade that she didn’t really like. Well we were in Germantown and y’all know how Germantown is, all that money, there were police patrolling this neighborhood. They shine their lights and we take off running. The boyfriend and me make it over the neighbor’s fence into the back yard. the bf takes off, no idea where. But he was over 18 and looking back on it I get the feeling that he couldn’t get “another” offense! So I’m just sitting there by myself on the other side of this fence while the police are calling my friends parents and they’re cleaning up the very nice job we did rolling them. Eventually I realize that I’m only delaying the inevitable, so I hop back over the fence and I go to what may be my doom. The police call my mom, I help clean up. The next day (this is happening after midnight some time) when I see my mom I’m bracing for it to be bad. I don’t remember all that was said, but I believe the gist of it was “did you learn a lesson? good. did you have a little fun?” And that was it! That’s mercy!

God is wonderfully merciful. That is, in fact, the only reason we are living! …

Psalm 25:6–7 ESV

Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!

Praise God for his mercy, otherwise the penalty for our sins would be required of us.

In chapter 19 we go to Sodom.

19:1-16

We are stubborn about sin

Lot lingers in the city of sin. We don’t know why, could be several different things…

But God is being merciful to Lot and his family and saving him from the destruction of this sinful place through these angels. But he lingers. When he should flee the sin. Man, don’t we do this at times?

I have this memory from when I was little. I don’t know why I’ve held on to it, but I have. My dad used to pick me up from pre-school. And every day he’d get me and take me home. And we would walk into the house on 2300 McVay Cove in Germantown, TN and he would open up the refrigerator and he’d get himself something and he’d get me a juice box. And I would stand right next to the refrigerator when he would open it up and I would look through the crack in the door. And then I would stick my finger in it. And then he would close the door. With my finger still in the crack. And I would scream. He’d open it up and I’d pull it out and cry. Then I’d drink my juice box. And the next day I would do the whole thing over again! Like several times! Why would I do that over and over again?! I don’t know! But that’s what it’s like lingering around sin, going back to it over and over again.

The Bible says it’s like a dog going back to its vomit to eat it. Have you ever seen a dog do that? Gross!

We should flee from sin in our lives! Whatever it is! No matter if you think it is big sin or little sin, flee from it!

Matthew 5:29 ESV

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.

Christian leave your sin behind! You have been saved and you have the Holy Spirit. You are no longer a slave to your sinful desires!

But how do you do that? …

Romans 6:13 ESV

Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

God will judge sin

17-25

In the last few verses here we are reminded of all the points we’ve seen so far…

26-29

This is a foreshadowing of the final judgement against sin that will come when Jesus returns one day. He will finally, ultimately, and eternally do away with sin and all those who remain in their guilt.

Revelation 20:10 ESV

and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Revelation 20:14–15 ESV

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

But for all who have put their faith in Jesus, their sin was judged in Him on the cross…