Abraham's Intercession

What is Abraham asking?

Before we can adequately understand this line of questing we need to reconcile with the reality of Corporate Justice. Especially inherited or transferred guilt.

Individual responsibility vs. Inherited Guilt

Individual Responsibility

2 Corinthians 5:10

Hebrews 9:27

Job 19:4

Proverbs 9:12

Ananias and Sapphira

Proverbs 9:12 ESV

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

Job 19:4 ESV

And even if it be true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Corporate/Inherited Guilt

Joshua 7:11

The sin of Kings resulting in the destruction of the people.

Adam, Genesis 3. Romans 5:12

Romans 5:12 ESV

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Joshua 7:11 ESV

Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.

It is hard to see the justice in this as you and I live in such an individualistic society. Most societies have operated on some combination of the personal responsibility and corporate responsibility. But this is not Abraham’s problem.

God calls Abraham to the small council chamber to discuss what should be done with the city. Abraham find himself in a place of intercession.

Abraham’s Inquiry

“Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” v23

“Will you spare the city for the sake of fifty righteous?” v24

“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do justly?” v25

What is it that Abraham is asking?

Abraham knows that is contrary to God’s justice to sweep away the righteous with the wicked.

Abraham knows that guilt is transferable. But what he is really asking is this. “Can it work in reverse? Can the righteousness of a few propitiate the wrath of God to the deliverance of the many?”

God’s Responce vs 25-32

What is God’s answer? Will the righteousness of the few work to deliverance of the many?

YES!

That is a radical understanding. That God would for the sake of 50 righteous people spare the city.

So let’s figure our the ratio

50/city

45/city

30/city

20/city

10/city

It seems that the conversation ended one step shy of resolution. Where does it seem like the conversation should have gone? “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose there is only 1 found there.”

The conversation ends.

The city is destroyed.

There were none righteous. No not one. Not even Lot. Even though he was spoken of as righteous for his inner turmoil over the wicked city in 2 Peter 2:7 , yet he was only relatively righteous. And at that the righteousness he did have was a foreign righteousness.

So, you may say you don’t like to think about justice being administered in the context of a group, so brothers and sisters that may not be the application of justice that you like at first glance, but it is absolutely the type of justice that you need. And if you are a christian today, then it is that type of justice that got you saved. Not only did you inherit the guilt of your father Adam, but you have inherited the righteousness of Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:22

1 Corinthians 15:22 ESV

For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

Romans 5:18-19

Romans 5:18–19 ESV

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

John 8:56

John 8:56 ESV

Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”