False Teaching (con't)

Introduction

2 Peter 2:4–10 ESV

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,

QUESTION: Has there ever been a time in your life that something happened to you that you did not think was fair?

Peter is addressing a group of people who are doing the right thing - but they are suffering for it. Meanwhile, others are teaching and doing the wrong things - and they seem to be coming out better.

This must be confusing.

Jim Shaddix summarizes what Peter is teaching well: Because God is just, believers are assured of his help for trials and his punishment of the enemies.

If God was just in the past, we can trust that He will be just today and in the future.

Explanation

1. Peter gives three examples of God’s justice

Fallen angels

We do not know much about these fallen angels. Many commentators believe that Peter is talking about Genesis 6. I don’t believe this this is the case, because I don’t believe that is what happened in Genesis 6.

Jude 6 does provide a little context.

Jude 6 “And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—”

Not even angels are spared of God’s judgement in their rebellion.

The ancient world during Noah’s time

In the last example, there was only a bad example - fallen angels. In this text, we have a good example… Noah.

The rest of the ancient world lived sinfully and scoffed as Noah made the ark. God flooded the earth and destroyed them.

However, God did three things to Noah. (1) He protected him. (2) He made him a “preacher of righteousness.” (3) He saved others through Noah’s actions.

We often frame God’s justice in negative terms, but God’s justice also has positive connotations. Not only does God punish the wicked, but He rewards the righteous.

Sodom and Gomorrah

Even near the time that Christ was born, historians give an account of a land in modern-day Syria that was the consequence of unprecedented destruction.

Lot was not called righteous here, but he was comparatively better than the other men in the town. He had a relationship with God that at least slightly governed his life.

In this instance, Peter highlights the effect that the unrighteous culture and on Lot. His moral compass was knocked about by the city.

B. How does this comfort us.

a. The Lord knows how to rescue the Godly from trials

b. The Lord knows how to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgement.

c. God has a special punishment for those who indulge in lust and despise authority.

Invitation

Repent

Be comforted

Be confident in God’s plan