6/16/22

Our scripture this morning is 2 Peter‬ ‭2:1-9‬.

But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed. For God did not spare even the angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, in gloomy pits of darkness, where they are being held until the day of judgment. And God did not spare the ancient world—except for Noah and the seven others in his family. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. So God protected Noah when he destroyed the world of ungodly people with a vast flood. Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people. But God also rescued Lot out of Sodom because he was a righteous man who was sick of the shameful immorality of the wicked people around him. Yes, Lot was a righteous man who was tormented in his soul by the wickedness he saw and heard day after day. So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.

Peter warns that there will always be those who reject God’s sovereign rule and follow their own ways. These are dangerous people who can lead believers astray. He cautions us “For God did not spare even the angels who sinned” (v. 4), teaching that there are consequences for disobedience.

However, God is loving and merciful toward all His creation. While there are stories of punishment for sin, there are also stories of people saved by their faith. Noah and Lot are mentioned in this passage; later we will hear of God saving His people from slavery and leading them to the Promised Land. Through all of these scriptures we find God offering us another chance.

God sent Jesus as our ultimate chance at forgiveness and eternal life with Him. Christ told us “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). When we follow Him and make His teaching part of our lives, God uses us as agents of His plan, resisting evil and sharing His love with all the world.

Loving Lord, we are grateful for Your grace and mercy shown through Christ’s sacrifice for us. Make us the disciples of today, going in Your name to share the Gospel with everyone. Amen.

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