… if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
Summary: Peter reveals how tolerant God is by reminding us of Sodom and Gomorrah.
God is patient, but there are limits. He does not tolerate sinful behavior in heaven, nor does he tolerate a world that is completely corrupt.
God condemns Sodom and Gomorrah, but there is an interesting parallel to the last example. The story of the flood tells us God saved eight people from destruction. In the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, six people are offered salvation, and three are saved. In both cases, the number saved is very few. But how many is enough?
Genesis 18 records a very interesting conversation between Abraham and the Lord. Abraham is negotiating on behalf of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
“Then Abraham approached him and said: ‘Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?’” (Genesis 18: 23-25)
Having won a concession from the Lord, he continues to press. What if only forty-five can be found? What if only forty? How about thirty? Twenty? Ten?
God agreed he would not destroy the cities for the sake of ten righteous people. It is amazing how tolerant God is! Would he have saved the entire world if he could have found ten righteous people in it? Probably. God is like that. He is very patient.
So when we feel like the whole world is going to hell in a handbasket, remember God’s conversation with Abraham. God puts up with a lot of unrighteousness for the sake of a few righteous who need his care.
Why is Peter telling us all of this? Does he want us to focus on the destruction of the unrighteous? Or is he pointing out that God is patient and loving and wants to provide for the righteous? Perhaps wisdom is knowing that God is doing both and understanding that balancing the two is a delicate process.
Application: Keep in mind God has to balance judgment and blessings.
Food for Thought: What do Sodom and Gomorrah represent in today’s world?
What do Sodom and Gomorrah represent in today’s world?
A society so corrupt it is beyond saving. What is society? a collective of people, so by extension Sodom and Gomorrah represents a collection of people who where all individually so corrupt that they were beyond saving. When I say beyond saving though I mean beyond repentance.
This reminds of what Paul wrote in Romans 1:21-28
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
Also, in Ezekiel 16:49 we find this: Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
Arrogant, self-centered, and immoral; caring only for themselves to such an extend that they did not care at all about God or others. Something we still find in pockets of society’s spread out all over the world. Directly countering what Jesus taught.
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Chris,
I appreciate your analysis: “When I say beyond saving though I mean beyond repentance.”
“Beyond repentance” is a matter of the heart, and that is something only God can know. But, it is something God can know. You have highlighted the justice of God’s judgment.
10-28-2021, 2 Peter 2:6, What do Sodom and Gomorrah represent in today’s world?
I believe you show wisdom in your last sentence. “ Perhaps wisdom is knowing that God is doing both “, and understanding that balancing the two is a delicate process.
We know God is Immutable, Unchangeable. He is all His attributes all the time.
Thanks Ron!
God bless you, brother! Thank you for checking in this morning. I will be keeping you in prayer today for the surgery.
God is faithful in all things.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:7
Doesn’t today’s verse answer the question? They are an example of what will happen to the ungodly, therefore Sodom and Gomorrah represent the ungodly. Perhaps one city or state or province is not the epitomy of that like it was before, but like Chris said, there are pockets everywhere. Perhaps more accurate are that there are pockets of righteous everywhere, in an ungodly world.
I find it scary how the story of looking for the righteous in Sodom (Genesis 19) and the story of the sons of Benjamin in Judges 19 are so similar. And they were much closer to that event!
I think often that we get this idea that our culture is building up to the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah before we’re destroyed , or the idea that maybe it’s taken thousands of years to become comparable in societal sins. But those are wrong assumptions.
God tells us that he’s waiting for those entering the new covenant before judgement comes. Romans 11:25-32 Therefore, their (the ungodly) judgement may already be deserved, may already be as bad as Sodom or Gomorrah, but He waits to execute judgement for those who will accept righteousness through Jesus. (Mind-blowing side track: not for the righteous, but those accepting the gift of righteousness)
Perhaps this is an oversimplification of this text. But it seems that besides the natural consequences built into the order of the world, the ungodly are not getting a lot of fire and brimstone. But I suppose that is also Peter’s point. We don’t see the ungodly getting what they deserve, but that doesn’t mean it’s not coming. In fact Peter says that it is going to happen.
God’s justice, God’s time, AFTER God’s mercy. And the time for mercy has not ended.
A,
Thank you for sharing this morning. You make an important point: unrighteousness has always been a human problem.
What do Sodom and Gomorrah represent? I think what they represent is rebellion against God. Israel was referenced figuratively as Sodom and Gomorrah in such places as Isaiah 1: 10; Ezekiel 16; Revelation 11: 8. They were called this due to their sin and their rebellion for forsaking the Lord. God is patient and merciful. But that mercy and patience does have a limit (Exodus 34; 6 – 7). We are testing His limits today. Well over 60 million abortions in this country since 1973 alone is pushing His patience (Exodus 16: 20 – 21). Are we in rebellion against God and forsaking His love and mercy?
Hi Rich,
This discussion has helped me to see the sin of mankind from a more historical perspective. To answer your question, we are in rebellion against God as a society. That is to say that there is a portion of society rebelling (rejecting God), another portion seeking God, and the rest falling somewhere in the middle. The ratios change year to year, but the battle is and always has raged on.
This is not a call to be complacent because it has always been a problem. Rather, I think it is a call to seek God more aggressively. As you point out, there are limits to God’s patience!
The vast majority of the world is in open flagrant rebellion against God, and are unrepentant.
There are some however, no one but God knows how few or many who would be willing to repent and be saved by the grace of God and the message of the gospel. It is because of them, and the reason that God is not willing that any should perish II Peter 3:9, that he is patient, awaiting the time they will receive the salvation which was and is made possible by the sacrifice of His Son.
The window of opportunity is closing rapidly however, and the day is coming when the window will be shut. Woe to those who delay and continue in their sin and unrighteousness.
God knows perfectly well just how horrific life without God is. To be permanently removed from His presence and be cast into outer darkness with never again a chance for hope, salvation, redemption and to be facing an eternity of suffering and pain beyond comprehension is a thought which should leave each of us shaking and in absolute fear and dread unless we of a certainty are secure in the knowledge and faith of He in which which we have put our faith and hope.
Truly, it is a fearsome, awesome thing to fall into the hands of an almighty God who is and will be our ultimate judge.
If the unrepentant had the slightest measure of what awaits them should they enter eternity without Christ, they would immediately repent, receive Christ and throw themselves at His feet begging for mercy and forgiveness.
But their minds are blinded by the God of this World, the enemy of our souls. There is not one iota of hope or comfort for those who reject Christ’s salvation. The words of Jesus are the strongest and most emphatic on this point of all the speakers in scripture.
The advice of the Father at Jesus baptism is wise and appropriate, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, listen to Him.”
We should listen indeed, and obey!
Those who are not in Christ at the end, face a dreadful future, and have missed the one choice which can never be remedied again.
This is worst that the worst Halloween horror story and I do not watch these kinds of things.
I still say Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus come. But God always knows best, He is patient, not willing that any should perish.
Unfortunately, many will.
Be sure to share and if necessary warn those who trifle with God’s gracious offer. It is not open forever. One day will be the last one.
Jeffrey,
Great to hear from you again! Thank you!
Your concluding remark is profound: “One day will be the last one.” That is so true, and there will not be any warning. It will simply be The Last Day.