Unchanging Truths in the ashes of Sodom

1. Chapters 18-19 Unchanging Truths in the ashes of Sodom

2. Overview the Story • God visits Abraham – ch18 • Promises a son (18:1-15) • Warns about Sodom’s doom (18:16-21) • Grants Abe’s request for mercy (18:20-33)

3. Overview the Story • God visits Abraham – ch18 • God visits Lot – ch19 • Tests Sodom (19:1-9) • Rescues Lot (19:10-22) • Destroys Sodom (19:23-25) • Lets Lot’s family disintegrate (19:26-38)

4. Four Unchanging Truths

5. 1. God is Terrifyingly Righteous • Genesis 13:13 • Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.

6. 1. God is Terrifyingly Righteous • Ezekiel 16:49–50 • “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me.”

7. 1. God is Terrifyingly Righteous • But what about the women and children?

8. 1. God is Terrifyingly Righteous • Luke 17:28–30 • “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building…

9. 1. God is Terrifyingly Righteous • Luke 17:28–30 • …but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.”

10. 2. God is Outrageously Merciful • Mercy in granting Abe’s request • Mercy in sending the angels • Mercy in saving Lot • Mercy even in destroying Sodom • Cut off Sodom’s ability to corrupt the world • Showed mankind the destructiveness of sin

11. 3. Homosexual Behavior is Sin • Is homosexuality really a sin? • same-sex attraction… NO • homosexual lust or behavior… YES

12. 3. Homosexual Behavior is Sin • Leviticus 18:22 • You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.

13. 3. Homosexual Behavior is Sin • Romans 1:26–27 • …For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

14. 3. Homosexual Behavior is Sin • But it is NO WORSE than other sins!

15. 3. Homosexual Behavior is Sin • Matthew 11:23–24 • “And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

16. 3. Homosexual Behavior is Sin • Why should we tell people about this truth? • If the result of sin really is pain & death • And if homosexual behavior really is sin • Then to LOVE is to WARN • And to APPROVE is to HATE!

17. 4. Compromise with Sin Destroys • 2 Peter 2:7–9 • …He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds)…

18. 4. Compromise with Sin Destroys • Righteous = rightly related to God through faith • Obedience is expected but not inevitable

19. 4. Compromise with Sin Destroys • Lot’s progression into sin… • moves near to Sodom • moves into Sodom • becomes one with Sodom

20. 4. Compromise with Sin Destroys • If you compromise with sin • it will draw you closer and closer • until it destroys everything you hold dear

21. Notes & Sermon Audio Grace Bible Church @GraceBibleBlake Grace Bible Texas App Next week: Abraham’s Victory – Genesis 22