And Many Shall Follow Their Pernicious Ways - Part 4

Temple Baptist Church - 4-18-2018

2 Peter 2:6-9

Introduction: 

A.  We have now looked at the first step to a reprobate mind, Romans 1:21-22: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”  False teachers began with the angels in heaven.  (verse 4)

B.  We looked at the second step to a reprobate mind last week, Romans 1:25:  “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.”  We tied this verse with Noah’s Day, as the sons of God rejected the old paths of their fathers and began to dishonor their bodies through adultery and fornication with the daughters of men.

C.  Tonight, I want to look at the third step to a reprobate mind, Romans 1:28: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.”  Though sodomy is not the result of a reprobate mine, it certain leads to one if not repented of.

D.  Sodomy in the five cities of the plains was a result of all three steps.

1.  Adam’s Day was a pure day until the false teaching of the serpent beguiled Eve.  I find not other problems with sinfulness.

2.  Noah’s Day was characterized by the imaginations of evil minds.  Luke 17:26-27  And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.  (27)  They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

3.  Lot’s Day was an extension of Adam and Noah’s Day.  Luke 17:28-30  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  (29)  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  (30)  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

E.  Notice both the similarities and progression of sin.  Adam’s Day was characterized by hard work and faithfulness, Noah’s Day was characterized by sexual perversion.  Lot’s Day was characterized by idleness, fulness of bread, haughtiness, and abomination.

Ezekiel 16:49-50  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  (50)  And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

F.  Sodom and Gomorrah were noted mainly for the sin of sodomy.  We are faced with the same sinfulness in our society so I will make a few biblical statements and then move on.

1.  Sodomy is a sin, not an alternate lifestyle – 1 Corinthians 6:9-10  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 

2.  Sodomy is a learned behavior, not an inherent one - Romans 1:26-27  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

3.  Sodomy is widespread both young and old - Genesis 19:4   But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

4.  Sodomy is still an abomination in the sight of God - Leviticus 20:13  If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

Genesis 13:13  But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Genesis 18:20  And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

5.  Sodomy still brings about the judgment of God - Luke 17:28-30  Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

a)  God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their sin - Genesis 19:5  And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

b)  God allowed the tribe of Benjamin to be destroyed because of sodomy - Judges 19:22   Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

1.  Sodom’s Sin.

a.  Idleness and Prosperity - Ezekiel 16:49  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

b.  Unbridled Lust - Jude 7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

c. Rejection of God - Romans 1:26-27  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

2.  Sodom’s Curse.

a.  They Defile The Land - 1 Kings 14:24  And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

1)  They were driven out of the land - 1 Kings 15:12  And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.  (today they are exalting their lifestyle in America)

1 Kings 22:46  And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.

2)  They destroyed their houses - 2 Kings 23:7  And he brake down the houses of the sodomites, that were by the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the grove.  (today they are allowing them to live together in peace)

3)  They were spiritually rejected - Deuteronomy 23:17  There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.  (today they are ordaining them)

b.  They Destroy The People- Leviticus 20:13  If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.  (Aids)

c.  They Will Go To Hell - 1 Corinthians 6:9   Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

1 Timothy 1:9-10  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

3.  Sodom’s Cure.

1 Corinthians 6:11  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.  (Salvation cures the sin of sodomy.  The sodomite is no longer a sodomite.)

4.  Sodom’s Caution.

Jude 7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.  (God does and will always condemn and judge such sinfulness which will result in a reprobate mind.)