Lot - Who, How, And Why

Temple Baptist Church - 4-25-2018

2 Peter 2:6-8

Introduction: 

A.  In our text for tonight, we find the ultimate deliverance of God’s people in the midst of false teachings, falling away, and ungodliness in this present, evil world.

B.  The grace of God is both evident and marvelous in light of history.

1.  God delivered Adam and Eve from presumptuous sin in the Garden of Eden by shedding the blood of an animal to make atonement for their sinfulness.  Then, God gave Genesis 3:15, the promised Seed of the Woman, for eternal remission of the sins of those who believe upon Christ.

2.  God delivered Noah and his family from the destruction of the flood through obedience to God’s commandment to build an Ark.  Noah’s family was kept safe through the promise of God and was given the promise that God would never destroy the Earth by water again.

3.  God delivered Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked because of his imputed righteousness through faith.

C.  I have always marveled at this passage because of the compromise and sinfulness found in Lot.

1.  The Book of 2 Peter deals with the problems associated with the end-times and the second coming of Christ.  The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are a type of the impending doom of those who have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

2.  Lot is a type of the end-time church with its association and consequent defilement just prior to the Rapture.  These Old Testament examples are written for our admonition and need to be scrutinized in light of the times in which we live. 

2.  The last mention of Lot finds him living in a cave, getting drunk, committing incest with his two daughters, with no mention of him ever getting right with the Lord.  Lost his salvation?  There is not place in Scripture where a saved man was ever lost again. 

D.  Let’s look at the marvelous grace of God manifested in an Old Testament saint.

1.  Who Was Lot?

a.  Lot was a man of great heritage - Genesis 12:4   So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

b.  Lot was a man of great wealth - Genesis 13:5   And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.

c.  Lot was a man of great rebellion - Genesis 13:8, 10-11  Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.  And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.  Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. 

d.  Lot was a man of great compromise - Genesis 13:12-13  Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.  But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

e.  Lot was a man of great salvation - 2 Peter 2:7-9   And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:   (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with [their] unlawful deeds;)  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

1)  He was declared Just in verse 7 - a judicial term meaning “just as if he had never sinned”

2)  He was declared Righteous in verse 8 – imputation of Christ’s righteousness

3)  He was declared Godly in verse 9 – meaning pious or devout(like it or not, Lot was eternally saved!)

2.  How Was Lot Defiled?

a.  He dwelt – 2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2 Corinthians 7:1   Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Psalms 1:1   Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

b.  He saw – Psalms 101:3  I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

                        1 Thessalonians 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil.

c.  He listened – Colossians 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

d.  He vexed (to oppress) - 2 Peter 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

            e.  He continued – “day to day”

3.  Why Was Lot Delivered?

            a.  Because of God’s eternal promise.

John 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

1 Thessalonians 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

            b.  Because of God’s eternal love.

Ephesians 2:4   But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Jeremiah 31:3  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.