Delivering The Backslider

Temple Baptist Church - 5-2-2018

2 Peter 2:9

Introduction: 

A.  Tonight, I want to look at an interesting verse.  First, let us put it in its context.

1.  False teachers have always had an adverse influence upon God’s children.

a)  Satan deceived Eve and Adam followed her lead in eating the forbidden fruit.  God delivered Adam and Eve through the shedding of blood.

b)  From Adam to Noah’s day, Satan continued his work until God destroyed the world by a flood but delivered Noah’s family.

B.  In Genesis 19, God purposes to destroy the cities of the plain because of their wickedness.  Abraham pleaded with the Lord to spare the cities for the “righteous” sake but ended his bargaining too quickly with the number 10.  He thought that there were 10 righteous because of the number in Lot’s family.

(Lot, his wife, and two virgin daughters are mentioned in Genesis 19:8.  This makes 4.  In Genesis 19:12, there is the mention of “sons” plural so we know that there were at least two sons living in Sodom.  That brings the total to 4+2 which is 6.  In Genesis 19:14, it mentions “sons in law” that married his “daughters” so we know that there at least 4 more there.  4+2+4 = 10.  Abraham was wrong because he though that they all would be righteous.  They were not!)

C.  The angels were sent to Sodom because God could not destroy the righteous with the wicked.

Genesis 19:16  And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Genesis 19:22  Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

D.  The angels had to forcibly remove Lot, his wife, and two daughters from Sodom.

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

E.  Our text speaks of delivering the “godly” from temptations.  God’s children face temptations every day.  We, that are saved, are in a constant war with our flesh but most us still can overcome the flesh and live godly lives. 

1.  Thank God for His longsuffering and grace.

2.  Thank God for His mercy and forgiveness.

3.  Thank the God for His great love that causes Him to be better to us than we deserve.

F.  But, there are some believers who are entangled in sin, never get victory, and eventually just give in to it.  At that point, God must deliver them.

1.  God may take you home when you harden your neck against His wooing. 

Proverbs 29:1  He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

2.  God may take you home when you rebel against legitimate church discipline. 

1 Corinthians 5:5  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

3.  God may take you home when you partake of the Lord’s Supper unworthily. 

1 Corinthians 11:30-32  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.  (31)  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  (32)  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

4.  God may take you home when you have committed a sin unto death. 

1 John 5:16  If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (These are sins that the Bible places a death sentence upon.)

G.  Why God had to deliver Lot:

1.  Lot was Willful.  “For that righteous man”  He was just, righteous, and godly.  He was saved and knew better.

Genesis 13:12  Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

2.  Lot was Warned.  “dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing”

Genesis 13:13  But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.  (This was no surprise to Lot!  He knew in advance what awaited him in Sodom.)

3.  Lot was Worn.  “vexed his righteous soul”  Vexed means to “wear down” 

Genesis 19:7  And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.  (Can’t you hear Lot pleading with the sodomites?)

4.  Lot was Worsening.  “from day to day with their unlawful deeds”  Things were not going to get better or change. 

Genesis 19:16  And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

Conclusion:  Lot left God no choice. 

2 Peter 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: