The Justice Of God In Condedmning Sinners Series

Today, we find another FIRST in Genesis. Here in Genesis 19 we find the first mention of the sin of homosexuality. Genesis 19 stands as an important lesson concerning God’s Justice: He will punish sinners for their sins.

Sodom Represents the Justice of God in Punishing the Wicked

The sin of Sodom is the Culmination of Human Depravity. We see this in the following ways. First, we see the Extent of the sin. Apparently, Lot know how bad the men of Sodom actually were. This is true because in Genesis 19:2-3 Lot begs the angelic visitors not to sleep in the town square. “please do not spend the night in the city gate....” The corruption of Sodom is also seen in the extent of the sin permeating to every male citizen of the city. 19:4. “All the men , from every part of the city, both young and old.

The Type of sin. 19:5 “Bring the men out so that we can have sex with them” God’s justice is demonstrated in that He puts an end to a culture that has become totally corrupt through homosexuality. Not only were the inhabitants wicked in this sin, they also were most likely desiring to Rape and murder the visiting angels. Their behavior also demonstrates complete disregard for the cultural standards of protecting and honoring travelers who needed lodging and safety while on the difficult and dangerous roads.

The New Testament points to Sodom as an Example of Wickedness. An interesting comparison is found in two New Testament texts that provide an apologetic for the judgment of God. In Jude and 2 Peter we find 2 texts demonstrating the Justice of God in condemning sin. Both texts give three examples of the kind of wickedness that God judges. In 2 Peter 2:4-8, Peter gives THREE EXAMPLES

The angels who sinned

The Flood

Sodom and Gomorrah

In Jude 5, Jude gives THREE EXAMPLES

Destruction of Egypt

Angels who sinned

Sodom and Gomorrah

Note the inclusion of Sodom and Gomorrah in both lists!

Jesus mentions Sodom twice as an example of judgment. “I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” (Luke 10:12, NIV84) “But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:29, NIV84)

The following prophets all use SODOM as illustration of God’s judgment

1. Moses. Deut 29:23

2. Isaiah. Isa 1:9; 3:9; 13:19

3. Jeremiah. Jeremiah 23:14; 49:18; 50:40

4. Jeremiah. Lamentations 4:6

5. Ezekiel. Ezekiel 16:46-56

6. Amos. Amos 4:11

7. Zepheniah. Zepheniah 2:9

Sodom stands for all time as an example of the depth of human depravity and God’s judgment against sin. It should not surprise us that those who are in rebellion against God would rail against this biblical event. Anger, ridicule and mocking of the Biblical account of God’s judgment is prevalent in our culture today.

Homosexuality is the front line in war against God’s Justice. In this war, views in America are changing. David James notes, “According to an April, 2009 article on MSNBC, a Washington Post/ABC poll released that month became the first to indicate that the number of Americans supporting same-sex marriages (49%) is now greater than those who oppose it (46%). Although the two numbers are within the typical poll margin-of-error of each other (±3%), there does seem to have been a significant shift in attitudes over the preceding 5-year period, when a Post/ABC poll put the percentage in-favor at just 32% in 2004" (ABI Report “Homosexuality and the Bible, by David James, http://www.biblicalintegrity.org/blog/?s=homosexuality)

Not only are views changing among secular people, views in the Church are changing as well. Many Christians have been sucked into the secular concept that homosexuality is a civil rights issue and that those who practice homosexual behavior are pre-disposed to this behavior from birth. The battle is whether homosexuality exists because of Nature or Nurture?

Again, in an excellent article, DAVID JAMES writes: “In this historically-prevalent view, homosexuality is considered to be unnatural, learned and morally wrong. This is consistent with the sense of justice which says that God would only condemn and judge evil behavior—things that we might choose to do, rather than those things over which we have no control – such as our gender, for example.” Http://www.biblicalintegrity.org/blog/?s=homosexuality

KERBY ANDERSON also has an excellent article on the topic. He writes, “Scientists may indeed discover a clear biological predisposition to sexual orientation. But a predisposition is not the same as a determination. Some people may inherit a predisposition for anger, depression, or alcoholism, yet we do not condone these behaviors. And even if violence, depression, or alcoholism were proven to be inborn (determined by genetic material), would we accept them as normal and refuse to treat them? Of course not. The Bible has clear statements about such things as anger and alcoholism. Likewise, the Bible has clear statements about homosexuality.” “The Sin of Sodom,” by Kerby Anderson, http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4219039/k.F893/Homosexual_Theology.htm