Scandalous Righteousness Series

Intro:

1. I saw a book advertised the other day called, "The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus Christ." I thought if people really knew the gospel, that's exactly what it would appear to be - Scandalous!

2. Amazingly we find these words in the Bible:

"7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment," 2 Peter 2:7-9

There is stands - Righteous Lot! That seems to be an oxymoron! An oxymoron is "A rhetorical figure in which contradictory terms are combined, such as a mournful optimist."

3. Scandalous Righteousness.

Trans: Gen. 19

I. FIRST, RIGHTEOUS LOT COMPROMISED WITH THE WORLD. 19:1-3

A. His Position. 1a

Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom - this is where public officials sat.

Philips, "Abraham was seen sitting in the door of his tent; in chapter 19 Lot is found sitting in the gate of Sodom. He had risen in the world. He probably had become one of Sodom's high officials, a member of its legislature no less, charged with upholding its principles and protecting the filthy privileges of its people. What a place for a professing believer! Lot was pledged to help keep the laws on the books that enabled perverts and deviates to practice their sins without fear of reproof. That was how far the morality of Sodom had tainted the values, the judgment, the sense of right and wrong of the backslidden child of God.

There Lot sat, resplendent in his official robes, surrounded by filthy-minded men, accepted by them because he now spoke their language and condoned their practices and, above all, because he had the right connections."

B. His Provisions. 1b-3

...When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. 2 And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square." 3 But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate - even Lot had a new nature and it comes out at times, 19:7,9. - even a carnal Christian cannot be totally dominated by the sin nature.

We can walk according to the flesh, but we cannot be in the flesh:

"8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Romans 8:8-9

But, "12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:12-13

Trans:Point is Righteous Lot has compromised with the World.

"Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;" Psalm 1:1

"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12:2 (MSG)

"14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18