When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Get up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be consumed in the punishment of the city.” But he lingered; so the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and left him outside the city.” vs15-16

The Lord’s mercy is what saves us; it is not strength in ourselves or our own goodness; it is the power of the Holy Spirit working in us graciously.

Before we’re saved, we’re spiritually dead. There’s no good in us, nor can we choose God. John 6:44, "No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day." After salvation, we’re alive, but we still need the Holy Spirit, because the flesh is weak, and Satan is the tempter. Matthew 26:41, "Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

The world is alluring! Lot knew Sodom would be destroyed, but he still lingered and hesitated. "When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, 'Get up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be consumed in the punishment of the city.' But he lingered." We know the world is corrupt, and it is perishing, but we still love the praise of man, and live for ourselves. Therefore, we need the Spirit! Romans 8:13, "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."

Don’t ever think, “I’m the reason that I'm obedient. I’m strong. I’m special. Other Christians are weak and tempted, but I'm better.” God’s only been gracious to HIDE YOUR SIN. If he chose to show us how weak we are, he’d simply allow us to be tempted, and then we’d see that we’re not the Christ. There’s a sinner inside of us, who knowing everything, would still perish. He can't obey.

Instead, credit God for all your goodness, and then you will be humble. Luke 14:11, "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” We preach with more grace, when we realize that we’re saved by grace. Otherwise, we’re proud and arrogant, because we trust ourselves [Luke 18:9-13]. We haven’t been shown our weakness, so we look down upon others.

God teaches us that we’re nothing, however. It was all his grace and mercy, because Christ died for us; it is the power of the Spirit, because he’s given to us in the covenant. Acts 2:33, "Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see and hear." Jesus earned the Spirit who delivers us, and we have no part in the praise: it is God 100%.

If we know this, then we’re gentle, kind, and patient. 2 Timothy 2:24, "And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, an apt teacher, patient, correcting opponents with gentleness." Preaching to sinners is easier when we know the vileness of self. Now, we answer softly, and preach Christ raising the sinner from every level of wickedness. Proverbs 18:23, “The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly." Now, you tell fallen saints that this is the perfect time to trust Christ, and they will be lifted up. You know by experience what Christ can do for the helpless and the sinful. You know amazing grace - that you wanted the sin…fell into the sin… and God brought you out, when you had no strength. Isaiah 40:29, “He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless." God warned you, reproved you, and corrected you. He puts in us the desire to obey, and then gives us grace to do it. Ezekiel 36:26-27, “A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances."

The gospel levels mankind, and puts us all on the same ground of OBTAINING MERCY. This is the key to loving others: If we remember and acknowledge ourselves, then we’ll show God’s love to others. We’ll walk humbly, speak gently, and love the fallen. We’ll point sinners and saints to Jesus our strength. We won’t have confidence in self, and we won’t preach self-confidently.

This is the good thing about learning our corruption. We see that we’re weak, but he saves us, when we don’t deserve it, and when we know ourselves unworthy. This makes us love God, and delight in him. This makes us love others, and preach without seeking personal greatness. Philippians 1:15, “Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill." We’re delivered from using people: We want them to see Jesus, who’s the ONLY ONE worthy! Revelation 5:9, “They sing a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,

for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation;"

Let’s recap:

First, “while he hesitated.” We all linger in our unworthiness. We have sinful flesh. We need the Spirit. Romans 8:2, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." It is not enough to have the truth or good intentions. We need God’s power to do God’s will, so we take no credit for our obedience, holiness, or faithfulness.

Secondly, “The Lord being merciful to him.” It is because of mercy that he saves us. He sees no merit in us. He sees nothing that can be left in our hands. It’s been remarked that if there was one thing that I had to do independently of God working it in me by grace, then I’d perish. Left to myself, I’m no match for sin. At no time, therefore, is he an absentee Savior. He doesn't give us commands, and the go fishing. No, he commands, and he gives grace to obey. He sees us failing, and he helps us. Christ took our condemnation, so God gives us grace, when we are guilty!

Thirdly, “they brought him out.” God’s salvation saves from sin. Let no man say, “I’m saved,” who’s the slave of sin. God doesn’t only forgive, but he also cleanses. He makes us holy in conduct.