“ Summary, Part 6 (final) ” 16. WE MUST LEARN FROM GOD’S JUDGMENTS IN THIS WORLD [53:57]. Even if Sodom were our only example, it would be more than enough. Either we take heed from His judgments or travel down the same roads into judgment (Ps 119:104, Prov 14:12).
“ Summary, Part 5 ” 12. IN ALL AGES GOD IS THE SAME [45:26]. He and his standards don’t change. His methods may change from age to age, but His eternal punishment remains the same. If Sodom and Gomorrah were a warning, think of the fate of those who failed to heed it. John MacArthur: “If God doesn’t punish America for these sins, He owes Sodom and Gomorrah an apology.” 13. GOD IS GRACIOUS EVEN WHEN EXHIBITING THE GREATEST SEVERITY [47:44]. He gave Sodom a chance to repent, and offered them as a warning to others. His justice magnifies His mercy. 14. IF WE TRULY LOVE OTHERS, WE WILL SEEK TO TURN THEM FROM SIN AND THE SUFFERING THAT FOLLOWS [49:15]. Silence in the light of such a warning is not love. It’s even worse than hatred: love tells hard truths. We glorify God by overcoming the fear of men’s faces and pointing them to the one who delights in cleansing sinners. 15. MEN WHO COMMIT THESE SINS TODAY ARE GUILTIER THAN THOSE WHO COMMITTED THEM IN THE PAST [51:56]. They are ignoring the light of redeeming truth. Sodom had no church, yet was judged. Churches abound among us. Imagine what could befall us compared to it, especially when so many of those churches are now giving homosexuality a pass. Does the Bible give it a pass?
“ Summary, Part 4 ” 7. GOD PROPORTIONS HIS PUNISHMENT TO MEN’S SINS [35:13]. His punishment of the cities was as scorching and notorious as their sin. 8. GOD SPEAKS THROUGH DIVINE JUDGMENTS AS WELL AS THROUGH HIS WORD [36:18]. His judgments are visible sermons. He who doesn’t heed the words of Scripture will not heed the words of providence. 9. NOTORIOUS PUBLIC SINNERS OUGHT TO BE MADE OPEN EXAMPLES OF GOD’S WRATH [38:39]. America is very guilty for not only not condemning homosexuality, but for embracing its open agenda, even granting it special privilege. 10. WE NEED NOT ONLY THE ENTICEMENTS OF GOD’S LOVE BUT THE FEAR OF HIS WRATH TO KEEP US FROM SIN [40:10]. Burnt sodomites should make us fear the fire. Fear of God is not only the beginning of wisdom, but the beginning of sober faith. 11. THERE IS A PRONENESS TO SINS IN EVERY PEOPLE OF EVERY AGE [44:22]. Whether it’s Sodomites or Cretans or today’s homosexuals, men reject the light because their deeds are evil. And once-great denominations are falling for this as well. But God will protect His people, and they will remain the light and conscience of the world.
“ Summary, Part 3 ” ABIDING LESSONS: 1. GOD’S ESPECIAL DETESTATION OF SEXUAL SINS [27:24]. Though all sin is rebellion against God as lawmaker, this kind of sin is rebellion against God as creator. It defies the light of nature. 2. GOD’S EQUITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS [28:30]. God repays sin in kind. 3. GOD’S PATIENCE WITH EVEN GRAVE SINNERS [29:24]. We don’t know how long this went on in these cities, but it was long enough for them to become known for it. The Bible calls God’s judgment a strange work, but that doesn’t mean that it is never certain for the unrepentant. Each of us would have been cast into Hell long ago if God hadn’t been patient with us. 4. GOD’S MERCY DOES NOT OVERTHROW HIS JUSTICE [30:29]. God granted Abraham’s plea for mercy but still executed justice. In our own time, in light of the radical homosexual agenda, which is itself judgment from Heaven, we must pray that God remember mercy. 5. NOTHING IS MORE TERRIBLE THAN THE WRATH OF GOD [31:56]. As we embrace our sin, God judges us with more sin and then destruction. Remember that even the lusts of the heart make us guilty before God. 6. YET MORE HEINOUS SIN SHOWS CONTEMPT FOR THE GOSPEL [33:13]. Sinning despite the light of truth compounds the mere sin itself.
“ Summary, Part 2 ” 2. WHAT KIND OF FIRE DID GOD USE TO CONSUME SODOM AND GOMORRAH AND THEIR SENSUAL SISTER CITIES [14:44]? He used a threefold fire: first, the fire of lust, both as a sin and as a punishment; second, the fire of Hell, or literal fire. Note its characteristics: it was miraculous: it was sent by God and came from Heaven. It was colossal: it was a deluge, coming from above and below. It was sudden: it did not begin with a small fire, but came in full force without warning. It was tormenting: it is the most excruciating way to die. It was destructive: the cities and everything and everyone in them were left without a trace. The Dead Sea covers them now; it is known for its stench and lifelessness. It was revealing: it shows God’s detestation of their sin. The third fire for these cities was eternal, where the worm of conscience never dies and the fire of Hell is never quenched. 3. WHAT LESSONS SHOULD WE LEARN FROM GOD’S PUNISHMENT OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH AND THEIR SISTER CITIES [26:21]? “Exhibited” means to put on display for public review, and “example” carries the idea of proof. Together they indicate that God has put the divine judgment of these cities on display for all to see.
“ Summary, Part 1 ” In 2 Pet 2:6-10, Peter uses the examples of Sodom and Gomorrah and Lot to argue that God rescues the righteous and condemns the wicked in due time. In Jude 5-7, we get a historical review of those who have fallen apostate: the Hebrews in the wilderness, the fallen angels, and apostate pagans. In verse 7, we see that Sodom and Gomorrah were not only punished, but serve as an example. C. THE SENSUAL CITIES: THEIR FIERY PUNISHMENT [starting at 8:07 of the audio]. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: 1.WHY DID GOD PUNISH SODOM AND GOMORRAH AND THEIR SENSUAL SISTER CITIES [9:30]? Because they justly deserved God’s wrath for their consummate wickedness. God does not punish rashly; He confirms what He judges. As He went down to see the offense at Babel, He sent angels to see the offense at Sodom. Though He already knows all things perfectly, He conveys to us in our own languages that He observes, considers, and determines things by His own counsel.
“ Summary, Part 4 (final) ” V. JESUS IS GLORIFIED THROUGH GOD’S SELECTIVE PLEASURE (VV. 29-30) [38:54]. “The multitude” probably refers to unbelieving Jews. To them, God’s voice was just a loud, undistinguishable sound. We are taught an important lesson here by the ignorant response of the multitude: God must give us ears to understand His word. The natural man is incapable of entering into divine things (Jn 8:43, 1 Cor 2:14). God speaks clearly, but only they whom He has illumined can hear him (Mt 11:25-27). We are met here with a practical application regarding profitable hearing: our spiritual condition determines the benefit we receive from the preaching of God’s word. We have a personal responsibility to receive blessing from preaching. Finally, a carnal or worldly spirit in true Christians will prevent even them from understanding and profiting from the word of God. Do we live the spiritual lives begotten from Jesus’ death and resurrection?
“ Summary, Part 3 ” PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS [35:47]: 1. God will uphold us when He calls upon us to suffer for His name, just as He upheld His Son. When has God ever failed us? 2. God glorifies Himself through the enablement He gives us to bear up when suffering for His Name. He saves us not just for our deliverance, but for His glory. And we have all sorts of deliverances that we never even suspect. 3. Let us have as our exalted goal in life the glory of God in all that we do. This has calmed many suffering hearts.
“ Summary, Part 2 ” APPLICATION: We glorify Christ by serving Him in the same way He glorified His Father by serving Him. By service that glorifies Christ, 1) we prove we are His disciples, 2) we know that we have eternal life, and 3) we will be honored by the Father. III. JESUS IS GLORIFIED BY GOD’S SUSTAINING POWER (V. 27) [24:00]. His anguish must have been indescribable. But all the world would have been lost if He hadn’t gone through with it. OBSERVATION: We behold here a marvelous expression of both the kindness and severity of God: not in His dealings with sinners, but in His dealing with His beloved Son on behalf of His elect. IV. JESUS IS GLORIFIED IN FULFILLING GOD’S SAVING PURPOSE (V. 28) [30:47]. Immediately after His anguish, Jesus resolves to glorify the Father, something He purposed in everything He said and did. In our own temptations, we often best glorify God not by stepping out of them, but finding His strength in them. Jesus’ resolve was not passive acquiescence, but an active desire to glorify His Father.
“ Summary, Part 1 ” In verse 23 of Jn 12:20-30, “the hour” refers to the whole complex of events facing Jesus before the critical last events of His life. Where He refers to Himself as the Son of Man, He is very conscious of His deity, and perhaps even has Dan 7:13 in mind. In this message, we examine five different ways in which our Lord is glorified. I. JESUS IS GLORIFIED IN HIS SEARCHING PREDICTION (V. 24) [starting at 9:55 of the audio]. “Searching”, indicates that He speaks with thoughtfulness and penetration. This prediction of his death and resurrection intimates its absolute necessity: if He hadn’t died, there would be no fruit; it promises its great fruitfulness; it indicates its solemn significance: its significance is cosmic; and it suggests our vital personal interest: He is speaking for His listeners’ benefit, and they include each one of us. II. JESUS IS GLORIFIED IN HIS SERVING PEOPLE (VV. 25-26) [14:22]. We must first be His fruit before we can bear fruit. As He gave His life for us, we must give our lives for Him. This passage is as much about Him as it is about us. It illustrates a seeming paradox of the Christian faith: we gain life by losing it. Indeed, resurrection requires death.
“ A Timely Message ” This is a timely message for sure. Is there confusion over the widespread approval of homosexuality in the church? Have you been told the loving response of the church is to embrace, celebrate, and sanctify this sin? Here, Pastor Nutter lays out the true loving response to homosexuality from the church. We are called to be light and salt to the world. This sermon walks you through what God has to say about sexual sin, how we are to respond, and the hope in Christ we are to share with those who are enslaved to sin. I encourage you to share this message with others who have exchanged God’s truth for a lie.
“ Summary, Part 3 (final) ” This is why they are especially militant in not only promoting their lifestyle, but in forcing others to accommodate it. It is moral insanity (Gen 19:4). 3. WHY IS THE SIN OF HOMOSEXUALITY (“INDULGING STRANGE FLESH”) SO CORRUPT? [45:28] a. It is utterly contrary to the law of nature. “Queer” was an allusion to this obvious fact. b. Only this sin and the sin of bestiality are described as pollution with strange flesh. They are similar because they defy the function of nature. OBSERVATIONS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALS FROM THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS [48:55]: 1. Homosexuals make every provision to practice their sin and to promote their lusts. They are unique in this manner. It is an open sin in a degenerate culture. And it must be universally accepted so that homosexuals can accept it themselves. 2. Homosexuals exhibit impudence and shamelessness in sinning, not fearing how they are regarded by the rest of the world. They glory in that of which they should be ashamed and flaunt it in their public parades. 3. Homosexuals are guilty of idolatry, since they make their sin their god. In fact, their identity is so wrapped up in their sin that they become their own god. 4. Homosexuals may be saved, since homosexuality is not the unforgivable sin. God’s grace is greater than their sin (1 Cor 6:11).
“ Summary, Part 2 ” 2. It is an infatuating sin, taking away the heart. Once one engages in such sin, one is practically powerless to disengage. 3. It is a sin that injures others: sexually-transmitted diseases, infidelity, abortion, etc. 4. It is a sin that induces the commission of other sins: pornography, lying, hypocrisy, extortion, adultery, rape, even murder. 5. It is a sin that especially dishonors the body. It defiles and destroys it. We were made to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. 6. It is a sacrilegious sin; it takes from God what belongs to Him (1 Cor 6:15-16, 18-20). 7. It is a characteristically heathen sin. The heathen give vent to all their inclinations (1 Thes 4:15, Rom 13:13). 2. WHAT IS THE SIN TO WHICH JUDE REFERS AS “GOING AFTER STRANGE FLESH” AND WHY IS IT THE EPITOME OF REBELLION AGAINST GOD? [26:44]. It refers to homosexuality. Even nature teaches that it is wrong and violates God’s design. Rom 1:18-32 – homosexuals radically suppress the truth. Their practice does violence to the anatomy; indeed, homosexuals live shorter lives. Yet they still give mute consent to God’s order: as couples, they take ‘male’ and ‘female’ roles. And with the law on their hearts, they know they are worthy of eternal destruction.
“ Summary, Part 1 ” Having detailed three historical examples of apostates whom God destroyed, we find that a sin common to all of them is rebellion. The sensual ones rebel against God’s created order. Today, the authority of the Bible is again an issue in the church. We see in Gen 19 how Lot pictures the compromised church. But there is no middle ground with regard to the Bible. Last week, we examined the identity of the pagans’ sensual cities last week. This week, we move on to B. THE SENSUAL CITIES: THEIR PERVERSE DISORDER (Jude 7b) [starting at 9:32 of the audio]. This study will ask three questions: 1. WHAT IS THE SIN OF “GROSS IMMORALITY” AND WHY IS IT SO DETESTABLE TO GOD? It is a general reference to all sexual sin. The Greek word is also the root of the English word ‘pornography’. God made us male and female, and sex is to be confined to a marriage between them. At a point in time, the Sodomite cities abandoned themselves to gross immorality. We see the Hebrews do it in Num 25. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS REGARDING THE SIN OF GROSS IMMORALITY [13:41]: 1. It is a close and cleaving sin, much cherished by corrupt nature. It is hard to resist. It is a sin of the body and of the heart.
“ Summary, Part 4 (final) ” 5. THE GREATEST AND STRONGEST CITIES CANNOT PREVENT GOD’S JUDGMENT [40:23]. No earthly defense is a challenge for God’s wrath. God even turned against His chosen people and destroyed them, and there was nothing they could do about it. In fact, judgment begins at the house of God. America’s day of visitation is bound to come as long as it tramples God’s word the way it does. 6. SIN CURSES EVERYTHING THAT BELONGS TO MAN [44:47]. God’s judgment is thorough (Gen 19:25). Wicked men cannot produce anything that is truly good. All that is not devoted to Him is devoted to destruction. God can destroy an oasis, but He can also make the desert bloom. 7. GREAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOD’S PUNISHMENT OF THE SODOMITES AND HIS CHASTENING OF HIS PEOPLE [46:47]. Sin always brings disorder and destruction, but God will always leave a believing remnant (Rom 9:29). Fire both burns the wicked and refines the righteous (Ps 119:119). Next week, we consider Sodom’s perverse disorder and fiery punishment.
“ Summary, Part 3 ” 3. HOW FOOLISH IT IS TO IMITATE THE WICKED IN THEIR TRANSGRESSION [30:07]. The cities of the Jordan Valley sought to emulate their bigger regional neighbors, and only Zoar was spared from God’s wrath for Lot’s sake. We see smaller American cities doing this now, including our own. We also see individuals doing this as they emulate celebrities and other ungodly examples of success, and we’re all too aware of the wickedness that has woven itself into our cultural fabric. Worst of all, even major church associations and once-great seminaries are falling for it. The way of the world is becoming the way of the church (Ez 23:2, Pr 4:14). 4. SINNERS ARE NOT MADE BETTER BY FOREBODINGS OF JUDGMENT [37:20]. People want signs and proof of God and His judgment, yet refuse to read the book that provides both. Not even the angels’ visit to Sodom gave the people pause for consideration. It is not a problem of providence, but of the sinful human heart. Even America has had its judgments, but we have not learned.
“ Summary, Part 2 ” But we must remember that Sodom and Gomorrah had no Bible. Judgment upon pagan apostasy in lands with the gospel will be much greater. Abraham asked God to spare Sodom if even ten righteous were found there, and of course we know that there weren’t. OBSERVATIONS [19:35]: 1. GOD OFTEN LAVISHES THE GREATEST TEMPORAL BLESSINGS UPON THE GREATEST SINNERS. Sodom’s wealth and sensuality was legendary, yet they hated God and His people. It is far better to have nothing in hand and everything in eternity than to have everything in hand and nothing in eternity. Wealth itself is not evil; notice how God blessed Abraham. But Abraham is the exception to the rule. What is it to receive and not be received? 2. PLACES OF PLENTY ARE OFTEN PLACES OF GREAT UNGODLINESS [25:30]. If you love your soul, don’t hanker for ease and riches. Sodom was wealthy, but not charitable. Men have natural inclinations that tend to match the character of their land; even Cyrus wouldn’t allow barren lands to be converted because he knew that dainty pleasures create dainty souls. We don’t know of anyone who was converted to God by prosperity. So what is your great goal in life, prosperity or righteousness?
“ Summary, Part 1 ” Last week, we examined two of three examples of apostates whom God destroyed: the Israelites in the wilderness and the fallen angels. Today, we being to examine III.APOSTATE PAGANS: CITIES THAT WERE DESTROYED FOR THEIR GROSS SEXUAL PERVERSION (verse 7) [starting at 5:50 of the audio]. Though a distasteful subject, the Bible includes it for good reason. We shouldn’t shy away from it, especially in this time. Even non-believers can apostatize, but they do it from God-ordained functions. When that becomes a powerful force in a society, even biblically ignorant Christians can be influenced and fall under God’s wrath. A. THE SENSUAL CITIES: THEIR IDENTITY (verse 7a) [10:35]. When Abram and Lot agreed to separate, he allowed Lot the first choice of which way he wanted to go. He chose the Jordan Valley because he saw that it was lush and well-watered. He ended up in Sodom. Isaiah and Ezekiel also stressed Sodom’s natural endowments, even comparing them to Eden. Yet Ezekiel also described Sodom’s love of leisure. Genesis 14 describes Sodom’s rebellion against Chedorlaomer, as a result of which it lost great treasure. Even Lot was taken away, but he later returned to its abundance. Throughout Scripture, straight into Revelation, Sodom is often compared to great wickedness.
“ Summary, Part 5 (final) ” 2. Rebellion against our God-given roles and responsibilities can lead to apostasy from God. See 1 Cor 9:16 regarding preachers, 1 Tim 5:8 regarding husbands and fathers, 1 Tim 2:15 regarding wives and mothers, 1 Tim 5 regarding widows, and Jn 6:66 regarding professing Christians. C. ANGELS: THEIR DIVINE PUNISHMENT [56:55]. 1. ITS ELEMENTS: in eternal bonds under darkness. 2. ITS TIME: in the past. They have been in this bondage ever since and will be kept there until the final judgment. 3. ITS PRESENT EFFECT: permanent bondage; they cannot escape. 4. ITS ETERNAL OUTCOME: eternal judgment at the final judgment. LESSONS FROM THE ANGELS’ PUNISHMENT [1:00:50]: 1. Those who defect from God imitate the devil in his sin and in his punishment. 2. It is difficult to be highly privileged and yet not fall prey to the sin of pride. 3. Present punishment in hell will be reckoned mild compared to that of the great day. 4. The presence of apostate angels in the lake of fire will aggravate the misery of apostate men throughout eternity.
“ Summary, Part 4 ” The other is popular and enduring, but it misunderstands Gen 6:1-5 and says that cohabited with human women and produced a race of giants. Among the problems with this argument: ‘sons of God’ refers either to elect angels (who didn’t fall) or believers and never of fallen angels; angels are spiritual beings, and so cannot consummate with humans; reproduction is only after its own kind, and angels can’t even procreate among themselves; and the giants they supposedly produced were already on the earth at the time. The Genesis passage speaks of a great human apostasy: of believers yoking with unbelievers and producing the “mighty men of old” such as Nimrod. Back to the angels’ rebellion: their sin was Lucifer’s first sin: pride (1 Tim 3:6). The Puritan William Jenkins suggests that their dissatisfaction was with their own state; as glorious as were their beings and circumstances, they were still beholden to God. And so it is true of us: when we stop trusting God, we turn inward and become our own gods. LESSONS FROM THE ANGELS’ REBELLION [50:18]. 1. Our happiness and holiness, like that of the angels, depend upon keeping our own domain and proper abode: of cheerfully embracing and carrying out our God-given roles and responsibilities in this life.
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