“For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority.” (2 Peter 2:4–10)
Look at the world around you. Unbelievers speak and live contrary to God’s Word, and yet nothing seems to happen. In fact, for many, things seem to go quite well. Observing such things can create great confusion for the Christian, causing him to doubt what he knows to be true.
Apparently, Peter was concerned about his readers having similar doubts. Earlier, Peter had written a warning about false teachers who would bring deception and jeopardize the salvation of countless souls. Still, not much seemed to happen to the false teachers. In fact, many gained a following. Did God not see what they were doing? Would they escape God’s judgment?
Anticipating such doubts, Peter, guided by the Holy Spirit, does what every good pastor or Christian friend does for a fellow believer who’s doubting his faith. He takes him back into the clear Word of God for the truth, laying out three facts from history.
Fact one: The evil angels who sinned were righteously judged. God is not, as some think, just idly sitting by doing nothing while evil runs amok in the world. He cares about the injustice and wrongdoing happening in the once-perfect world He created. He is an impartial judge who will surely bring judgment on all evil.
Fact two: For 120 years, Noah was building the ark and preaching God’s righteousness, but his preaching fell on deaf ears. During that time, Noah and his family must have faced enormous temptation living daily in the midst of that wicked, violent generation. God delivered the godly (His believers) through the ark, while at the same time bringing judgment upon all the unjust (unbelievers) with the flood. Although there was certainly a waiting period, God made good on His promise to bring judgment.
Fact three: God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes. The great sin of these cities was homosexuality (Jude 1:7). Peter explains what it was like for Lot to live there: “for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds.” (2:8) Lot suffered great spiritual turmoil living in the midst of such immorality. He and his family needed God’s deliverance! Again, God delivered the godly while bringing judgment upon the unjust.
Today, much sin and wickedness is embraced, promoted, and defended by many false teachers and their false-teaching churches. The Christian standing against wicked lies and for God’s truth faces ridicule, persecution, and hatred. And yet, God’s truth comes to us from the Word of Him Who bought us with His own blood and rose again for our justification so that we might live with Him forever. We do well then to cling faithfully to His truth all our days, come what may.
Unbelievers speak and live contrary to God’s Word, and yet nothing seems to happen. In fact, for many, things seem to go quite well.
s pastor of a quad parish that includes Morning Star Lutheran Church in Fairchild, Trinity Lutheran Church in Millston, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Melrose, and Peace with God Evangelical Lutheran Church in Onalaska; all in Wisconsin.