The Justice Of God In The Damnation Of Sinners

TITLE: THE JUSTICE OF GOD IN THE DAMNATION OF SINNERS

SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 18:20-33

This challenging topic “THE JUSTICE OF GOD IN THE DAMNATION OF SINNERS” originates from a sermon by American Christian Theologian - Reformer - Author - Pastor -- Jonathan Edwards, originally published in the year 1734.

Edwards, who was actually a Puritan preached the sermon during the First Great Awakening (1730–1755) in a series of sermons entitled "JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH ALONE" in 1734. The result of Edwards' preaching was the beginnings of a great revival in Northampton and along the Connecticut River Valley in the winter and Spring Of 1734-5. During this same period, more than three hundred of Edwards' congregation made professions of faith. "THE JUSTICE OF GOD IN THE DAMNATION OF SINNERS" was preached against the principles of Arminianism, namely the disabling effects of original sin, free will and the tendency to make morality the essence of religion.

I want to plant my flag this morning in the midst of this familiar OT text found in the book of the Beginnings – Genesis and filter it through this challenging thought as penned by Rev. Edwards over 270 years ago.

When you think of Sodom and Gomorrah, what comes to your mind?

• God’s wrath and fiery judgment?

• The truth is that God was not all out to judge the people of Sodom and Gomorrah

• He was not on a sin hunt

• He was, in fact, on a righteousness hunt!

This is evident because if God was on a sin hunt, He would not have allowed anyone to consider stopping Him. But we know that He let Abraham in on what He was about to do and even allowed Abraham to entreat him. Rev. Jonathan Edwards in his sermon argues -- THAT SINCE GOD IS AN INFINITELY PERFECT AND HOLY BEING, ANY SIN AGAINST HIM IS AN INFINITELY HORRIBLE OFFENSE THAT JUSTLY DESERVES INFINITE PUNISHMENT.

• He shows how all sinners tend to have too high a view of themselves and too low a view of the infinite perfection and holiness of God

• By the end of the sermon, he has powerfully shown that none are deserving of heaven and that God would be perfectly just in damning us all to hell

• But, in His mercy, He has made a way through Christ to save all who put their trust in Him

Note that Abraham began his encounter with the Lord with an over-inflated view of the people of Sodom. He figured that there must be at least 50 righteous people living there.

• But as he proceeded, he grew less and less sure of his figures

• Finally, he whittled his most hopeful number down to ten

• As it was, there was only one barely righteous man in the whole city

• I PETER 4:18 “AND IF THE RIGHTEOUS SCARCELY BE SAVED, WHERE SHALL THE UNGODLY AND THE SINNER APPEAR?”

Abraham's prayer for Sodom -- really for Lot and his family -- is an amazing revelation of the faith of one man in the justice of almighty God and an incredible boldness of a mere human before the Creator of the Universe. Abraham seems to stand before God alone; yet wields significant influence over God's actions.

Let me take a moment and set the historical stage in context of this exciting text for our examination. Years prior Abraham had immigrated to Canaan along with his nephew Lot, but as the uncle he retained a strong obligation to protect his nephew, a member of his extended family.

• Lot had settled in Sodom, a sinful city in the fertile valley near the Dead Sea

• The kings of Mesopotamia would eventually attack Sodom and carried off Lot and other residents as slaves

• Abraham raised his own personal military force, attacked the Mesopotamian Army by night, rescued Lot, and returned him to his home

Lot, once again, finds himself and his family threatened by another overpowering force – this time, God himself.

• And Abraham finds himself contending for Lot before the Lord

• Abraham has entertained three men

• It turns out that two of them are angels on their way to Sodom and the third is Yahweh himself

• Here is where our narrative of the text begins

Earlier God has told Abraham that "THE SIN OF THE AMORITES HAS NOT YET REACHED ITS FULL MEASURE" -- so He isn't ready to punish the Amorites at this time. But now, the sins of Sodom have indeed reached the point where a righteous God must punish them.

• Throughout the ages God has shown mercy to peoples that have sinned

• If God destroyed us for our sins, who would remain?

• But God is merciful, giving us a chance to repent