Noah & Lot… Examples For Us.

2Pet 2:5-8

These things happened to them as examples for us. (1Cor 10:1-11; 2Pet 2:5-8)

What do you do when you encounter error in the church?

First, it’s essential that you are a faithful student of the Word.

Remember, our worldview is made up of convictions, persuasions, & opinions… differences in persuasions & opinions may not be error.

Then, having prayed, go directly to the one whom you believe is in error. (Mt 18:15)

Go humbly, meekly, & be gentle. (Gal 6:1)

Peter gives two pictures… examples of how to live in a wicked & heresy-filled time.

Noah lived in time of almost total apostasy, rebellion, & depravity. (Gen 6)

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people, & he walked with God. (v.9)

Except for his immediate family, Noah had to stand alone.

Peter noted that Noah was a preacher of righteousness… he knew & spoke the truth.

Lot lived in Sodom… a righteous man distressed & tormented by the filthy lives, & lawless deeds of all the lawless Sodomites. (Gen 18-19)

Lot was severely tested by having to live among gross immorality & godlessness.

The Christian is always severely tested when he has to live his life as a small minority.

Imagine the sarcasm & ridicule Noah & Lot had to face. To extent we are truly Christians, we are bound to experience the same ridicule, contempt, & sarcasm.

Not every professing Christian is a true believer… A time of trial is going to test them, & those who have are not true believers are going to turn back. (2Pet 2:19-22)

Test of whether we are true children of God is whether we stand true in spite of pressure from the world to go back. (Parable of the Sower (Mt 13:1-23)) Faithful to the end?

The true Christian has received a new life & heart & will always stand out… like Noah & Lot he is altogether different from the prevailing tendency of their age. 

How can one claim to be Christian, & be afraid of being too good or too holy? 

Many churches attempt to be popular by emulating the world… rather than stand out.

The true Christian is narrow minded… the gate is narrow, there is no other way to heaven, & there’s only one name by which you may be saved. (Acts 4:12; Jn 14:6)

The post-modern world hates that type of intolerance.

Like Noah & Lot, we must not allow ourselves to be influenced by the world’s outlook, worldview, conduct, or behavior. (1Jn 2:15)

We must not love the world… to not pursue lust of flesh, lust of eyes, & pride of life.

Our lives must instead be governed solely by our love of God, concern for His glory & honor & Kingdom, & our relationship with our Lord & Savior.

We are to preach righteousness to the world… to warn them of the judgment to come. Our lives should give them an example of the Christian life & character, of loyalty to God & His Word, & of willingness to suffer for righteousness & truth.

Are we like Noah & Lot… that is the challenge to the modern church?

Is it easy for people to tell that we are Christians? Are we different? Do we stand out? 

Are we a rebuke to modern society? 

Above all, are we burdened about the lost? Do we grieve for the souls of sinners headed for destruction? 

Do we grieve for God’s honor & glory? Are we praying about & doing our utmost to hasten a true revival & religious awakening?

The fewer the number of true Christians, the greater is the importance of the individual Christian… your personal response to this challenge is critical.  

                                                                                                                                              08-09-09