The Sovereignty Of God
2Pet 2:1-9
These things happened to them as examples for us. (1Cor 10:11; 2Pet 2:5-8)
Peter gave two examples, Noah & Lot, of how to live in a wicked & heresy-filled time.
Like Noah & Lot, we must not allow ourselves to be influenced by the world’s outlook, worldview, conduct, or behavior… we must not love the world. (1Jn 2:15)
Our lives must instead be governed solely by our love of God, concern for His glory & honor & Kingdom, our relationship with our Lord & Savior, & concern for the lost.
Are we like Noah & Lot? Can people tell that we are Christians? Are we different?
Be encouraged… God is sovereign. (2Pet 2:9)
Remember, Peter’s objective in writing is to help & encourage & comfort Christians who are face to face with suffering & difficulty, & also increasing apostasy within the church.
When faced with difficulties & problems, our greatest danger is that of giving in to the feeling of despair when it seems our situation is hopeless.
Today, Christians are strongly tempted to give way to discouragement & hopelessness.
The power of evil seems so great, so organized, & so deeply entrenched, & the true Christians seem so unorganized, & their numbers so small.
We, like NT church, are tempted to listen to false teachers & to follow their apostasy.
What encouragement do we have to continue steadfast in the Lord in times of trial?
The Bible does not offer a wonderful world just around the corner, nor say that our troubles are only temporary, nor that evil & sin will soon be removed. That is false idealism rooted in humanism… that mankind is going to make this a better world.
The way Peter does comfort & encourage is with the doctrine of the sovereignty of God.
The Bible is filled with doctrine & examples of God’s sovereignty which gives comfort & encouragement to His children. (e.g. Rm 8:30; 37-39)
The Sovereignty of God (2Pet 2:9)
Consider doctrine of God’s sovereignty from three perspectives…
First, Peter reminds us of the power of God. “The Lord knows how…” The Lord is able & has the power… the Lord God is Almighty.
If the whole world is reduced to utter chaos, God is still above it, more powerful than it, & out of that very chaos He can produce His own purpose.
If God is all powerful & controlls all things, why is the world such a mess?
God in His own wisdom & counsel has chosen to permit & allow evil. Why did the holy & all-powerful God permit evil? We don’t know but we do know that God has allowed it.
God has permitted evil, but He keeps it within bounds & limits. (Job 1&2)
Second, God manifests His sovereignty in His righteousness & justice.
“Is God being fair? I have been living a good life, but these godless people seem to be flourishing while I suffer. Is that right?” (Ps 73)
Nothing is more certain than fact that God punishes sin, evil, & unrighteousness.
Part of the punishment comes immediately… sense of guilt & shame. You cannot sin without feeling unhappy & miserable. (e.g. divorce, abuse, violence, hatred, etc.)
The way of the transgressor is hard (Pr 13:15)… sin’s excitement & fun for a season soon turns to “pigs & husks” (e.g. Prodigal son’s misery & wretchedness).
Those who spoke heresies & those who believed them will face “swift destruction”. (v.2:1)
After death, the ungodly are reserved in a state of punishment until the day of final judgment… & they then face eternal punishment in hell. (v.2:9)
Third, God demonstrates His sovereignty thru the love of God.
The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials & temptation (v.2:9)… He deals in love with those who belong to Him in spite of their sin.
He is not saying that we will avoid all trouble, suffering, trials, & tribulations.
God promises that He will never allow sin & evil to harm us in any vital sense. (Mt 10:28)
Nothing can separate us from the love of God. (Rm 8:37-39)
He does it by delivering us from the power & penalty of sin, by enabling us to rejoice even in midst of trials, & by turning what is met for evil into good. (Gen 50:20)
Then I understood their final destiny. (Ps 73:17-19)
There are only two kinds of people in the world… the godly & the ungodly.
The fate of those two groups is already fixed… if you are godly, you will be delivered out of the final judgment; if you are ungodly, you will be involved in it.
The Flood & fate of Sodom are a preliminary indication of the final judgment… where everyone who is opposed to God will be committed to everlasting destruction.
This is the solemn teaching of the Bible from beginning to end.
Therefore, the most important thing is that you make certain you are among the godly!
What are the “marks” of the godly? You must believe on & trust only in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior& Lord. (False teachers & their ungodly followers deny Christ’s deity & lordship.) The godly see that the world is opposed to God & under judgment. The godly therefore separate themselves from it… they refuse to be controlled by it, or to live its kind of life. They choose to live for the glory of God, their passion is to know & please Him, to praise His Great & Holy Name, & to lift up Jesus that He might draw all men to himself.
The Lord, with His almighty power, knows how to deliver the godly out of all temptations. No matter how hard or difficult your circumstances are, stand firm & trust the Lord. God’s power, justice, & His amazing love for you will not allow you to suffer beyond what you can bear. (1Cor 10:13)
Always remember this sovereign promise… God will save you from the ultimate judgment & destruction which is going to fall upon everyone that is unjust & unrighteous.
08-16-09