The Seriousness of Sin (Genesis 19:1-29)
1. In your opinion, what are the most horrible sins being committed in America today? Why do they disturb you so? Give examples.
murder, terrorism, euthanasia, abortion, various
forms of sexual promiscuity/immorality, kidnapping, child abuse, drugs/alcohol
among others
You want to draw out the “outcry” against these things
that are wrong.
2. What do we learn about sin in this passage
· Sin is
serious – God does not take it lightly.
Neither should we.
· Sin is
worthy of judgment
Our questions should not be, “Why does God do things
like this?” but rather “Why DOESN’T God
do things like this more often?”
c.f. Romans 6:23 – the wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God)
· Sin
corrupts
Lot goes from living with Abraham to (1) looking
toward Sodom and Gomorrah (v13:10) to (2) pitching his tent near Sodom (v13:12) to (3) living in
Sodom (v14:12) to (4) being immersed in Sodom (v19:1)
Story about frog and boiling kettle – how sin comes
to affect us
It’s relatively easy to forsake sin when it comes at
us blatantly. It’s much harder when we
give sin opportunity to slowly affect how we think and act.
The manner in which sin corrupts can be seen in
Lot’s “solution” to the men of the city desiring to gang rape the two
angels. Before we entirely condemn Lot
(though he is responsible for his actions), when we look at the conduct of the
two daughters in v19:30ff, it becomes evident that sexual immorality has become
accepted behavior. The manner in which
sin has corrupted Lot is now passed down to the next generation in his
daughters.
Even in the face of impending judgment, Lot
hesitated (v16) and Lot’s wife looked back (v26) – Oh, how sins so takes hold
of our hearts!
(o) Before we entirely condemn Lot and his
family, take a few moments just to consider your own sinfulness, in thought and
deed.
· The remedy
of sin is the mercy of God (v19:16)
It is interesting to note how mercy is applied in light
of Abraham’s prayers (v19:29, also last week’s Bible Study).
(o) How does the narrative of Sodom and Gomorrah
have bearing on our lives today? (Matthew 11:20-24)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and
only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
3. What (Who) is God’s solution to the impending judgment for sin? How was this accomplished?
The problem: We deserve to perish (The first half of
Romans 6:23 – “The wages of sin is death
…”)
God loves us and therefore doesn’t want to
punish us BUT
God is also just and therefore must punish
sin
The solution:
Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose
from the dead to pay the penalty for our sins and to purchase a place in heaven
for us which he offers as a gift (the second half of Romans 6:23 – “… but the gift of God is eternal life in
Christ Jesus our Lord.”)
When Jesus died on
the cross, it wasn’t for no reason
- If we think we can work ourselves to
heaven, that is exactly what we must think
APPLICATION
It might be good to
spend some time in prayer in preparation for Passion Week.