We'll continue where we were
in this little book. Let's go to the Lord in prayer,
quick. Heavenly Father, again we thank Thee for allowing us
to gather together and what a beautiful day You've given us. Beautiful
time of the year when the spring comes and everything comes alive
again. And oh, what a picture of us being regenerated too in
Thee, oh Lord. And help us to be thankful for
the beauty around us and what we have. Thankful for all that
we have, Lord. Bless the studies today, and
bless the preaching of your word. May you receive all the glory,
honor, and praise, and may the Holy Spirit illuminate the scriptures
that we might know more about Thee, O Lord, and be comforted
in the things of Thee. In Jesus' name, Amen. Okay. We'll continue our study here
in 2 Peter, Chapter 2, where we see Peter, by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit of God, he devotes a large portion here,
a whole chapter, to identifying false prophets and false teachers.
Last week we considered the first three verses of this chapter.
This week we will look at verses 4 to 10 and then Lord willing
next week we'll finish the chapter. Now remember in the first chapter
Peter laid the foundation. He laid the foundation just as
Paul does for the believer in 1 Corinthians. He lays a foundation
and that foundation of course is Christ. So Peter lays the
foundation of Christ. He also brought forth that we
have a more sure word of prophecy in the last part of chapter 1,
which is the Holy Scriptures. We have a more sure word of prophecy,
which is the Holy Scriptures. The author, of course, is the
Holy Spirit of God. He moved upon holy men, and they
spake and wrote the Scriptures as they were moved by the Holy
Spirit of God. Let's look at verses 20 and 21 in the first
chapter with that in mind. Knowing this first, that no prophecy
of the scriptures of any private interpretation. For the prophecy
came not in old time by the will of men, but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. So we see the author of
the scriptures then is the Holy Ghost. Now let's read verses
one to nine. But there were false prophets
among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among
you who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying
the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the way
of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness
shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you, whose
judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth
not. For if God spared not the angels
that sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into
chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment, and spared not
the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher
of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the
ungodly, turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes,
condemn them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those
that after should live ungodly. And delivered a just lot, vexed
with filthy conversation of the wicked. For that righteous man
dwelling among them and seeing and hearing vexed his righteous
soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds. The Lord knoweth
how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve
the unjust until the day of judgment to be punished. We see here in verses four to
seven The judgment, God's judgment against heresy, idolatry, and
evil. His judgments against these things will surely come to pass.
They will surely come to pass. And this is illustrated here
in these verses before us. But also in these verses, also
in these verses, we see three manifestations of God's preserving
grace as well. three manifestations of God's
preserving grace as well. Let's look. For if God spared
not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered
them into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment,
and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person,
the preacher of righteousness, springing in the flood upon the
world of the ungodly, and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah
into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making an example
unto those that after should live ungodly, and deliver just
lot vexed with filthy conversation of the wicked." So we see here
in verses four to six, three illustrations from the Apostle
Peter, who was again writing under inspiration of the Holy
Spirit of God. Three illustrations of God's
judgment and hatred for sin. Judgment against sin and God's
hatred for sin. But we also have Three demonstrations
again of his righteous judgment imposed on those who sinned against
him. But we will see also there's three manifestations of God's
preserving grace on those he elected for his glory. On those
he elected for his glory. So let's consider them. Three
demonstrations of God's judgment against sin and three demonstrations
of God's preserving grace. So we see here illustrated God's
hatred for sin against the angels that sinned. against the sinful
ungodly people during Noah's day, and against the wicked people
of Sodom and Gomorrah. So we see that very clearly,
God's hatred for sin. Then we see three demonstrations
of God's righteous judgment against sin. The fall of Satan and one
third of the angelic host fell with him. The destruction of the world
of the ungodly during the days of Noah. and fire and brimstone
that reduced Sodom and Gomorrah to nothing but smolder and ashes, killing all those people who
were living within those cities. Then take note, though, of three
manifestations of God's preserving grace on those he elected for
glory. God's preserving grace is manifest in the fact that
God's elect angels did not fall. And they are called the elect
angels. They're not mentioned in that text, but they're mentioned
in other places as the elect angels. They did not fall. They did not fall. And then God's
preserving grace is manifested in the fact that Noah found grace
in the eyes of the Lord. And God preserved him, didn't
he? He kept him. And then God's preserving grace
is manifest in the fact that Lot, Lot, who was declared by God to be
a just and righteous man, he was delivered and he was spared. What a picture we have here.
So we see God's judgment falling on sin, don't we? But we also
see three very clear manifestations of God's preserving grace as
well. He keeps those he's chosen, he keeps his people. Look at
verse four, we see that the angels fell. They were once pure and
holy and high and honorable, we know that, but through pride
and covetousness, they fell as they rebelled against God. Look
at verse four. For if God spared not the angels
that sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into
the chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgment. Jude
brings this forth in Jude, verse six. It says, and the angels
which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation,
he hath reserved an everlasting chains under darkness unto the
judgment of the great day. Turn, if you would, to Isaiah
14. Isaiah 14. Now we know that when
these angels were first created again, they were without sin,
they were holy. But our text says they sinned.
What happened? Isaiah 14, verses 12 to 15, we're given a little
understanding to those questions. Isaiah 14, verses 12 to 15. How
art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning?
How art thou cast down to the ground, which didst weaken the
nations? For thou hast said in thine heart,
I will ascend unto heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars
of God, I will sit also upon the mound of the congregation
in the sides of the north, I will ascend above the heights of the
clouds, I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shall be brought
down to hell to the sides of the pit. And we know that a third
of the angels fell with him. But turn, if you would, to 1
Timothy 5. Our text proclaims that they
were delivered into chains of darkness to be reserved under
judgment. And God provided no redemption for those angels that
sinned. Remember that, too. God's provided no redemption
for those angels that sinned. No redemption. Rather, they were
delivered into chains of darkness, cast out of God's favor forever,
in the darkness of eternal separation from God, with no hope of anything
but eternal misery. It's God's righteous judgment
imposed upon them. But our great, glorious God also
manifested His preserving grace in the fact that two-thirds of
the angels did not fall. Did not fall. And look at this
in 1 Timothy 5.21, they're called the elect angels. I charge thee
before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that
thou observe these things without preferring one before another,
doing nothing by partiality. Elect angels preserved by God. They did not fall, beloved. They
did not fall. It was the grace of God that
kept His elect angels from rebelling with those who fell. It was the
grace of God. God Himself, by His unmerited
favor bestowed upon some angels, elected them, chose them, determined
by His own purpose and grace which angels would remain with
Him in glory. He's God. He did this. He did
this. Have you ever heard anyone say,
now think of this too, see it says elect angels, but have you
ever heard anyone say, have you ever heard anyone say, it wasn't
fair for God to elect some angels and preserve them by his sovereign
grace. You never hear that, do you? You never hear that. People don't talk about that.
You ever heard anyone say it wasn't right for God to provide
some way for those fallen angels to be redeemed? You never hear
that either, do you? No one ever talks about that
when it comes to the angels. No. No, they only kick against
the bricks when it hits home with men. That's true. That's when they
kick against the bricks, when it hits home with men. The same
God who chose the elect angels and kept them, and kept them
from falling, is the same God who chose a people in Christ
in eternity. The same God. The same God. And he saves his people by his
grace and keeps them from falling. And keeps them from falling.
The same God. Let's read verse five now, and we'll see the second
illustration of God's hatred for sin before us. And we'll
also see, though, the second demonstration of his righteous
judgment poured out on the world of ungodly people for their rebellious
sins. Verse five. And spared not the
old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly. Again, let us never forget that
ungodly people don't become sinners because they sin. We sin because
we're conceived in sin. We sin because we're conceived
in sin. It's in our nature. It's in our
nature. All of us were in Adam's loins
when he sinned. All of us. Therefore, we come
into this world condemned already because we fell in our father,
Adam. We fell in our father, Adam,
our representative, our federal head. And Noah, we know, was
a sinner just like everyone else. He's a sinner just like everyone
else. Just like we're sinners, just like everyone else around
us. Even after we're saved, we're still sinners, aren't we? We're safe sinners, though, praise
God. We're safe sinners. But Noah, we know from the scriptures,
found grace in the eyes of the Lord. We know that. That's what the scriptures declare.
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. It's so with us,
too, beloved. It's so with us. We're no different
than anyone else out there, except we found grace in the eyes of
the Lord. And that's what makes grace amazing, beloved. That's what makes it absolutely
amazing grace. Amazing grace. Noah preached
God's coming judgment upon the world, didn't he? He warned them.
He preached that. And God's righteous judgment.
He preached and proclaimed that the only one way to escape the
wrath of God was to come through the door of the ark. And we know
who the ark pictured. We know who that door pictured.
One door. One ark pits from within and
without, which pitches the blood of Christ. So nothing can get
in. Not a drop of that rain can fall
on anyone inside that ark. It pitches Christ. It typifies
Christ. And there's no hope for anyone
who refused to come in the ark. No hope at all. But the whole
world continued in sin, eating and drinking, and enjoying the
pleasures of sin for a season, didn't they? There's nothing
new under the sun. Nothing new under the sun. Still
happening today. Occurs even this day in the Gospels
preached and proclaimed, salvation in and through Christ alone is
preached and proclaimed, and many continue in their sin, eating
and drinking and enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season,
just as if nothing will ever happen. But one day judgment
will fall. And what a picture of the judgment
of God. As everyone living upon this
earth, with the exception of those aboard the ark, died. They died. Now think of this. Is not our
God the same yesterday, today, and forever? He is, isn't He? He ain't changed. He ain't changed. He still hates
sin, beloved. And He must punish those who
sin against Him. And the Scriptures declare that
there is a day coming when He will pour out His wrath. when
He will pour out His wrath on those who do not flee to Christ. And this day, this day is as
sure as the sun rising, that it's coming. It's coming. It's sure and it's coming. Now
let us consider, we saw the judgment fall. Now let us consider God's
preserving grace and how it's manifested in the fact that Noah
found grace in the eyes of the Lord, which again is what we
who believe find. We find grace in the eyes of
the Lord. We're no different from anyone
out there except for the grace of God in Christ. That's the
only thing that's made us to differ. God has made us to differ,
only God and God alone. And it brings us low, but then
it fills our hearts with joy as we contemplate, me? Me? Lord, you saved me? Oh, what
a glorious God. What a glorious God. Look at
this in verse five. And spared not the old world.
He didn't spare them. Judgment fell. But saved Noah,
the eighth person, preacher of righteousness, bringing in the
flood upon the world of the ungodly. God spared not the world of the
ungodly, but destroyed them all in the flood of judgment. But
the scriptures declare in Genesis, but Noah found grace in the eyes
of the Lord. Turn, if you would, to Hebrews
chapter 11. Hebrews chapter 11. Noah found grace, grace, God's
unmerited favor. Now there's nothing in Noah,
is there, to deserve that? Because he's a sinner just like
everyone else. Same with us, beloved. There's nothing in us
that we deserve this or merit this. God didn't look down through
time and see you choose him. No, when he saw, because he knows
the end from the beginning, he saw everyone dead in trespasses
and sins. There's none that seek after
God. There's none that understand it. There's none righteous, no,
not one. And by his mercy and his grace, his unmerited favor,
he chose us in Christ, beloved. Oh, what a glorious God. What
a great God we have. Look at this in Hebrews 11, 7.
By faith, Noah, being warned of God of the things not seen
as yet. Verse 7. Moved with fear, prepared an
ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world
and became heir of righteousness, which is by faith. Well, who's
our righteousness? Yeah, Noah looked to Christ,
beloved. He looked to Christ. He's an heir of righteousness.
That's what we are. We're heirs of righteousness,
beloved. So we have it here in our text, during the days of
Noah, God demonstrates his hatred for sin, doesn't he? In the text,
he demonstrates his hatred for sin. And yet we see that he's
manifested his grace in the lives of Noah and his family. My goodness. Now we know, as
the scriptures proclaim, Saving grace was purpose for a particular
people. Turn, if you would, to 2 Timothy.
2 Timothy. And it was purpose for a particular
people before the world was. Before the world was, beloved.
2 Timothy 1, verses 8 to 10. Now think of this, too. You know,
folks often, you often hear people pipe up about man's will. It's
man's decision. Well, we're gonna read a text
here. We weren't even around. So, there goes man out of the
equation. We're just receivers of his mercy
and grace, beloved. We're just receivers of his mercy
and grace. 2 Timothy 1, verses 8 to 10. Be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of the Lord. God's people aren't ashamed
of the testimony. We say salvation to the Lord
is all of him. He's my ark of safety, nor me
his prisoner, but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel
according to the power of God, who hath, what? Saved us. Oh, and called us. God, see,
it's God who saves us. We can't save ourselves. It's God who saves. Who has saved
us? God has saved us. by His power,
according to His grace and mercy, and called us. There's the effectual
call, beloved. The irresistible, invincible
call of God called us with a holy colon. Not according to our works. Very plain there, right? Not
according to our works. And works, works means anything
you can do by physically or in your mind or anything. Anything
that way. Not according to our works. No,
but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us
in Christ. Where? When? Before the world
began. We're receivers of mercy. We
weren't even around, beloved. No one was around. And He chose
us in Christ. Remember, He knows the end from
the beginning. but is now made manifest by the
appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death.
Death has no more sting for the believer. We're free in Christ
and hath brought life. Oh, we have eternal life and
immortality to light through the gospel. This is glorious. This is glorious. God manifested
his grace and mercy to us from eternity, from eternity. And it's not based in anything
in us, because we weren't even around. And as I said, we're
all just a bunch of sinners. But we're saved by the grace
of God, beloved. And He purposed that. He purposed
that. According to His own purpose
and grace, right? Because it's God's unmerited
favor, isn't it? We're saved by grace through
faith. And not of ourselves. It's a gift of God. Not of works,
lest any man should boast. According to His own purpose
and grace. God, if you're saved, if you're saved, God purposed
you to be saved. According to His grace. That
just takes us away, doesn't it? That takes us to a whole place
where we are just in awe of our great God. And this is, the one who chose
us is the one who the heavens can't even contain, beloved.
The one who has all power. Almighty! And He chose us by
His grace and according to His purpose before the world began. My. So God's grace is revealed
to those for whom Christ died. And they are called by God, the
Holy Spirit. And as we looked at on Wednesday,
they're made sons of God. Sons of God. Behold what manner
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
the sons of God. Oh my. Behold what manner of
love. Everlasting, unchanging love. The love of God, purposed and
set upon His people from eternity, that verse over there says in
2 Timothy. Now, let's continue in our text.
Let's go back to 2 Peter 2. And we're seeing an illustration
given to us of God's hatred for sin. And God's righteous judgment
against sin and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. And the
wicked sinful people of those cities. Look at 2 Peter 2. Verses 6-8. And turning the cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes. Into ashes. I was looking at
some pictures when that fire was going on in California in
that town Paradise, I think it was called. And there was smoke
and ashes and there were some remnants of buildings, but you
could see smoke rising and if you watch the videos you saw
smoke rising from the... Well, there's nothing left here.
There's just smoldering ashes. He turned them into ash. Into ashes. Condemned them with
an overthrow. Making an example. Now look at
this. They're an example unto those that should live ungodly. And delivered just lot. Vexed
with the filthy conversation of the wicked. For that righteous
man dwelling among them and seeing and hearing. Vexed his righteous
soul from day to day. with their unlawful deeds. Again, what a picture we have
here of God's judgment against sin. And God's hatred for sin. Our
sovereign God. Remember, the same God who this
judgment fell upon these people is the same God who shows us
grace and mercy in and through Christ. See, a lot of people, they just,
nowadays, all you hear is love of God, love of God. And the
love of God is amazing. But they don't ever talk about
the wrath of God. And God's hatred for sin. And God's judgment that
we'll fall on sin. And this is the truth of the
scriptures right here before us. Right here before us. Our great, sovereign, majestic
God turned the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into smolder
and ashes. Smolder and ashes. And they're
an example for all those who would afterwards live ungodly.
That judgment is coming. And it's as sure, again, as the
next day coming, if the Lord wills it. It's coming. Judgment will fall upon the wicked,
upon sinners. And then we see God manifesting
again His preserving grace. And remember this too, we looked
at this Wednesday night. This is distinguishing grace
too. This is preserving grace, and this is distinguishing grace. Who made us to differ, and what
do we have that we didn't receive? Well, in the Greek, when it says,
who made us to differ, that's who distinguished you. Who distinguished
you from everyone else in the world. family, and friends, and
saved you by his grace. Well, God did that. So we have
nothing to boast in, except boasting in our God, right? In what he's
done. In what he's done. So we see
God here manifesting his preserving grace, and his distinguishing
grace, as before God rained fire and brimstone down on Sodom and
Gomorrah, just Lot, who was righteous in the eyes of God, and because
of the righteousness of Christ, was delivered to a safe place. He was taken out of the situation
before that judgment fell upon those cities. We know what that's
a picture of, don't we? We're in that arc of safety,
aren't we? Christ, before a drop of the rain, which pictures the
wrath and judgment of God, fell upon those people, they were
all tucked in that arc safe. And God shut the door. God shut the door. And then judgment
fell. Well, before just lot, scripture
says, just lot. That means he's justified. And
we know who he's justified in. He's only justified in Christ.
It says he's a righteous man. dwelling in them, seeing and
hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their
unlawful deeds. But before that judgment fell
upon those cities, beloved, a lot was delivered. A lot was taken
out. He was taken out. He was delivered
to a safe place. So we see God's preserving grace
right here. Right here before us. Look at
verse 7 again. And delivered just a lot, vexed
with the filthy conversation of the wicked. And take note
of verse 9 in this chapter. The Lord knoweth how to deliver
the godly out of temptation, and reserve the unjust until
the day of judgment to be punished. God delivers His people. He delivers
His people. This brings forth, speaking of
the Lord's mercy, that our God is able to deliver the righteous,
and we know that we're only righteous in Christ. We know that. We're
only righteous because of what He did on Calvary's cross, and
His righteousness imputed to us. Our sin imputed to Him, and
He bore it all and paid for it all, and His perfect, spotless
righteousness imputed to us. It's the only way we can be called
righteous. He's able to deliver, though,
the righteous, such as Noah and Lot, when wicked men are destroyed. Well, He delivers us, doesn't
He? And then wicked men are destroyed, too. Were the elect angels any more
holy than those who fell? Absolutely not. All the angels
were holy when they were created. Were the elect angels any more
worthy than those who fell? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Did God look into the future
and see which angels would rebel against Him, and which ones would
not, and chose the ones that He knew would be loyal to Him?
Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Why did Noah find grace in the
eyes of the Lord? Why does any hell-deserving sinner
find grace in the eyes of the Lord? Did Noah deserve God's grace? Absolutely not. Do we deserve
God's grace? Absolutely not. Because we're
all sinners. We deserve what everyone else
gets, don't we? But see, we don't get what we deserve. Because
it fell upon Christ. It fell upon our Savior. So are God's sheep any more righteous
in their unregenerate state than goats? No, absolutely not. It's
just that we're sheep of God, chosen by him in eternity. It's absolutely incredible. So
we're no more worthy than those he did not choose. We're no more worthy of this
grace, but God, by his mercy and grace, has saved us, has
saved us. Not because of our so-called
free will, because we know that our will is bound to our nature,
and we know that we're born into this world dead in trespasses
and sins, and we know it's not according to our works, as Scripture
said, what we looked at today, but it's according to the mercy
and grace of God in Christ. So rejoice, you who are the beloved
of God. Rejoice, because this grace has been bestowed upon
you. Upon you. All according to God's free and
sovereign grace. and his unmerited favor has been
shown to you. Isn't it incredible? It's absolutely
incredible. It's incredible. So we see then
salvation again flows from the free grace and mercy of God to
the believer. How? In and through the Lord
Jesus Christ. Always in and through the Lord
Jesus Christ and him alone. And does this not fill our hearts
with joy? It fills our hearts with joy.
It fills our lips with praise for the mercy we've received
from God in Christ. Now our great God still has some
lost sheep, beloved. He's not yet found, but he knows
where they are and he will find them. And the gospel will be
preached to them and they will hear it and they'll be born again
by the Holy Spirit of God. And when the last sheep is saved,
then the Lord will come back in flame and fire and vengeance
on those who do not love him and those who did not obey the
gospel. Turn if you would to 2 Thessalonians
chapter 1. 2 Thessalonians chapter 1. Verses 7 to 9. And to you who are troubled,
rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven
with his mighty angels in flame and fire, taking vengeance on
them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ. who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory
of His power. It's sure coming. It's coming. And listen to the words of our
Master in Luke, chapter 17, verses 28 to 30. It says, Likewise,
also in the days of Lot, they did eat and drink, and they bought,
they sold, they planted, they builded. But the same day that
Lot went out of Sodom, he was delivered out of Sodom, it rained
fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even
thus shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. And
we see it happening even today, right? Same thing. All this we
looked at today is bringing forth that God will punish sin, that
His righteous judgment will fall upon the ungodly, whether it
be the openly wicked who walk in corrupt evil or the false
teachers who hide their evil pride and their covetousness
under a cloak of religion. God's righteous judgment will
come upon them and will fall upon them just as it did in these
illustrations we looked at today. But we also see that our great
God protects and keeps his people, those who are made righteous
by Christ. We saw that today. We saw his preserving grace on
full display. Those who are the special objects
of his grace, that's his elect. Glory be to God. Glory be to
God. Heavenly Father, we thank you
for allowing us to gather together. May you be glorified and magnified
in the preaching of your word. And when we eat and drink, may
we give you glory for all that you provide. In Jesus' name,
amen.