Dr. Lawrence Butler
The Bridge Church, Pembroke
Lesson 5: Chap.2:4-9 These six verses are filled with deep theological themes that are at best controversial.
There are three examples of judgment coming upon those who fail to be obedient to the will of God. While it is not within the realm of this study to probe deeply into the specifics of their sins, scriptures will be provided that will allow the readers to search for themselves.
However, sin is always punished.
The first example given is that of fallen angels. Their sin is not revealed in this chapter, but insights are presented elsewhere (Isa. 14:9-17, Jude 6: some scholars also place Gen. 6:2,4 in this list).
Disagreements abound about this subject and it is not critical to our salvation to believe one way or another. Salvation comes through repentance and forgiveness of sin from our Lord Jesus Christ.
The second vivid picture of judgment on sin is that of the “old world” in the days of Noah. In other words, when the “flood” came. There should be no argument over the event of the flood.
Archeologists have been reporting for generations the finding of fossils of sea animals in places where no water has ever been to our knowledge, and where these things should not exist. But there they are! Surprise, surprise. The only sensible and realistic answer is the flood which is rto the surface of the earth. Some areas that were under seawater rose above the water to become land, and other areas above the water prior to the flood sunk beneath the surface of the water to become the sea floor. The real message here is not exactly what happened (by the way since I may be completely wrong), but why it happened. It transpired because God brought punishment on sin.
The third example given is that of the infamous Sodom and Gomorrha. We read there was an attempt to abuse the angels who were mistaken for humans, thus affirming the Lord’s description of their sin as being “very grievous” (Gen.
18:20, 19:4-5). However, Ezekiel the prophet also informed us the sins of Sodom were pride, fullness, idleness, and a lack of care for the poor (Eze.
16:49). Then we are told about Lot – pointing out that the Lord can protect the God-fearing even when they find themselves in wicked surroundings (II Peter 2:8-10).evealed to us in the Bible. According to Genesis 7:11-20 the water covered the mountains, and the fountains of the deep were “broken up.” I strongly suspect that there were cataclysmic changes which occurred