Good morning,
The death of George Floyd has caused our nation to revisit the discussion on social injustice. Protests over police brutality have been marked by peaceful assemblies and those bent on destruction. The result of the destruction has been looting, crimes against police, and murder. Innocent people, who were just coming back from the COVID-19 pandemic, have been affected.
Why? The root cause of this violence is sin. It is rebellion against God, His purposes, and His love for mankind. Neither side in this conflict seems to recognize God’s control.
However, if you think this is a new phenomenon, you would be wrong. God through the apostle Peter gave us a graphic picture of this two thousand years ago.
This week we will look at 2 Peter 2. We will begin with the root of the problem found in Genesis 3. Then we will see how the false teachers of Peter’s day caused rebellion and destruction. They too were trying to destroy those who worshipped God.
Their doom (2:4-9)
The example of the angels who sinned (2:4)
“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;”
The example of the flood (2:5)
“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;”
The example of Sodom and Gomorrah (2:6-8)
“And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly;7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”
God will deliver the godly, and punish the unjust (2:9)
“The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:”
God is no respecter of persons.
“Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:34-35)
Over the years different slogans have been used to single out a certain segment of society. They want people to know that their cause matters. That they as people are important.
God’s perspective is different. He made it clear from the very beginning that ALL lives matter. He went a step further. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the sin debt for all mankind.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)
There would be no racism, police brutality, riots, looting, or murders, if we all bowed the knee to Jesus, received Him as personal Lord and Savior, and obeyed His teachings in the Bible.
But our society wants to do it their own way.
How’s that working for you?
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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