WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.020 Good morning. 00:00:04.339 --> 00:00:08.759 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:08.759 --> 00:00:11.099 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:14.300 Special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:17.900 We're glad that you're here, and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:21.500 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:22.300 --> 00:00:26.240 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced there's no one so good. 00:00:26.959 --> 00:00:30.320 They don't need God's grace, and no one so bad they can't have it, 00:00:30.379 --> 00:00:33.320 which is why we come back again and again to God's word, 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:36.579 because we believe he has something to say to everyone. 00:00:37.599 --> 00:00:41.239 We're continuing our study in the book of 2 Peter, 00:00:41.320 --> 00:00:43.920 and you'll remember that the book of 2 Peter is a letter. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:46.060 It's a letter written by a man named Peter, 00:00:46.519 --> 00:00:51.379 and he writes it to a church somewhere in the Roman Empire in the 60s AD, 00:00:51.539 --> 00:00:55.640 and he writes it with one hope, one goal, that they would grow. 00:00:56.679 --> 00:00:58.260 In fact, that's how he ends the book. 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:03.700 In the very last verse, he commands them to grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:01:04.140 --> 00:01:06.680 Remember, I'm telling you those are the two ways he wants them to grow. 00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:09.079 He wants them to grow in both grace and knowledge. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:12.079 Now, we talked a lot about grace in chapter 1. 00:01:12.460 --> 00:01:16.760 We are now in chapter 2, starting at verse 4, and we're talking about knowledge. 00:01:16.960 --> 00:01:22.520 Last week, we looked at the false teachers and the threat that these teachers make to knowledge. 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:28.579 They were teaching things that were wrong, especially things that were wrong about the second coming, about Jesus' return. 00:01:28.699 --> 00:01:33.060 They are telling people Jesus is not actually going to come back to judge the world. 00:01:33.759 --> 00:01:38.620 We're going to continue that theme this morning as we turn to 2 Peter, 00:01:38.699 --> 00:01:40.459 and so I invite you to turn there with me now. 00:01:40.539 --> 00:01:42.959 Remember, we're in chapter 2, starting in verse 4. 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:46.539 You can turn in your worship guide or in your Bible or in your phone, 00:01:46.539 --> 00:01:53.619 and you will remember that I told you last week our application was to be the opposite of the false teachers. 00:01:54.299 --> 00:01:58.359 So the false teachers teach things that are not correct about Jesus' second coming. 00:01:58.459 --> 00:01:59.819 We want to teach what's correct. 00:01:59.819 --> 00:02:07.759 We want to make sure we're clear about the fact that Jesus is coming again to bring both judgment and salvation. 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:15.620 So, of course, this is going to be something that touches on that very same doctrine. 00:02:15.719 --> 00:02:17.259 Now, I'll mention something as we're coming up. 00:02:17.780 --> 00:02:19.959 So I was looking at this passage, verses 4 through 10. 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:22.500 I realized that I was trying to preach two sermons. 00:02:24.079 --> 00:02:25.759 I realized that's in time. 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:26.259 You're welcome. 00:02:26.259 --> 00:02:31.699 And so I'm not going to touch on everything that's in verses 4 through 10. 00:02:32.099 --> 00:02:34.719 There are some things, especially in verses 7 through 10, 00:02:34.919 --> 00:02:38.479 that I'm going to save and come back to this passage a second time. 00:02:38.679 --> 00:02:42.099 We're going to have to wait until 2021, though, because Advent starts next week. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:46.079 So I'm going to leave you in great suspense. 00:02:46.280 --> 00:02:48.299 We're going to look at verses 4 through 10 this morning, 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:51.459 and then we're going to look at it again in January. 00:02:51.739 --> 00:02:54.519 And so if there's things that I don't touch on this morning, you'll know why, 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:56.820 especially, I think one of them's in verse 5, 00:02:56.880 --> 00:02:59.300 but there's a lot of things going on in verse 7 through 10. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:02.120 This morning, we're just going to focus on two things, 00:03:02.219 --> 00:03:04.780 God's judgment and God's salvation. 00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:09.120 We're going to focus on God's judgment and God's salvation. 00:03:09.219 --> 00:03:11.420 And this is a follow-up to what happened last week, 00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:13.100 because as we talked about the false teachers, 00:03:13.180 --> 00:03:15.660 we were told at the very end, in verse 3, 00:03:16.660 --> 00:03:19.060 their condemnation from long ago is not idle, 00:03:19.219 --> 00:03:21.500 and their destruction is not asleep. 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:25.479 In other words, Peter is reminding these people that while they're not seeing 00:03:25.479 --> 00:03:29.800 and experiencing judgment right now, it will still happen one day. 00:03:29.979 --> 00:03:34.819 And he needs to tell them this because this doctrine of Jesus coming back is under attack. 00:03:35.139 --> 00:03:37.659 And so there's two places these people might find themselves. 00:03:38.900 --> 00:03:40.939 They might be like the false teachers. 00:03:42.039 --> 00:03:45.139 They don't believe that the second coming is real. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:47.819 They don't believe that God's judgment is real. 00:03:47.819 --> 00:03:50.239 And so they think the Christian message is a joke. 00:03:51.400 --> 00:03:53.259 They're telling people it's a joke. 00:03:53.959 --> 00:03:57.840 They're teaching people not to pay attention to what Jesus has to say 00:03:57.840 --> 00:03:59.039 or what Peter has to say, 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:02.419 because they won't have to worry about God coming back again to the earth. 00:04:02.500 --> 00:04:03.879 So that's one category of people. 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:06.799 They don't believe that Jesus is coming again. 00:04:07.359 --> 00:04:11.180 The other category, and this is probably more likely the people receiving this letter, 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:14.400 they're tempted to doubt that Jesus is coming again. 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.860 These false teachers are telling us this is all a joke. 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:21.840 Should we really believe what Jesus and Peter said? 00:04:23.100 --> 00:04:25.920 Is it really worth staking our lives on? 00:04:26.819 --> 00:04:29.300 Are we throwing something away? 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:34.840 By obeying what Jesus taught us, are we going to end up being fools? 00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:36.560 Because he's not coming back. 00:04:36.560 --> 00:04:44.680 And so it's in light of that that Peter is here to assure these people that Jesus is coming again. 00:04:44.819 --> 00:04:46.519 And it's with that that we read now. 00:04:46.600 --> 00:04:49.500 I invite you to read with me, starting at verse 4. 00:04:50.180 --> 00:04:52.540 And remember as we come to this that this is God's word. 00:04:53.579 --> 00:04:58.540 And God tells us that while the grass withers and the flowers fade, 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:01.379 his word will stand forever. 00:05:01.379 --> 00:05:04.680 And so that's why we read it together now. 00:05:05.879 --> 00:05:10.360 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:14.920 and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment, 00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:20.659 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:25.899 with seven others when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly, 00:05:25.899 --> 00:05:31.719 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, he condemned them to extinction, 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:36.019 making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly, 00:05:36.699 --> 00:05:41.539 and if he rescued Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked, 00:05:42.339 --> 00:05:45.159 for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:50.699 he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard. 00:05:50.699 --> 00:05:52.099 Verse 9, 00:05:52.659 --> 00:05:56.240 Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials 00:05:56.240 --> 00:06:00.180 and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 00:06:00.959 --> 00:06:07.759 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:12.599 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:06:14.060 --> 00:06:17.819 Our Father in heaven, we thank you again for your word, 00:06:17.899 --> 00:06:20.360 and we thank you especially this morning that it is clear. 00:06:21.379 --> 00:06:24.979 That you haven't left us to wonder about what the future holds, 00:06:25.639 --> 00:06:27.599 but that you have outlined it for us, 00:06:27.639 --> 00:06:30.560 that we would know how to live and walk in this world. 00:06:31.099 --> 00:06:34.180 We ask that you would use this passage this morning 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:38.719 to increase our confidence in both your judgment and your salvation, 00:06:39.719 --> 00:06:43.539 and that you would use that to increase our hope and our trust in you. 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:47.680 We thank you that that hope and trust don't rely on us, 00:06:48.180 --> 00:06:49.659 but they rely on Jesus, 00:06:49.660 --> 00:06:51.840 and so we ask these things in his name. 00:06:52.680 --> 00:06:52.960 Amen. 00:06:56.980 --> 00:07:00.420 As I have told you guys many times in many sermons, 00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:02.640 one of the saddest things, 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:05.720 most frustrating things for me about moving to Colorado 00:07:05.720 --> 00:07:07.740 in midst of all the joys that we have here, 00:07:07.820 --> 00:07:08.860 the wonderful sunshine, 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:10.840 great outdoor opportunities, 00:07:11.700 --> 00:07:14.020 amazing traffic compared to the East Coast, 00:07:14.019 --> 00:07:19.939 my great frustration here could be summed up in one word, 00:07:21.159 --> 00:07:21.359 hail. 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:27.219 I've told you stories about my experiences with the hail in 2018. 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:31.519 Of course, I got another fun experience with the hail this past August, 00:07:31.579 --> 00:07:32.560 on August 5th. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:34.879 Don't ask me why I remember that date. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:37.699 We got hit again here in 80906. 00:07:38.339 --> 00:07:40.939 And so one of the things I've been working on the last few weeks 00:07:40.939 --> 00:07:43.060 is getting a roofer, 00:07:43.620 --> 00:07:44.920 working insurance claims, 00:07:45.719 --> 00:07:48.000 working towards getting a new roof and new gutters 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.680 and all the things that come along with that destruction. 00:07:50.060 --> 00:07:52.920 We're also working on that same thing with our church. 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:57.439 Now, our church is different than my house in one very important way. 00:07:58.360 --> 00:07:59.199 It's a lot bigger. 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:05.020 Which means our choice of a roofer matters a lot more. 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:07.120 So our deacons, and especially Tom Gearing, 00:08:07.200 --> 00:08:10.980 have put a ton of work into making sure we pick the right roofer. 00:08:11.400 --> 00:08:12.860 The reason we want to pick the right roofer is, 00:08:12.980 --> 00:08:14.879 of course, there's big consequences, right? 00:08:14.900 --> 00:08:15.740 A lot's at stake. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:19.520 If we choose the wrong person, we could regret it for years. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.240 We could be caught up in all sorts of hassle, right? 00:08:22.240 --> 00:08:24.920 And so we have one roofer that we've been working with, 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:27.560 and we haven't committed to this company yet. 00:08:27.960 --> 00:08:29.740 But we are optimistic about them. 00:08:29.780 --> 00:08:31.379 And one of our questions, though, is, 00:08:32.100 --> 00:08:34.100 can you handle this kind of job? 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:37.539 It's okay to trust you with my house. 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:39.840 Are we going to trust you with the church? 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:41.639 How do we figure that out? 00:08:43.060 --> 00:08:45.220 Well, we want to know what their track record is. 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:47.740 One of the things we demanded from this company 00:08:47.740 --> 00:08:49.100 was a list of references. 00:08:49.100 --> 00:08:53.139 We want numbers and names of people we can call. 00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:56.480 We want to know what sort of large buildings 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:57.860 have you worked with in the past. 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:01.340 How can we have confidence that you're going to deliver 00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:03.139 what you say you're going to deliver? 00:09:04.180 --> 00:09:05.720 Because a lot is at stake. 00:09:05.820 --> 00:09:09.300 And so what we're going to do is check the references. 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:13.220 A lot is at stake for the people in this passage as well. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:16.040 Do they believe what Peter is telling them 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:17.459 about Jesus' second coming? 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:20.039 Do they believe that the judgment 00:09:20.039 --> 00:09:22.599 that is going to come upon the world is real? 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:25.480 Peter here gives them one answer. 00:09:26.959 --> 00:09:28.419 Check the references. 00:09:30.319 --> 00:09:32.879 Can God do this type of job? 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:35.299 Is he going to judge in the way he's promised? 00:09:36.299 --> 00:09:38.579 Look at what he's done in the past. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:41.199 Go back and review the data. 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:45.100 Here are the names and the numbers of the judgment jobs 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:47.660 that God has done in history. 00:09:48.160 --> 00:09:51.560 This is why you should have confidence for what is coming. 00:09:52.660 --> 00:09:55.100 And so this is, of course, a follow-up to verse 3. 00:09:55.180 --> 00:09:57.520 And that's exactly what Peter gives them here. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:00.040 He says, God has done similar work in the past. 00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:03.440 You can have confidence for him in the future. 00:10:03.540 --> 00:10:05.480 And so we're just going to go through this morning 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:08.379 the list of references, the names and the numbers 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:10.559 that Peter provides us so that we know 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:13.139 that judgment and salvation is real. 00:10:13.220 --> 00:10:14.720 And so remember, I told you we're going to look 00:10:14.720 --> 00:10:16.299 at the reality of God's judgment 00:10:16.299 --> 00:10:18.740 and the reality of God's salvation. 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.519 First, the reality of God's judgment. 00:10:21.980 --> 00:10:22.860 Before we get into that, 00:10:22.899 --> 00:10:24.539 I want to give you a definition of judgment. 00:10:24.659 --> 00:10:26.360 I've been throwing that word around a lot. 00:10:26.419 --> 00:10:29.039 It appears in this passage multiple times. 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:30.220 In fact, we see it twice. 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:31.600 I want you to look with me. 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:36.399 For verse 4, we're told that these angels 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:38.600 are to be kept until the what? 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:40.639 The judgment. 00:10:41.559 --> 00:10:43.600 Verse 9, same passage. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:46.659 We find out the Lord knows how to rescue 00:10:46.659 --> 00:10:49.379 the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous 00:10:49.379 --> 00:10:53.000 under punishment until the day of judgment. 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:55.419 Now, this isn't the only time we've heard about the day. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:58.000 We also saw it in chapter 1, verse 19, 00:10:58.500 --> 00:11:01.960 where we were told that there is a lamp 00:11:01.960 --> 00:11:05.399 shining in a dark place until the day dawns. 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:07.100 And I told you that this day was the day 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:09.319 when God was going to come and make the world right. 00:11:09.720 --> 00:11:11.959 So, first of all, we're talking about the judgment. 00:11:12.139 --> 00:11:14.159 We are talking about a day. 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:17.419 And this day is going to be the day 00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:20.519 when Jesus comes back to this world 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:22.639 in person as he promised, 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:25.939 and every single person in this world 00:11:25.939 --> 00:11:28.500 answers for what they have done in their lives. 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:32.519 And so, first of all, the judgment is a day. 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:33.279 It's an event. 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:36.759 It is a historical event that's going to come in the future. 00:11:36.840 --> 00:11:38.399 The Bible teaches this clearly 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:42.399 in passages like John chapter 5, verses 22 through 29, 00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:44.659 where we're told exactly what's going to happen. 00:11:46.419 --> 00:11:49.860 Not only is this judgment, however, a day, 00:11:50.860 --> 00:11:53.340 a time where God holds everyone accountable, 00:11:53.460 --> 00:11:55.019 but there's going to be two different outcomes. 00:11:55.019 --> 00:11:57.460 So, at the end of that passage in John chapter 5, 00:11:57.659 --> 00:11:59.779 we're told there's going to be a resurrection of life 00:11:59.779 --> 00:12:01.559 and a resurrection of judgment. 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:03.819 There are going to be those who have faith in Christ 00:12:03.819 --> 00:12:04.939 who are raised from the dead, 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:07.100 and they go on to eternal life. 00:12:07.659 --> 00:12:10.039 There's going to be those who do not have faith in Christ, 00:12:10.120 --> 00:12:11.220 and they're raised to judgment. 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:12.879 That's the day component. 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:14.439 There's also an ongoing component. 00:12:14.579 --> 00:12:17.559 That judgment has a picture to it 00:12:17.559 --> 00:12:18.600 that the Bible gives us. 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:20.980 It's often spoken of as fire. 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:24.639 We're told in Matthew chapter 5, verses 41, 00:12:24.940 --> 00:12:26.899 or 25, excuse me, Matthew 25, 00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:30.039 I believe it's 41, that there's an eternal fire. 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:34.139 So, there's something about judgment that continues forever. 00:12:34.300 --> 00:12:37.139 It's not that those who are judged cease to exist, 00:12:37.539 --> 00:12:42.120 but they experience separation and alienation from God forever. 00:12:43.740 --> 00:12:45.899 And so, I mention all this to clarify 00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:49.480 what it is when we talk about God's judgment. 00:12:49.480 --> 00:12:53.379 We are saying there are two destinations for people after this life, 00:12:53.879 --> 00:12:57.379 eternal punishment or eternal life. 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:59.920 The Bible cannot be clear about this. 00:13:00.360 --> 00:13:02.480 This is the way our confession of faith puts it. 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:03.539 It says, 00:13:03.680 --> 00:13:06.240 The souls of the wicked are cast into hell 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:09.379 where they remain in torments and utter darkness 00:13:09.379 --> 00:13:12.480 reserved to the judgment of the great day. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:18.039 In summary, judgment will occur on a day when Jesus returns. 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:19.639 There will be two outcomes. 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:23.279 Life, you expect me to say death, 00:13:23.480 --> 00:13:25.240 not life and death, but life, 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:27.100 or eternal punishment. 00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:34.039 It's that reality that Peter is giving us the references here now. 00:13:34.120 --> 00:13:35.480 So, let's jump right into the list. 00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:38.740 First of all, reference number one we find in verse four. 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:40.539 These are the first people we need to call, 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:41.539 and they are the angels. 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:45.700 We're told that these angels are being kept 00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:48.820 until the judgment. 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:51.639 Now, I'm not going to go into great detail about the angels, 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:53.700 not because I don't want to talk about it, 00:13:53.879 --> 00:13:56.259 but because these are the exact same angels 00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:57.720 we saw in 1 Peter. 00:13:58.560 --> 00:14:00.560 Remember in 1 Peter chapter three, 00:14:00.680 --> 00:14:03.519 we talked about the angels that were kept under punishment 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:06.080 that Jesus came and proclaimed his victory over. 00:14:06.080 --> 00:14:10.520 We assume these are fallen angels from Genesis chapter six, 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:13.860 and we talked about the fact that God was restraining them, 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.000 holding them back from working evil in the world. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:18.500 Now, if you recall, I gave you the illustration 00:14:18.500 --> 00:14:21.879 about how I used to play capture the flag at summer camp, 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:24.920 and I told you these angels were in jail 00:14:24.920 --> 00:14:25.980 during capture the flag. 00:14:26.940 --> 00:14:28.900 Okay, so the game was still going on. 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:31.020 The angels were restrained. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:32.280 They weren't able to act. 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:34.660 They weren't able to tag people and put more people in jail. 00:14:34.659 --> 00:14:37.039 They weren't able to keep anyone from capturing the flag. 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:39.579 So I'm not going to rehash all of that. 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:41.199 If you want to know all about the angels, 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.639 I encourage you to go back and listen to the recording 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:45.939 of our sermon from 1 Peter chapter three 00:14:45.939 --> 00:14:47.819 that touches on verse 19. 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:53.019 The important part here in chapter three of 1 Peter, 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:55.059 remember the point was that God is in control. 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.959 He's in control restraining these wicked angels 00:14:58.959 --> 00:15:00.259 from Genesis chapter six, 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:02.539 and he proclaims his victory over them. 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:05.059 Here, the point is slightly different. 00:15:05.199 --> 00:15:06.699 Yes, God is in control. 00:15:06.839 --> 00:15:08.079 He's restraining evil, 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:11.839 not in preparation for Jesus to proclaim his victory, 00:15:11.939 --> 00:15:12.679 although that's true, 00:15:13.199 --> 00:15:14.959 here in preparation for judgment. 00:15:16.379 --> 00:15:18.379 Now, this may seem like a strange reference, 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:20.439 but to the people reading 1 Peter 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.959 and the people reading 2 Peter, 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.519 this would have been something common 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:24.860 that they would have discussed all the time. 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:26.539 Everyone would have known about Noah. 00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:29.099 They would have known about the angels. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:30.419 It was talked about in the Bible, 00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:32.219 talked about even more outside of the Bible. 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:33.979 So reference number one, 00:15:34.479 --> 00:15:36.039 God restrains the angels, 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:38.019 the wicked angels from Genesis chapter six. 00:15:38.099 --> 00:15:39.099 He keeps them for judgment. 00:15:40.579 --> 00:15:41.959 If you want to hear more about that, 00:15:42.039 --> 00:15:44.199 we've talked about it in length, 1 Peter chapter three. 00:15:44.599 --> 00:15:46.179 Happy to talk about it more afterwards, 00:15:46.259 --> 00:15:48.879 but I'm not going to dwell on the angels. 00:15:49.339 --> 00:15:50.719 We're going to move on to Noah. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:52.659 So judgment job number one, 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.979 God restrained the angels. 00:15:55.099 --> 00:15:56.379 Okay, reference number two 00:15:56.379 --> 00:15:57.460 that we're going to call. 00:15:58.039 --> 00:16:00.399 We're going to call Noah, verse five. 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:02.059 Now, if you're familiar with the Bible, 00:16:02.200 --> 00:16:03.439 you know the story of Noah. 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:04.960 He's someone who lived 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:07.659 in the early part of the world, 00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.639 the history of the world, 00:16:08.779 --> 00:16:10.960 and he lived in an extremely wicked time. 00:16:11.779 --> 00:16:13.179 The earth was so wicked 00:16:13.179 --> 00:16:15.299 that God decided he needed to destroy 00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:17.000 the entire world with a flood, 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:20.440 except he saved Noah and his family. 00:16:20.519 --> 00:16:22.580 And of course, that's what we see here in verse five. 00:16:22.580 --> 00:16:25.280 If he did not spare the ancient world, 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:28.480 but preserved Noah with seven others. 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:29.420 So in other words, 00:16:29.460 --> 00:16:30.639 there's only eight people 00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:31.860 that survived this judgment. 00:16:33.060 --> 00:16:36.100 God destroyed the entire world with a flood. 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:39.300 He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly. 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.420 And so reference number two, 00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.540 look to the flood. 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:46.259 Look to Noah. 00:16:47.140 --> 00:16:49.259 Remember, God judged the world then. 00:16:49.920 --> 00:16:51.879 He has proven that he has the ability 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:53.159 to then judge in the future. 00:16:54.179 --> 00:16:55.439 We'll talk about this more 00:16:55.439 --> 00:16:56.840 in chapter three of second Peter, 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:00.279 but the first judgment of the flood was by water. 00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:02.500 The Bible frequently speaks 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:04.420 of the second judgment being by fire. 00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:06.960 There's a reason Matthew chapter 25 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.339 talks about an eternal fire. 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:13.140 And so this reference is self-explanatory, essentially. 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:15.240 God judged the world then. 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.279 He demonstrated his ability 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.420 and willingness to do it. 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.660 He'll do it in the future. 00:17:19.660 --> 00:17:23.220 Now, reference number three, verse six. 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:25.720 By the way, when we got references from the builder, 00:17:25.820 --> 00:17:28.080 there's a long resume, all the skills, 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:30.759 multiple names, multiple jobs, multiple numbers. 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:31.860 Right? 00:17:31.940 --> 00:17:33.700 We want more than one reference. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:35.440 We want to know for sure 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:36.960 there are multiple people 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:38.360 who have worked with this roofer 00:17:38.360 --> 00:17:41.180 who can attest that he's able to get the job done. 00:17:42.040 --> 00:17:43.620 The same thing with God. 00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:45.279 We now have a third reference, 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:47.320 verse six, Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:48.759 By the way, all of these are stories 00:17:48.759 --> 00:17:49.679 from the book of Genesis. 00:17:50.579 --> 00:17:52.220 And you'll remember that Sodom and Gomorrah 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:55.599 was a city encountered by Abraham. 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:59.619 And this city had two major sins. 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:03.500 One of their sins was a lack of hospitality. 00:18:04.179 --> 00:18:05.679 Bible speaks clearly about that. 00:18:06.439 --> 00:18:09.500 Their other sin was sexual immorality and perversion. 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:13.359 Both of these sins were rampant in Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:16.900 God finally brings his judgment on the city 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.539 and destroys it. 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:23.180 And we're told that this is meant to be a lesson for us 00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:24.799 in verse six. 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:28.900 So this wasn't mentioned in verse five about Noah, 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:31.119 but there's something special about this reference. 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:33.019 It tells us in verse six, 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:33.819 at near the end, 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:35.839 God was making them an example 00:18:35.839 --> 00:18:39.139 of what is going to happen to the ungodly. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:42.679 In other words, Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:45.740 God's destruction of this city in the ancient world 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:49.299 was meant to serve as a small picture 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:51.059 of what would one day be true. 00:18:51.179 --> 00:18:52.240 And so I want you to think about this 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.859 as a larger concept in the Bible. 00:18:54.399 --> 00:18:55.779 There are places in the Bible 00:18:55.779 --> 00:19:00.200 where we see the future brought into the present. 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.799 There's places in the Bible 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:05.339 where we see the future brought into the present. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.559 So think with me for a minute. 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:09.940 Jesus performs miracles during his earthly ministry. 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:14.899 He's not just doing it to show his power, 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.920 although he is. 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:17.899 When Jesus performs miracles 00:19:17.899 --> 00:19:19.299 during his earthly ministry, 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:21.519 he is giving a small picture 00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:23.420 of what the future will look like. 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:26.580 One day there will no longer be sickness. 00:19:27.580 --> 00:19:28.039 Guess what? 00:19:28.120 --> 00:19:29.340 In this specific instance, 00:19:29.420 --> 00:19:30.460 I'm going to heal this sickness. 00:19:31.759 --> 00:19:33.140 So we have places, 00:19:33.320 --> 00:19:34.800 especially in Jesus' ministry, 00:19:34.800 --> 00:19:36.940 where future salvation and redemption 00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:38.960 is brought into our present reality. 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:42.460 The same is true of judgment. 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:44.680 There are places in the Bible 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:46.980 where the future is brought into the present. 00:19:47.600 --> 00:19:50.500 Sodom and Gomorrah is example number one, 00:19:50.660 --> 00:19:52.600 exhibit A in the Bible 00:19:52.599 --> 00:19:53.879 of future judgment 00:19:53.879 --> 00:19:55.379 being brought into the present. 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:58.139 Here's a small picture of what's to come. 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:01.639 This is the same thing that happens 00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:02.740 when you're at a restaurant, right? 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.579 You might look at a menu 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.819 and it might say something like, 00:20:05.339 --> 00:20:05.959 small bites. 00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.980 Maybe it's appetizers. 00:20:09.799 --> 00:20:12.179 You're getting a small taste of something 00:20:12.179 --> 00:20:14.000 before the main meal, 00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:15.179 before the entree. 00:20:16.459 --> 00:20:18.539 Same thing is true of God's judgment 00:20:18.539 --> 00:20:19.879 and his salvation. 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:22.740 There are small bites that we get. 00:20:23.280 --> 00:20:25.140 Small bites of the goodness 00:20:25.140 --> 00:20:26.040 and the salvation 00:20:26.040 --> 00:20:27.720 and the restoration that's to come 00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:31.520 and small bites of God's judgment 00:20:31.520 --> 00:20:33.100 and his justice that's to come. 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:35.520 Sodom and Gomorrah here 00:20:35.520 --> 00:20:37.340 makes that specific point. 00:20:39.100 --> 00:20:41.580 And so we have our three judgment references. 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:44.359 Now this is meant, of course, 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:46.419 for people who do believe the Bible. 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:47.480 This is meant for Christians. 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:49.059 And so these people, 00:20:49.159 --> 00:20:51.019 I haven't given you any defense at this point 00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:53.480 of the historicity of the flood, 00:20:53.939 --> 00:20:55.379 the historicity of Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.299 If you're not a Christian, 00:20:56.399 --> 00:20:57.019 you might be thinking, 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.119 man, that's great. 00:20:58.359 --> 00:21:00.019 I don't believe any of those stories anyway. 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:03.899 So why should I care about these references? 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:06.320 I can't call Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.280 That was years ago. 00:21:08.340 --> 00:21:10.380 I can't call Noah and the flood. 00:21:10.500 --> 00:21:11.560 Noah's not alive anymore. 00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:13.040 What am I supposed to do 00:21:13.040 --> 00:21:14.060 with this picture of judgment? 00:21:14.340 --> 00:21:14.920 And I'll tell you, 00:21:15.040 --> 00:21:15.860 I'll give you two things. 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:16.420 First of all, 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:19.120 this passage is meant primarily for Christians. 00:21:20.100 --> 00:21:21.300 Peter's writing it to those 00:21:21.300 --> 00:21:22.200 who believe the Bible 00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:23.040 and believe it's true. 00:21:24.400 --> 00:21:25.780 If you don't believe the Bible, 00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:26.980 you don't believe it's true. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:29.040 We don't have time this morning 00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:30.660 to go into a defense of all these events. 00:21:30.780 --> 00:21:32.120 I'm going to give you another reference. 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:37.000 As we look around the world today, 00:21:37.699 --> 00:21:39.259 as we live in this world, 00:21:39.959 --> 00:21:42.339 judgment is what makes most sense of it. 00:21:45.939 --> 00:21:47.479 When we look at the destruction 00:21:47.479 --> 00:21:48.519 that happens in the world 00:21:48.519 --> 00:21:50.219 and we look at nature around us, 00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.559 there is nothing in nature 00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:53.519 that would cause us to believe 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.779 that we can avoid the judgment. 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.359 And I'm going to read you a few passages. 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:59.359 One is from a book by a man named Tim Keller 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.619 who wrote The Reason for God 00:22:00.619 --> 00:22:02.019 and he writes an entire chapter 00:22:02.019 --> 00:22:03.479 about God sending people to hell. 00:22:04.219 --> 00:22:05.899 He ends with this paragraph. 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:08.699 The belief in a God of pure love 00:22:08.699 --> 00:22:10.259 who accepts everyone 00:22:10.259 --> 00:22:11.879 and judges no one 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:14.399 is a powerful act of faith. 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:18.319 Not only is there no evidence for it 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:19.519 in the natural order, 00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:22.579 but there is almost no historical, 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:24.699 religious, textual support for it 00:22:24.699 --> 00:22:25.719 outside of Christianity. 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:28.180 The more one looks at it, 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:30.640 the less justified it appears. 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.819 And I want to hone in on that one phrase. 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:35.620 There is no evidence for it 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:36.779 in the natural order. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:38.559 In other words, 00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:40.819 as we look around at the world, 00:22:41.100 --> 00:22:42.900 we see judgment everywhere. 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:47.079 We see people die. 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:50.339 We see bodies decaying. 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:53.099 We see natural disasters. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.720 We see the coronavirus. 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:58.699 One of the things that I love about Christianity 00:22:58.699 --> 00:23:00.639 is summed up by a man named Francis Schaeffer 00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:02.839 who said that the hand, 00:23:03.399 --> 00:23:06.399 that the Bible fits the hand of reality like a glove. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:10.500 The Bible fits the hand of reality like a glove. 00:23:10.579 --> 00:23:11.039 In other words, 00:23:11.099 --> 00:23:13.319 the Bible makes sense of the world. 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:15.379 Why is it that things are so broken? 00:23:15.699 --> 00:23:17.899 Why is it that we experience disease 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:19.340 and illness and sickness and death? 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:21.540 Why is it that people do atrocious things 00:23:21.540 --> 00:23:22.160 to one another? 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:24.060 Well, of course, 00:23:24.180 --> 00:23:26.400 there's this thing called sin in the world at work. 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:28.480 Of course, the world is broken. 00:23:28.880 --> 00:23:30.660 It doesn't work the way it's supposed to be. 00:23:30.860 --> 00:23:32.960 There's a reason we want things to be different. 00:23:33.080 --> 00:23:34.460 It's because our hearts know 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:37.580 that the world was not created to be sick and dying. 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:40.519 Whether we're Christians or not, 00:23:40.600 --> 00:23:41.780 we long for Eden. 00:23:42.019 --> 00:23:44.019 We long for everything to be made right. 00:23:44.740 --> 00:23:47.540 And we see and experience judgment. 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:52.680 And so we as Christians can take hope and confidence 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:54.640 in what we believe has happened in the past. 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:56.940 If you're not a Christian, 00:23:57.080 --> 00:23:59.200 you should be challenged and chastened 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.759 by what you see happening in the present. 00:24:02.060 --> 00:24:03.880 God's judgment is real. 00:24:06.280 --> 00:24:07.940 Now, I don't have time to read much of it, 00:24:08.040 --> 00:24:10.160 but you'll remember Mark Fairbrother 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:12.680 gave many copies of this book for you to pick up. 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:14.680 The last one was picked up this morning. 00:24:15.280 --> 00:24:16.880 The one who picked it up will remain nameless. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:21.620 But he talks about this reality. 00:24:22.040 --> 00:24:23.880 Part of what we see in the coronavirus, 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:26.140 now I'm not saying that everyone who gets the virus, 00:24:26.380 --> 00:24:28.400 it's because of their specific sin, right? 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:30.200 We've talked about this before in suffering. 00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:32.140 All of us experience suffering. 00:24:32.280 --> 00:24:34.760 It's not necessarily a punishment for our specific sin, 00:24:34.860 --> 00:24:36.980 but all suffering is a result of sin. 00:24:37.800 --> 00:24:40.080 And Piper talks about that in this book. 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:41.920 He tells us, this is in chapter six, 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:45.980 sin, in fact, is why all physical misery exists. 00:24:47.180 --> 00:24:48.279 This is on page 62. 00:24:48.519 --> 00:24:51.620 The Bible does not see this brokenness as merely natural, 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:55.720 but as the judgment of God on a world permeated with sin. 00:24:55.720 --> 00:25:07.620 In other words, when we experience brokenness in this world, 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:12.140 we, in a sense, see some of the future brought into the present. 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:19.580 God is bringing his judgment to bear on this world. 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:25.040 God judged the world with Noah, 00:25:26.180 --> 00:25:28.940 back what Peter calls the ancient world. 00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:31.580 He will judge it in the future as well. 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:36.140 God judged the wicked at Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:25:36.140 --> 00:25:39.740 God will judge the wicked in the future. 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:43.280 He has completed those kinds of jobs in the past. 00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:45.160 He will complete them in the future. 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:49.220 And so we're reminded here, 00:25:50.360 --> 00:25:51.640 if you're not a Christian, 00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:54.620 the application for you is to beware. 00:25:56.600 --> 00:25:58.500 Just because you don't see judgment now 00:25:58.500 --> 00:25:59.820 doesn't mean it's not coming. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:02.540 You will answer to God one day 00:26:02.540 --> 00:26:04.320 for everything you have done in this life. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:07.720 And so your only hope 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:09.799 is in Jesus Christ, 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:11.799 who offers salvation for sinners. 00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.579 If you are a Christian, 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.720 your application is this, 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.859 to hold on. 00:26:20.460 --> 00:26:22.799 God will do what he's promised to do. 00:26:24.279 --> 00:26:26.119 He has done it in the past. 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.339 He will do it again. 00:26:28.599 --> 00:26:30.500 His judgment is real. 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:32.319 Hope on it. 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:35.359 His judgment is real. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:37.539 Your righteousness is not in vain. 00:26:38.779 --> 00:26:40.139 His judgment is real. 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.759 Everything one day 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.799 will be made right. 00:26:43.799 --> 00:26:51.460 And so we see, 00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:53.119 from the references 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:54.460 and from the world around us, 00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:57.139 the reality of God's judgment. 00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.559 And I told you this book, 00:26:59.639 --> 00:27:01.019 this section in this book 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:02.339 is written primarily to Christians. 00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.019 And so, of course, 00:27:03.039 --> 00:27:05.759 we also see the reality of his salvation. 00:27:06.759 --> 00:27:08.740 When we get to the reality of God's salvation, 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:10.079 we have not three references, 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.740 but two references. 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:13.880 We get to skip the angels this time. 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:16.299 They're only an example of judgment. 00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:17.759 We get to, however, 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:19.940 have references of God's salvation. 00:27:20.140 --> 00:27:21.259 First, verse five, 00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.200 Noah. 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:25.720 If he did not spare the ancient world, 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:28.160 but preserved Noah. 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:31.779 God brought his judgment 00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:33.440 and he saw the righteous. 00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:36.380 God brought his judgment 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:38.079 and he saved the righteous. 00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:40.519 And not only was Noah righteous, 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:43.519 he was in an extreme minority. 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:45.619 It was him and seven other people. 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:49.579 And so, as radical as it might sound, 00:27:49.659 --> 00:27:51.119 I want you to imagine for a second 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:53.119 that us in this room 00:27:53.119 --> 00:27:53.960 are the only Christians 00:27:53.960 --> 00:27:54.839 in the world right now. 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:59.439 Imagine how terrible that would be, 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.819 how isolating that would be. 00:28:00.819 --> 00:28:04.939 we would be in an exponentially 00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:06.980 better situation than Noah was. 00:28:09.439 --> 00:28:10.639 The people in this room 00:28:10.639 --> 00:28:12.000 were the only Christians in the world. 00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:13.379 We would be in an exponentially 00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:15.099 better position than Noah was in. 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:17.379 He only had seven others. 00:28:18.679 --> 00:28:20.939 And God preserved him. 00:28:21.279 --> 00:28:22.659 And we'll talk about this more 00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:25.079 when we come back to this passage in January, 00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:26.839 but we're told he's a herald of righteousness. 00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:29.720 Some people believe what's happening here 00:28:29.720 --> 00:28:31.779 is that Noah was actually actively preaching 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:33.039 while he was building the ark. 00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:35.159 He was telling people 00:28:35.159 --> 00:28:37.199 about the hope that he had in God 00:28:37.199 --> 00:28:38.819 and no one would listen. 00:28:39.879 --> 00:28:41.859 And God protected, preserved Noah. 00:28:42.019 --> 00:28:43.359 He did it supernaturally. 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:46.779 And so Noah is a reference 00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.919 of God's faithfulness. 00:28:49.079 --> 00:28:51.099 These people are surrounded by false teachers, 00:28:51.919 --> 00:28:54.480 just like Noah was surrounded by the wicked. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:57.839 And Noah made it. 00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:58.700 God saved him. 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:01.180 Reference two. 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:03.120 Not just Noah. 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:03.900 Verse seven. 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:05.299 Righteous Lot. 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:06.860 Now we won't go into this, 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:08.360 but if you're familiar with the story of Lot, 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:12.299 you know Lot was radically imperfect. 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:16.140 Lot was not a role model. 00:29:17.640 --> 00:29:19.779 I'm not going to go into that this morning, 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.799 but we're told here he's righteous. 00:29:21.799 --> 00:29:25.139 He had, despite all his flaws 00:29:25.139 --> 00:29:26.480 and imperfections and sin, 00:29:26.579 --> 00:29:28.859 hope in God in the midst of a wicked city. 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:33.319 He was greatly distressed 00:29:33.319 --> 00:29:34.879 by the conduct around him. 00:29:36.579 --> 00:29:38.839 He was tormenting his righteous soul. 00:29:39.980 --> 00:29:41.720 And very beginning of verse seven, 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:42.619 God rescued him. 00:29:45.059 --> 00:29:46.419 God rescued Lot. 00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:48.119 It's not just that God knows 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:49.759 how to do the job of judgment. 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:51.779 He's also really good 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:53.099 at doing the job of salvation. 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:56.319 It's not just that God is good 00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.819 at the job of judgment. 00:29:57.980 --> 00:30:01.160 He's also good at doing the job of salvation. 00:30:02.839 --> 00:30:05.039 So the application for us is this. 00:30:05.180 --> 00:30:07.720 God was faithful to Noah and Lot. 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:11.519 They were in the extreme minority. 00:30:13.299 --> 00:30:15.200 God will be faithful to you as well. 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:19.940 God was faithful to Noah and Lot. 00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:22.819 God will be faithful to you as well. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:24.720 God saved Noah and Lot. 00:30:24.839 --> 00:30:26.360 He will save you. 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:29.680 Imagine with me how discouraging it was 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:30.559 to be Noah. 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:34.460 Imagine how discouraging it was 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.220 to be Lot. 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:37.940 More discouraging than we can imagine. 00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:41.799 When we are discouraged, 00:30:42.259 --> 00:30:44.379 we remember their stories 00:30:44.379 --> 00:30:47.519 and we can see the story we're in. 00:30:47.619 --> 00:30:49.220 Remember what part of the story 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:50.159 you're in right now. 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:52.279 They were greatly discouraged 00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:53.659 at times, I have no doubt, 00:30:54.339 --> 00:30:55.740 and God saved them. 00:30:56.680 --> 00:30:59.319 How much more can we have hope 00:30:59.319 --> 00:31:00.099 and confidence 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:01.779 in the midst of our discouragement? 00:31:02.500 --> 00:31:04.380 How much more can we have hope 00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:06.480 and confidence than Noah and Lot did? 00:31:06.859 --> 00:31:07.960 They lived in a wicked 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.960 and unrighteous world. 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.319 As we live in a wicked 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:11.299 and unrighteous world, 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:13.160 we can also look forward 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:15.740 to God's redemption and salvation. 00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:19.579 God rescued them. 00:31:20.180 --> 00:31:21.480 He will rescue us. 00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:22.259 Finally, there's probably 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:23.299 lots of moments 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:25.440 where righteousness didn't look like 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.180 it was worth it. 00:31:27.700 --> 00:31:28.860 I wouldn't be surprised 00:31:28.860 --> 00:31:29.840 if Lot and Noah 00:31:29.840 --> 00:31:30.799 sometimes wondered 00:31:30.799 --> 00:31:31.720 if they were crazy. 00:31:33.640 --> 00:31:34.740 In the end, 00:31:34.840 --> 00:31:35.820 it was worth it. 00:31:38.220 --> 00:31:39.519 They held on. 00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:42.059 God came through 00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:43.759 and delivered them. 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.860 And so for us 00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:47.360 who have faith in Jesus Christ, 00:31:47.360 --> 00:31:48.640 it is on us to trust 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.660 and hope 00:31:49.660 --> 00:31:51.920 and obey. 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:54.200 Remember that knowledge 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:54.960 and grace 00:31:54.960 --> 00:31:56.200 are intimately connected 00:31:56.200 --> 00:31:56.759 to each other. 00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:57.940 The purpose of growing 00:31:57.940 --> 00:31:58.440 in knowledge 00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.720 is to grow in grace. 00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:01.200 And so we're to remember 00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:02.279 everything we were told 00:32:02.279 --> 00:32:03.100 in chapter 1. 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.480 Remember, 00:32:03.620 --> 00:32:04.900 verses 5 through 8 00:32:04.900 --> 00:32:05.980 gave us a list 00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:06.580 of qualities 00:32:06.580 --> 00:32:07.680 to be working for. 00:32:08.320 --> 00:32:09.180 Knowing that, 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:09.940 verse 9, 00:32:10.060 --> 00:32:11.039 this is what would lead 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:11.720 to the entrance 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.700 of an eternal kingdom. 00:32:12.860 --> 00:32:14.180 And so Christians continue, 00:32:14.600 --> 00:32:15.560 like Lot and Noah, 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.519 being faithful 00:32:16.519 --> 00:32:18.279 in an unfaithful world, 00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.800 knowing that God 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:21.079 will come through 00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:22.019 and do what he's promised 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:22.419 to do. 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:25.419 We trust, 00:32:25.779 --> 00:32:26.379 we hope, 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:27.700 and we obey. 00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:30.279 Of course, 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:31.000 our Lord Jesus 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.980 also taught these things. 00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:33.819 He also taught 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:35.559 about Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:32:35.639 --> 00:32:36.940 In Luke chapter 17, 00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:38.359 Jesus says 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:39.680 his second coming 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.839 is going to be 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:42.059 just like Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:32:42.659 --> 00:32:42.919 Oh, 00:32:43.599 --> 00:32:44.799 I wonder where Peter 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:45.559 got this from. 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:48.000 Probably got it from Jesus. 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:49.519 He says, 00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.400 in Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:32:50.740 --> 00:32:51.319 people were having 00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.119 all kinds of fun 00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:53.460 doing all sorts of things, 00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:55.500 and then the judgment came. 00:32:56.660 --> 00:32:57.960 And then Jesus tells us, 00:32:58.339 --> 00:32:58.480 hey, 00:32:58.559 --> 00:32:58.920 by the way, 00:32:58.960 --> 00:32:59.420 the same thing 00:32:59.420 --> 00:33:00.319 is going to be true for me. 00:33:00.700 --> 00:33:01.420 People are going to be 00:33:01.420 --> 00:33:02.460 having all sorts of fun 00:33:02.460 --> 00:33:03.740 doing all sorts of things, 00:33:05.139 --> 00:33:06.299 and then I'll come 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:06.660 in judgment. 00:33:08.279 --> 00:33:09.759 And so Jesus tells us 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.539 this same thing. 00:33:10.619 --> 00:33:10.859 However, 00:33:11.019 --> 00:33:12.099 Jesus does something else 00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:12.559 as well. 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:14.379 Jesus is an even 00:33:14.379 --> 00:33:15.839 greater reference 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:18.379 of God's judgment 00:33:18.380 --> 00:33:19.400 and his salvation. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:21.820 Jesus is an even 00:33:21.820 --> 00:33:23.160 greater demonstration 00:33:23.160 --> 00:33:24.080 of judgment 00:33:24.080 --> 00:33:25.040 and salvation 00:33:25.040 --> 00:33:25.760 being brought 00:33:25.760 --> 00:33:26.460 into the present. 00:33:26.820 --> 00:33:27.100 However, 00:33:27.320 --> 00:33:28.700 unlike Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:33:28.800 --> 00:33:29.440 when judgment 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:30.040 was brought 00:33:30.040 --> 00:33:31.140 into the present 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:31.840 on Jesus 00:33:31.840 --> 00:33:32.700 on the cross, 00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:34.000 it was the punishment 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:35.360 not of the unrighteous, 00:33:35.560 --> 00:33:36.120 but the righteous. 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:39.899 And so judgment 00:33:39.899 --> 00:33:40.479 was given 00:33:40.479 --> 00:33:41.099 to someone 00:33:41.099 --> 00:33:42.399 who did not deserve it. 00:33:43.059 --> 00:33:44.279 And when salvation 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:45.219 was brought in, 00:33:45.859 --> 00:33:46.619 it was brought 00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:48.219 not for the righteous 00:33:48.219 --> 00:33:49.459 but for the unrighteous. 00:33:50.459 --> 00:33:52.099 And so as sobering 00:33:52.099 --> 00:33:52.919 and challenging 00:33:52.919 --> 00:33:54.000 a topic as it is 00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:54.859 to talk about 00:33:54.859 --> 00:33:55.819 God's judgment, 00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:58.739 it is also a topic 00:33:58.739 --> 00:33:59.819 of incredible hope 00:33:59.819 --> 00:34:00.879 because these people 00:34:00.879 --> 00:34:02.419 know it was Jesus 00:34:02.419 --> 00:34:03.639 who took the judgment 00:34:03.639 --> 00:34:04.259 for them. 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:05.359 The reality 00:34:05.359 --> 00:34:06.259 of God's judgment 00:34:06.259 --> 00:34:07.359 was demonstrated 00:34:07.359 --> 00:34:08.639 most importantly 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.480 on the cross 00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:10.440 when Jesus died 00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.119 for our sins. 00:34:11.340 --> 00:34:12.420 And the reality 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:13.380 of his salvation 00:34:13.380 --> 00:34:14.380 was made possible 00:34:14.380 --> 00:34:15.440 and only possible 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:16.260 by his death. 00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.800 And so Jesus 00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:19.420 is the one 00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:20.000 who ultimately 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:20.699 shows us 00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:21.380 the reality 00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.440 of God's judgment 00:34:22.440 --> 00:34:24.019 and the reality 00:34:24.019 --> 00:34:25.579 of his salvation. 00:34:26.739 --> 00:34:27.719 And we know, 00:34:28.159 --> 00:34:28.559 of course, 00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:29.219 in this passage 00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:30.119 we see the word righteous 00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:31.159 show up a few times, 00:34:31.239 --> 00:34:31.440 right? 00:34:31.900 --> 00:34:32.679 Verse 5, 00:34:33.519 --> 00:34:34.360 Noah was a herald 00:34:34.360 --> 00:34:35.240 of righteousness. 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:36.679 Verse 7, 00:34:37.200 --> 00:34:38.139 Lot is righteous 00:34:38.139 --> 00:34:41.280 and yet we also know 00:34:41.280 --> 00:34:42.260 that that righteousness 00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:43.200 is not something 00:34:43.200 --> 00:34:43.800 that earned them 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.860 anything from God. 00:34:44.920 --> 00:34:45.500 We know that 00:34:45.500 --> 00:34:46.000 because of this 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:47.019 very same letter. 00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:48.360 Remember verse 1 00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:49.659 of chapter 1. 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:51.840 To those who have 00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:52.840 obtained a faith 00:34:52.840 --> 00:34:53.639 of equal standing 00:34:53.639 --> 00:34:54.119 with ours 00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:55.079 by the righteousness 00:34:55.079 --> 00:34:56.240 of our God 00:34:56.240 --> 00:34:56.619 and Savior, 00:34:56.740 --> 00:34:57.300 Jesus Christ. 00:34:57.400 --> 00:34:58.000 In other words, 00:34:58.079 --> 00:34:59.059 the only righteousness 00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.720 that matters 00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:00.439 is the righteousness 00:35:00.439 --> 00:35:01.219 that belongs 00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:01.799 to Jesus 00:35:01.799 --> 00:35:03.239 and he gives 00:35:03.239 --> 00:35:03.779 to us. 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:06.519 And so if we have 00:35:06.519 --> 00:35:07.359 faith and trust 00:35:07.359 --> 00:35:08.139 in Jesus Christ, 00:35:08.239 --> 00:35:09.439 we need not fear 00:35:09.439 --> 00:35:10.059 his judgment 00:35:10.059 --> 00:35:11.139 but look forward 00:35:11.139 --> 00:35:11.939 to his salvation 00:35:11.939 --> 00:35:13.459 because he has 00:35:13.459 --> 00:35:14.399 already brought 00:35:14.399 --> 00:35:15.739 future judgment 00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:16.739 into the present 00:35:16.739 --> 00:35:18.000 on Jesus Christ. 00:35:19.059 --> 00:35:19.619 And so the call 00:35:19.619 --> 00:35:20.299 is for everyone. 00:35:20.439 --> 00:35:20.639 Remember, 00:35:20.759 --> 00:35:21.259 there are only 00:35:21.259 --> 00:35:22.359 two types of people. 00:35:22.779 --> 00:35:23.299 This passage 00:35:23.299 --> 00:35:24.000 makes that clear. 00:35:24.099 --> 00:35:24.719 There are the godly 00:35:24.719 --> 00:35:25.439 and the ungodly, 00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:25.919 the righteous 00:35:25.919 --> 00:35:26.819 and the unrighteous. 00:35:27.899 --> 00:35:28.719 There are only 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:29.619 two destinations 00:35:29.619 --> 00:35:30.559 and so the call 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.519 is clear for us 00:35:31.519 --> 00:35:31.879 today. 00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:32.379 The question, 00:35:32.539 --> 00:35:33.039 which side 00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:33.779 do we fall into? 00:35:35.339 --> 00:35:36.279 Are we righteous 00:35:36.279 --> 00:35:37.279 or unrighteous? 00:35:37.919 --> 00:35:38.819 Are we godly 00:35:38.819 --> 00:35:39.659 or ungodly? 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:40.919 Do we have, 00:35:41.019 --> 00:35:41.579 chapter 1, 00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.119 verse 1, 00:35:42.179 --> 00:35:42.779 the righteousness 00:35:42.779 --> 00:35:43.299 that comes 00:35:43.299 --> 00:35:44.259 through Jesus Christ 00:35:44.259 --> 00:35:45.480 or do we not? 00:35:46.759 --> 00:35:48.000 If we have 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:48.819 that righteousness, 00:35:49.019 --> 00:35:49.639 we look forward 00:35:49.639 --> 00:35:50.379 to salvation. 00:35:51.459 --> 00:35:52.819 If we do not have it, 00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:53.919 we look forward 00:35:53.919 --> 00:35:55.859 only to judgment. 00:35:55.860 --> 00:35:58.280 which side 00:35:58.280 --> 00:35:59.460 will you fall on? 00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:05.400 Remember, 00:36:05.500 --> 00:36:05.880 we're asking 00:36:05.880 --> 00:36:06.940 this question, 00:36:08.120 --> 00:36:09.320 why should we believe 00:36:09.320 --> 00:36:10.519 in God's judgment 00:36:10.519 --> 00:36:11.940 and his salvation? 00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:14.120 Now, 00:36:14.180 --> 00:36:14.740 if you're familiar 00:36:14.740 --> 00:36:17.000 with history, 00:36:17.140 --> 00:36:17.640 art history, 00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:18.640 you've probably heard 00:36:18.640 --> 00:36:19.200 of a Renaissance 00:36:19.200 --> 00:36:20.059 painter named 00:36:20.059 --> 00:36:20.820 Giotto. 00:36:21.640 --> 00:36:22.620 And Giotto 00:36:22.620 --> 00:36:24.559 was an Italian painter 00:36:24.559 --> 00:36:25.460 in the late 13th 00:36:25.460 --> 00:36:26.639 and early 14th centuries 00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:27.820 and there's a story 00:36:27.820 --> 00:36:28.840 told about Giotto 00:36:28.840 --> 00:36:29.579 where the Pope 00:36:29.579 --> 00:36:31.380 was looking for someone 00:36:31.380 --> 00:36:32.500 to be his painter. 00:36:33.719 --> 00:36:34.099 And so, 00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:35.019 he commissioned 00:36:35.019 --> 00:36:36.920 samples 00:36:36.920 --> 00:36:37.659 from a variety 00:36:37.659 --> 00:36:38.059 of artists. 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:38.480 He sent out 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:39.139 his representative 00:36:39.139 --> 00:36:40.659 to bring in 00:36:40.659 --> 00:36:41.599 drawings and paintings 00:36:41.599 --> 00:36:42.519 from various people. 00:36:43.219 --> 00:36:43.440 And so, 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:44.279 people would give him, 00:36:44.340 --> 00:36:44.460 right, 00:36:44.519 --> 00:36:45.320 their best works, 00:36:45.400 --> 00:36:46.559 the things that they hoped 00:36:46.559 --> 00:36:47.739 would impress the Pope 00:36:47.739 --> 00:36:48.900 that he would pick them. 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:50.900 Giotto, 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.239 however, 00:36:51.320 --> 00:36:52.619 picked a very different strategy. 00:36:52.619 --> 00:36:55.440 Representative came to him 00:36:55.440 --> 00:36:56.699 asking for a sample. 00:36:57.539 --> 00:36:58.019 He whipped out 00:36:58.019 --> 00:36:59.179 a blank canvas 00:36:59.179 --> 00:37:02.319 and then with just his hand, 00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:02.920 his wrist, 00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:04.799 he quickly flicked out 00:37:04.799 --> 00:37:05.199 a circle. 00:37:06.719 --> 00:37:08.859 And as the story tells it, 00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:10.239 it was a perfect circle. 00:37:11.239 --> 00:37:12.239 It looked like it had been 00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:13.119 drawn by a compass. 00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:14.039 Now, 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:14.799 this representative 00:37:14.799 --> 00:37:15.679 felt insulted. 00:37:16.380 --> 00:37:16.559 He said, 00:37:16.619 --> 00:37:17.500 is that really what you're 00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.400 going to send to the Pope? 00:37:19.199 --> 00:37:20.199 You're just going to send him 00:37:20.199 --> 00:37:21.500 a circle on a sheet of paper. 00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:23.980 Giotto said yes. 00:37:24.699 --> 00:37:24.940 So, 00:37:25.039 --> 00:37:25.860 all of them went back 00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:26.320 to the Pope 00:37:26.320 --> 00:37:27.059 and he examined 00:37:27.059 --> 00:37:27.860 all these different 00:37:27.860 --> 00:37:28.760 wonderful drawings 00:37:28.760 --> 00:37:29.960 and came 00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:31.340 to Giotto's 00:37:31.340 --> 00:37:32.340 blank canvas 00:37:32.340 --> 00:37:33.639 with one circle 00:37:33.639 --> 00:37:34.679 written with his wrist. 00:37:35.840 --> 00:37:36.780 And the Pope 00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:37.440 understood 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:38.900 what the messenger 00:37:38.900 --> 00:37:39.619 had missed. 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.820 And the point 00:37:40.820 --> 00:37:41.480 was clear. 00:37:42.940 --> 00:37:44.360 If I can draw 00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:45.599 a perfect circle 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:46.960 with just my hand, 00:37:47.679 --> 00:37:49.179 imagine what I can do 00:37:49.179 --> 00:37:49.840 when I use 00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:50.579 my whole body. 00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:53.420 the Pope 00:37:53.420 --> 00:37:54.199 realized that 00:37:54.199 --> 00:37:54.920 Giotto was 00:37:54.920 --> 00:37:55.579 the greatest 00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:56.619 of all the artists 00:37:56.619 --> 00:37:57.559 who had sent samples. 00:37:58.159 --> 00:37:58.360 So, 00:37:58.460 --> 00:37:59.340 guess who got the job? 00:38:01.380 --> 00:38:02.159 Not the ones 00:38:02.159 --> 00:38:02.719 who'd sent in 00:38:02.719 --> 00:38:03.599 wonderful paintings, 00:38:03.840 --> 00:38:04.920 but the one 00:38:04.920 --> 00:38:05.799 who had just sent in 00:38:05.799 --> 00:38:06.759 a perfect circle 00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:07.340 with the flick 00:38:07.340 --> 00:38:07.960 of his hand. 00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.340 Brothers and sisters, 00:38:09.539 --> 00:38:10.880 Peter is telling us this. 00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:12.059 God is saying, 00:38:12.739 --> 00:38:13.819 look at the judgment 00:38:13.819 --> 00:38:14.659 that I can do 00:38:14.659 --> 00:38:15.659 just with the flick 00:38:15.659 --> 00:38:16.360 of my hand. 00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:19.039 if that's what 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:19.640 I can do 00:38:19.640 --> 00:38:20.500 just in a minute, 00:38:21.079 --> 00:38:22.120 imagine what 00:38:22.120 --> 00:38:22.860 my judgment 00:38:22.860 --> 00:38:23.860 and salvation 00:38:23.860 --> 00:38:25.039 will look like 00:38:25.039 --> 00:38:25.900 at the end 00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:26.519 of the age. 00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:29.660 Imagine that. 00:38:30.140 --> 00:38:31.120 Hope in it 00:38:31.120 --> 00:38:32.180 and trust in it. 00:38:32.260 --> 00:38:33.360 It will be greater 00:38:33.360 --> 00:38:34.280 than anything 00:38:34.280 --> 00:38:35.059 you can imagine. 00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:36.380 You can look 00:38:36.380 --> 00:38:37.880 at the small things 00:38:37.880 --> 00:38:38.880 that I have done 00:38:38.880 --> 00:38:39.820 in the past 00:38:39.820 --> 00:38:41.500 and have confidence 00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:43.019 in the great thing 00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:43.860 that I will do 00:38:43.860 --> 00:38:44.400 in the future. 00:38:44.400 --> 00:38:46.059 And of course, 00:38:46.119 --> 00:38:47.200 we can have confidence 00:38:47.200 --> 00:38:48.139 most of all 00:38:48.139 --> 00:38:49.480 because of the judgment 00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:50.440 and the salvation 00:38:50.440 --> 00:38:51.680 that we see 00:38:51.680 --> 00:38:52.860 in Jesus Christ. 00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.980 We see how great 00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:54.880 his judgment is 00:38:54.880 --> 00:38:56.400 and how great 00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:57.420 his salvation is. 00:38:58.420 --> 00:38:59.000 And so, 00:38:59.099 --> 00:38:59.420 I invite you 00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:00.059 to pray with me 00:39:00.059 --> 00:39:02.960 for this passage 00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:03.680 from your word 00:39:03.680 --> 00:39:04.160 and we ask 00:39:04.160 --> 00:39:05.019 that you would use us 00:39:05.019 --> 00:39:06.099 to convict us 00:39:06.099 --> 00:39:07.760 of the reality 00:39:07.760 --> 00:39:08.460 of your judgment 00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:11.420 and to drive us 00:39:11.420 --> 00:39:11.960 to hope 00:39:11.960 --> 00:39:12.539 and faith 00:39:12.539 --> 00:39:13.119 and trust 00:39:13.119 --> 00:39:14.000 in Jesus Christ. 00:39:14.000 --> 00:39:14.719 We thank you 00:39:14.719 --> 00:39:15.219 that you haven't 00:39:15.219 --> 00:39:15.880 left us alone 00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:16.679 but you've given us 00:39:16.679 --> 00:39:17.159 your word 00:39:17.159 --> 00:39:18.699 to guide us 00:39:18.699 --> 00:39:19.699 as we walk 00:39:19.699 --> 00:39:20.980 towards that great 00:39:20.980 --> 00:39:21.920 and glorious future. 00:39:22.059 --> 00:39:23.019 We ask these things 00:39:23.019 --> 00:39:23.880 thankful 00:39:23.880 --> 00:39:25.559 that we don't have 00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:25.980 to earn them 00:39:25.980 --> 00:39:26.599 or deserve them 00:39:26.599 --> 00:39:27.239 but we ask them 00:39:27.239 --> 00:39:27.980 in Jesus' name. 00:39:28.360 --> 00:39:28.579 Amen.