He Rescues And He Judges
Notes from Lance Shumake's sermon on Sunday, September 14, 2025.
Sermon text: 2 Peter 2:4-10a
If God has brought judgment on the wicked and protected the righteous in the past, then we can trust Him to protect the righteous and bring judgment on the wicked in the future.
God did not spare the angels when they sinned
—For further study - see Genesis 6:1-4
God did not spare the flood generation
Genesis 6:5
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
God did not spare Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness
—for further study - see Genesis 19
God preserved Noah and his family
God rescued Lot, the nephew of Abraham
Neither Noah nor Lot brought anything to the table by which they could rescue themselves or earn God’s favor to do it for them. Their rescue operations were entirely due to the unmerited favor of God, which he shows to men because of what he is, not because of what they are or do. Both Noah and Lot evidently received by faith God’s judgment and instructions, and therefore his righteousness was credited to them. God imputed his own righteousness to them because they trusted him.
—James Shaddix and Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 2 Peter, Jude
Trust God to protect the righteous in all trials
He obviously isn’t suggesting that God gives us a pass on facing any trials. He’s just finished talking about how both Noah and Lot lived among the wicked and were confronted by evil people. Neither is he trying to say that true believers (the “righteous”) never sin or that they never get killed along the way of righteous living. He simply wants to comfort us with the truth that God will protect his righteous ones from committing apostasy. When all is said and done, he won’t let us forsake him
—Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude
Trust God to bring justice and judgment to the wicked
Numbers 14:18
The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.
Let’s pray and study Scripture more than we scroll
Let’s actively guard against false teaching
Let’s stand on and speak truth in all circumstances
Discipleship Questions:
Sermon text: 2 Peter 2:4-10a
If God has brought judgment on the wicked and protected the righteous in the past, then we can trust Him to protect the righteous and bring judgment on the wicked in the future.
God did not spare the angels when they sinned
—For further study - see Genesis 6:1-4
God did not spare the flood generation
Genesis 6:5
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
God did not spare Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness
—for further study - see Genesis 19
God preserved Noah and his family
God rescued Lot, the nephew of Abraham
Neither Noah nor Lot brought anything to the table by which they could rescue themselves or earn God’s favor to do it for them. Their rescue operations were entirely due to the unmerited favor of God, which he shows to men because of what he is, not because of what they are or do. Both Noah and Lot evidently received by faith God’s judgment and instructions, and therefore his righteousness was credited to them. God imputed his own righteousness to them because they trusted him.
—James Shaddix and Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in 2 Peter, Jude
Trust God to protect the righteous in all trials
He obviously isn’t suggesting that God gives us a pass on facing any trials. He’s just finished talking about how both Noah and Lot lived among the wicked and were confronted by evil people. Neither is he trying to say that true believers (the “righteous”) never sin or that they never get killed along the way of righteous living. He simply wants to comfort us with the truth that God will protect his righteous ones from committing apostasy. When all is said and done, he won’t let us forsake him
—Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude
Trust God to bring justice and judgment to the wicked
Numbers 14:18
The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.
Let’s pray and study Scripture more than we scroll
Let’s actively guard against false teaching
Let’s stand on and speak truth in all circumstances
Discipleship Questions:
- In what ways does God’s past judgements for sin encourage us today?
- Why is it a good thing that God is slow to judge and slow to exercise justice?
- In what ways do you think Jesus is like the ark that Noah built?
- How does the rescue of Lot both give you encouragement and warning?
- How can we trust God when his judgement seems delayed?
- How does God rescue and protect us in all trials?
- What does it look like today to stand for truth and speak truth in this culture?
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