SODOM AND GOMORRAH
INTRODUCTION
Sodom and Gomorrah represents any place notorious for depravity with its tentacles of encroachment extending to our present day; despite God's warning against it!
Scripture reveals: God rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven; and he overthrew (devastated) those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities and that which grew upon the ground (Genesis 19:24-25).
Sodom; along with Gomorrah and the cities about them, in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication (sexual immorality), and going after strange flesh (homosexuality) are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire (Jude 1:7). It was noted that the men of Sodom going after strange flesh meant men not women; with designs towards detestable and unnatural sin, which is called sodomy to this day.
Sodom and Gomorrah
A Desolate Wasteland
Apostle Peter noted: God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned with an overthrow (destruction), making them an example to those that after (afterward) should live ungodly (2 Peter 2:6).
It was noted that Sodom and Gomorrah; along with three other cities of the plain, were guilty of many other horrendous sins, but homosexuality was the principle reason God poured out His destruction on the cities; completely destroying them and all their inhabitants (with exception of Lot and his family).
Forced to Submit
Scripture reveals: And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know (Genesis 18:20-21).
It was noted that the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great and its inhabitants were oppressed by others, to force them to submit to an unnatural usage of them, of whose cry came to the ears of the Lord calling for vengeance. This indicates that God saw all their wickedness and knew the nature and circumstances of it, what would be required, which ended with His judgment being executed!
Abominable Practices
Scripture reveals: For their (Judah's) vine is the vine of Sodom, and the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter (Deuteronomy 32:32). It was noted that Judah, having a likeness of Sodom in its abominable practices, including pride, luxury, idleness, idolatry, profaneness, contempt of religion, and bodily uncleanness, yet was praised, commended and sheltered under pubic authority.
We are seeing such happening today; embraced with pride and boldly proclaimed with no shame! The prophet Jeremiah, in speaking the words of the Lord, said: Were they (Judah) ashamed when they had committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush; therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I shall visit (punish) them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord (Jeremiah 6:15).
A Small Remnant Not
Defiled
The Prophet Isaiah, in speaking the words of the Lord, revealed: Except the Lord of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom and we should have been like Gomorrah. Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah (Isaiah 1:9-10).
Isaiah addressed the people of Judah as if they were the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. It was noted that except the Lord of hosts had left a very small remnant refers to those wicked times, had reserved a few (Lot and his family) from being defiled.
Acceptance Coming
into Focus
The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah have abundantly came into focus in these latter days; acceptability that would have been condemned in earlier years, with even some churches allowing tolerance of such rather than stand for God's Unadulterated (pure) Word that condemns such actions!
Apostle Paul noted: God gave them (those outside His realm of grace) up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their bodies between themselves. Who changed (exchanged) the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever (Romans 1:24-25).
Given Up to Vile
Affections
Apostle Paul continued in saying: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change (exchange) the natural use into (for) that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly (shameful), and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet (due).
And as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate (debased) mind, to do those things which are not convenient (fitting); being filled with (the results of their withdrawal from godly virtues) all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate (strife), deceit, malignity (evil-mindedness); whispers, backbiters, haters of God, spiteful (violent), proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedience to parents (Romans 1:26-30).
It was noted that God lets them do what they want to do; delivering them over to the natural result of their unbelief and action. God gave them up to all forms of uncleanness and its consequent actions. God gave them up to all forms of sexual depravity and its consequent actions; and God gave them over to a mind that would not retain Him in its knowledge and its consequent actions.
Controlled by the World
We are seeing the results of allowing a Sodom and Gomorrah setting to come into focus: with those who take a stand for godly virtues becoming an open target by those who embrace the ungodliness of man; with the Unadulterated (Pure) Word of God being ignored, and a new Social Gospel introduced which does not condemn sin!
If one fails to adhere to the Word of God; that of His Spirit, they become as a puppet Christian controlled by the puppeteer (the world) rather than being under the influence of God's Word. A new wave of instructional teaching, to undermine God's Word, is being offered.
Ungodly Persuasion
The Apostle Paul wrote: You did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion comes not of him (Jesus) that called you (Galatians 5:7-8). It was noted you did run well shows that the Galatians were making good progress spiritually until persuaders of a different sort hindered them.
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, a young evangelist: Evil men and seducers shall wax (grow) worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived, but continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them (2 Timothy 3:14). We are seeing an erosion of the past; due to a new generation of believers coming into focus that no longer adheres to the traditional teaching of yesteryear!
Delivering False
Doctrines
The Prophet Jeremiah wrote: I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem (false prophets) a horrible thing: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evildoers, that none does return (turn back) from his wickedness; they are all of them to me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah (Jeremiah 23:14).
It was noted that Jeremiah seen the false prophets of Jerusalem doing an horrible thing, where the Temple was, where the pure worship of God was professed to be observed; by committing adultery and speaking lies, delivering false doctrines, in the name of the Lord, strengthened the hands of evildoers, so that none turn away from wickedness.
Rejection of the Gospel
Message
Jesus instructed His disciples: Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when you depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city (Matthew 10:14-15).
It was noted that a house or city that treats with contempt the doctrines of the Gospel, giving no credit to such but rejecting it, the disciples were to shake off the dust of their feet, which would rise up in judgment against them, and declare that the Gospel had been preached to them was rejected.
Though Sodom and Gomorrah's judgment was tremendous, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire, their punishment would be milder, and more tolerable, than the inhabitants of that house or city whom the disciples had shaken off the dust of their feet; for their refusal to receive the Gospel message!
A Choice is Given
Scripture reveals: God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believes on him (the Lord Jesus Christ) is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16-18). Apostle John wrote: He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides (remains) on him (John 3:36).
Apostle Paul noted: Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Jesus extended an invitation to all of mankind, in saying: I stand at the door and knock (the door of your heart): if any man hear my voice, and open the door (only you can); I will come in to him, and will sup (dine) with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20).
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