The apostle Peter list a few of the righteous judgments of God in order to emphasize the fact that a judgment of God was coming on those who refuse His authority (II Peter 2:1-11). In so doing he speaks of God not sparing even the angels when they sinned, and not sparing the ancient world (speaking of Noah's day) but bringing upon them a flood of destruction. He also speaks of God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing the cities to ashes. The message of God's love and grace are the predominant themes of our day, even to the point of ignoring the righteous judgment of God. It must be the case that Peter thought these events of ancient history had some important message for those living on this side of the cross.

While we would not deny that God created and loved the angels, as well as the people of Noah's day, and the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah, it is also true that those facts did not prevent the righteous judgment of God against those who rebelled against His authority and persisted in their sin.

In Romans 11:19-22 the apostle Paul speaks of God not sparing the natural branches (Israel) because of their unbelief, and even though the unnatural branches (the Gentiles) were grafted into the vine, they should not be arrogant about their position because they to would not be spared if they did not continue in faith. The point being, that branches were not spared regardless of nationality.

Only those who are willfully blind ignore the truth of God's judgment on sin. Even the cross that speaks of God's love and grace is also a statement about God's righteous judgment on sin. In Romans 8:32 the scriptures speak of God not sparing His own Son. This is speaking of the cross and God's judgment on our sin, which Jesus took upon Himself, that He might bear our burden. As Paul says, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21).

If God did not spare the angels when they sinned, nor the ancient world of Noah's day, and if He did not spare Sodom and Gomorrah but reduced them to ashes, and if He did not spare the branches because of their unbelief, and if He did not spare even His own Son who took our sin upon Himself, then who do we think we are, that we can be self-willed, rebellious in sin, rejecting His authority, and somehow we will be spared? When God calls to repentance we should not turn a deaf ear.

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Church News:

Congregational singing on Wednesday, March 31 at 7:00p.m.

Friday Mornings at 6:30 a.m. - short devotional (theme: Mornings With Our Lord) -coffee and donuts served at our fellowship hall... Sunday morning Bible class at 10:00 a.m. continues in Hebrews. Wednesday evening Bible class continues in II Corinthians. Everyone welcome.