2 Peter 2:3b-10a

2 Peter 2:3b-10a

The Only Just Judge

I. God alone is the eternal and just judge of all creation; so we must trust Him with our lives, because He’s proven His just judgment in the past (Vv. 3b-8)

a. God must be counted on to judge justly because He’s always done so. Peter provides three illustrations, in an “if-then” proposition, that demonstrate God’s consistent and flawless just judgment to punish the unrighteous and preserve His righteous ones. (v. 3b; Gen. 3:13-15; Ps. 121:3-4; Isa. 8:19-21; 28:14-17; Jer. 9:6-9; 14:13-16; Zeph. 3:1-8; Jude 4; Rev. 21:8, 27)

b. First, we see God’s past judgment on the angels who rebelled against Him. Through this example, Peter points out the extreme danger of Satan’s lies. If angels, spiritual beings, in the direct presence of God, can still succumb to the lies of Satan, how vulnerable are we? But he also reminds us, that those angels who stood firmly in God’s truth, didn’t fall into the trap of lies, and are preserved in God’s presence, even today. Those whom He judged were removed from contact with His creation, but He holds them in bondage for His Day of final judgment. God’s just judgment is certain, but it comes in His time, and while He’ll be faithful to punish the wicked, whether spiritual or physical, He’s also faithful to preserve the righteous from punishment. (v. 4; Gen. 3:1-6; 6:1-4; Isa. 14:12-14; Ezek. 28:11-19; Luke 10:18; John 8:42-45; Jude 6; Rev. 12:7-9)

c. Next, we see God’s judgment of the whole earth through flood. Humanity had become rampant with idolatry, violence, and utter wickedness; completely rejecting God. But Noah, although no perfect, found favor with God because he had a heart to know and follow God, he led his family to do the same, and he stood out against the wicked world around him. But the road to preservation was not easy for Noah and his family, as they invested over 100 years of their lives building a giant boat in the middle of the desert, a hundred miles from water, all while predicting a flood in the complete absence of rain. God’s flood testifies to His final judgment through fire, as rampant wickedness continues to grow in the world today. But God sets His people apart, and promises to be with them, even though they suffer for Him. (v. 5; Gen. 6-8; Exod. 8:22; 9:4; 11:7; Lev. 10:8-11; 11:44-47; 20:22-26; Lam. 3:20-26; Ezek. 22:26; Luke 17:26-29; John 17:13-17; Rom. 3:22-23; 10:12-13; Col. 3:11; Heb. 11:7; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 3:10)

d. Lastly, we see God’s just judgment through His actions against Sodom and Gomorrah, and in the life of Lot. The cities had grown into wicked centers of idolatry, licentiousness, revelry, and greed. Lot had made the choice to move his family, herds, and tents to Sodom. God judged the cities, wiping them off the face of the earth, but He rescued “righteous lot”. Lot proved hospitable to God’s messengers, and was ultimately obedient, even if with major faults. God could see Lot’s heart, and He knew that even though he was becoming desensitized to sin, it still troubled his heart because it belonged to God. God’s judgment is just, right, and certain, and we must trust Him, and listen to Him for direction in life, even though we’re tortured in spirit as humanity grows more wicked. We must remain distinct in the world. (Vv. 6-8; Gen. 13:5-13; 18:17-19:29; 30-38; Ezek. 9:4-5; 16:49; Matt. 5:13-16; 1 Cor. 6:18; 10:14; 1 Thess. 4:1-8; 1 Tim. 6:6-11; 2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Pet. 4:3; Jude 7)

II. God alone is the eternal and just judge of all creation; so we must trust Him with our lives, because He still provides His just judgment today and forever (Vv. 9-10a)

a. The just judgment of God alone, can be trusted, because if He’s been faithful to condemn and rescue in the past, then we have the same assurance and confidence today that God, in His just judgment, will rescue His godly ones from temptation, and leave the rebellious and unrepentant in the sin which they choose, holding them eternally accountable. God’s track record testifies to His sure and just judgment to ultimately deliver His people, but not necessarily without the difficulty of external trials in life. We can trust His perfect and just judgment to do what’s most glorifying to Him and the greatest eternal good for us, not because we earn it, but because we trust in Christ in repentant faith. God is gracious, merciful, and longsuffering, because He desires those in rebellion to have time and opportunity to turn to Him for forgiveness and redemption. The lives of His people are a part of His great plan, even when we endure hardship. We must be faithful to trust His just judgment, and stay the course He set before us, being blessed through His work in this life and utterly in awe of our eternal glory in Him. (Vv. 9-10a; Gen. 15:6, 13-16; 18:25; Exod. 34:6-7; Ps. 86:15; Luke 21:16-19; John 15:18-20; Acts 17:30-31; Rom. 1:24-32; 5:1-5; 8:18, 28-39; 9:22-24; 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 10:13; Phil. 3:7-11; 1 Tim. 1:16; 2:3-6; Heb. 9:27; Jas. 1:1-8; 1 Pet. 1:6-9; 3:18-20; 4:4-5; 2 Pet. 3:7-9; Jude 7-8; Rev. 2:10; 3:10; 20:14-15)