Word@Work 2Pet16 - 2 Peter 2:5
Published: Mon, 08/31/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Forward this message to your friends - they can subscribe at www.wordatwork.org.uk
TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN
2 Peter 2:5 ... if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; (NIV)
Some people wonder how God can be both loving and wrathful at the same time. It is like two sides of the same coin, or the difference between the kind palm and the angry fist of the same hand. Today's illustration from Peter's catalogue of examples goes back to Noah and the flood. You can read the story in Genesis 6:9-9:19. God saw that everybody (apart from Noah's family) had been corrupted to the point of violence, and that there was no hope for them except to be destroyed (cf Gen 6:11-13). Not only would the people perish, but all the livestock as well. But one family and an ark-full of animals survived to start again with God.
But the attractive story of animals in the ark carries only a small part of God's message. The great flood became an important object lesson to God's people; of judgement and salvation. Firstly, God did not hesitate to pronounce judgement on the wicked; however He waited until Noah had built the ark. During those long years of construction, God gave both time and explanation of His intentions to those who would later perish, through Noah who is described as a 'preacher of righteousness'. But Noah's faith did not excite others to join him, far from it. They rejected the message, proving that God's judgement was fair and just. Yet, at the same time, God provided a way of salvation for Noah's family, who benefited because they believed.
All this was to help us understand Jesus. He was God's ultimate way of salvation, of which the 'ark' is just a picture. In Christ alone, the church will be safe in the final judgement, although that will be by fire and not by water (cf 2 Pet 3:5-7). Even Noah was not perfect after the flood (cf Gen 9:20-29). He and we all need the sacrifice of Jesus to atone for our sins (see www.crosscheck.org.uk to find out more). You may say, if Noah preached righteousness and nobody listened, then he was not a good preacher! But the message was right, even though the hearers did not listen. It is the same today. Although many may despise our godly lifestyle and gospel explanations, their refusal to listen to God's Word proves the rightness of their final judgement (cf Heb 11:7). That is why we should keep witnessing to our friends and colleagues while there is still time for them to repent.
Prayer: Holy God. I thank You for the protection of salvation that is mine through Jesus alone; but I am distressed for my friends and colleagues who see no need to repent. Help me to live a Gospel-compatible life and be ready to explain the reason why I am confident of Your mercy, so that others might also enter into Your salvation. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Some people wonder how God can be both loving and wrathful at the same time. It is like two sides of the same coin, or the difference between the kind palm and the angry fist of the same hand. Today's illustration from Peter's catalogue of examples goes back to Noah and the flood. You can read the story in Genesis 6:9-9:19. God saw that everybody (apart from Noah's family) had been corrupted to the point of violence, and that there was no hope for them except to be destroyed (cf Gen 6:11-13). Not only would the people perish, but all the livestock as well. But one family and an ark-full of animals survived to start again with God.
But the attractive story of animals in the ark carries only a small part of God's message. The great flood became an important object lesson to God's people; of judgement and salvation. Firstly, God did not hesitate to pronounce judgement on the wicked; however He waited until Noah had built the ark. During those long years of construction, God gave both time and explanation of His intentions to those who would later perish, through Noah who is described as a 'preacher of righteousness'. But Noah's faith did not excite others to join him, far from it. They rejected the message, proving that God's judgement was fair and just. Yet, at the same time, God provided a way of salvation for Noah's family, who benefited because they believed.
All this was to help us understand Jesus. He was God's ultimate way of salvation, of which the 'ark' is just a picture. In Christ alone, the church will be safe in the final judgement, although that will be by fire and not by water (cf 2 Pet 3:5-7). Even Noah was not perfect after the flood (cf Gen 9:20-29). He and we all need the sacrifice of Jesus to atone for our sins (see www.crosscheck.org.uk to find out more). You may say, if Noah preached righteousness and nobody listened, then he was not a good preacher! But the message was right, even though the hearers did not listen. It is the same today. Although many may despise our godly lifestyle and gospel explanations, their refusal to listen to God's Word proves the rightness of their final judgement (cf Heb 11:7). That is why we should keep witnessing to our friends and colleagues while there is still time for them to repent.
Prayer: Holy God. I thank You for the protection of salvation that is mine through Jesus alone; but I am distressed for my friends and colleagues who see no need to repent. Help me to live a Gospel-compatible life and be ready to explain the reason why I am confident of Your mercy, so that others might also enter into Your salvation. For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
Share Word@Work with your friends - they can subscribe at http://www.wordatwork.org.uk
If you value your free Word@Work, click here to make a donation which will help us to maintain and develop the ministry - thank you!
Your next Word@Work will be sent on
All the 'back copies' for the series in the Bible books of Mark, Ephesians, James and 1 Peter can be found on www.beaconlight.co.uk/email
If you value your free Word@Work, click here to make a donation which will help us to maintain and develop the ministry - thank you!
Your next Word@Work will be sent on
All the 'back copies' for the series in the Bible books of Mark, Ephesians, James and 1 Peter can be found on www.beaconlight.co.uk/email
W@W2Pet16 | Word@Work © Dr Paul Adams 2009 | Provided by BeaconLight | Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk