February 4, 2001 am

Escape From Sodom

TEXT: Gen. 19:1-17

INTRODUCTION:

A. BACKGROUND FOR THIS.

1 Lot chose Sodom( Gen. 13:1-13 ).

2. Abraham pleads for Sodom's salvation( 18:22-33 ).

B. LOT WAS GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS FOR HIS SALVATION( 19:17 ).

C. WE MUST ALSO ESCAPE FROM SODOM.

I. "ESCAPE FOR THY LIFE." STOP SINNING!

A. REPENTANCE IS DEMANDED OF US( Acts 2:38; 17:30 ).

B. SPIRITUAL DEATH IS THE RESULT( Rom. 6:23; Eph. 2:1 ).

C. SOMETIMES WE ALL BECOME ENTANGLED( 1 John 1:8 ).

D. THE DANGER IS GREAT( 2 Pet. 2:20-21; Gal. 5:4 ).

II. "LOOK NOT BEHIND THEE." DON'T LOOK LONGINGLY.

A. THE WARNING OF JESUS( Luke 9:57-62 ).

1. What about the "good old days?"( Eph. 2:12; Heb. 2:15 ).

2. Did you leave something? Don't look back longingly.

B. JESUS WANTS OUR HEARTS AS WELL AS OUR BODIES ( Mat. 15:8-9; Heb. 4:12-13 ).

C. A CHANGE OF HEART, A CHANGE OF AFFECTION( Mat.6:24; Rom. 12:9 ).

III. "NEITHER STAY THOU IN ALL THE PLAIN." - GET AS FAR

FROM SIN AS POSSIBLE.

A. THE PLAIN WAS A PLACE OF TEMPTATION( Gen. 13:13 ).

1. Sometimes we want to impress the wrong people( 1 Cor. 15:33 ).

2. Sometimes we like to see just how close we can get without actually committing sin( Rom. 12:9; James 4:7-8; 2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Thes 5:22 ).

B. TO BE IN THE PLAIN WAS TO BE NUMBERED AS ONE OF ITS

INHABITANTS. IT WAS A PLACE OF BAD INFLUENCE.

1. We are to be separate( 2 Cor. 6:17-18 ).

2. Both the temptation and our influence on others is important( Mat. 5:13-16 ).

3. We are here to reflect his goodness( 1 Pet. 2:9 ).

4. Sinful associations darken his light( Eph. 5:11 ).

IV. "ESCAPE TO THE MOUNTAIN." - JESUS IS OUR ROCK!

A. IT IS THROUGH JESUS THAT WE ESCAPE SIN( 2 Pet. 2:20; 1 Pet. 2:24 ).

B. OBEDIENCE BRINGS ABOUT ESCAPE FROM SIN( John 8:31-32 ).

C. DISOBEDIENCE BRINGS A FATE SIMILAR TO SODOM'S( 2 Thes. 1:7-10 ).

CONCLUSION:

WHERE DO YOU LIVE SPIRITUALLY?

IN SODOM OR THE KINGDOM?

YOU MAY ESCAPE SODOM BY OBEYING JESUS.

( Rom. 6:17-18 )