Why did God save Lot?

[Qrayze]

(07-03-2012 10:34 PM)pastors wife Wrote:  Sorry, Qrayze! I misunderstood. I got the sarcasm but didn't get the object.

*exits discussion blushing*

No worries

[chris1000bc]

My answer to the main question "Why did God save Lot?" is for at least two reasons:

1. God spared Lot for the sake of Abraham who had made the request that God not destroy the righteous with the wicked (Gen 18:23).

Genesis 19:29 "So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived."

2. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of what will happen to the ungodly, and saved Lot as an example of God being able to rescue the righteous. Read 2 Peter 2:6-10.

It seems that the assumption underneath the question is that Lot was just as wicked if not more wicked than the people of Sodom, so he shouldn't have been saved or they shouldn't have been destroyed. This understanding seems to think that a person is saved or considered "righteous" because of their own actions. However, this view is not Scriptural. Read Romans 4:1-8. In this passage, Paul clearly says that a person is not justified by works (or good deeds) but by faith in God. The example in the text is Abraham who "believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness."

The righteous should sin less but they are not sinless. They are righteous not because they live a better life than someone else, but because they have put their trust in Jesus Christ Read Romans 3:21-26.

[greg]

(08-02-2012 02:26 PM)chris1000bc Wrote:  My answer to the main question "Why did God save Lot?" is for at least two reasons:

1. God spared Lot for the sake of Abraham who had made the request that God not destroy the righteous with the wicked (Gen 18:23).

Genesis 19:29 "So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow when he overthrew the cities in which Lot had lived."

2. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of what will happen to the ungodly, and saved Lot as an example of God being able to rescue the righteous. Read 2 Peter 2:6-10.

It seems that the assumption underneath the question is that Lot was just as wicked if not more wicked than the people of Sodom, so he shouldn't have been saved or they shouldn't have been destroyed. This understanding seems to think that a person is saved or considered "righteous" because of their own actions. However, this view is not Scriptural. Read Romans 4:1-8. In this passage, Paul clearly says that a person is not justified by works (or good deeds) but by faith in God. The example in the text is Abraham who "believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness."

The righteous should sin less but they are not sinless. They are righteous not because they live a better life than someone else, but because they have put their trust in Jesus Christ Read Romans 3:21-26.

Good answer!

[NotUnderLaw]

Short answer - Lot was righteous through faith. You wouldn't know it by looking at him in the Old Testament account of him, but Hebrews says he was (along with samson). Long answer is the same with lots of Bible verses. Chris1000bc did a good job explaining it.

[NotUnderLaw]

(06-26-2012 06:36 AM)elfdream Wrote:  Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt was not because of a quick glance back. It was her desire to return to that place and way of life.

Actually, we don't know that. Perhaps it was her desire to see the judgment of God fall upon people that brought about judgment on herself?

When Peter and John ask if they should call down fire on the cities for rejecting Jesus, Jesus said "you know not what spirit you speak of". It seems to me God desired to show mercy to Sodom and Gamorrah, and probably would have done so for the sake of one righteous, if Abraham had asked, being God's friend.

The truth is, we don't know the motivation for Lot's wife looking back after being told not to. While we can read things into the text, the motivation is not there. The facts are.

The angel said "Don't look back, lest you be destroyed". She looked back, saw God's judgment, and was destroyed. Lot and his daughters looked forward, saw God's mercy in providing a haven for them, and were saved.

Likewise, we should stop looking for God's judgment in our lives and fretting over our sin, and just stop it and look forward to the blessings he has prepared for us, and that we own already, because we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places.

[co_heir]

Grace.

[captain_solo]

(08-02-2012 07:59 PM)co_heir Wrote:  Grace.

^^^yep

[captain_solo]

(08-02-2012 07:59 PM)co_heir Wrote:  Grace.

^^^yep

"Righteous Lot" was clearly righteous because of faith. Says Abraham "believed God" and it was credited to him as righteousness. Lot may not have always been perfect in actions, who is, but he apparently was righteous in the same way Abraham was, through a belief in God. A foreshadowing of the grace we can receive by faith in Christ's work that is effective regardless of a perfect life.

[co_heir]

(08-03-2012 12:22 PM)captain_solo Wrote:  

(08-02-2012 07:59 PM)co_heir Wrote:  Grace.

^^^yep

"Righteous Lot" was clearly righteous because of faith. Says Abraham "believed God" and it was credited to him as righteousness. Lot may not have always been perfect in actions, who is, but he apparently was righteous in the same way Abraham was, through a belief in God. A foreshadowing of the grace we can receive by faith in Christ's work that is effective regardless of a perfect life.

I thank God every day for his grace, because I know that without it, I'd be up the proverbial creek without a boat, let alone a paddle.