Faith Over Perfectionنموونە

Read: Genesis 19:1–14; Judges 19:11–30; Romans 1:16–32

SOAP: Romans 1:16–17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.”

The narrative of the events in Sodom is often a disturbing and sobering one to read. The two angels visited the city in order to see if the wickedness of the people was as severe as they had heard. The lack of hospitality and the harsh treatment of the foreigner by the people of Sodom was an indication of their moral state. Their desire and attempts to abuse Lot’s visitors show the extent of their depravity.

While the wickedness of Sodom is meant to appall us as readers, the wickedness of the people of Benjamin in Judges 19 is even more appalling. The men of Gibeah, a city in Benjamin, a tribe of Israel, had reached the same morally depraved state as the men of Sodom. The wickedness of the Canaanites was even surpassed as the men of Gibeah brutally assaulted a young woman and left her for dead.

The purpose of the narrative of Sodom was to show God’s people how depravity and sin were never far away. Genesis was written to the generation of Israelites entering the Promised Land. This story was preserved to remind them what not to do, to warn them against behaving like the Canaanites around them. Yet only a few generations later, God’s people repeated the same wickedness.

These narratives offer us a warning today. When we walk in God’s commands, not only those we find convenient or advantageous to follow, we have fellowship with Him. When we are influenced by the world around us and begin to walk in the ways of those who do not know God, we repeat the same evils.

The gospel of Jesus Christ offers forgiveness and mercy for our sins. Jesus took our punishment, offering Himself so that we might know God. But the gospel is not complete without the resurrection of Christ, the life we are given in Him as His children. We are to walk in His ways, obedient to His commands. Living a life that is unashamed of the gospel also means living a life that is unashamed to follow Christ’s commands, no matter the cost.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You alone are the only way to God. I believe You died for my sins and have given me freedom. Your sacrifice is enough. I want to live a life that is unashamed of the gospel. Help me see how I may be clinging to things of the world, and help me find freedom from these things in You. Amen.