Genesis 18:16-32 - Stephen Cole

Abraham’s encounter with God as He prepares to judge Sodom and Gomorrah raises two profound questions: How does God preserve the righteous when judgment falls on the wicked, and will God spare the wicked if there is still righteousness among them? These questions are not just ancient curiosities but are central to understanding God’s justice, patience, and the role of righteousness in a decaying world. Righteousness, as revealed in Scripture, is both a state of being—imputed to us through faith in Jesus Christ—and a way of living, as the righteous are called to act justly and do what is right in God’s eyes. Justice, on the other hand, is God’s commitment to correct what is wrong, to bring about what is right, and to respond to the cries of the oppressed.

God’s judgment is never arbitrary or hasty. He is patient, waiting until sin has reached its fullness, and He always judges with perfect knowledge and discernment. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is a sobering example, not just of the depth of human depravity, but of God’s willingness to reveal His judgments so that His people might learn to live righteously and justly. Abraham’s intercession shows both humility and boldness, recognizing his own frailty before God while seeking to understand the ways of divine justice.

The preservation of the righteous is not merely about individual escape but about the role of God’s people as a preserving influence in the world—like salt that delays decay. Yet, there will come a time when the presence of righteousness is no longer found, and judgment will fall. The narrative of Lot’s rescue from Sodom illustrates that God knows how to save the godly from trials while keeping the unrighteous under judgment. Ultimately, it is not our own righteousness that saves us, but the righteousness of the one true Righteous Man, Jesus Christ. We are called to flee from the corruption of the world, to repent, and to find our refuge in Him. The coming judgment is both a warning and an invitation: to trust in Christ, to live righteously, and to proclaim the gospel while there is still time.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Righteousness is both a gift and a calling. Through faith in Jesus, we are made right with God, but genuine faith always leads to a transformed life that seeks to do what is right in God’s eyes. To claim righteousness without pursuing righteous living is to resist the work of the Holy Spirit and misunderstand the purpose of grace. [05:26]
• 2. God’s justice is patient, thorough, and compassionate. He does not rush to judgment but waits until sin has become “immense,” responding not only to offenses against Himself but also to the cries of those who suffer injustice. His judgments are always based on truth, discerning both actions and intentions, and He calls His people to exercise the same discernment and impartiality. [18:46]
• 3. The presence of the righteous preserves the world, but only for a time. Like salt that delays decay, God’s people are a preserving influence, holding back judgment so that more may come to repentance. Yet, when righteousness is no longer found, judgment will come swiftly and finally, as seen in the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. [28:57]
• 4. The distinction between the righteous and the wicked is ultimately made by God, not by human judgment. All will stand before the Judge of the whole earth, and the only hope of salvation is to be found in Christ, the Righteous One. Our assurance is not in our own merit, but in the righteousness imputed to us through faith and evidenced by a life of repentance and obedience. [38:52]
• 5. The coming judgment is both a warning and a call to mission. As long as the gospel is bearing fruit and producing righteousness, God’s patience endures. But when the harvest is complete and no more can be gathered, the end will come. This reality should stir us to proclaim the gospel boldly, to live with urgency, and to seek the salvation of those around us. [31:51]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Abraham’s Questions About Judgment
• [02:05] - Fruit, Salt, and the Timing of Judgment
• [04:52] - The Nature of Righteousness and Justice
• [07:20] - The Depravity of Sodom and the Need for Judgment
• [09:23] - Prayer for Discernment and Cleansing
• [10:09] - God Reveals Judgment to Abraham
• [13:26] - Sodom and Gomorrah as a Warning
• [16:00] - God’s Just Judgment and Compassion
• [18:46] - The Patience and Thoroughness of God’s Justice
• [23:17] - Abraham’s Intercession and God’s Response
• [28:07] - The World Under Satan and the Role of the Righteous
• [31:17] - The End of the Age and the Final Harvest
• [33:38] - The Sins of Sodom and the Rescue of Lot
• [38:52] - Jesus, the Righteous One, and Our Escape
• [41:10] - The Final Judgment and the Call to Repentance
• [42:16] - Closing Prayer and Gospel Proclamation

Bible Reading

Genesis 18:16–33 (ESV) — Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom. And Abraham went with them to set them on their way. 17 The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” 20 Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

2 Peter 2:6–10 (ESV) — 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

Observation Questions

1. In Genesis 18, what reasons does God give for revealing His plans to Abraham before judging Sodom and Gomorrah?
2. According to the sermon, what two main questions does Abraham ask God regarding judgment?
3. In 2 Peter 2, what is said about Lot’s experience living in Sodom, and how does God respond to his situation?
4. What does Abraham’s repeated questioning of God (from 50 down to 10 righteous people) reveal about his understanding of God’s justice?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does God’s patience in judging Sodom and Gomorrah matter for our understanding of His justice today? What does it show about His character?
2. The sermon says righteousness is both a gift (imputed through faith) and a calling (a way of living). Why is it important to hold both together, and what happens if we separate them?
3. How does the presence of even a small number of righteous people affect God’s judgment on a community, according to Abraham’s conversation with God?
4. In what ways does the story of Lot’s rescue illustrate the difference between God’s treatment of the righteous and the wicked?

Application Questions

1. The sermon compares God’s people to salt that preserves the world but only for a time. In what practical ways can you be a preserving influence in your workplace, family, or community this week?
2. Abraham interceded boldly but humbly for Sodom. Is there someone or a group you feel called to pray for persistently, even if they seem far from God? What would it look like to pray for them this week?
3. The sermon warns that claiming righteousness without pursuing righteous living is to resist the Holy Spirit. Are there areas in your life where you are tempted to rest on your status in Christ but ignore the call to live differently? What is one step you could take to align your actions with your faith?
4. God’s justice is described as patient, thorough, and compassionate. How can you reflect these qualities in your own judgments or responses to others, especially when you feel wronged?
5. The coming judgment is both a warning and a call to mission. Who in your life needs to hear the gospel, and what is one specific way you can share it with them this month?
6. Lot was distressed by the sin around him but remained faithful. Are there situations where you feel surrounded by values or behaviors that trouble you? How do you respond, and how can you remain faithful without becoming self-righteous or withdrawn?
7. The sermon says our assurance is not in our own merit, but in Christ’s righteousness. When you struggle with guilt or doubt, what helps you remember and rest in this truth?