Pastor Jerry Rockwell SODOM AND GOMORRHA WITH STRANGE FLESH

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

 

SODOM AND GOMORRHA WITH

STRANGE FLESH

Jude 7-8 (KJV), “7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Introduction: With these two verses the study of Jude is approximately one-third complete. There are 25 verses, and this lesson will conclude with verse 8. The narrative moves from “angels which kept not their first estate” (vs. 6) to “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them” (vs. 7) and concludes with “. . .filthy dreamers defile the flesh. . .” (vs. 8). The contrast is evident when you consider that “Sodom and Gomorrha” and “filthy dreamers” demonstrate humans’ occupation with the “flesh.” What motivated the angels to depart from their position in the presence of God can only be drawn from Satan’s preoccupation with taking God’s place. The angels which “kept not their first estate” wanted a part of Satan’s rebellion with visions of grandeur and “doing their will” instead of God’s will. Satisfying the desires of the flesh has a destiny that will not be pleasant, “. . .suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (vs. 8). One source considers that Jude 5, 6, and 7 give “. . .historical examples of personal, moral, and doctrinal apostasy.” The judgment given to these apostates is nothing new. They were “destroyed” (Jude 5), “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness” (Jude 6), and “the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7). These examples should be a deterrent to anyone who has an urge to engage in any of these sinful activities. Jude is delivering a warning to believers of the subtly of sin. It is one thing to know the truth but to engage in evil such as Jude mentions while knowing the truth is reprehensible. One might say that these people did not believe the truth because those in Jude 5 “believed not.” The angels should have known the consequences of their behavior. The people of Sodom and Gomorrha engaged in behavior that could be like we have in the United States now, where children are being “brainwashed” into believing that their gender may not be what they feel they should be. One commentator, Edward Pentecost makes an excellent statement about the heart of men who engaged in these activities. He said:

“Jude’s third illustration, of Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns, serves as a dreadful example of what happens to those who turn from God to follow their own lustful natures. The fate of the unbelievers in those two cities (Gen. 19:1–29) foreshadows the fate of those who deny God’s truth and ignore His warnings. The punishment by fire on the perverse inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah illustrates the eternal fire of hell, which will be experienced by false teachers.” [Emphasis by the author.]

The verses of study engage in a subject that describes the culture in the United States in a graphic way. Very few can ignore the proliferation of the homosexual lifestyle in the United States without asking, do they know how God sees such behavior? There are three things that this study wants to explore. One, “Sodom and Gomorrha” (vs. 7) and “filthy dreamers (vs. 8).” Finally, we should explore what is going on in the culture of the U. S.?

  1. SODOM AND GOMORRHA, Jude 7. When this verse is examined, one should note that there were some other cities destroyed along with Sodom and Gomorrha by the statement “. . .the cities about them.” These cities are noted in two places, Genesis 14:2 and Deuteronomy 29:23. They were “Admah, Zeboiim, and Bela or Zoar.”  Also, note the use of the biblical spelling of “Gomorrha.” Your dictionary will spell it “Gomorrah.” They are the same word and refer to the same activity. To begin this study the believer should want to know three things. One what are the biblical instructions about “Sodomy?” Second, what does the Bible say about this kind of behavior? What are the consequences of this type of behavior?
  1. BIBLICAL INSTRUCTION ABOUT SODOMY. The Bible has some things to say about Sodomy or as the present culture calls it “Gay Lifestyle” or Homosexuality yet recently they have chosen “alternative lifestyle.” The Bible has several passages that address this subject. The following demonstrates God’s view of this behavior.
  1. Leviticus 18:22 (KJV), “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” This verse is straightforward. When a man lies with a man as he would with a woman, God calls it an “abomination.” This is clearly identified as a sexual act between two men. God is not pleased with this behavior.
  2. Romans 1:26-27 (KJV), “26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. These two verses bring women into the act of homosexuality and gives a statement of the condition of those who took several steps to come to the type of behavior they engaged in. These people evidently worshipped the creatures like “birds,” “fourfooted beasts,” and “creeping things.” Besides this they changed “the glory of God into an image made like corruptible man” (Rom. 1:23) of which these things amount to “idolatry.” They “changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen” (Rom. 1:25). A long list of characteristics of these people is stated in Romans 1:29-32.
  3. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (KJV), “9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” Here is a lengthy list of behavior God rejects and they are called “unrighteous” and the consequences is they “shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (vs. 9). One of the behaviors listed is “effeminate” which is identified as homosexuality. This word is defined as “(of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy” (www.dictionary.com). It is worth noting that the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Corinth and describes a long list of acts of “unrighteousness” and concludes with 1 Corinthians 6:10 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. A person can be delivered from these types of lifestyles by the grace of God.
  4. 1 Timothy 1:9-11 (KJV), “9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” Paul is describing to Timothy why God gave the law. That was to convict those who have a lifestyle contrary to the nature of God. The law was given (and used today) to bring a person to understand they are sinners and need salvation in Christ who can deliver them from the aberrant lifestyles described. The law has a purpose, to bring one to the knowledge of sin. Look at Romans 3:20 (KJV), “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” [Emphasis added.] The one way a person can know they need salvation in Christ is to understand how God sees certain lifestyles. Bruce Barton gives four things learned from the Bible about homosexuality and other deviant behavior. They are:
  1. The Bible clearly condemns homosexual sex.
  2. Alongside God’s condemnation of sin is his offer of forgiveness.
  3. Temptation can be overcome by God’s grace.
  4. Like all sinners, homosexuals are called to repent.

The Bible calls “homosexuality” a sin and all sinners are called to repent, even homosexuals. In two of the passages above Paul gives a lengthy list of sins that demand repentance and offers deliverance and life with Christ.

  1. WHAT DOES SOCIETY SAY ABOUT THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR?
  2. The current environment of the U. S. allows the culture, news media, and those engaged in this behavior to determine how this is viewed by society. The culture has renamed things and made them seem acceptable or at least softened the nature of the behavior to the point of acceptance by society. Homosexuality at one time was called “sodomy” in the U. S. There were laws in every state of the Union that condemned the act of Sodomy and even considered it as criminal. Some who engaged in the behavior were incarcerated and some incidents brought the death penalty. Today the sodomy lifestyle is called an “alternative lifestyle.” The word “Gay” is not as offensive to some as “Sodomy” or “homosexual.” The present culture has designed events to promote the homosexual lifestyle and call it “Pride Month” or some form of “Pride.” The homosexual lifestyle has even stolen the “Rainbow” from the Bible and made it their logo. God gave the “rainbow” as a symbol that He would never destroy the earth by flood again. When it rains there is often an appearance of the rainbow when the sun reflects on the water vapor in a way the rainbow is visible. This is an abomination to use something God established as a symbol of a lifestyle God condemns. There is only one lifestyle supported by the Bible and that is a normal relationship between man and woman and never promotes anything close to an “alternative lifestyle.”  God calls the homosexual lifestyle sin. One wonders if the people who thought of using the rainbow as a symbol were not trying to say that God approves of the activity when He does not.
  3. WHAT CONSEQUENCES COME WITH THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR? This is very evident in the matter of “Sodom and Gomorrha” in Genesis 19. It is interesting that when Abram and Lot separated, Lot chose the well-watered plain of Sodom and there is an interesting statement about this area in Genesis 13:10 (KJV), “And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.” Lot was looking at the physical landscape that would be conducive to a prosperous life of raising livestock in an area like that. He never considered the lifestyle that the area was promoting. There is an interesting exchange between Lot and the residents of Sodom about the two angels (appearing as men) who came to warn Lot of the coming judgment on the area. Look at Genesis 19:4-5 (KJV), “4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.” There is a phrase at the close of vs. 5, “that we may know them.” They were not the welcome committee of Sodom and wanted to get acquainted. The word “know” in certain contexts has a meaning other than “to get acquainted.” In Genesis 4:1 it says that “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived. . .” The result was the birth of Cain. The phrase is also used about Adam and Eve in Genesis 4:17, 25 with the result of the birth of a son. The men of Sodom were wanting to have a sexual relationship with these two men not knowing they were angels. What is interesting these angels struck the men of Sodom with blindness where they could not find the door to Lots house and cause more commotion (Gen. 19:11). The rest of the story is catastrophic for the residents of Sodom, Gomorrha, and surrounding cities. When you consider Lot and what was going on in his life you might ask what does God think of a person like Lot and living in an environment such as Sodom? Look what is stated about Sodom, Lot and the results of failing to know God’s view of such behavior in 2 Peter 2:6-9 (KJV), “6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished.” This should be an encouragement to us who live in such an environment.
  1. FILTHY DREAMERS, Jude 8 (KJV), Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. The word “Likewise” connects this verse with the previous one. It has the meaning of “in the same manner” thus an extension of the previous verse about Sodom and Gomorrha. The suggestion is that the current (Jude’s culture) were “filthy dreamers.” In other words, these would be carnal preachers and self-proclaimed prophets. There is an interesting parallel in the Old Testament showing what God thought of “false prophets.” It says in Jeremiah 23:24-25 (KJV), “24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. 25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.” These prophets “prophesy lies” and they say, “I have dreamed, I have dreamed.” Jude may be referring to these prophets when talking about the “filthy dreamers.” It is interesting how their message is characterized. They “defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.” The same parallel is found in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 (KJV), “1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.” In the Old Testament God was intolerant of and wanted His people to be intolerant of false teaching and teachers. Jude is comparing the “dreamers” of the Old Testament who speak falsely with the “filthy dreamers” of his day. It is interesting that we can find the same thing in our current period of history. The “filthy dreamers” promote homosexuality, which “defiles the flesh” of themselves and others, and “despise dominion” speak against authority and even promote rioting and destruction, and finally “speak evil of dignities” when put in a spiritual environment they speak against those who hold to an authoritative scripture. We live in a culture of this nature.

When I started school at the age of 7 (nearly 8) we had prayer and Bible reading in school. Morality was promoted and the United States was known as a Christian nation. No voices were challenging that. Churches began sending their young candidates for preachers to Europe for training. It was a significant step for a preacher to have the privilege to go to England and study at Cambridge University or Oxford University, centers of theological studies, and prepare for ministry. The problem was that they were fed the liberal diet of textual criticism, liberal theology, and other deviant beliefs. Then they imported it to the U. S. The seminaries in the U. S. were seeking to be Prestigious like those in Europe.   

  1. CULTURE OF THE U. S. We have seen our culture be transformed into a sex-oriented, promotion of perverts, and complete removal of standards of decency. This is taught in schools, universities and other institutions of higher learning. More could be said but space and time prohibit.