The Case of Lot

Man, Sin, & Salvation
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Homer
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The Case of Lot

Post by Homer » Tue May 03, 2022 1:23 pm

In 2nd Peter we read:

2 Peter 2:7-8
New American Standard Bible 1995
7. and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men 8. (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds),


While reading the history of Lot in Genesis it is difficult to see how Lot could have been considered a righteous man.

Abraham bargained with God on behalf of the righteous in Sodom which God intended to destroy. Abraham began his plea "If there are 50 righteous...." and bargained all the way down to ten righteous and went no further. Was it because he knew Lot and his family were not righteous?

In his book "God of Sense and Traditions of Non-Sense", Sigve Tonstad comments:
"In the end, it could be that Abraham's project comes unglued because, in the course of the bargaining, it dawns on him that there are not ten righteous people in Sodom, not five, not even one. The premise on which his argument rests disintegrates. Abraham could have continued lowering the bar until he had reached the number of the household of his relative Lot, six adults, including Lot's wife, his daughters, and their fiancées........

God saves Lot not because Lot is righteous or because God remembered Lot but because God remembered Abraham:

Genesis 19:29, New American Standard Bible

29. Thus it came about, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot lived.


Lot and his daughters make it to safety in spite of themselves, and because Lot is the beneficiary of Abraham's relationship with God. In accordance with the logic of Abraham's dialogue with God, Lot is saved because Abraham is righteous.
Perhaps Lot's case is as Paul says in Romans:

Romans 4:1-8
New American Standard Bible 1995

4. What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4. Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 6. just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
7. “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven,
And whose sins have been covered.
8. “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”


Is our righteousness imputed to us because of our attachment to, and faith in Christ?

dizerner

Re: The Case of Lot

Post by dizerner » Fri May 06, 2022 2:10 am

Homer wrote:
Tue May 03, 2022 1:23 pm
it is difficult to see how Lot could have been considered a righteous man.

It's difficult to see how anyone can be considered a righteous man.

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Homer
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Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:08 pm

Re: The Case of Lot

Post by Homer » Fri May 06, 2022 10:15 am

Hi dizerner,

I see your point.

Homer

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