That’s Messed Up: A Series about Sin and Redemption in Genesis – Lot | Half-heartedness (Genesis 19)

Genesis 19

1 Corinthians 10:11 // 2 Peter 2:7-8

Sins of ‘half-heartedness’ are committed when the heart is conflicted between genuine faith in God and lingering love for the world.

“If we only had the Old Testament we would never have imagined that Lot was a true believer. But Peter tells us that this conflicted, compromised little man was “righteous,” and that he was distressed and tormented by life in Sodom. Ironically, though Lot was revolted by Sodom, Sodom was in his soul. It is possible, then, to be distressed by the world while hanging on to it for dear life… So we see that it is possible for believing people like us who are truly distressed by the course of this world to live lives that are so profoundly influenced by culture that Sodom is reborn in the lives of those we love the most.” — Kent Hughes

The category of half-hearted faith is indiscernible from nominal faith because it is consumed by the cares, riches and pleasures of the world and thus should not console us but serve as a warning to us.

Luke 8:14 // 1 Corinthians 3:15

Heart Assessment Questions:

Romans 12:2 // James 4:4 // 2 Timothy 4:10 // 1 John 2:15

1) Do you consider Jesus to be Savior and LORD?

Luke 6:46

2) Is your life in any way characterized by self-denial?

Mark 8:34-35

3) Is your faith producing fruit?

Luke 6:43-45