More than Lot or Abraham, just Be like Righteous Jesus Christ!

One teaching warns believers to live like righteous Abraham, not like righteous Lot.

The comparison does carry quite a contrast.

Termed a righteous man by the apostle Peter in his Second Epistle, Lot was "vexed" by the wicked behavior of the men of Sodom and Gomorrah:

"And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

"For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)" (2 Peter 2: 7-8)

Lot lost everything, even his own wife, following the terrible judgment that fell upon those wicked cities.

Abraham, however, had a covenant with God, and walked in full awareness of his right standing.

Lot lived by his senses:

"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." (Genesis 13: 10)

Abraham lived by faith:

"And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15: 6)

Now, we as believers are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5: 7)

Yet even Abraham did not walk perfectly in faith, fathering  a child with his wife's bondmaid instead of waiting for the promised child, Isaac. Yet God did not loose Abraham from the covenant that He had cut with him.

Furthermore, every believer must take into account that these patriarchs did not have the Holy Spirit living in them, and thus they did not have Christ Jesus, the Son of God, as their redemption and life --- although indeed Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus' day (John 8: 56)

Today, we have an identity based on the new covenant. We are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 17). In fact, by faith we are made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

When God looks at us, he sees us as His own Son! (1 John 4: 17)

So, beloved, do not worry about being like righteous Lot or Abraham. Glory in your new identity in Christ, that you are a child of God!