The Day of the Lord
Notes
Transcript
As we continue to go through the 2nd Letter of Peter we find ourselves today in chapter 3.
Peter says in vs.1 of this chapter
Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
The purpose of this letter is to remind the believers of the truth and to warn them of false teachers and scoffers.
Today's main point and the title of today's message is “The Day of the Lord” which is the second coming of Christ and the judgment of this world and the unbelievers who have rejected Jesus for who He truly is.
Within that main point we discuss the following:
How to respond to the scoffers,
How to understand God’s timing, and
How to prepare for the day of the Lord.
So lets begin by reading todays text 2Pet3:1-7
Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Point 1: Responding to the scoffers with the word of God
Point 1: Responding to the scoffers with the word of God
Peter gives his readers the reason for their scoffing/mocking:
and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
“all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” That is a lie. They have not continued. They reject the flood account. Peter has already pointed out the judgment of God upon an evil minded, rebellious, God hating, God denying word in 2 Peter 2:5
and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
And now here in vs.5 of chapter 3 he says
For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
Oh how quickly mankind forgets. Generation after generation begin to reject the truth about history. They in fact begin to question its validity. We are seeing that reality today.
So people begin to scoff at Christ’s return because years have passed and it has not happened—everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation. So they maintain that God’s promise is unreliable, and that God’s universe is a stable, unchanging system where events like the Flood, they say it just do not happen.
Peter states there in v.5 that God created the world and the heavens by his word, he judged it by the flood, and he will judge it by fire.
But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
We will talk more about this in a few moments…
Scoffers scoff because they do not believe the truths that are in scripture, scripture that have stood the test of time. Scriptures that have been proven to be true time and time again through geological surveys, archaeological discovers that prove the places and events talked about in the Bible account of these events did indeed happen.
What we see here is the promises of God is being doubted because of His delay. Where is He? Why has He not come already?
And so that leads us to the second point.
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Point 2: Understand God’s timing with the perspective of eternity
Point 2: Understand God’s timing with the perspective of eternity
Why has God delayed in His coming and the final judgment to come?
He is no slow, but is longsuffering towards us, which can mean “patient”
Let me just say right here, Thanks be to God for His patience towards us.” We should have got what we deserved a long time ago.
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
Now the misconception of God’s delay is that we think God is on our time, we need to realize that God is not bound by time. Time means nothing to Him like it means to us. We are always running out of time. For us our time here is short. Time can not be given back once it is gone it is gone. Yet what is time for God. Look again what Peter says about this.
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
A thousand years to God is like a day. Listen to Ps.90:4:
For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.
We need not forget this one thing Peter says. Don’t forget that we are on God’s time and He has appointed everything and I mean everything. Even our own person passing God has appointed.
And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
God is not slow, He is patient, and His timing is perfect. Trust it, trust in Him. If said He would return He will for it is all by His own will it will be.
Now His delay is also related to this reality.
“he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Now we know all will not come to repentance so what does this mean exactly.
Let me just read some passages to you and leave it with that. Perhaps you will see what this means by the Word’s of the Lord
But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
Lets just say no one that is His will be lost. So He is patient, slow in His coming. But when He does come it will be like a thief in the night.
Let us look at the final point this morning.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Point 3: Prepare for the day of the Lord with the attitude of holiness
Point 3: Prepare for the day of the Lord with the attitude of holiness
The nature of His second coming is unexpectedly and suddenly, like a thief in the night.
It will be like the days of Noah and the coming flood.
But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Peter proclaims that the heavens will pass away, the elements will melt, the earth and its works will be burned up.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, And look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, The earth will grow old like a garment, And those who dwell in it will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be abolished.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them.
The heavens will pass away with a great noise. Do I believe in global warming…yes but not the way these deceivers believe in our world today. This event is on God’s calendar of upcoming events and no one can stop it from coming.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
So since all these things will be released, how should we be living our life?
In knowing that the Day of the Lord will come we should live holy and godly lives, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.
This is a call back to Peter’s 1st letter where he says
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
You do that by not living and loving this old world and things of it but instead live separate from it. We are in the world but we are not be of this world.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Now we can not leave todays message without saying something about v.13
Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
Get back scoffers, the Word’s of the Lord are true and faithful. Believe what you wish. I will believe in the Word’s of the Lord.
Conclusion:
So lets summarize the main points of today's message:
We should respond to the scoffers with the word of God,
We need understand God’s timing with the perspective of eternity, and
We need to prepare for the day of the Lord with the attitude of holiness.
Let me conclude with a few final questions to ask yourself this morning.
Are you ready for the day of the Lord?
Are you living in light of his coming?
Are you sharing the gospel with others?
Let us pray
Lord, we thank you for your word that reminds us of your coming and your judgment.
We ask you to forgive us for our sins and to help us to repent.
We pray that you would strengthen our faith and our hope in your promises.
We pray that you would enable us to live holy and godly lives, as we look for and hasten the day of your return.
We pray that you would use us to share the gospel with those who do not know you, and to warn them of the coming wrath.
We pray that you would receive all the glory and honor, both now and forever.
In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.