Untitled Sermon

2 Peter 3:1–18 (NKJV)

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 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, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 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.” 5 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, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 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? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Be Mindful

Im giving you a reminder...

Because He Loves Us

V:1- Beloved: (Agape´tos) - Its this brotherly love

Let me remind YOU…This book was written to YOU 2 Peter 1:1-

...”To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

He Himself has been a little forgetful at times

Luke 22:34- Last Supper-

Jesus Tells People that he will deny Him 3 times before the roster crows

Peter Says “I will never”…I’d go to my death for you

There’s NO Way Id do that.

Luke 22:60

After following Jesus at a distance Peter Deny’s knowing Jesus a third time

V:60-62- 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

V:61- And the Lord Turned and looked at Peter

Jesus was obviously not that far off that he could actually here the interaction that peter was having...

And He turns and gives him “The Look”

Meme of Stanley from “The Office”

“Really”/ Eye Roll Look

I sympathize with Peter though

Example- of Closing the Garage door or Taking Cat’s Tupperwear to Church

Juliana asks me to do it

I almost mock her because its so simple and obvious....and I really do have a great memory

I don’t do it....

Juliana gives “The Look”

He Reminds us so we are rooted in the Direction Given by God Through Others.

V:2- that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us

V:3- Scoffers- (Mockers/Deceivers)-

Follow this progression that is as old creation itself (Also also Ask---Have I seen this creep into my Life Before?)

3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

Scoffers- Don’t live according to the truth of God’s word but “Their Truth”

What’s true to You...

What is your truth..

The Word of God is our “Truth” plumbline/Level

IN Genesis- Satan’s Lust for power and praise Caused him to walk in rebellion.

4 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.”

The “Scoffers” will try to cause you to doubt the truth of God’s word

Because they don’t value His word as truth, they will try to make you question its truth.

In Genesis: Genesis 3:1 “1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?””

He only said they couldn’t eat of ONE TREE

5 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, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 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.

They are saying that God is not going to intervene and Judge unrighteousness…so live how you want.

“You will live and then die and no consequences will come of your actions”

Galatians 6:7 “7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

Peter is using the of the Flood- To demonstrate God’s Judgement on Mankind

We Also see in the stories Sodom and Gomorra, and Babel that the Lord wants to be worship, honored and revered above all or there will be jusdgement

Those are just cities....Acts 10:1-11- Ananias and Sapphira- The lied about what they “Gave” to God...Ananias dropped dead

In Genesis- Genesis 3:3–4 “3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.”

8 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. 9 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.

The Lord is patient so that we will be repentant

1 Day is like 1,000 years

He is willing to give us time,

In Genesis- Genesis 3:7-13 .

The worlds first ever Blame game was played...

V:12- The Lord called adam “Where are you Adam”…What happened

....It’s because of the woman you gave me

V: 13- The Lord checks in With Eve “The Serpant Deceived me”

He Gave them time because he wanted them to repent…but they blamed...

Genesis 3: 14-23 They experienced temporal consequences on Earth but eternal reconciliation with God

2 Peter 3:10–13 “10 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. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 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? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

Be Prepared

Are you Return Ready?

Yeah, are you ready to go at a moments notice to your eternal home…?

V:10- The day of the Lord-

This in reference to when the Lord will return and judge the earth during the tribulation...

This isn’t a picture or pointing to the rapture...

We know this because it says....and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

This will not take place at the rapture of the church.

Eschatological break-

Pre- Tribulation

Noah and the Flood

He Spared the Righteous

Gen 18- Abraham bagaining with God for Sodom

Starts with 50, down to 10...

Mid Tribulation

Post Tribulation

V:10-as a thief in the night

The Judgement is coming without announcement…so you better be ready long before then.

“Like a thief in the night”

Will come without notice or fanfare....

Hurricane Season in Florida (June to October)

Run to the Store in June to get water, wood, batteries

Juliana’s Parents House

“Hurricane in California”

Rushing/Panicked

Texts- “Should I really be concerned about this?”

V:11- “Therefore”- In consideration of the fact that your “Return Date” is unknown....

what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?

What should your life look like?

Paul is pointing back to the very beginning of his letter....

2 Peter 1:5–11 “5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Let me remind you the Title of our Series “Being Before Doing”

The Lord wants to Work In your BEFORE He Can work through you...

He is asking the question…Who are you?

What is the state of your character....

2 Peter 3:14–18“14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

Be Diligent

Be Diligent to be found in Him

V:14- be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless

1 Corinthians 15:58 “58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Be Diligent to beware

Diligent- To be zealous, To be eager

V:17 beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;

Ephesians 4:14 “14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,”

1 Peter 5:8–9 “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith,

Be Diligent to Grow

Grow in the Grace....Grow and Go!

Hebrews 6:1–8 NKJV

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

Grow in Him…That He is Glorified.

What Tactic of the “Scoffer/Enemy” have you fallen prey to?

Being enticed to live “Your Truth”/What Feel’s good to you

Questioning the truth of his word.

Disregarding the consequence of your actions/believing that there won’t be a consequence.

How have you seen the patience of the Lord draw you to repentance in your life?

What Character Trait can you continue to grow in to be “Return Ready”

How can you grow in your own personal diligence with the Lord?