The Coming Day of the Lord

1. Introduction

Peter has built his case, up until now, to assure Christ’s followers that He will, in fact return.

The false teachers were teaching that the Lord, His prophets and apostles had let them down. They had promised Christ’s second coming, and that had not happened.

Here Peter takes on not only the false teachers, but the mockers, who are saying that they should only believe what they see, that all will continue forever.

With the advent of Christ, the Last days are upon us.

Peter refutes them, explaining that God’s word is true and the Day of the Lord is coming (second coming)

God’s ways are not our ways - He operates in an eternal time frame. He is not slow, He is being patient, giving all a chance at salvation.

Roman Empire slide

2. Review

Peter reminds us that this is his second letter. We studied his first letter, 1 Peter, earlier in the year. He is writing to Christians around the Roman empire

The time frame is AD 62-7.

The apostles are dying off - James, John, Jude wrote their letters before they died. Peter is doing the same.

Persecution is picking up around the empire

Nero is trying to hold the empire together - governmental corruption and immorality are causing it to fray at the edges

Christians are being persecuted - both socially and governmentally

1 Peter is about the persecution from outside the church

2 Peter is about the threats of false teachers in the church.

Chapter 1 - Peter shares his reason for writing. Shares his experience as a disciple and apostle. Defines scripture

Chapter 2- Warning about false prophets and teachers. They seek to steal your blessing

Chapter 3- The coming of the Day of the Lord

2 Peter 3:1–2 NASB95

This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.

3. Purpose of the Letter (vv 1,2)

Explanation

we are blessed to have both Peter’s letters.

Peter wants to stimulate “wholesome thinking” (sincere mind) for His disciples - Purity of doctrine - this only comes from Scripture

Uses “reminder”, “remember” in these two verses. Same Greek root

There were no Bibles, OT Scriptures were only in synagogues and the Temple

Peter is telling Christians that they need to commit the Scriptures to memory

The Scriptures are reliable - men are suspect

There is no immediate indication of exactly what Peter is referring to by the Lord’s “command,” but the context would suggest that it has to do with his expected return.

Robert H. Mounce, A Living Hope: A Commentary on 1 and 2 Peter (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2005), 138.

Argumentation

Many false teachers at the time. They sound good and make convincing worldly arguments.

Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”

The only reliable and consistent truth is in the Word of God.

Illustration

Army tech manuals. Considered “bibles” for information on Army equipment. Not always right, but you couldn’t get in trouble for following them.

Application/Exhortation

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

People can provide good instruction on the Christian faith, but it’s truth can only be gauged by the Bible.

2 Peter 3:3–4 NASB95

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”

4. The Mockers (vv 3,4)

Explanation

First thing: mockers are coming.

This is a sign that we are in the last days

They are driven by their own sin and lust. They don’t want too believe the teachings of Scripture, the Lord and the apostles because they love their sin

Christ said John 14:2–3 ““In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

Argumentation:

They don’t want to believe Christ is coming again, because if they can call Him a liar, they can revel in their sin.

Since Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, nothing has changed and nothing will change. We can do what we want.

They are saying that God does not intervene.

Illustration

False prophets in the time of Jeremiah

Intel flaw - They’ve never done that before…

Application/Exhortation

Mockers are a sure sign of the last days

God’s Word is always true and right. If you are a child of God, be confident in His promises. Don’t believe the liars

Understand it is a choice between the Word of God and the Word of Men

2 Peter 3:5–9 NASB95

For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

5. Refuting the mockers - the truth about the end (vv 5-9)

Explanation

Escapes their notice - The mocker’s argument deliberately ignores the scripture record

The world was formed out of water and by water it was later destroyed, with a new earth emerging

A Living Hope: A Commentary on 1 and 2 Peter (Scoffers and the Last Days (3:1–10))

The universe is not stable. It has not moved along without interruption since creation. In the time of Noah God intervened and destroyed mankind in a great flood. So much for the argument of a nonintervening God!

God is reserving the present world for destruction by fire

the ungodly will be judged and destroyed

Revelation 21:1–2 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.”

Don’t let this escape your notice, beloved

God operates in His own time frame (aeonologe), Different from our time sense (horonologe)

A Living Hope: A Commentary on 1 and 2 Peter (Scoffers and the Last Days (3:1–10)) Not only are the scoffers wrong in their view that God will not intervene in history, but they are also wrong in assuming that he has to act according to their human timetable

He is not being slow, He is being patient.

He wants everyone to have an opportunity to be saved.

Romans 2:4 “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

Argumentation

Mockers build their criticism around half-truths. They omit from their facts those that don’t support their opinion.

One of the reasons there are “theologians” who “mythologize” the Bible is that if they take those myths as facts, it blows up their opinion.

Many will argue from non-biblical sources. Argue from biblical sources

Illustration

Political campaigns - Amplify the positive, ignore the negative or for the opponent, the opposite

Application/Exhortation

Be credible. Use all the facts in your discussion and be prepared to explain them

Christians need to defend their views with the Bible. 1 Peter 3:15 “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;”

6. Conclusions

We are in the end times - the proof is in the mockers.

Mockers only cite those facts that support their opinions/teachings. Consider all the facts.

Don’t let the mockers steal your blessing - bless them instead

7. The Gospel - Being safe from harm

Gospel

Romans 3:10 NASB95

as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one;

Romans 3:23 NASB95

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 5:8 NASB95

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23 NASB95

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9 NASB95

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;