Wait for the Day of the Lord

Intro

It’s never fun when someone makes fun of you

School kids can be GREATLY creative in this way

Share Silas’ latest “liar, liar” chant

If we think that we leave ridicule behind as adults, life tends to disappoint us

We move on from shallow chants to more subtle ways of demeaning others

Can often lead to an erosion of self worth and confidence

The NT writers are pretty confident that Christ-followers will be ridiculed and mocked for what they believe

It happened to Jesus; His disciples; the early church; the second generation (like in 2 Peter)

Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:11 ““Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

How can we be “blessed” instead of lose confidence when our faith is mocked?

Peter calls us (once again) back to the truth of God’s promises; they WILL happen, regardless of whether or not people choose to believe

Read 2 Peter 3:1-2.

Peter is writing his second letter to stir up a reminder to trust in the predictions of the prophets and commandment of the Lord through the apostles

These are the sources of trustworthy truth (OT and apostles)

As opposed to false teaching that says otherwise

What is declared in these trustworthy sources will come true

Even as the same false teachers make fun of the promises

Scoffing Scoffers

“Scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing...”

Read 2 Peter 3:3.

Scoffing Scoffers! Peter is using repition to drive his point home:

During the last days = time in between first advent and second advent of Jesus

There will be those who will mock the faith

In particular, the promise that Jesus will return again

You can expect it! Jesus did, the early church did, and we do too

Talk about social media being a new place to experience this; “someone is wrong on the internet”

For Peter’s audience, it was the false teachers living according to their own sinful desires

Led to denying authority of Jesus and His return/judgment

They wanted to live according to their desires, so they removed judgment from their theology

Truly a faith that said, “eat, drink and be merry!” There are no consequences!

Not just denial, but an active mockery of those waiting for Jesus to return

Read 2 Peter 3:4.

“Where is the promise of his coming?” = I don’t see Jesus coming back!

There was an expectation for many in the early church that Jesus would return DURING their lifetime

“Since the fathers fell asleep” = refer to the fact that the first generation passed away… and Jesus still had not returned

Coupled with the initial expectation, it easily cast doubt on the promise and left it open for mockery

“All things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation” = business as usual

There is no current indication Jesus is coming back; everything is normal; I will live the way that I see fit

The scoffers overlook the truth of how God has already moved in Creation/judgment

Read 2 Peter 3:5-7.

The Word of God in creating, sustaining and judging the world

Even outside of God as revealed in Jesus (witness of the apostles), there is ample evidence that God HAS intervened in Creation

He spoke, and the universe came into being

He spoke judgment on the ancient world and destroyed it in the flood (Noah)

He still speaks into the world, holding until the time is right for the judgment of fire

Final day of judgment; compared to the flood

Taken further, Jesus is the Word of God who creates, sustains and judges

The Word of God was there in the beginning

Cf. John 1:1-3.

The Word of God keeps and sustains the world today

Cf. Colossians 1:15-17.

The Word of God will judge the living and the dead

Cf. Revelation 19:11-13.

All of this is trustworthy and true in Jesus, so we can be confident, even when mocked

But that seed of doubt remains… why has Jesus not returned?

The Lord is Not Slow to Fulfill His Promises

Peter argues that the Lord is being patient on purpose

Read 2 Peter 3:8

Thousand years = one day (eternal perspective)

Cf. Psalm 90:4.

When we talk about the entire course of human history, time is relative

What is God’s purpose in being patient?

Read 2 Peter 3:9.

God is a patient for OUR SAKE; He desires all to repent and turn to Him

Everyone here today will eternally benefit from God’s patience

Provided we are willing to repent (turn away from sin and turn toward Jesus)

Any look at judgment needs to understand that God’s heart is to save

Yet He has given us the free will to choose to repent, or live according to our own sinful desires (like false teachers/mockers)

What do you choose?

Because judgment is still part of the Lord’s promise upon return

Read 2 Peter 3:10.

Day of the Lord like a thief in the night

Scoffers say, “everything seems pretty normal, so why should I bother?”

Peter says (based on teaching of Jesus), “This return will happen at any unexpected moment”

So… be ready!

Cf. Matthew 24:36-39.

“The earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (v. 10)

As we learned before, when Jesus returns, everyone will be judged

This fire of judgment will lay bare the heart, actions and motives of all people

It does not matter, mockers, what you want to be true or not. Jesus WILL return and He WILL judge your heart

What Sort of People Ought You to Be?

Read 2 Peter 3:11-13.

We should live lives of holiness and godliness

What does this mean?

Cf. Jude 17-23.

Build yourselves up in faith

What has built my faith? Giving God my trust and seeing Him come through

Refer to Karen getting K job at SCS

Pray in the Holy Spirit

Doesn’t have to be a formal spiritual discipline

Share my Mom’s example of “pray as you go”

Keep yourselves in the love of God

Jesus calls us to remain (abide) in Him

Not “me,” but “we” mindset

We should wait for (and hasten) the coming day of God

As Jude explains it:

Have mercy on those who doubt

Yes, I think even to the scoffers

Do not repay mockery for mockery

Also important for the church to be a place to be honest about doubts and faith struggles

Why we did “When in Doubt” series a while ago

Save others by snatching them out of the fire

The best way to “hasten” the return of Jesus is to share our faith with others and lovingly call them to repentance

Cf. Matthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Talk about Wycliffe Bible Translators being burdened by this verse

Is it that literal? Either way, we do know that God’s heart is for all to hear the good news and choose repentance

As we wait for the promised return of Jesus, we should be bold and intentional about sharing our faith

Pray