Scoffers

We previously talked about the importance of believing that the Bible is the word of God.

If you don’t believe what the Bible tells you about earthly things and the past, then you won't believe spiritual things and future prophecies.

Here, Peter gives a specific example of how dismissing the past events of the Bible leads to dismissing the future prophecies.

V. 3:

The last days began when the resurrected Jesus ascended to heaven, and we don't know how long they will last.

But one thing we need to be aware of, is that there will be scoffers, people who mock Jesus and His word.

Peter has left the false teachers, and has now moved to those who openly scoff at and mock the Gospel message.

This is one reason that Peter has just stressed that the Bible is God's word.

He wants his readers to know that although people will mock it and attack it, the Bible can be trusted.

These people are easy to spot. They don't try to hide their scorn, and they are concerned only with their own desires.

V. 4:

One of the first things the scoffer will say is "where is this Jesus that you keep talking about, why hasn't he returned yet?"

This is the basis for a great many of attacks against the Bible today. 

His coming is mentioned 318 times in the New Testament.

It occupies one in every 25 verses. 

It is a separating event:  The saved will be caught up, and the unsaved will be left. . . for wrath and judgment!

The rapture is a prelude to God's judgment, but the scoffers will deny it and mock it.

They not only mock and deny God’s future judgement, but also His past judgements.

V. 5:

Peter starts his example by citing a denial of the Biblical record of creation.

Peter says that people “willfully forget”, they don't want to know the truth.

The fact that thy willfully forget, means that they are dumb on purpose.

The Bible declares that God is the Creator, but as Peter points out, they deny His act of creation.

Peter is referencing the creation of the Earth.

Genesis 1:1-2

Genesis 1:1–2 NKJV

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The creation itself is evidence of a creator.

Psalm 19:1

Psalm 19:1 NKJV

The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.

The Bible identifies God as the Creator.

Hebrews 11:1-3

Hebrews 11:1–3 NKJV

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Our faith consists of substance and evidence which can be seen in the creation.

Because of this, all people are without excuse.

The evidence that God has provided leaves us without any excuse.

Romans 1:20

Romans 1:20 NKJV

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Why do people willfully choose to deny the truth?

The simple answer is that if they acknowledged a creator, then they would have to acknowledge His authority.

Pride keeps people from doing that.

V. 6:

By refusing to acknowledge the waters of creation, they also refuse to acknowledge the waters of judgment.

If God created this earth, then He owns it.

If God owns this earth, then He can judge it if He wants to.

He makes the rules and you'd better find out who He is, and what He wants.

These scoffers say that the earth could not have been flooded, but if we are honest, we can see the marks of this watery judgment all around us.

The marks of judgment via flood are all over the Earth.

Fault lines

Genesis 7:11

Genesis 7:11 NKJV

In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Rock layers (settling of sediment/hydrologic sorting)

Fossil record (Rapid burial required)

Polystrate fossils

Coal (30-300 million years to form? Jewelry, spoons, a thimble, and other man made items have been found inside lumps of coal over the years).

Oil (Can be made quickly in labs / Earth's crust could only hold the pressure for a few thousand years)

Grand Canyon

(Colorado river enters at 2800' above sea level, and the rim peaks at 7000-8000').

The evidence is there, but if people admit a past judgment then they have to admit the possibility of a future judgment.

V. 7:

The same word that created and judged in the past, will judge again.

Some people will deny it, right up until the very end.

On that day the same word that creates and judges, the same word that the scoffers deny, will cleanse and renew by purging the earth of all unrighteousness.

V. 8:

Notice that this verse doesn't say that a day IS 1000 years or that 1000 years IS a day.

It says that they are alike, to God. (God's perspective, not man's)

Secondly, this statement simply cancels itself out.

It informs us that time is meaningless to God. That is the ultimate point here, it's not defining what a day is.

The judgment will happen in God's time, and only that time.

V. 9:

The simple truth is that God will judge, and many will perish, but He is patient.

He keeps holding off judgment, waiting for one more person to get saved.

CONCLUSION:

Is your will the same as God's will?

Are you sharing the Gospel, trying to lead people to Christ?

If so, then what?

Our job is to make disciples.

Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

In order to do that, you have to teach.

The best way to combat the scoffers of the world is to simply teach the truth.

There will always be those who refuse to believe it, but there are many who will believe.

Do you believe what the Bible says, and can you demonstrate it to others?

If not, ask yourself this question: would you trust someone who has no idea why they believe the way they do?