Sermon Tone Analysis

Alêtheia Christian Fellowship ~~ 101908 ~~ 2 Peter 3a

 

*2 Peter 3:3&4 ~~* 3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4and 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.”

Mockers are led by *self-indulgence*, i.e. fleshly desire to be *autonomous* – do whatever seems right or feels good.

*The rationalization to dismiss Christianity *and ultimately God is, “*Where is He* – what has He done – prove He is real and will be involved?”

*Fathers *is not the early church Fathers or even the earliest church fathers, but rather the patriarchs and prophets who were promised salvation.

If it was bad after 2,000 years of Jewish history, look at what another *2,000 years* has wrought.

*The sun rises *every day right on time!

 

*2 Peter 3:5-7 ~~* 5For 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, 6through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

ejn ajrch~~| h+n oJ lo>gov --- pa>nta di aujtou~~ ejge>neto, kai< cwri<v aujtou~~ ejge>neto oujde< e[n o[ ge>gonen

 

*Heraclitus* 2,500 years ago wrote about the logos of God.

Fire is the first element deviating from *Thales *who thought water was the deal.

At some past point even the *heavens, let alone the earth did not yet exist*, but were *created* through the active agency of the Word = Jesus.

Even after the* earth was habitable* it suffered destruction by *water* and now is reserved for destruction by *fire*.

It may *seem as though everything clips along*, but it is not true!

How often do we think everything is the same and yet nothing is the same?

A *60 year-old wakes up feeling the same* as they did when they were 20 until they try to roll out of bed or look into the mirror.

The Greek in *verse 7*, tells us that through the same *Word of God*, i.e.

Jesus, our universe down to our little blue earth are being held for the Day of Judgment.

It is like having a *teeter-totter* or see-saw with and *elephant* sitting on one end and a huge empty container on the other.

*Sand* is being poured into the container one grain at-a-time; even though it will take a long time it is inevitably marching forward to lifting the elephant.

*A child on a trip* – it seems like nothing is happening, but every mile ticked off draw the trip closer to its destination.

*Every second that goes by* is another second closer to the end – *you cannot slow*, let alone stop the inevitable.

*Jesus came* and the Gospel has been preached which *in itself requires judgment* – there is no such thing as salvation if there is nothing to be saved from!

 

*Everything down to every word *you utter is being *stored up along with the fire* to bring this time to a close.

The *destruction of ungodly* people is the inevitable *outcome of the Day of Judgment*.

The *Day of Judgment is the fire unleashed* to burn up the chaff

 

The *fire is like a bomb*, *time is the fuse* and it has already been *lit*.

*2 Peter 3:8&9 ~~* 8But 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.

9The 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.

*Psalm 90 from Moses says: *You gave birth to the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it passes by.

 

1656 Adam – Flood

367 Flood – Abraham’s Call = *2023*

215 Abraham’s Call – Egypt

430 Egypt – Exodus (1400 B.C.)

1400 Exodus – Jesus = *2045*

Jesus – Today = *2003*

 

*Peter’s point is that God is eternal *and that what seems like a long time to a *small child* is nothing to a *grandparent *because of perspective.

We are going to leverage our children’s future to give a *700 trillion dollar bailout* – now to God 700 trillion *years*, *decades*, *centuries*, or *millennia* is all the same – it is nothing.

*The Lord is slow* to our experience, but not slow in the same way a person is slow.

People are slow because they are *covetous or lazy* and lazy, is just a nice way to say covetous.

*God is slow because He is merciful*

* *

*What does it mean for us?*

* *

*Mockers will come, but…*

 

Do not be *caught up in the erroneous thinking* that God will not judge the world – soon!

Live with an eternal perspective and remain in the vine

How?

 

*In chapter 1* we learned that…

*God has supplied everything – period!*

By what means?

*True knowledge of Jesus*

 

What is the effect?

*We become partakers in the divine nature*

 

How can we know?

*Certain Godly qualities are ours and increase*

 

What is the effect of that?

 

*True knowledge of Jesus has its intended effect*

*       For the lost, for believers & for our growth*

 

What’s the benefit to us?

 

*We will never stumble because this is the way into heaven =*

* *

This is* true faith *leading to* Holy Spirit regeneration *of heart* *and* renewal *of mind resulting in *external tangible evidence*

* *

The *synthesis *of* Paul *and* James *here in* Peter.*