sf821 - THE SCOPE OF THE NEW LIFE - 11 of 11 NEW LIFE FOR YOU (2 Peter 3 13)
2 Peter 3:13
Introduction
The dawn of a new millenium
Ø Millions of people are anxiously looking into the future and wondering what it holds in store for them.
Ø Parents are concerned about their children, and young people want to know what awaits them in a world that is confused and desperate.
Ø The world is turning upside down.
God’s answer to world chaos is the coming new world. This is the scope of the new life.
1A. The Promise of the Coming New World (13, 1-2)
The promise of the coming new world was both foretold and foreshadowed in Holy Scripture.
1B. The promise foretold (2a)
Over three hundred prophesies concerning the first coming.
(Isaiah 7:14 NKJV) "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."
(Micah 5:2 NKJV) "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting."
Over six hundred prophesies concerning the Second Coming.
(Zechariah 14:4 NKJV) “And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, Which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, From east to west, Making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north And half of it toward the south.”
2B. The promise foreshadowed (13a, 4)
The point, which Peter makes three times over, is that God is precise in all His timing.
The timing of God’s act of creation (5)
The timing of God’s act of destruction (6)
The timing of God’s act of redemption (9)
2A. The Purpose of the Coming New World (13b)
“in which righteousness dwells” - . prophetic present, Peter uses language in this paragraph to anticipate the fulfillment of God’s prophetic program.
In God’s purpose for the coming new world, Peter sees a threefold design:
1B. A personal design (13a)
“look” = to anticipate
Christ will return for His own.
(John 14:3 NKJV) "And 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."
Christ’s return is our great hope
(Titus 2:13 NKJV) "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,"
2B. A punitive design (13b)
“New heavens and a new earth”
2 Peter 3:10
(Psalms 102:25-26 NKJV) "Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. {26} They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed."
3B. A permanent design (13c)
“in which righteousness dwells”
Christ’s permanent design, in the new world, is a lasting habitation of righteousness.
(Revelation 21:5 NKJV) "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new . . .."
3A. The People of the Coming New World (11-12)
1B. We must be holy (11)
Holiness is both a gift and a process.
(1 Peter 1:13-16 NKJV) "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; {14} as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; {15} but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, {16} because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."
2B. We must be godly (11b)
Godliness is the realization of God’s abiding presence, resulting in God-likeness.
Ø A godly person is a person whose life is devoted to pleasing God.
(2 Timothy 2:21 NKJV) "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."
3B. We must be busy (12)
There is no “unto” in the original.
Ø The sense of the verse is rather “hastening the coming” (nkjb) by winning souls to Christ through the spread of the gospel.
We are told to work and pray for the coming of His Kingdom.
(Matthew 6:10 NKJV) "Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven."
(Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV) "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, {25} not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
Application
The world stands on the brink of total destruction.
The world is very evil,
The times are waxing late;
Be sober, then, and watchful—
The Judge is at the gate!
Will you be judged and destroyed with the old world?
Or will you be saved and included in the new world?
Oh, that your response might be:
Make me holy by Thy blood,
Make me godly, Lamb of God;
Keep me busy in the fray,
Make me ready for “that day.”
S.F.O.
Are you ready?
THE SCOPE OF THE NEW LIFE
New Life for You – Part 11 of 11
Sunday, March 14, 1999 - 2 Peter 3:13
1A. The __________________ of the Coming New World (13, 1-2)
1B. The promise ______________________ (2a)
Over three hundred prophecies concerning the first coming. (Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2)
Over six hundred prophecies concerning the Second Coming. (Zechariah 14:4)
2B. The promise foreshadowed (13a, 4)
The timing of God’s act of _______________ (5)
The timing of God’s act of destruction (6)
The timing of God’s act of redemption (9)
2A. The _________________ of the Coming New World (13b)
1B. A _________________ design (13a)
(John 14:3 NKJV) ""And 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."
(Titus 2:13 NKJV) "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,"
2B. A _______________________ design (13b)
2 Peter 3:10
(Psalms 102:25-26 NKJV) "Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands. {26} They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed."
3B. A permanent design (13c)
Christ’s permanent design, in the new world, is a lasting habitation of righteousness.
(Revelation 21:5 NKJV) "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new . . .."
3A. The ______________ of the Coming New World (11-12)
1B. We must be ________________ (11)
(1 Peter 1:13-16 NKJV) "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; {14} as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; {15} but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, {16} because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy.""
2B. We must be ______________________ (11b)
(2 Timothy 2:21 NKJV) "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."
3B. We must be _____________________ (12)
We are told to work and pray for the coming of His Kingdom. (Matthew 6:10; Hebrews 10:24-25)