2 Peter 3:1-18 | Assurance that Leads to Action

SCRIPTURE READING

2 Peter 3:1–18 ESV

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

†Tonight we close out Peter’s second letter. Short and sweet, we’ve summarized the entire letter in a single sentence:

Ya’ll I’m dying soon… SO:

†Here’s the Gospel, beware of those who don’t teach it, and know the Lord is coming soon.

This past week as I was studying I was thinking about being Peter, writing this letter, knowing your days away from sacrificing your life… There’s like no hesitancy in this letter, it’s focused, it’s matter of fact, and it’s focused on Jesus.

BONUS CONCEPT

Did you know that the martyrdom of the Apostles is one of the strong evidences for the truthfulness of the Gospel?

When it comes to lies: You can totally brainwash secondary followers to sacrifice for the sake of a lie.

BUT. Those who originate the lies will be quick to give it up, because they know it’s a lie...

We see this with practically all the cults. Originators giving up the scheme under threat of death… and even less severe threats.

For an original audience to perpetuate a story, under threat of death, they either need to have a fortitude that has not been seen before EVER, or MORE LIKELY it needs to be true.

The Apostles gladly gave themselves up to persecution and most, martyrdom because the GOSPEL IS TRUE.

Charles Colson (Went to prison for obstruction of justice during the Watergate Scandal in the Nixon Administration):

I know the the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned, and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren’t true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world - and they couldn’t keep a lie for 3 weeks. You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.

It’s that conviction of truth that Peter has that leads him to right succinctly, and emphatically to hope in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So we’re in that last clause in the simple sentence summary today: “Know the Lord is coming soon.”

For Peter’s final passage he’s got 5 main things that he wants to cover and I’ll highlight them in order tonight.

†1. Remember God’s Word (3:1-2)

Peter has already encouraged this. Remember when Max Monaghan came and taught through the end of chapter 1?

2 Peter 1:16–19 ESV

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Peter is stoked on Scripture, because in it is the confirmation of what Peter was an eye witness of himself! Scripture points to Jesus, and even the obscure passages that you don’t initially understand.

Peter is doing this cool thing here where he is upholding Old Testament and New Testament (even though it hasn’t been formally ratified at his point in human history).

Predictions of the Holy Prophets = Old Testament

Commandment of the Lord and Savior through your Apostles = New Testament

Peter does the same thing later in v15-16. Upholding New Testament writings of the Apostles as Scripture that is in lineage with the Old Testament Prophets.

When we covered this in Small Group after Max taught, we discussed various strategies to upholding Scripture. And there was a really important point that came up in my particular Small Group.

Peter is talking about the importance of meditating on Scripture, to a world that is widely illiterate.

Think about that, when Peter talks about mediating on Scripture, he isn’t reminding the church to do their Bible reading plan.

We get the privilege of having the completed word of God, and being able to read it. But many have taken commands to meditate on Scripture as commands to do specific chunks of Bible reading to be a good Christian… This slowly turns into performing way into perceived favor with God.

Am I mediating on Scripture? Well I only read one chapter today…

This leads to a performance based mindset that often loses the Gospel, and doesn’t actually enable you to mediate on Scripture.

How many times have you rushed to complete a Bible reading plan?

I don’t understand this… oh well, I’ve got 3 more chapters so forget that thought and keep going...

How many times have you pushed off reading the Bible because you knew you couldn’t finish the assigned reading… and then that leads to not doing it at all?

This is the one I can get trapped in

Michael Story: Just reading a few verses of Micah

The Best Bible Reading plan is the one you do. The point more than anything is to constantly chew on Scripture, that doesn’t look like blitzing through reading plans, it looks like contemplating how the Gospel is present in a given passage.

That’s going to happen through simple reading, memorization, contemplation through prayer… even on a single verse.

†2. Know there WILL be Mockers (3:2-7)

Mocking is always seen in Scripture as a characteristic OPPOSITE of the righteous and wise. Psalm 1:1

Mockers are constantly considered fools because they don’t reason and rationally argue. Instead they belittle and attempt to create contempt by illogically making fun of something Proverbs 1:22

Mockers don’t respond well to reason.

And as we anticipate that there will be mockers. We also make it an effort to never be one ourselves, because if we follow Jesus we shouldn’t be fools, we ought to be wise.

Peter’s argument to the mockers is that they are fools for thinking that Jesus isn’t going to return to intervene in creation. They overlook the fact that God has already actively intervened in creation, He is consistent, and he’s already judged the earth once before.

v5 - The earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God.

Regular, static existence occurs BECAUSE God intervened in creation.

v6 - By means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.

You can’t say God won’t return to judge because he’s already shown that He does. The Flood!

Peter is highlighting the consistency of God’s character by connecting the consistency of the creation account with the flood account.

Let us remember that our God is not removed from creation and let us ourselves never be mockers.

†3. The Lord is Patient out of Love (3:8-9)

I love this…

2 Peter 3:8–9 ESV

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

you want to know why Jesus has not returned yet… It’s so that you would hear the Gospel and put your trust in Jesus!

Slowness is not because God doesn’t intervene, it’s not because God has forgotten, it’s because He is ACTIVELY intervening through the work of the Holy Spirit!

This is such a clear picture of God’s heart.

We preach the full council of God’s word, we know that the Lord selects and resurrects because we have no life in ourselves outside of God’s Spirit generating life in us Ephesians 2, John 6, Philippians 1

We also see that God’s heart is love towards the world, and the call of the Gospel goes out to all. Will you hear the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and trust in Him.

The reason the Lord has not yet returned is because there is someone who needs to confess sin and believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And today is the day!

Don’t push off the Gospel. Don’t mock at it. Bow a knee to the one who desires to give his generous love to you so that you would live now and forever.

†4. The Day of the Lord WILL Come (3:10-13)

The Day of the Lord, judgement of evil, full establishment of New Creation.

There are two coexisting realities in the Day of the Lord: DESTRUCTION & PURIFICATION/RESTORATION

Destruction of that which is opposite God’s glory.

Purification of that which will exist eternally to display God’s glory.

†DESTRUCTION

Micah 1:3-4, Isaiah 63:19-64:1, Revelation

†PURIFICATION/RESTORATION

Matthew 19:28, Acts 3:21, Romans 8:19-22, Revelation 21:5, 1 Corinthians 3:10-16

We can be assured that the Lord will return, to judge what is wicked, and restore creation. So because of this assurance, we...

†5. Act Now (3:14-18)

2 Peter 3:14–18 ESV

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

For some, the idea of God’s assured return puts them in a state of cruise control.

God’s got this… I’ll chill...

But that’s not Peter’s framework or any of the New Testament. Assurance leads to action!

Assurance that God will return is cause to act now so others would see His glory and trust in Him!

Assurance that God will return is cause to work hard, knowing that what reflects God’s glory here and now, will extend into eternity some way!

Assurance that God will return, keeps our eyes on the prize, so that we know that the time we have here is limited. So let’s get to work...

Peter has actually made the end of his letter mirror the beginning.

DILIGENT = “make every effort’ 1:5

GROW… KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD = Parallel to concepts in 1:3

Here’s what’re really cool about this parallel. The end of Peter’s letter is an encouragement and command to action. The passages that he parallels this with are about God’s action and resourcing on our behalf (Given all we Need)

†Peter wants to remind his readers that what they’ve been called to do, has been completely supplied in Jesus already!

Now is the time to act. Today is a day to look more like New Creation, because God has supplied the growth.

†Even at 8pm on a Wednesday...