What Kind of People Ought We Be?

Introduction

Throughout the years, people have always questioned how we should live. Looking to find purpose, significance, and meaning in life is one of the deepest longings in a person.

The problem today is that our culture is seeking to find purpose, significance, and meaning within themselves without an appeal to anything that might be considered “transcendent” or outside of humanity. Today we are no different than many in of the people in the Old Testament.

Judges 17:6 NIV84

In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

The world around us lives by doing as the individual sees fit. But how should we live? Should the lives of those who follow Jesus look differently?

In Peter is going to answer some of these questions in our passage today. So if you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to open with me to 2 Peter chapter 3, and we’ll begin reading with verse 1.

2 Peter 3:1 NIV84

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

Purpose of the Letter

A. Remind

Peter wants to remind his readers of all that the Lord has spoken.

B. Stimulate

To stir-up, wake-up, arouse.

C. Wholesome

Unmixed, pure, without alloy.

D. Thinking

Intent, purpose, spirit, heart.

Peter says he wants to wake-up wholesome unmixed thinking in his readers.

One of the problems in the Christian culture today is that there is little if any difference between the Christian culture and the world’s culture. Peter wants to stir-up wholesome unmixed thinking.

2 Peter 3:2 NIV84

I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.

Remember

A. Recall the words of the prophets

B. Recall the commands

1 Timothy 6:11 NIV84

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

2 Peter 3:3–7 NIV84

First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

C. Scoffers will come

1. Last days

The final period of time.

2. Scoffers

Definition—Mockers, false teachers, one who makes fun of.

They will say:

A. Where is the promised coming of Jesus?

B. Nothing has changed since the beginning of creation.

C. They deliberately (wishfully) forget (lose sight of, ignore).

D. God by His word (logos—Jesus, John 1)

1. He spoke everything into being out of the waters.

2. With waters God also destroyed the world.

3. By the same word, God reserves the heaven and earth reserved for fire.

2 Peter 3:8–9 NIV84

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Do Not Forget

1. A thousand years is as a day, and a day a a thousand years.

2. God is not slow in keeping His promises!

He is not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:10 NIV84

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

3. The Day of the Lord

How Should We Live?

2 Peter 3:11–13 NIV84

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

1. Live Holy Lives

Separate from the world.

2. Live Godly Lives

Lives that display God’s character.

3. Speed His Coming

Could be translated, “eagerly await His coming.”

2 Peter 3:14–16 NIV84

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

4. Spotless

Without fault

5. Blameless

Unblemished, without blame.

6. At Peace with God

At peace with Jesus.

2 Peter 3:17–18 NIV84

Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

7. Be on your guard!

Watch closely, observe, keep away from—So that you won’t be carried away.

8. Grow

Literally, keep on growing.

a. In Grace—Greek, charis, meaning: kindness, favor, good will. God’s favor that we do not deserve.

b. In Knowledge—understanding, knowing facts, or knowing about.

Peter closes his book with “To Him [Jesus] be glory both now and forever! Amen [May it be so! or So be it!]

Today, I want to challenge all of us to live lives that are different from the world around us by living holy, and godly lives loving for jesus to return, being found without fault before God. I want to challenge you to be on your guard while growing in grace and knowledge.