Sermon Tone Analysis

INFO

New here?

CONNECTION CARD

QR Code for Visual Notes

5 People Joined last week - Rey & Tonia Ortiz, Connie Warringer, Brandon & Rachel Abbott

Brandon & Rachel Baptism

_________________

CATCH THE CONTEXT

We kicked off this series from 2 Peter called “Faithful”, 4 weeks ago.

It is written by the apostle Peter who is challenging Christians to be FAITHFUL to the One who has been FAITHFUL to them.

PRAY

Catch the Context: We took a 1 week break from this series, but 2 weeks ago we concluded with these words that should have left us AFRAID or FREED.

2 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

...the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.

Today we finish up this series from 2 Peter in this teaching entitled - AWAITING HIS ARRIVAL, THAT day, when Jesus will rescue the godly and punish the unrighteous.

2 Peter 3:1–2 (NIV)

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you.

I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.

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.

As we have recognized earlier in this writing, we have the great privilege of reading from Old Testament prophets, and we have the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus, as shared through His apostles, in the New Testament writings.

What is written in the Scriptures will challenge us & change us IF…we read and heed what is in there.

Are you doing that - reading the Scriptures on the regular and then living what you read?

I don’t know any growing Christians who don’t open the Scriptures and bend their beliefs and behaviors to what the Bible says.

2 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)

Above 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 ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

The last days were not a distant time in the future for Peter and the other first century followers of Jesus.

They were living in the last days - a period of time between the first and second coming of Jesus.

During Pentecost Peter quoted Joel’s prophecy which stated, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”

(Acts 2:17).

“Last days” is used by several New Testament writers to refer to what was happening in their lifetime (Heb 1:2, 2 Tim 3:1).

The apostle John even writes this in 1 John 2:18: “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.

This is how we know it is the last hour.”

(1 John 2:18 NIV)

And now, of course, Peter is writing this to prepare his ancient audience for what THEY could expect soon, as they were living in “the last days.”

The first-century followers of Jesus seemed to think Jesus would physically return within their lifetime, but, He obviously had not returned when Peter wrote this letter.

That was the kindling that the false teachers and enemies of Christ lit and fanned into a flame, as they made fun of Christians for believing in the return of Jesus.

And now, for us, 2000 years later, Jesus still has not returned.

Could it be that we have been duped, that Jesus is NOT returning?

That’s what the scoffers were saying.

So, Simon Peter needs to remind them that there really IS a God...and they are NOT Him.

2 Peter 3:5-7 (NIV)

But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being 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 the ungodly.

Peter is referring the creation of everything out of nothing - it is by God’s word that everything came into existence -

the heavens - everything we see in the sky and beyond - every star, planet, moon, astroid, and comet.

And it was by God’s word that the earth was formed out of water.

The Scriptures declare that God caused the waters to gather while the dry ground appeared and separated them (Gen 1:9).

But God also used water, the source of life, to bring death to the ungodly during Noah’s day.

God won’t use a flood next time.

Next time He will use fire to bring judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

2 Peter 3:8–9 (NIV)

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.

Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

This phrase about a thousand years is not coined by Simon Peter; it is used in the Psalms quoting Moses who compared the short lifespan of humans to the eternity of God’s existence.

He writes:

Psalm 90:2–4 (NIV)

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”

A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8–9 (NIV)

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.

Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Jesus isn’t late for the appointment.

He will show up in the fulness of time, just as was true with His first coming (Gal 4:4).

He has made a promise, that Peter likely recalled in his mind.

When He saw Jesus ascend into heaven, the angels said, “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

(Acts 1:11).

This promise will be fulfilled.

Why hasn’t it been fulfilled yet?

Jesus is patient with people - He has given generations and generations opportunity after opportunity to respond to His message.

Rather than immediately strike down His enemies, God has been patient.

The Scriptures are full of this kind of language about Him.

God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, kind, and abounding in love (cf.

Ex. 34:6; Joel 2:13; Rom.

2:4).

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

Some commentators of Calvinist persuasion (like MacArthur) say that “you” God is being patient with only applies to those who God “elects” to salvation.

John F. MacArthur Jr., 2 Peter and Jude, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2005), 123.

That is NOT my persuasion as I think that “you” applies to Peter’s audience as well as everyone else that God is being patient with - giving them time to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus.

A person does that by repentance - turning from sin and turning to Jesus; they stop living for themselves and start living for Him.

Listen to several passages that offer Gods’ mercy to anyone and everyone to come to repentance.

Ezekiel 18:23 (NIV)

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?

declares the Sovereign Lord.

Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

1 Timothy 2:3–4 (NIV)

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Acts 17:30–31 (NIV)

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent.

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.

He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

That’s the same judgment that Peter now mentions:

2 Peter 3:10–12a (NIV)

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 done in it will be laid bare.

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.