Losing our Skepticism

Introduction

2 Peter 3:1–13 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.

CIT: We must live as thought Christ will return again.

Explanation

2 Peter 3:1 “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,”

I have noticed more and more discernment blogs recently. They only share what everyone else is teaching wrongly.

The worse teachers are those who only ever teach what everyone else says that is wrong.

We defend against false teaching, but we also teach rightly.

The most proactive practice against bad teaching is good teaching.

2 Peter 3:2-4 “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.””

We won’t spend much time here on the prophets - I have discussed them at least the last few weeks.

However, that word, “scoffer,” is important.

The church has always had scoffers - scoffers inside the church and scoffers outside of the church.

When did skepticism become a good thing?

We equate skepticism with being smart.

When scoffing becomes the norm, you will eventually become a scoffer. In Psalm 1, the Psalmist shows the progression of a man who walks with ungodly. The word scoffer is used.

QUESTION: What is a scoffer, and why is it harmful?

QUESTION: How do we guard against becoming skeptical, scoffers, or loosening our grip on the truth of God’s Word?

2 Peter 3:5-6 “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.”

What is the big deal about the scoffers? They were asserting that God was not true to His word.

Peter counters their assertion with the truth about God - who He is and what He has done.

God is Creator of all things.

God is sovereign over all things.

God exercises His authority as Creator and Sovereign by the power of His word. Power in His Word.

2 Peter 3:7 “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.”

Peter continues his counter - and moves into a warning. This same Word of God that creates also brings judgement.

By God’s word, the current heaven and earth are being reserved for fire.

On the day of judgement, God will destroy the heavens and earth as we know them, and He will judge the wicked alongside the earth.

C. S. Lewis // Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth, and you will get neither.

These false teachers, in their desire to have their cake and eat it too, are going to be judged for what they have taught.

Faith is three things:

A belief in what God has done in the past.

A belief in God’s work right now.

A believe in Christ’s return in the future.

Invitation

What are you skeptical of? Sometimes, our faith needs to go to another level. What is keeping you from it?