January 8, 2012
Evening Service

II Peter 3

 

Read vs 1-7;

 

2Pe 3:1-18  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  (2)  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior:  (3)  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  (4)  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  (5)  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  (6)  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.  (7)  But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 

• Be mindful of the Scriptures.
• There shall come scoffers in the last days, walking after their own lusts.

1.       Is it ever more noticeable than it is today.  I can remember just a few short years ago that people put more importance on going to church, and serving God, than lusting after the things of the world.

2.      Like Paul said, “lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof.

3.      A very fitting description of the time in which we live.  THE LAST DAYS.

• Then Peter reminds us that just as the world was destroyed by water in the days of Noah, this same world is held for judgment of fire according to the Word of God.

 

BUT NOTICE THE LOVE OF GOD:

(8)  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  (9)  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

• Doesn’t matter how long it takes, the promises in the Bible will come to pass.  Maybe not as we think they should, or in the time we think they should, but they will come to pass.
• In the visions that God gave to Daniel, God said “Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
• It is said that Daniel pondered these things in his heart.  To have seen all these things and not known what was going to happen had to be frustrating, but Daniel accepted the will of God, and did what he was told.
• Notice what else God tells Daniel;  Dan 12:13  But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.  RESURRECTION.
• Peter says that God is holding back His coming so that men might get saved.  THE MERCY OF GOD ENDURETH FOR EVER, AND EVER.

 

THE SURETY AND DESCRIPTION OF HIS COMING:

(10)  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

 

 

NOW I WANT YOU TO NOTICE WHAT PAUL SAYS ABOUT THIS:

1Th 5:1-9  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  (2)  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  (3)  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

• Paul agrees with Peter, however, the following is what I want you to catch.

(4)  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  (5)  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  (6)  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  (7)  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  (8)  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.  (9)  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

• You see, it is the world, or those who are not looking for the Lord to return, they are ones that will not see His coming.  They will not be ready, and therefore be left behind.
• They will be caught up in the ways of this world, and not be prepared for His coming.

 

PETER ADMONISHES CHRISTIANS:

(11)  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  (12)  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

• So that you might know, there are some that teach this earth shall never be destroyed, just cleansed.  Whether this is the case or not, it doesn’t matter, because of the following.

(13)  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

 

John saw this:

Rev 21:9-10  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.  (10)  And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

John goes on and describes this Holy City of Jerusalem, and it is made up of the redeemed of all ages.

THEN PETER SAYS:

(14)  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  (15)  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 

• Peter is not envious of Paul, nor does he reject his knowledge that God had given him.

(16)  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. 

• This is something we do not want to do.  Wrestle with Scriptures to our own destruction.

(17)  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.  (18)  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.