2 Peter 3 - LIVING LIKE A LAST DAYS CHRISTIAN

2 Peter 3 - LIVING LIKE A LAST DAYS CHRISTIAN

A. The certainty of the last days and God’s promise.
1. (2 Peter 3:1-2) Another reference to the importance of being reminded
Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you 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,
a. I now write to you this second epistle: Peter already wrote to about the importance of being reminded (2 Peter 1:12-13). But here he wants to emphasize what they should know in light of the coming of Jesus and the prophecies surrounding His coming.
2. (2 Peter 3:3-4) The message of scoffers.
Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 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 creation.”
a. Knowing this first: Christians should not be surprised to find that there are those who scoff at the idea of Jesus coming again. Peter told us that the scoffers will come.
b. Will come in the last days: When are the last days? In a sense, the last days began when Jesus ascended into heaven. Since that time, we haven’t rushed towards the precipice of the consummation of all things, but we have run along side that edge - ready to go anytime at God’s good pleasure.
c. Walking according to their own lusts reminds us that scoffers do not only have an intellectual problem with God and His word. They also have a clear moral problem, wanting to reject the Lordship of Jesus Christ over their lives.
d. The message of scoffers is clear: Where is the promise of His coming? Christians have talked about Jesus coming for two thousand years, and He still hasn’t come back yet.
e. All things continue as they were from the beginning of creation: The scoffers base their message on the idea that things have always been they way they are right now, and that God has not and will not do anything new in His plan for creation.
i. “The argument of the false teachers is essentially a naturalistic one - a kind of uniformitarianism that rules out divine intervention in history.” (Blum)
3. (2 Peter 3:5-7) The error of scoffers.
For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
a. For this they willfully forget: The scoffers presume upon the mercy and longsuffering of God, insisting that because they have never seen a widespread judgment of God, that there will never be one. But they willfully forget God’s creation and the judgment God poured out on the earth in the days of Noah.
i. A literal belief in Creation, in Adam and Eve, and in Noah’s Flood are essential for a true understanding of God’s working both then and now. To deny these things undermines the very foundations of our faith. Sadly, today it is many Christians who willfully forget these things, putting themselves in the place of scoffers.
b. That by the word of God the heavens were of old: The Bible clearly teaches that the active agent in creation was God’s word - He spoke, and creation came into being.
c. The world that then existed perished, being flooded with water: Peter’s point is that things on this earth have not always continued the way the are now. The earth was different when God first created it, then it was different again after the flood. Therefore no one should scoff at God’s promise that He will make it different again, judging it not with water, but with fire. The same word that created all matter, and judged the world in the flood will one day bring a judgment of fire upon the earth.
4. (2 Peter 3:8-10) Truths that scoffers deny but God’s people cling to.
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
a. That with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day: What seems like forever for us is but a short time for God, just as an hour may seem an eternity for a child but a moment for an adult.
i. Peter is not giving some prophetic formula, saying that a prophetic day somehow equals a thousand years. He is communicating a general principle regarding how we see time and how God sees time. When people use this verse as a rigid prophetic “key” it opens the door for great error.
ii. Peter quotes this idea from Psalms 90:4 : For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.
b. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise: The truth is that God will keep His promise, and without delay, according to His timing. Any perceived delay from our perspective is due to the longsuffering of God, who allows many as much time as possible to repent.
i. How many of us are glad that Jesus didn’t return ten years, or five years, or two years, or one year, or two months ago? There is a compassionate purpose in God’s timing.
c. Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance: Peter reveals some of God’s glorious heart. The reason why Jesus’ return isn’t sooner is so that all should come to repentance, because God is not willing that any should perish.
i. We understand that God is not willing that any should perish not in the sense of a divine decree - as if God has declared that no sinners will perish. Rather, Peter’s statement reflects God’s heart of love for the world (John 3:16), and His compassionate sorrow even in the righteous judgment of the wicked.
ii. It is the same thought as expressed in Ezekiel 33:11 : As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.
iii. “So wonderful is his love towards mankind, that he would have them all to be saved, and is of his own self prepared to bestow salvation on the lost.” (Calvin)
d. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night: Though the Lord’s longsuffering love to the lost makes it seem that perhaps He delays His coming, the truth is that He will indeed come. And when Jesus does return, He will come at a time that will surprise many (as a thief in the night). The ultimate result of His coming will be a total transformation of this present world (in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat).
B. Living in light of the last days and God’s promise.
1. (2 Peter 3:11-13) Holy and godly living in anticipation of a new created order.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
a. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be: In light of the fact that this world order and the things associated with it will be dissolved, we should live our lives seeking first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness - having holy conduct and godliness.
i. A man is foolish to invest everything in things that he cannot keep, when he can invest in things that he cannot lose - things that are eternal.
b. Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God: Peter says there is a sense in which we can hasten the Lord’s coming. It’s remarkable to think that we can actually do things that will “help” Jesus return sooner. In the immediate context, Peter says that we hasten the Lord’s coming by our holy conduct and godliness.
i. We can also hasten the Lord’s coming through evangelism. Paul says that God’s prophetic focus on Israel will resume when the fullness of the Gentiles has come in (Romans 11:25).
ii. We can also hasten the Lord’s coming through prayer. Even as Daniel asked for a speedy fulfillment of prophecy regarding captive Israel (Daniel 9), we can also pray “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)
c. Because of which the heavens will be dissolved: Peter tells us that the very elements of this world order will be dissolved. God will genuinely make a new heavens and a new earth, even as Isaiah promised: For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. (Isaiah 65:17)
d. A new earth in which righteousness dwells: The most glorious characteristic of this new heaven and new earth is that it is a place in which righteousness dwells. In God’s plan of the ages, this happens after the millennial earth ruled by Jesus Christ. It is the re-creation of this world order as described in Revelation 21:1 : Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.
2. (2 Peter 3:14-15 a) Keep diligent and do not despise the longsuffering of God.
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;
a. Looking forward to these things, be diligent: If our hearts are really set on the glory of the new heaven and new earth, we will endeavor to walk godly in regard to our brothers and sisters (in peace) and in regard to God (without spot and blameless).
b. The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation: It is easy for Christians to sometimes resent the longsuffering of God. After all, it delays His coming. Yet, the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation for others, and it is salvation for us.
3. (2 Peter 3:15-16) A note regarding the letters of the Apostle Paul.
As also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
a. As also our beloved brother Paul: It is fashionable for some critics to say that the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul aren’t in agreement. These same critics also often say that Peter and Paul aren’t in agreement with Jesus. But here Peter affirms Paul’s teaching in the warmest terms. He calls Paul beloved, and he says that Paul writes with wisdom.
i. This praise from Peter is even more wonderful when we remember that at one time Paul publicly rebuked Peter for public compromise (Galatians 2:11-21).
b. In which are some things hard to understand: Though Peter praises Paul’s ministry, he will admit that some things in Paul’s writings are hard to understand, and those who are untaught and unstable can use some of the difficulties to their own ends, twisting Scripture.
c. Twist . . . the Scriptures: Peter reminds us that the Scriptures can be twisted. Just because someone quotes the Bible doesn’t mean that they teach Biblical truth. It’s possible that they twist . . . the Scriptures. That’s why we should be like the Bereans, who searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so (Acts 17:11).
4. (2 Peter 3:17-18) Conclusion.
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
a. Since you know this beforehand: We, who know of the Day of the Lord and await it with patient expectation, must persevere lest we fall from your own steadfastness. We must take care to keep abiding in Jesus.
b. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: We prevent a fall from your own steadfastness by a continual growth in grace and knowledge of Jesus.
i. Grace is not merely the way God draws us to Him in the beginning. It is also the way we grow and stay in our steadfastness. We can never grow apart from the grace and knowledge of our Lord, and we never grow out of God’s grace.
ii. We must also grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. This means knowing more about Jesus, but more importantly, knowing Jesus in a personal relationship.
c. To Him be the glory: When we are this ready and this steadfast in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, it gives God glory.