The Day Of The Lord, Part 2 Series

The Day of the Lord, Part 2

2 Peter Sermon Series, Part 5

2 Peter 3:11-18

Introduction

- Purpose: Peter gives guidance and reassurance to the growing church

-- As a disciple maker his desire is to see others grow in knowledge of Christ

-- Promise he stands on: the Gospel we/they are preaching is Jesus!

-- Re: The Gospel is our measuring stick; and it is what saves (not us)

- In our message last week, we talked about the not being like the scoffers

-- As we go about our lives, we must be intentional and focused on Jesus

-- How do we get focused? By doing the things He told us to do!

-- Our hope is that we know He will come – the timing could even be today

- We watch and we pray; we repent from sin, and we focus on living for Jesus

-- Matt 5:18, “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.”

-- RE: What is the purpose of God’s Law? To show us our need for a Savior!

- Read 2 Peter 3:11-18 / Pray for guidance, revelation, and faithfulness

TR: So, how do we end this letter of encouragement from our brother, Peter?

-- We end it with the same focus we discussed last week, discussing first …

Point 1 – What must we do while we wait for Jesus? (4 things)

1. We must live Holy and Godly lives (v11)

- Holy means that our behavior is sanctified, that is – set apart for God

-- This is the hardest part for all humans because we like our sin!

-- We think our sin is just a little something – and we refuse to call it what it is

-- But, if we are truly separate from the world, then we won’t act like it

- To be Godly means that we seek to show godliness to others

-- That we do things intentionally, with reverence to God’s calling for us

- Teach: The greatest challenge here is to find balance without arrogance

-- Arrogance sticks its nose up at people who are different, or that we judge

-- But holiness (like Jesus) says that we follow Him and show Him to all

-- It is why Jesus WENT to where the people are instead of summoning them

- Application:

-- It is why Christians ought to fellowship and be a part of what’s happening

-- It is why pastors cannot be hold up in an office on Sundays

-- It is why congregants cannot be stuffy and judgmental of others

-- Hebrews 12:14, “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.”

- BIG: When we emulate Jesus, when we take on His holy character …

-- … and our entire focus changes, which affects how we behave in life!

- Remember always who we serve and what we are called to do

-- Leviticus 11:45, “For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy.”

2. Must look to speed up the day of God (v12)

- Our calling is to look forward (GR: prosdokontas; wait patiently for)

-- We live in a way that has us earnestly desiring His return

-- We know that He will return, and so we are expecting Him momentarily

-- Re: “I’d rather be on the welcoming committee than the planning committee”

- We have a part in bringing about His coming because we are living for Him

-- We are living witnesses who show others what we are waiting for

-- How? By demonstrating who we live for in our daily actions

-- Titus 2:12-13, “And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.”

- The more people see Christ in us, the more He becomes attractive

-- FACT: you cannot live like hell and offer people heaven – they conflict

3. We must look forward to the new heavens and the new Earth (v13)

- We are called to be excited about what’s to come; to seek it daily

-- God has ordained a perfect world, without sin and crime and sorrow

-- A world where there is perfection and righteousness with Him

-- Look, it should be what we desire, to be removed from this current state