Title: The Second Coming Of Christ
Text: 2 Peter 3:1-18
Quote by Chuck Swindoll
“One out of every 30 verses in the Bible mentions the subject of the end of time, or of Christ’s return.”
“And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:3)
“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)
“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him.” (Rev. 1:7)
Whole chapters and entire books of the Bible are devoted to the subject of the second coming of Christ.
2 Peter chapter 3 is one of those chapters entirely devoted to the second coming of Christ
In 2 Peter chapter 3 the author Peter uses the second coming of Christ to challenge his readers to grow in 4 specific areas…
1.In wholesome thinking (2 peter 3: v1-2)
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 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.
Notice Peter’s Reminder to the reader in verse 1: The Bible was written he reminds them, to stimulate us to wholesome thinking.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
Since the Bible was written to stimulate you to wholesome thinking…
Notice Peter’s request to the reader in verse 2…
“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.”
A.What specific words spoken in the past by the holy prophets does Peter want his readers to recall?
B.I believe he wants the reader to recall the specific words spoken by the prophets on the subject of the Second Coming of Christ
C.And what specific command given by our Lord through the apostles does Peter want his readers to recall?
D.I believe he wants the reader to recall some specific command given by the Lord through the apostles concerning the Second coming of Christ
E.Growing in wholesome thinking is thinking a lot about the Second Coming of Christ!
F.Do you know that God promises to give a special crown to those believers who spend a lot of their time thinking about the Second Coming of Christ
G.Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day- and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Tim 4:8)
H.Do you know that God gives a special blessing to those who read the book of Revelation
“Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it, and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” (Rev. 1:3)
Challenge myself to grow more in my thinking about the second coming of Christ? Some days I never give a thought to the second coming of Christ.
Joanie –answer machine message : Ready or not Jesus is coming
Let me say it again growing in wholesome thinking is thinking more about the second coming of Christ!
The apostle Peter uses the second coming of Christ to challenge me to also grow in…
2.In wholesome desires (v3-4)
3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this ’coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
A.If wholesome thinking is thinking more about the second coming of Christ then what might Peter mean by challenging us to grow in wholesome desires?
B.I am growing in wholesome desires when I desire the second coming of Christ.
C. Does Peter believe that in the last days everyone will have strong desires for the Second Coming of Christ?
3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this ’coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation."
D. Peter believed that rather than desiring the second coming of the Lord there will appear scoffers who mock the doctrine of the second coming of Christ.
E. They will live their lives with absolutely no desire whatsoever for the second coming of Christ.
F. Peter challenges us to grow in our desire for the second coming of Christ.
G. How do I grow in my desire for the second coming of Christ?
H. By storing up treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is there is your heart also
Thirdly Peter uses the Second Coming of Christ to challenge me to grow in
3.In wholesome living (v9-13)
5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 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
9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 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 in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
A.The second coming of Christ offers a major incentive to wholesome living.
B.Don’t forget that the second coming of Christ will mean the destruction of ungodly men.
C.The only reason that the second coming of Christ hasn’t happened yet is that God wants to give people time to repent.
D.But the day will come when it will be too late to repent.
E.The Second Coming of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
F.How should we live in light of the Second Coming of Christ?
G.Peter says “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of the Lord.
H. Growing in wholesome living means to live in anticipation of the Second Coming of Christ
Finally Peter uses the doctrine of the Second Coming of the Lord to challenge us to grow in
4.In wholesome wisdom (v14-18)
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
A.Since you are looking forward to the second coming of Christ make every effort to grow in wholesome wisdom.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
C. Wisdom that is practical helps us to be spotless, blameless, at peace with him
D.Is this going to all happen over night?
E.No! Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation.
F. Who does Peter use as an example to prove God can take the worst sinner and turn them into a saint? Paul!
Conclusion
Peter uses the Second Coming of Christ to challenge us to grow in
Thinking more about the second coming of Christ
Desiring the second coming of Christ
Living a godly life in light of the second Coming of Christ
Being an example for others to follow in wisdom
