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
-- Hebrews 11:10, “Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.”
- When the Bible speaks of what is to come, we ought to focus on it
-- This is why we hope for tomorrow because our safety is found there
-- Today is temporary, but eternity has no ending – especially with God
4. We must be prepared for the coming of Christ (v14)
- We must make every effort to desire the coming of Christ
-- Peter uses the GR word: spoudasate; to strive earnestly; to be zealous after
- In order to do this, we are checking ourselves for sin and confessing sin
-- Living a life that is intentionally like Christ so we will be approved by Him
-- It includes having an attitude of open confession
-- Being transparent and real, living upright and striving to be Christ-like
- And in that, we are to be found blameless (GR: amometoi; free from fault)
-- This means we are found to be in peace with one another and with Jesus
-- When Jesus arrives, we cannot be found playing the blame game with:
• Our sin (it’s just a little something …)
• How we feel about other people (at least I’m not as bad as …)
- HUGE: We ought to be demonstrating Him to all in how we live our lives!
- TR: This is what we occupy our time with! It is how we must live!
-- And, if we are living this way, then, we’ll be prepared to …
Point 2 – Act on the things God has called us to do! (3 things)
- Peter’s final words to the church are striking in their application
-- Why? Because they contradict everything the world says about God!
1. We must count His patience as salvation (v15-16)
- God’s compassion for mankind extends beyond our reasoning
-- His desire is that none should be lost – for all men to repent and come to Him
-- Sin was something we chose … so He offers us a way out of it (Jesus)
-- His pausing is because of His generous nature - knows destruction is coming
- Consider, the God of all that we see/know waits for us to come to Him
-- Because His compassion extends to all creation
-- Even Paul addressed these things so that those readers (us) would know
-- Romans 9:22-23, “In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory.”
- Just because Jesus has not returned should not cause us to be lazy, complacent
-- Rather, His delay is another opportunity to tell/witness to others
2. We must beware so we don’t fall into error (v17)
- Peter addresses us as “dear friends” – term of affection for God’s people
-- His love for us is what has stirred this letter to be written – encourager
- If anything, this letter is a warning for us – to know what we know
-- What do we know? The great love/salvation of God is the only rescue
-- Rescue from what? The coming destruction of God’s wrath
- The warning against false teachers could not be more clear
-- The perversion of what God has done in Jesus is the enemies greatest weapon
-- When we are aware of this, we are able to separate fact from fiction
- If we stay alert, we won’t fall into the trap of being deceived
-- Our final encouragement from Peter is clear: in our hope we are alert
-- It is how we stay focused, alert, and on mission to tell others about Jesus
-- Jesus said in Matthew 26:41, “Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
- And while we are telling, we have a charge ahead of us:
3. We must grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (v18)
- RE: The man chosen to be among Jesus’ inner circle speaks from his heart
-- Truly, no one knew Jesus more than Peter (aside from John and James)
- He gives us clear direction of what we should be doing – and how to live
-- But don’t miss what he does here … re-read v18
- The focus is not on us – it is where the praise for life is directed
-- Matthew Henry said, “We must grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus.”
-- Why? He is where our eternity is finished; and where our focus must be
Conclusion
- Peter (whole letter) gives us clear direction on how we should live:
• We are called to live for God
• Scripture testifies to the things of God
• False teachers are a danger to the promises of God
• Jesus is promised to return – and we should be ready
- So, how shall we live? Perhaps we start today by showing gratitude?
-- By living in a way that reflects what He has done – so others can see it?
- Pray
