GOD’S ANSWER TO SCOFFERS
II Pet. 3:3-4
INTRO. A recent poll of so-called theology students revealed that 97% of them did not believe in the bodily return of Jesus.
You can be sure that there were scoffers in Peter’s time and in every age since then but as the end time approaches the scoffers will become more prevalent and bolder.
Notice too, that Peter was not speaking of atheists but he is talking about people who are connected to religion. The whole of chapter 2 is taking into account their activities in Christian circles; and in 3:4 Peter states that they acknowledge the beginning of creation. To do so is to also acknowledge the Creator.
Perhaps these are the same type of people Paul warned about in II Tim. 4:3-4. These are people who are unspiritual and unregenerate but very religious.
In our text, God answers these scoffers.
I. Answer #1 -- All things have not continued as they were from the beginning of the creation. (vs. 4-7)
A. Peter declares that all things have not remained but that the scoffers are willingly ignorant of this fact.
1. He begins with Gen. 1:1-10 (briefly describe the events that apparently happened here.)
2. How did these things happen? "by the word of God."
3. Then things continued the same for several centuries.
B. Now Peter mentions the flood of Noah’s time. -- vs. 6.
1. God’s decision to send the flood was caused by the degenerate wickedness of men. (Gen. 6:5) -- "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." The flood was God’s judgment against sin.
a. {describe God’s command to Noah to build the ark and Noah’s obedience to the command.}
b. Noah was derided and ridiculed for his stand and action, by the people of his day and he replied to them as we are today -- (II Pet. 2:5)
c. In the end it all happened just like God said it would. Why? Because of the Word of God.
C. And how many things changed after the flood from what they were before the flood?
D. What’s more is that the present heaven and earth are being held together awaiting judgment by the same Word of God.
II. Answer #2 -- Time, which is so important to man is not so important to God. (vs. 8)
A. The scoffers charge that it has been a long time since Christ promised He would come again.
1. Peter says there is no long or short time with God. We are creatures governed by time but God is not.
2. Remember God’s reply to Moses ... "I am that I am."
a. Jesus’ statement to the Pharisees in Jn. 8:58 -- "...Before Abraham was, I am."
b. (Heb. 13:8) -- "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever."
3. What is past, present and future to us is only the great eternal NOW to God. while we see only a small part of time; the whole of time is spread before God so that He sees all of it at once.
B. This is ground for confusion to the scoffers but it is ground for blessing for God’s children.
1. We don’t have to worry about our tomorrows for God has already taken care of them.
2. God has not delayed because He is not able to perform His promise but rather because He is working out His own will.
III. Answer #3 -- God’s judgment is secondary to His plan of grace. (vs. 9)
A. Regardless of the scoffer’s ridicule of God’s Word concerning the second coming and the tribulation and the judgment; these things will come to pass...but only when God is satisfied that His plan of grace has done its full work.
B. Peter says, "The Lord is not slack... (slow)"
1. Men may say God is too slow in His work and in fulfilling His promises but God is moving according to HIS plan and HIS timetable.
2. (Habakkuk 2:3) -- "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it shall surely come."
C. Another reason God has waited for 2000 years to bring about His plan is..."He is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish..."
1. God hates sin but He loves to see sinful men come to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. (Ezek. 33:11) -- "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live;"
2. When God brings down the curtain and time is no more, the sinners and scoffers will have had their day and grace and salvation will be passed. God waits to give them one more day, one more chance to believe and be saved.
3. We should thank God that He is longsuffering every day (II Pet. 3:15).
CONCLU. The Bible reminds the scoffer that all things have not remained as they once were, that time is not as important to God as to man and that God has said judgment will come and you would be wise to believe God.
This is the answer of God to scoffers and it should be our answer as well.
