2 Peter 3 – Jesus to the Rescue! - When?
Thesis: Peter in his second letter the last chapter reminds all the believers to make sure they keep their thinking wholesome and to not give up on Jesus’ return because it is coming and when it comes it will quick like the flash of lightning.
Illustration: Jesus to the Rescue- Testimony from Brooklyn Tabernacle
Scripture Text: 2 Peter 3:1-18
1Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2I 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.
3First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8But 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. 9The 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.
10But 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.
11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as 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. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15Bear 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. 16He 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.
17Therefore, 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. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
Introduction:
Peter knew what it was liked to be rescued by Jesus – He experienced it when he walked on the water and then started to sink when he saw the wind a blowing. Matthew 14:25-32:
25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Peter knew what it was like to be rescued by Jesus especially after you had failed miserably. His failures usually came when he allowed fear to overtake him. The reason he started sinking was he saw “The wind and became afraid”. The truth is the result of fear usually causes us to sink. We discover that Peter also became afraid at the time of Christ’s arrest and this caused him to deny Christ three times. All his failures came from fear taking over and losing sight of Jesus. John Ortberg in his book- If You Want To Walk On Water You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat notes this about fear: The single command in Scripture that occurs more often then any other-God’s most frequently repeated instruction-is formulated in two words: Fear Not. Do not be afraid. Be strong and courageous. You can trust me. Fear not. Why does God command us not to fear? Fear does not seem like the most serious vice in the world. It never made the list of the Seven Deadly Sins. No one ever receives church discipline for being afraid. SO why does God tell human beings to stop being afraid more often than he tells them anything else? My hunch is that the reason God says “Fear Not” so much is not that he wants us to be spared emotional discomfort. In fact, usually he says it to people to do something that is going to lead them into greater fear anyway. I think God says, “fear not” so often because fear is the number one reason human beings are tempted to avoid doing what God asks them to do” (117,118).
Peter pens this book during a time of severe persecution on the church. Peter reminds them and us that he knows first hand what can happen if you lose sight of Jesus. The reality is if you lose sight of Jesus and fall into fear in even right in the midst of a miracle who will start to sink. But he also knows that when he cries out to Jesus he will rescue him. Peter also knows that in the midst of people who are scoffers and antagonist and even hostile to Jesus if you lose sight of him and fall into fear who will deny him. But he also knows that even though he failed Jesus he still restores those who are repentant of their failures. This type of fear that Peter fell prey to can cause major damage to your thinking and your condition in Jesus.
Now I do want you to know that there are some fears which align with wisdom that say don’t jump off this building you will get killed. This is a good fear.
There is one word of caution I want to throw at you today. Make sure that what God calls you to do – you do! But don’t be so unwise and fearless and do something stupid like this guy did this week in Taiwan.
Illustration: TAIPEI, Taiwan - A man leaped into a lion’s den at the Taipei Zoo on Wednesday to try to convert the king of beasts to Christianity, but was bitten in the leg for his efforts.
“Jesus will save you!” shouted the 46-year-old man at two African lions lounging under a tree a few meters away.
“Come bite me!” he said with both hands raised, television footage showed.
One of the lions, a large male with a shaggy mane, bit the man in his right leg before zoo workers drove it off with water hoses and tranquilizer guns.
Newspapers said that the lions had been fed earlier in the day, otherwise the man might have been more seriously hurt ... or worse.
Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
Now this is an illustration of a person being stupid not fearless. So we have to make sure that we have a fearless attitude in our walk with God and temper it with wisdom. But Peter is challenging us in Chapter three to make sure we keep our thinking wholesome and that means it staying focused on Jesus and his imminent return. We need to not allow the scoffers-the antagonist-the persecutors of our faith to derail us from living and serving the Lord Jesus. The key is “No Fear for the cause of Jesus Christ!”
T.S. - Peter tells us that Jesus is coming to our rescue and we need to know that He will not let us down He will be right on time. We therefore need to not be afraid of the end times instead we need to be ready.
I. Peter reminds us that before Jesus comes to our rescue there will be scoffers roaming around following their own evil desires.
a. Notice these scoffers will have the knowledge of the Lord and His ways but they will reject it as a hoax, as a myth, as a joke.
b. The will be driven by their evil ways.
i. He reminds us that he wrote his 2 letters to get us thinking in a wholesome and godly way. Because if we do not the scoffers will influence us into unwholesome thinking.
a. Unwholesome- harmful to body and mind, unhealthy- Having unsound health or an unhealthy appearance-morally harmful or corrupt.
ii. Unwholesome thinking – thinks:
1. Jesus is a fraud- He is not coming again!
2. Example from the Internet - Jesus the Conjurer : Non-Miraculous Witnesses: “This book considers the evidence that Jesus was nothing more than a stage-magician minus the stage of course. It shows the absurdity of trusting in his miracles. Why should we trust in his resurrection when he had such dodgy miracles behind him? My book, Non-Miraculous Witnesses, demonstrates that the Church discerned many miracles in the New Testament that were not miracles at all and which were not clearly presented as such by these scriptures.” Author: Patrick Gormley
a. He tells people that Jesus hypnotized others to deceive them. He is nothing but a lie!
3. Scoffers like these individuals even knew the truth at one time but walked away form the Lord and became consumed in their unwholesome thinking. But then they take it to the next step and try to deceive people with their deceptive thoughts to pull them away from Jesus and His word. They say things like this:
a. “He does not care about you.”
b. “This Christian junk does not work it has no power.”
c. “You don’t need to live holy – just live for today there is no tomorrow – indulge in your selfish ways.”
d. “Heaven is a myth a fairytale – Don’t fall for it!”
e. “There is no hope! When I die I’m dead and so are you!”
f. “There is no eternal future – there’s this life now and then you die.”
c. These evil scoffers to Christ’s return will make fun of you and mock you saying things “Why has He not already come?” What’s He waiting for? Is waiting for Hell to freeze over?
i. But they will be judged for their choice to take their eyes off of Jesus.
ii. When Jesus returns he will judge each person who has refused to surrender themselves to Him.
T.S. Peter warns us that the scoffers will come and try to deceive you and say He is not faithful- He is not coming give it up! Then Peter reminds us that we need to have patience and remember God’s timing is always perfect timing.
II. Peter also reminds us we need to remember a day is as a thousand years with the Lord.
a. We need to remember it’s all in His timing not our timing.
i. God’s timing is always perfect.
ii. He is never late!
iii. His time is always the best time!
b. But He will keep His promise and be back in his perfect time.
i. He is coming again so be prepared!
c. The only reason for the delay is God’s love!
i. He is patiently waiting to give each of us the opportunity to repent and align ourselves the way we should to His Word.
1. Why the extra time? ALL LOVE - ALL GRACE
d. Sad fact is some people are so afraid to align themselves with the Word. Why? Because people may think ill of us.
i. They may say that we are stupid to believe He is eventually coming back.
ii. They may say did he get lost?
T.S. – Peter tells us to stay focused on Jesus and be patient his time is perfect timing and He is coming back.
III. Peter then prepares us by telling us that when God decides to send Jesus it will be swift and fast.
a. It will be faster than a speeding bullet. It will be faster than the speed of light.
i. It will be in the twinkling of an eye- that quick
1. Illustration: Everyone blink your eyes --- it will be that fast.
2. So the questions are: “Are you ready or are you letting fear rob you of being prepared?” “Are you letting unwholesome thoughts rob you of the love of God?” “Are you letting sin keep you from God?” “Are you letting scoffers deceive you away from the Lord?”
b. Just remember He is coming when most least expect it. So why not get ready –TODAY!
i. His second coming will come when most people have no clue it’s coming.
1. People will have no other chance once the decision is made in Heaven for Jesus to come.
a. The time for salvation will be over and you will be two late!
ii. The truth is no one knows the day or the hour.
1. Only God knows the day it will all come down.
2. The truth is all these prophetic words saying when he will come are just guesses – He will come when you least expect it.
3. So are you ready and willing to trust in Him? Or are you going to do your own thing?
c. We need to ready right now not tomorrow
i. The key is are you ready today?
1. He could come tomorrow! You could even die today in an accident! Are you ready
d. Pause Here and play The DVD “I can only Imagine!”
T.S. – Peter wants us to be ready today- I want you to be ready today to meet the Lord and Peter continues on in his letter and tells us how to get ready.
IV. Peter then tells us how to be ready for Jesus swift return
a. He tells us what kind of people we should be.
i. Have wholesome thinking – Which is healthy thinking! Not injured! Not diseased! Not corrupted!
ii. We are to live Holy lives – Means you belong to God (Webster) You are whole, happy, and sacred- you are spiritually perfect and pure.
iii. We are to live godly Lives- It means we live to and for God because we are from God. It means to be devoted to God.
iv. We are to look forward not behind to our past sinful ways.
1. We are to focus on His imminent return and grow toward Him.
2. We are to be willing to sacrifice and live for Him today and make sure you root out the fear that will hold you back.
3. We are not to allow the past to dictate the future – don’t allow the past failures or fears to hold you back in your relationship with God.
v. We are to make sure that when Christ comes that we are found spotless.
1. Spotless means having no faults or defects. It means to be perfectly clean.
2. We are to have no sinful leopard spots on us!
3. We are to be as spotless as a fresh snowfall on the earth.
4. We are to have no blemishes- not stains on us!
vi. We are to make sure that we are blameless
1. Blameless means free from being at fault and guilty.
2. Having no reason to be blamed for promoting sin and being guilty of the wrong type of living.
3. We are to be innocent because of our relationship with Jesus.
a. He makes us blameless!
vii. We are responsible to make sure that we are at peace with the Lord.
1. The only way to be at peace with the Lord is to know Jesus as you Lord and Savior. There is not other way.
Conclusion:
Bear in mind – His patience means you a get a second chance to be right when He comes. And Peter raps up his final letter to the church with some instruction on what to do as God is waiting patiently for you choose life not death.
Peter’s last words are delivered to the Body of Christ. Shortly after giving this message he is martyred upside down on a cross for the cause of Jesus Christ. This time when the persecution and the storm blew in he did not fall into fear instead he kept his eyes on Jesus and today he is receiving his eternal reward in Heaven. But listen to Peter’s last thought before his death: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
Pastor Brian Atwater states this about Peter’s last words:
1. “Before the great apostle says his final amen he reminds his readers about growth, grace and knowledge. GROWTH - a command for the Christ-follower, not an option. As many realize, the Greek word insinuates "be constantly growing". Never stop growing as a Christian. Never "arrive". Be content but don’t be conceited.”
*When you stop growing you then start dieing.
*When you are through learning you are through.
2. “GRACE - God’s favor on undeserving man (people).
We’re saved by grace, not by our own merit, but it does not cease to operate in our lives after conversion. Grace is needed for strength. (2 Timothy 2:1) Grace is needed to endure suffering. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Grace is needed for giving. (2 Corinthians 8:1)”
* Grace is what makes a relationship with Jesus possible
3. “But don’t forget to couple growth in grace with growth in KNOWLEDGE. The knowledge Peter is talking about is the knowledge of God’s Word. It is possible to know more scripture than we live but it isn’t quite as possible to live more scripture than we know. The wealth of the Word of God will never be completely mined. When its truths are grasped we lay hold of more treasure than this world can contain.”
* Knowledge comes from God and comes by His Word, and by the Holy Spirit’s leading in our lives.
”Don’t miss the fact that Peter is calling for growth in grace and knowledge simultaneously. If we grow in one area without the other we become imbalanced. Down through the centuries of church history there have been grave doctrinal errors proliferated by those who emphasized grace to the exclusion of knowledge and vice versa (Sermoncentral.com- Sermon The last Words Of Peter).”
So today we need to understand that we are to grow in out relationship with the Lord. We grown by denying the fear that would hold us back from a relationship with the Lord. By resisting the fear that keeps us from living and serving the Lord. We also grow by experiencing this thing called grace because it will change you. Grace is the action by God which opens up for you and me Heaven and its many blessings. His grace being poured out on you will compel you to love Him more and serve Him more. We also get knowledge about God from spending time with Him in prayer, by reading and studying His words of life and by the leading of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.
So let’s now move into Communion and prepare our hearts to meet with the Lord.
