Sermon Tone Analysis

2 Peter 3:11-18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2004

Planned Neglect

 

Someone asked a concert violinist in New York's Carnegie Hall how she became so skilled.

She said it was by */planned neglect/*.

She /planned to neglect/ everything that was not related to her goal.

Peter encourages believers to neglect everything associated with this present earth.

He argues that it has been reserved for destruction.

Peter tells believers to focus on the new earth because it will last forever.

About a month ago we saw how Peter reminded Christians to remember Christ's Coming.

He explained the reasons why sinners scoff at this and why God has delayed the Second Coming.

The Lord is giving sinners the opportunity to repent before judgment falls.

In the final verses of his epistle Peter commands believers to live in the light of eternity.

Peter highlights two things in this section.

*/Be Diligent To Be Godly, Be Diligent To Be Growing.

/*

 

/Firstly,     /Be Diligent To Be Godly

/ /

/a.

Living As God Desires/

/ /

*2 Peter 3:11:* /Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness./

/ /

Peter asks a question in verse 11,/ How should we live in light of God's judgment?/

He then answers it for us.

Our lives should be marked by */holiness/* and */godliness./*

To be */holy/* *ἅγιος*  means */to be set apart for God's service./*

Christians don't belong to the world but to God.

The word */godliness/* *εὐσέβεια* means */godly living, piety, devotion./*

The word */manner/* *ποταπός* literally means */exotic, out of this world./*

Drawing all of this together we conclude that Christians must live pure lives that are devoted to service for God.

We don't belong to this world but to the next!

In fact, God has revealed the future to us so that we will live godly lives.

Prophecy about the Blessed Hope should inspire us to godliness./

/*1 John 3:2-3:* /Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure./

Bible Study And Godliness

 

A U.S. Army officer told of the contrast in his pupils during two different eras of teaching at the artillery training school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

In 1958–1960 the attitude was so lax that the instructors had a problem getting the men to stay awake to listen.

During the 1965–67 classes, however, the men, hearing the same basic lectures, were alert and took copious notes.

The reason: these men knew that in less than six weeks they would be facing the enemy in Vietnam.

One reason that Bible study seems to be irrelevant to many Christians is that they have no interaction with non-Christians, no vital ministry to growing believers, and no personal and internal struggle for godliness, all of which are factors that bring the truths of the Bible to life.

/b.

Looking For God's Day/

*/ /*

*/But how can we maintain a godly standard when the world continually chips away at our values?/*

Peter gives us the key to this problem next.

He uses the word */look/* in verses 12, 13 and 14.

The word */look/* *προσδοκάω* means */to wait for, to look ahead for, to be expectant./*

By /looking/ to the future world and not the present one believers are motivated to godliness!

*Philippians 3:20:* /For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ./

To Be Like Him!

 

/What can it mean to be like Him? I, to be like my dear Lord?/

I could not believe it, had I not - The promise of His precious Word.

I, with follies and failures, I, with my weakness and sin,

/To be like the Lord in His beauty, Perfect without and within?/

He, whom the angels, adoring, Veil from His glory their eyes,

/He, who one glad day will take me - To dwell in His home in the skies?/

O, I am weary with waiting, Sick of this old self of mine!

Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come quickly, And give me a spirit like thine!

/ /

*1.

Destruction Of The Corrupt World* 

/ /

*2 Peter 3:12: */looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?/

/ /

*/Firstly,/*/ /believers can look forward to the day when God will punish sin./ /He will purge this earth of all the sin that has marred creation and spoiled it.

God can see the sinful works of mankind all over this planet.

The Lord won't allow the works of man to tarnish His world for eternity.

This is why He purges the earth and its atmosphere with fire.

/If God is going to destroy this present world why do believers get so attached to it?

Why do we play around with sin?

Why do we store up treasure in it like Lot who was reluctant to leave Sodom? /

/ /

Let's set our heart on the right world!

Let’s lay up treasure in heaven.

/How can we hasten the coming of Christ?/ */By praying that the Lord will bring in His kingdom/* as Jesus encouraged us to do in the Lord's prayer.

*/By reaching out to the lost and saving God's elect./*

/Are/ /you looking forward to the day that God removes sinners and sin from the world?/

After God removes the wicked and their works from the world He will create a new world.

Peter discusses this in v 13.

* *

*2.

Creation Of The New World*

/ /

*2 Peter 3:13:*/ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

/

/ /

*/Secondly,/* believers can look forward to the day when God creates a perfect world.

Because the present earth is corrupt God must destroy it./

/He will then create a new heavens and new earth for His people.

The new creation God establishes will be one marked by righteousness and holiness.

Nothing evil will spoil the new creation.

In the new creation there will be no sin, sickness, sorrow or death.

The curse will be replaced by God's bountiful blessings.

*Revelation 21:1, 5a: */Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

Also there was no more sea.

Then He who sat on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

/In the new heavens God's people will not sin.

They will live blamelessly before God! */If God’s people will live sinless lives in eternity why are we so reluctant to give sin up now?/*/ Shouldn't we want to live righteously now?  /

/ /

*3.

Collection Of His Children*

/ /

*2 Peter 3:14:*/ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;/

 

Peter said the/ *third motivation* /for believers is meeting Christ.

Peter commands believers to be diligent in their Christian life.

By doing this they will be found blameless when Jesus comes.

At the rapture we will be caught up to meet Christ in the air.

After this we will enjoy wonderful fellowship with Christ.

If you are serving Christ when He comes you will be glad at His appearance.

If you are wasting your life on sin you will be ashamed.

*1 John 2:28* *says:* /And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.

*Would you rather be found serving Christ or self?*/

/ /

Mexican Jails

 

Mexican jails are not known for their tidiness or orderliness.

Shortly after having taken office, the President of Mexico, Luis Echeverria, decided to do something about this.

Without giving any advance notice, He chose to visit the jails at midnight.