2 Peter 3
Notes
Transcript
Background
2 Peter is the second letter that we have from the Apostle Peter in the New Testament, written to Gentile believers in Asia Minor. The overall theme of the book is that believers ought to continue faithfully in the truth as they await Christ’s return.
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
Peter begins this section by reminding his readers of the first letter he sent them.
We talked about this a few weeks ago, that letter was 1 Peter. It is how we know who the recipients are.
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen
Peter considers it his duty, as seen in chapter 1, to remind his people of the things he taught them.
13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,
14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
We are reminded why here: Peter knows his life will end soon.
His reminding once again points his readers to the teachings:
of the prophets found in Scripture (OT), and
of the of the Lord Jesus, as relayed by the apostles.
Remember also that the apostles were eyewitnesses of the life of Jesus Christ.
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
In the previous chapter, Peter exhorted against false teachers and prophets, who speak false and destructive doctrines that must be rejected.
In this section, he exhorts against those who deny Christ’s second coming.
Why is this so important? Because of Scripture and Jesus.
Many Messianic prophecies foretell the coming of the Messiah, who will punish the enemies of Israel.
10 Then my enemy will see, And shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the Lord your God?” My eyes will look on her; At that time she will be trampled down Like mire of the streets.
Jesus Himself also foretold of His return.
29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30 “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.
31 “And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
These mockers are refuted by Peter in 3 different ways:
First, he uses their observation that creation occurred, and if God created all things, He is quite capable of doing His will with His creation.
He even uses the Flood as an example of God’s interaction with His creation.
He then calls upon prophecy to show that God is not done with His creation.
8 “Therefore wait for Me,” declares the Lord, “For the day when I rise up as a witness. Indeed, My decision is to gather nations, To assemble kingdoms, To pour out on them My indignation, All My burning anger; For all the earth will be devoured By the fire of My zeal.
Finally, he reminds his readers of God’s eternal nature - God is outside of time, and because His will is for our best, we must trust His promises.
Notice the reason why God allows the persistence of evil - He desires that all would come to repentance.
15 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth.
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
Paul confirms God’s desire.
4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
This is ultimately what Peter wants to remind his readers of - the gospel.
God’s plan for creation is the gospel - the sending of His Son to die for our salvation.
God’s plan for creation is the gospel - the sending of His Son to die for our salvation.
This is a free gift, available to anyone who is willing to turn from their sins and receive it.
God’s promises are for Messiah to come, and to make all things new.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
There is a phrase repeated throughout all of Scripture, and that is “the Day of the Lord.”
Occurs in 21 verses - 16 in OT (all prophets), 5 in NT.
This Day being referenced is the day of judgment.
2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
13 And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs;
14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty.
15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)
16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
And after this, the dead will be judged.
11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
There is a promise after this, though:
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
This promise is also foretold by OT prophets.
17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.
18 “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness.
19 “I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her The voice of weeping and the sound of crying.
Notice that Peter calls them to holiness in light of these truths.
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,
16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
With everything Peter has written in mind, he returns to his original purpose: BE DILIGENT.
Our deeds reflect the faith we have, which is evidence of our salvation.
The evidence of our faith shows through in our lives.
The evidence of our faith shows through in our lives.
God is patient with us, in spite of our failing.
Peter then corroborates the writings of Paul, confirming the truth and divine origin of his writing.
He also notes that some of it is hard to understand.
It’s important to recognize that hard or difficult truths will be used by false teachers to mislead.
Notice that false teachers will mishandle the Scriptures.
The best protection against false teachers is knowing sound doctrine.
We are all to grow in grace (deeds) and knowledge (study).
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
God’s plan for creation is the gospel - the sending of His Son to die for our salvation.
The evidence of our faith shows through in our lives.
Next week, we will resume our journey through Genesis.