2 Peter, Part 5
Notes
Transcript
Peter has a goal to remind the church of the reality of this world (beyond what it looks like or what we may be told) and of what has been told because there are those among us who will deny the reality of final judgement and the coming again of the Lord.
3:1-4 summarized
In (10), Peter asserts thatJesus will come and how he will come.
· Jesus IS coming – The scoffers have no idea and are suppressing the truth they do know about creation so they can justify their own sinful actions ("no judgement so live how you like”)
Quick aside: scoffers who disbelieve in Jesus’ 2ndcoming don’t deny his 1st.
· Heavens and earth will be dissolved (burned)
· Works done on earth will be exposed (judgement)
2 Peter 3:11-12 SINCE this is reality, it’s clear/obvious what sort of people you should be:
11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness
12 as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat.
· Holy in conduct
Holiness: a state of being set apart and dedicated to God, characterized by moral purity, righteousness, and conformity to God's will.
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.
15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct;
16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
How can you cease from being conformed to those desires?
1 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship.[a] 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
How do you renew your mind?
Colossians 3:2 - Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
What are “things above”?
Philippians 4:8 - Finally[a] brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
8 Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
Holiness occurs when, by the Holy Spirit’s empowering, we deliberately and regularly set our minds on heavenly things to such an extent that our way of thinking begins to change (similar to how any new lifestyle is accomplished – repetitive training), and our actions will begin to follow.
Godliness – “right belief about God and appropriate practice in keeping with those beliefs” – has to do with good theology (“theological knowledge” that shapes your thinking and impacts your living).
Doesn’t mean you have to have perfect theological knowledge, but that you’re growing in the knowledge you have, and it’s shaping your life as you mature in it.
· (12a “waiting for”, 13) Expectant – living every day with Jesus’ coming in view
expectancy won’t happen unless you discipline yourself to think this way
· (12b) Pro-active (“hastening”) HOW??
We do not know when and we cannot control when, but we can’t deny the biblical teaching that somehow God’s providence includes our ability hasten the return of Jesus
o prayer – eg “Your Kingdom come!”
o evangelism – Mt 24:14 )
· (14) Diligent in sanctification
o Philippians 2:12-13
12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
§ How? Through the Spirit’s power: 2 Peter 1:3
§ Hard, systematic work (must stop treating that word like heresy)- 2 Peter 1:5-7
· There’s no way around this. It won’t come automatic.
· People who claim they’re just feeling their relationship with Jesus aren’t growing regardless of how “spiritual” they look or sound. If they’re not making every effort to discipline themselves as Peter tells us to, they’re not going to grow. They are going to be shallow, unstable people. Don’t be that person.
· Most convicting thing I’ve heard – John Piper is one of the most conscientious disciples I have known. Yet on an “Ask Pastor John” he said, “I thought I’d be more sanctified by now.” It never ends but the pay-off as you go is worth it!
· “at peace [with God]” – the deeper we grow in our faith, the greater the level of abiding peace we experience.
o Greater trust=greater peace – Philippians 4:6-7
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
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Now, why does he bring up Paul? (2 Peter 3:15-16 )
15 Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.
16 He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
He’s dealing with the claims of the scoffers again.
Remember, Peter is refuting the scoffers claim that because Jesus has delayed, he’s not coming. Paul, who is also an apostle and whose writings are already considered authoritative Scripture*, concurred in his own letters
Romans 2:4 - do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
4 Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
*(16c) “…twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”
That’s a good segue to addressing what had to be a source of the scoffers to justify their lawlessness (antinomianism), just like it is sometimes a source for lawlessness today. Possibly referring to Romans 3-7 where Paul teaches extensively that salvation is by grace through faith alone apart from works of the Law, and how in Romans 14, each should not be bound by the Law but be convinced thoroughly about debatable matters. What is considered “debatable”?
However, if you have read the letter yourself and study what he actually said, you’ll know he was clear on the point that freedom from the Law for salvation doesn’t equate to license to live anyway we please. Romans 8:8-13, he makes clear that the mindset of the flesh is hostile to God because it doesn’t submit to God’s Law -- it can’t. But if the Spirit of God lives in you, we are no longer obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh (ie we’re not held captive by it), but by the Spirit, you put to death the deeds of the flesh. So that by the Spirit we begin to both desire and to be live in obedience to the Law of God written on our hearts.
It's what he talks about in Colossians 3 regarding putting to death things of the flesh: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, greed, idolatry, anger, wrath, malice, slander, filthy language, lying.
These are clearly implied in the description by Peter of those who “follow their own evil desires.” (2 Peter 3:3)
Instead, Paul commands we put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness. Moreover, in Galatians 6 we are to gently correct each other when we fail to live this way, watching out for each other, carrying one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
This is a law of Freedom because we can now live with a clear conscience as we work to supplement our faith with Christlike characteristics and because of the indwelling Spirit, we now want to do these things.
If we’re not aware of this, though, we might listen to false teachers who tell us that Paul teaches that since the Law has been fulfilled and done away with and we’re saved by grace and not works of the Law so you can’t lose your salvation, then you can live however you please – you’re sealed.
That is immature and dangerous thinking and can make us unstable at best or make us miss the gospel at worst.
God didn’t save us to encourage sin within us, but to kill sin within us.
If you’re saved, you will grow to hate the sin in your life and desire to live according to the Law written on your heart. If you’re not, you’ll jump all over the teaching of lawlessness and you’ll hate anybody who tells you that you are called to holiness and obedience, and that you have to work at growing in godliness.
(17) Since we know this, be on guard against it so we don’t become unstable and fall from a strong stance against sin. If you didn’t know before today, you know now.
(18) Instead, “make every effort” to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.