Burn Baby Burn

Larry D. Lindow

II Peter • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Faithfulness

Christian Life

Eschatology

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The second coming of Christ is promised and this should motivate us to a holy life.

Notes

Transcript

II Peter 3:10-13 “10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons 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 dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

I. Introduction

Peter has been reminding us of how we can stand firm against the false teachers as they mock us for our faith in the return of Jesus Christ. He has challenged us to maintain faith in God’s trustworthy Word, to remember God stepping into history both in Creation and the judgment of the flood. He has encouraged us by reminding us of God’s longsuffering grace toward us.

In today’s passage, we are reminded of the sure judgment of God on this world, and how we are to live faithfully, focused, and with future blessings in mind and motive.

II. A Certain Judgment vs. 10

A. The Day of the Lord will come.

Peter speaks with confidence in making this statement. “The Day of the Lord will Come.” In the OT the day of the LORD was often referred to as a coming judgment on a nation. There are also multiple places where the statement is used in referring to end time, eschatological judgment.

This is a coming future judgment that “will begin when Antichrist makes a covenant with Israel, and it will conclude with the burning up of the present heavens and earth (Dan. 9:27; 1 Pet. 3:12; et al.). (Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), 2 Pe 3:10.)

B. The Day of the Lord will come unexpected and unannounced.

1. “Come as a thief”, most thieves do not announce to others that they are coming. They don’t come when they know people are alert. “This day will come as a thief in that its beginning will take those unbelievers living on the earth then (after the Rapture) by surprise (Matt. 24:37–39, 43–44; Luke 12:39–40; 1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 3:3; 16:15). (Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), 2 Pe 3:10. )

2. It is interesting the when you read the passage that was read earlier that the believers of the time because they are living in view of eternity will not be surprised. Listen, I Thess. 5:1-9 “1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

C. The Day of the Lord will be thoroughly destructive.

The heavens and the earth will be affected.

The heavens will pass away. The heavens is not referring to “heaven” as in where God dwells. But what many have referred to as the first and second heaven. The atmosphere being the first heaven and the universe being the second heaven. These will “pass away with a great noise” The term is also translated roar. Defined - “denoting the noise produced by the sudden rush of an object.” My thoughts as I read the different descriptions of this word go to the noise when you have lit a bunch of gasoline. Illustration??

The elements will melt with fervent heat. The elements are the basic parts that make up things. The intense heat that comes will do away with the earth the heavens and all that we know of them. Whether this heat comes from the core of the earth or from the collapsing stars in the universe it will be complete.

Some have supposed that this may be a nuclear battle that brings this about. There indeed may be nuclear explosions but this is not brought about by an insane leader of a country or a rogue military leader this is planned , brought about, and decreed by God. Our nuclear bombs as horrific as they may be would not bring down the universe.

The earth and the works in it will burn up.

The works are likely the items that mankind has produced. Nothing will survive.

We are reminded that we need to be careful how we are living and what we are living for.

I Cor 3:12-15 “12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

II. Our Response to God’s Coming Judgment. vs. 11-13

A. We should be living expectantly as faithful believers. vs. 11

“Since all this will be dissolved” .

This gives us perspective. “all will be dissolved.” All these things that people live for today will be gone. There will be nothing left. Another reason Christ’s words challenge us to not focus on the temporal. Matthew 6:31-34 “31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

“what manner of persons ought you to be”

Holy conduct

Holy - having the characteristics of moral purity. It has the idea of being “set apart” to God, dedicated to God, consecrated to His service. Pure, reverent

Conduct is your manner of life, way of life, how you act and control yourself, behavior

This type of living separates us from the desires, actions, and associations with the world. II Cor. 6:14-18 “14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”” II Cor. 7:1 “1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

godliness- Piety - reverence toward God, loyalty to God, devoutness to God, “awesome respect accorded to God (BDAG).

I Tim 4:7-8 “7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”

I TIm 6:6-12 “6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Don’t lose heart. Remember, Peter already taught us back in chapter 1 that in salvation and His Word God provides us with all that we need to live this kind of life. I Peter 1:3-4 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”

For those who have put their faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit lives within. As we dig into God’s Word and get to know Him the Holy Spirit guides us in obedience to live a godly life that is honoring to the Lord. This is how we live a life of faithfulness.

Not only are we to be living a faithful life as we expect the return of Christ but we are to live a focused life.

B. We should be living expectantly as focused believers. vs. 12

As believers we look for the Day of God.

Some believe that the Day of the Lord and the Day of God are used interchangeably.

Others believe that the Day of the Lord is the time from the middle of the tribulation when God begins pouring out his wrath on the earth to the end of the millennial when the destruction of the heavens and earth take place. While the Day of God comes following that when all things are new. The “day of God” may be a reference to the time yet future in which God will be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28). This will follow the creation of the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21:1). (Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), 2 Pe 3:12.)

Either way we can be focused on the fact that there is future blessing coming for believers who will spend eternity with God .

John lived expectantly. Rev. 22:20 “20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!”

If we are living expectantly looking for the return of Jesus Christ and the blessings to come we will not be comfortable today. Peter had challenged us in I Peter to live as sojourners or pilgrims I Peter 2:11-12 “11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

This term “looking” is a present participle. It is active. We are never to stop looking for Christ’s return. It is to wait anxiously. One certain young man found a catalog this week and started to bring it to Lisa to talk about Christmas. “Dude it is barely October...” Yet, is not this the attitude we should have for Christ’s return??

We are to hasten the day of God.

The idea is to “speed up the progress of , to facilitate, to cause to happen sooner.”

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible D. Living in View of the Future 3:11–16

The Greek participle translated “hastening” or “speeding” (speudontes) sometimes means “desiring earnestly” (RSV margin). If Peter meant that here, the sense would be that believers not only look for the day of God but desire earnestly to see it (cf. vv. 8–10; Matt. 24:42; 25:13). The AV has “hastening unto” implying that Peter meant believers are rapidly approaching the day of God. Yet “unto” needs supplying; it is not in the text. Most of the translators and commentators, however, took speudontes in its usual sense of hastening. They assumed that Peter was thinking that believers can hasten the day of God by their prayers (cf. Matt. 6:10) and their preaching (cf. Matt. 24:14; Acts 3:19–20). Believers affect God’s timetable by our witnessing and our praying as we bring people to Christ (cf. Josh. 10:12–14; 1 Kings 20:1–6; et al.).

Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (D. Living in View of the Future 3:11–16)

“Clearly this idea of hastening the End is the corollary of the explanation (v 9) that God defers the Parousia because he desires Christians to repent. Their repentance and holy living may therefore, from the human standpoint, hasten its coming. This does not detract from God’s sovereignty in determining the time of the End . . ., but means only that his sovereign determination graciously takes human affairs into account.” (Bauchum, pg. 325)

b. Once again we see the balance between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man. We saw that last week with the idea of “election and faith”. We see it here with God’s sovereign plan and believers walking in obedience.

C. We should be living expectantly with a future as believers. vs. 13

It is not the destruction of the world that we anticipate with our expectant living.

It is the “new heavens and the new earth.”

Remember, in spite of the beauty of this world, we are living in a sin cursed world. But we are promised that there will be deliverance. Romans 8:20-22 “20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.”

Yet, it is not just the beauty of the new creation, but rather the hope of the freedom from sin. Romans 8:23 “23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”

The new heaven and new earth is where righteousness dwells. Righteousness inhabits the new heaven and new earth. There is no sin! “In God’s new order, righteousness will enjoy a permanent, perfect existence. The apostle John further described the wonder of that new universe:” (John F. MacArthur Jr., 2 Peter and Jude, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2005), 131.)

Rev. 22:1-4 “1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.” Rev. 21:22-27 “22 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. 24 And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. 25 Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). 26 And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. 27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”

We should be tired of a life where we face the affect of people’s lying and deception. We will no longer have to consider if we are being manipulated, used, taken advantage of; rather we will live where there is constant peace, and righteousness.

These concepts of no more pain, no more tears, no more locks, total cooperation, because we will only be with those who have put their faith in Christ whose names are written in the lambs book of life and who have recieved their glorified bodies, are hard to imagine. Yet, this is our motive for living for Christ today.

Though we may face persecution and trials, it is nothing to be compared with what is to come. Romans 8:18-19 “18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”

We have a motivating hope!

IV. Application

A. Are you ready for judgment? Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ?

B. Are you living expectantly? Are you anticipating the Day of God? Are you too comfortable in this life? Have you compromised?

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