Peter finishes his second letter with what we should expect when Christ returns.
2 Peter 3: The Day of the Lord Will Come
1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles,
3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
4 They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."
5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,
6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.
7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Final Words
14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Things to think about…
Is this a second letter to 1st Peter or a second letter to those referred to in 1Pet1:1, vs 1? We do not know for sure, he mentions the predictions of the holy prophets and commandments from Jesus and the Apostles; that scoffers will come. There is little to suggest he is referring here to 1st Peter. But again, we cannot know for sure. The point is that scoffers will come in the last days ‘following their own sinful desires’ and mock the proclamation that Christ will return, 2Pet 3:4. We are the ones who are Christ’s representatives who live in this sinful world who proclaim His return. The most effective way to do this is by the way we live, as inheritors of heaven.
Many mock Noah’s flood and judgement, 2 Pet 3:6. Another reason to believe Noah’s flood can only be a global flood is simply because of the global context expressed here, that this same earth that now exists is ‘globally’, reserved for fire. I don’t believe anyone in Christendom believes Christ’s second coming in judgement described here by Peter is referring to a local fire somewhere in the Middle East.
‘With the Lord one day is as a thousand years…, 2Pet 3:8. How many times has this verse been abused and pulled out of context, especially when trying to distort the obvious meaning of a solar day outlined in Genesis 1. The verse here is referring to the fact that the Lord does not use or is to be measured by our understanding of time. It simply means God has His own plans and will do it in His own time. God is not limited by time – since he created ‘time and space’. This verse simply means that we should trust that the Lord will do what He says He will do, when He wills it to be done. In this case it refers to His return to the earth in judgement. This verse should never be taken out of context to say something something which it was never meant to say or convey.
After the Millennial reign of Christ that John speaks about in Revelation 20, Peter here says that this earth and the heavens will be dissolved – even the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn, 2Pet 3:12. This will show an unimaginable amount of power in judgement. But the glorious promise a “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells”, vs 13. Hallelujah!
Finally, a response by Peter to all of this future judgement – “be without spot or blemish, be at peace, be patient…grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”, 2Pet 3:14-18. Sound advice.
The referral to the Apostle Paul’s words is encouraging coming from Peter who was rebuked at one point by the Apostle Paul, Gal 2:11-14. Peter doesn’t hold personal grudges to his fellow Apostle but simply acknowledges that his letters should in fact be considered part of scripture, 2Pet 3:16. Those who want to honour Christ never hold personal grudges against other Christians. Forgiveness and reconciliationa are intimately connected with obeying the gospel. Indeed to say we love God and at the same time hate our brother, is to affirm that the love of God is not in us, 1John 4:20.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
The reading for Sunday came from 2 Samuel 19:1-15.
1. King David has been so overwhelmed by the death of his son Absalom that he is overcome by emotion to the point where he does not think or act rationally. Describe the situation and background of what is going on here. Have you ever been in a situation where you are so emotionally tied into a situation where you have not responded in rational manner? Discuss.
2. Joab takes a different tact to that of Nathan when he spoke to David to make him see sense. Describe the differences in Joab’s response to David and why it was effective.
3. Can you remember a time in your life where someone said something that changed the course of events for your life? What were the circumstances?
4. Alexander the Great once said that he was not afraid of an army of lions being led by a sheep, but an army of sheep being led by a lion. As the leader goes so the people follow in whatever context. We are Christ’s sheep and follow Him as the Lion of Judah. Is He leading you daily through the counsel of His word? In what way?
Prayer Points
1. Graham Willey as he preaches next Sunday morning.
2. Clarity of life and freedoms through to the end of the year.
3. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours.
4. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
5. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points.
1. Tim’s testimony on Sunday
2. Creation Ministries International and the talk and discussion from Dr Don Batton.
3. New visitors to the church on Sunday.
4. The unity and grace on display at CBC.
Announcements
1. Communion is on this Sunday.
2. PlayPatch for toddlers at church, Fridays 9:30-11am. Please get the word out. See Maddison for details.
3. Recharge Youth – 6:30-8:30pm. Parents to contact Melinda for details.
4. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
