This is the eighth sermon in a series of messages on 2nd Peter. This message is based on 3:1-9 and it speaks about the judgment and mercy of God. Peter explains to his readers that judgment is surely coming in the future, and the only reason it hasn't happened yet is due to the mercy of a loving God who is not willing for any to perish.
Written Excerpts:
2
Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,
as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Introduction:
We
have been working our way through the book of 2nd Peter for several
weeks. We
mentioned at the very beginning that the letter was written by the Apostle
Peter because false teachers had infiltrated the Christian believers and he
wanted to refute them, as well as provide reliable instruction for his readers. In
last week’s sermon we took a look at chapter 2 of the book of 2nd
Peter where he describes the characteristics of the false teachers and he
informs them of God’s judgment. Now,
in chapter 3, Peter expands his message about the coming judgment, but as he
does, he also reminds his readers of God’s gracious love and mercy.
Judgment
and mercy are interesting topics to think about and discuss. I’ve discovered
that a lot of people are similar to me in the fact that we are much more in
favor of God’s judgment when we’re talking about other people who have done
ungodly things. However,
we are much more in favor of God’s love and mercy when we start talking about
our own ungodly deeds and attitudes!
It
is actually quite amusing sometimes to watch people change their opinions and
attitudes about the kinds of sins that deserve the judgment of God and the
condemnation of people until they fall into the same sin (or a close family
member). Then
they typically change our views on judgment and think of many reasons why they
deserve mercy. This
common human response simply shows us how much we really want God’s mercy for
ourselves, which we ought to also want for others. (That is, if we “love our
neighbors as ourselves.”)
In
chapter 3, Peter explains to his readers that judgment is certain, but it is
delayed because of God’s mercy.
I. Judgment
Is Certain (vv. 1-7)
As
I pointed out earlier, Peter clearly indicates in chapter two that God does not
tolerate error and ungodliness. He gave examples of fallen angels, the world population
prior to the flood, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The
implication was that judgment will also come for the false teachers who were
teaching and leading people astray from the truth.
A. Coming judgment suggests the need for
repeated warnings. (1-2)
Starting
off here in the third chapter, Peter indicates that since judgment is coming, repeated
warnings need to be given.
2 Peter 3:1-2 (NKJV) Beloved, I
now write to you this second epistle (in both
of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that
you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets,
and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
Peter’s
purpose in writing a second letter is so that they could be reminded of
messages given by the holy prophets (OT Scriptures) and by the Apostles
themselves.
“stir
up” – Gk. διεγείρω; arouse or awaken; i.e. stir up.
Any
careful reading of the biblical prophets and apostles show repeated emphases on
judgment.
I
remember reading from some sources years ago that Jesus spoke much more about
hell than about heaven.
Vic
Reasoner says, “False doctrine is a
sedative. When we ought to be concerned by the teaching of Scripture, false
teachers lull us to sleep.” (Commentary on 1 & 2 Peter)
“pure
minds” – the word “pure” is a compound word that literally means “judge” and
“sunlight.” It suggests something that is held up to the sun to expose any
flaws. (Reasoner & A.T. Robertson)
Peter
is essentially saying that his readers have not been affected (yet) by the
false teachers. They are pure (sun-judged). However,
he still feels the urgency to remind them of what has been taught and preached
by the prophets and by Jesus Christ through the Apostles. If
he feels that these “pure-minded” Christians needed to be reminded, then
certainly we need to be occasionally reminded today as well.
What
do we need to be reminded of? Well, he hasn’t said yet (that’s coming next),
but the answer is: we need to be reminded that God has judged sinners and
rebels in the past and He will do so again. We
also need to be reminded that people have always scoffed at pending "gloom
and doom.”
B. Coming judgment is often mocked.
(3-6)
2 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV) 3knowing this
first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking
according to their own lusts, 4and saying, "Where is the
promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things
continue as they were from the
beginning of creation."
Scoffers
have always been around and always will be.
“last
days” – for the biblical writers, the last days was the period of time between
the first and second coming of the Messiah. It marked the end of the old era.
(cf. Heb. 1:2) This
is not specifically speaking of the time immediately preceding the second
coming, unless we think of it as including all of the time since Christ came.
They
base their assumptions on the mistaken opinion or viewpoint that time has
always continued without interruption or intervention (uniformitarianism).
2 Peter 3:5-6 (NKJV) For this they
willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were
of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by
which the world that then
existed perished, being flooded with water.
Ignorance
is willful for some people.
Apparently
Peter believed and accepted all other biblical accounts of creation and
declares that it all came into being by the Word of God!
It
seems apparent also that when Peter describes the earth as “part above water
and part in the water,” it leads him into the next point, which is the
worldwide flood.
There
are plenty of reasons to believe in a worldwide flood in Noah’s day. But there
have always been people who willfully reject it, which is why people like those
at the Institute for Creation Research and at Answers in Genesis are so
dedicated to preserving and promoting scientific evidence for the flood.
C. Coming judgment is on the horizon.
(7)
2 Peter 3:7 (NKJV) But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the
same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and
perdition of ungodly men.
“preserved
by the same word” – lit. “have been stored.” God not only created the heaven
and earth, but He preserves it all. He holds it all together. We
shared some thoughts about this fact on Wednesday night in the Bible study.
(cf. Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3)
“reserved
for fire” – lit. “are being reserved, guarded or protected.” There is a future
time of judgment by fire that is coming.
(Tyndale New
Testament Commentaries) – Some Jews, at least, believed in a dual
cataclysm of the world, by water and by fire, and attributed this idea to Adam!
(i.e. Josephus)
Compare OT references on judgment by fire:
Deuteronomy
32:22 (NKJV) For a fire
is kindled by my anger, And shall burn to the lowest hell; It shall consume the
earth with her increase, And set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Malachi
4:1 (NKJV) "For
behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all
who do wickedly will be stubble….
“judgment
and perdition” – i.e. condemnation/ damnation, and destruction
The
Bible is full of warnings about the final judgment and punishment of those who
reject Christ and His commands.
II. Judgment
Is Delayed (vv. 8-9)
Having
refuted the claims of the scoffers, Peter proceeds to explain why judgment
hasn’t come yet.
A. The delay is not as long as it seems.
(8)
2 Peter 3:8 (NKJV) But, beloved, do not forget this one
thing, that with the Lord one day is
as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The
first reason Peter offers for the fact that judgment hasn’t come yet has to do
with the fact that God’s perspective on time is very different than ours.
“one
day… a thousand…” – probably not to be taken literally as though any time the
Bible speaks about 1 day then it should be equated with exactly 1,000 years. It
is probably just a cliché or euphemism that emphasizes the truth that God is
not restricted by time. For
The One who is Infinite, all time is like the present.
B. The delay of judgment is rooted in
God’s love. (9)
2
Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His
promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not
willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Peter
denies the assumption of many people – i.e. God doesn’t really mean what He
says; God is less than diligent in carrying out His threats/promises; etc. But,
the real reason for the delay of judgment is because God is longsuffering and
God wants everyone to be saved.
“not
willing” – We could get into the age-old debate about the sovereignty of God
and the free will of man. But
the fact of the matter is, there is ample biblical proof of the fact that God
wants everyone to be saved, and Jesus did actually die for the whole world.
So,
He wants “all to come to repentance.”
“repentance”
– a turning away from old way of thinking and living to a new way.
It
is motivated by a genuine and deep sorrow for the fact that our sins cost Jesus
His very life.
It
is interesting that Peter doesn’t say that God desires for all men to be saved,
although that is what he means. He
didn’t say, “God desires all men to go to heaven,” although that is what he’s
ultimately talking about. He
says, “God doesn’t want anyone to perish but to come to repentance.” Genuine
repentance is the way to God.
Conclusion:
Everything
Peter says to his readers about the coming judgment is absolutely true. The
Bible has warning after warning about the consequences for those who reject
Christ and disobey the Word of God; seeking their own will and desires.
But,
the Bible is also full of evidence for the love and mercy of God. Any person
who willingly comes to Christ and confesses his sin and truly repents of his
past wayward living, can find forgiveness and mercy from the Lord!
If
there is anyone here today that has not come to God in repentance and in
confession trusting in the blood of Christ, you can certainly do that today.
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