A Penetrating Question

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This is a sermon that is based on the text found in 2 Peter 3:1-12 that emphasizes the Apostle's exhortation to holy and godly living in light of the coming judgment on the earth and the establishment of the new heavens and the new earth.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

I don’t know about you dear friends, but I am more and more convinced that we are speeding toward the end of time and the Second Coming of the Lord. It seems like the news reports every day bring more evidence that the world is racing toward chaos and destruction. If you think I’m exaggerating, just think of what comes to your mind when I mention the following countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Greece, Italy, Spain, & the entire European Union… In all of these countries there is rioting, political unrest, economic disaster, etc. In addition to this I heard on the radio about a week ago that there are rumors of war building up between China and Japan.

In addition to all of these countries, look at our own nation. Our economic situation is itself on the brink of disaster. Some people believe that the most recent action by the Federal Reserve to just print more money has bro’t us to the point that there is no longer any question if we will have economic collapse, but when will it happen.

My intention for talking like this is not to scare anyone or to be an alarmist. (I’ve heard alarming predictions about the world and the soon coming of Christ all my life.) However, the Bible makes it very clear that we will most certainly come to that day eventually. No one knows how close or how far away it is. The Bible also makes it clear that people will not be ready for that day when it comes because of becoming “desensitized” about all that is happening and how long it has been going on. Jesus himself taught that His disciples should be looking for His return and not be deceived by the false prophets who will try to lead people astray as we get closer and closer to that time.

The letter of 2^nd Peter was probably written to Gentile Christians “those who have obtained like precious faith with us.” It is believed, by the content of the letter, that it was written to address some false teaching that had risen among them.

(v. 4) Here in this chapter he is confronting some of the same attitudes that I just mentioned regarding our present day. “Where is the promise of His coming?” “Things have kept going as always since the beginning of time.”

(vv.5-7) He speaks about the first time that God brought judgment against the world and humanity (the flood), then he leads into the discussion about the coming day of judgment.

Peter explains that the mercy and love of God is the only reason that judgment hasn’t already overtaken us. (v.9) Even in the midst of describing coming judgment, Peter wants to emphasize the mercy of God and His desire that everyone be saved from destruction.

But… make no mistake, judgment day is coming. The Day of the Lord is sure to come.

(Barclay) Peter is speaking of the NT doctrine of the Second Coming of Christ, but he is describing it in terms of the OT doctrine of the Day of the Lord. There are several references in the OT prophets that describe the “Day of the Lord” in graphic terms like Peter did here. (See Is. 13:9-13) Other prophets use similar language to describe coming judgment.

This is described as a day when both the heavens and the earth will experience cataclysmic events.

“great noise” – lit. hissing or crackling; someone pointed out that this word is “used for the whirring of a bird’s wings in the air, for the sound a spear makes as it hurtles through the air, for the crackling of the flames of a forest fire.” (Barclay)

“elements” – word meaning basic rudiments, elements or principles. Gives the idea of that from which everything is derived. (i.e. atoms, molecules) I get the impression here that Peter is essentially describing a nuclear reaction. (God has ceased to hold everything together by the “word of his power” and the world’s elements have separated in one huge nuclear reaction.)

“fervent heat” – I read one time that the heat generated at the core of an atomic bomb is a minute replica of the sun’s heat. Some historians have described the devastation at Hiroshima and Nagasaki where nothing was left at the center, but even further out, the heat was so intense it caused tile roofs to run onto the ground like water.

“earth & works burned up” – as a result of the elements dissolving with intense heat.

So now we come to verse 11, and the Apostle Peter is asking his readers a very sobering question. “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be…?” Now that I have concluded my introduction, let us get into the message! J

For the remainder of our time today I want to discuss this passage to find the Apostle’s answers to this all-important question he has asked. What kind of persons should we be?

I. We should be people that are genuinely converted.

Listen to some of the language Peter is using in this passage.

A. This includes repentance.

(v.9) “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Repentance is a topic that is preached throughout the OT by the prophets and it was preached by Jesus and the Apostles in the NT. Many people think that repentance means to be sorry for something. (“It doesn’t really matter what I do that is wrong as long as I feel sorry about it.”) But, that is not the case. The Bible says godly sorrow results in repentance, but…

Repentance carries the idea of making a complete change of mind and behavior as a result of that godly sorrow over our sin and the fact that our sin is the reason Jesus was crucified. Repentance means that I not only have changed my mind and my behavior in regards to sins I have been committing, but I’ve also changed my mind about who/what I’m trusting in for salvation. I’m no longer trusting in my own works or my own righteousness, but I’m trusting only in Christ.

B. This includes having peace with God.

(v.14) “…being found in him in peace…”

When we are without Christ and living a sinful life, we stand at odds with God and under the wrath of God. But, according to Romans 5:1, when we are justified by faith we have peace with God. Through faith in Christ, we change from a condition of hostility and war to a condition of reconciliation and peace with God.

II. We should be holy people.

A. That means outwardly in conduct and behavior.

(v.11) “…in all holy conversation and godliness”

“holy” – set apart for a specific purpose; cleansed and pure.

“conversation” – a word that does not primarily mean speech (as it usually does in our language today) but it refers to conduct and behavior.

“godliness” – piety, reverence.

Peter is saying that individuals that are looking for and expecting the “Day of the Lord” should be people that are careful to live their lives in a way that reflects the holiness of Christ and the purity He modeled. I’ve said this before, but I am alarmed at the excuses I’ve heard from professing Christians over the sin that they continue to practice.

Many seem to have the attitude, “Well, nobody’s perfect, so it won’t matter if I indulge in this sin or that practice.” But they know full well that the Bible condemns that behavior as ungodly and unbecoming a follower of Jesus Christ.

(Barclay) “If these things are going to happen and the world is hastening to judgment, obviously a man must live a life of piety and of holiness. If there are to be a new heaven and a new earth … the home of righteousness, obviously a man must seek with all his mind and heart and soul and strength to be fit to be a dweller in that new world.”

B. It also means inwardly in heart and motives.

(v.14) “…without spot and blameless.”

(Trench, NT Synonyms) These two words (spot, blemish or blameless) are similar in meaning, but when they are used together one usually refers to outward purity and the other refers to inward purity. (cf. 1 Peter 1:19 “redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus as lamb without spot or blemish.”) Purity of heart and life is a message that has been the heritage of many people in this church. Most of us come from a religious background in the Wesleyan, Nazarene, Alliance or Church of God denominations who all stress the message of holiness.

IV. We should be people that are expecting and longing for His return.

(v.12) “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God.”

As the children of God who are in love with Christ, we should be characterized as people who are anxious for the day when we can see Him face to face and live with Him eternally.

Someone (Barclay) has said that we can hasten the day:

A. by praying for it – Jesus taught us to pray, “thy kingdom come…” (Matt. 6:10)

B. by preaching to those who haven’t heard – “This gospel will be preached throughout the world… and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:14)

C. by penitence and obedience – Peter would have known that a common message by the Jewish rabbis in biblical times was: “It is the sins of the people which prevent the coming of the Messiah.”

Supported by the truth found in v. 9, “God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Conclusion:

I want to finish this message by simply saying again, We are rapidly approaching the day that Peter was describing. None of us knows whether it will happen in our lifetimes or not, but it is coming.

In light of this sobering fact, what kind of person should you be? What kind of person should I be?

Dear friends, it is time for us to quit playing church and acting as though our faith was simply a hobby or pastime.

We need to be diligent as Peter says in v.14 and seek to be all God wants us to be; not only in our own conduct and behavior, but in reaching out to others with the message of hope and truth, so they too can be ready for His coming.