II Peter 3:1-9

The Promise of God’s Word

“Would you open your Bibles with me to...”

1Tim. 4:13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

NIV reads…

1Tim. 4:13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

Pray

Into

√ The Bible

Have you ever wondered why reading, and studying the Bible is so important?

For example, in our opening verse we find Paul reminding young Timothy to make God’s Word the emphasis of his ministry.

Well, in our continuing study of II Peter we discover some very important reasons that we need to constantly refresh our minds with God’s Word.

You can outline it this way…

The purpose of God’s Word (vs. 1-2)

The power of God’s Word (vs. 3-7)

The promise of God’s Word (vs. 8-9)

Ap. Get your Daily Bread!

The Purpose of God’s Word (vs. 1-2)

2Pet. 3:1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),

2Pet. 3:2 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,

√ To stir up our memory

Peter tells us that the purpose of both his letters was to…

“stir up your pure minds by way of reminder”

Specifically, in context with both his letters, Peter was writing to encourage Christians who were suffering persecution at the hands of those who rejected faith in Jesus Christ.

Encouraging them (and us)…

That God’s promises are worth suffering for

That Jesus is coming back for His own

…so that Christians would not forget all of God’s promises spoken of in both the Old and New Testaments.

It’s easy to lose focus when you’re in the midst of trouble (or in the midst of great prosperity!).

Ex. Quitting the state championship for orange juice!

√ To stir up our hope

The second purpose of Peter’s writing goes hand-in-hand with the first purpose.

That is, he wanted to remind Christians that the best way to combat hopelessness in the midst of tough times is to keep God’s Word close to your heart.

Note vs. 2

“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,”

Note the word “mindful” – it implies an active process by which a person calls to remembrance what it is that God has said, what it is that God has promised!

David said it this way…

Ps 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!

It’s easy for us to forget all the wonderful promises of God in a world that is actively, and loudly, shouting down the hope we have in Christ.

Ex. Modern communication

News anchors, TV entertainment, movies, godless curriculum, advertising, etc., are all loudly denouncing our Christian faith.

It’s easy to fall victim to the lie of Satan and turn from the promises of God.

Ap. Your best defense is to hide God’s Word in your heart

So, Peter tells us that the purpose of his letters is to remind us to keep God’s Word close to our hearts.

The power of God’s Word (vs. 3-7)

2Pet. 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

2Pet. 3:4 and 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.”

2Pet. 3:5 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,

2Pet. 3:6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

2Pet. 3:7 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.

√ The sign of the scoffer

Before we look at the power of God’s word we must to address the issue of the scoffer.

Peter tells us that in the last days there would arise people who would mock the very idea of the Lord’s return to earth.

Note vs. 3 & 4

2Pet. 3:3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

2Pet. 3:4 and 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.”

A couple of points bear our attention.

Scoffers:

• Their presence is a sign of the last days.

• They are people who conduct their life around the

pursuit of their own lust (vs. the will of God).

• They reject the Word of God as Truth.

Specifically, they willfully reject the knowledge that God created the universe by the power of His Word – vs. 5.

Ex. It is interesting to note that until Darwin the world community (including scientists) held to the Creation account in Genesis as the truth concerning the origin of the universe.

The point that the evolutionary model is very recent in the history of Man’s thinking!

A sign if you will that we are living in the Last Days!

Note that these scoffers “willfully” reject Creation as the means by which the universe came into being…

2Pet. 3:5 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,

Ex. Willful disregard for the facts

Errol White (paleontologist)

“I have often thought how little I should like to have to prove organic evolution in a court of law…We still do not know the mechanics of evolution…nor are we likely to make further progress in this”.

Dr. Louis Bounoure, Director of Research – Nat. Center for Scientific Research in France (non-Creationist)

“Evolution is a fairly tale for grown-ups. The theory has helped nothing in the progress of science. It is useless”.

Martin Harwitt of Science magazine

“The universe we see when we look out to its furthers horizons contains a hundred billion galaxies. Each of these galaxies contains another hundred billion stars. That’s 10²² stars all told. The silent embarrassment of modern astrophysics is that we don not know how even a single one of these stars managed to form.”

James Trefill

“The problem of explaining the existence of the galaxies has proved to be one of the thorniest in cosmology. By all rights, they just shouldn’t be there, yet there they sit. It’s hard to convey the depth of frustration that this simple fact induces among scientists.”

If that’s the case, that the majority of non-creation scientists – even evolutionists – recognize that the Darwinian model is not valid…

…why do they still hold on to it?

Because they don’t want to acknowledge God!

Ex. From the mouth of the evolutionist

Julian Huxley

“A religion is essentially an attitude to the world as a whole. Thus, evolution, for example, may prove as powerful a principle to coordinate man’s belief’s and hopes as God was in the past.”

Dr. D.M.S. Watson (leading evolutionist)

“…a theory universally accepted not because it can be proved by logically coherent evidence to be true, but because the only alternative, special creation, is incredible.”

Sir Arthur Keith (leading evolutionist)

“Evolution is unproved and unprovable. We believe it because the only alternative is special creation which is unthinkable.”

In short, these people accept the evolutionary model and reject the Creation model not based on good science…

…rather, on principle – that is, they chose to ignore even the possibility that God exists and created the universe because it doesn’t fit their philosophy in life.

So, it is interesting to note that in our own day we have this sign that we are living in the Last Days.

The power of God’s Word – part 2

Contrary to what the scoffer would say, denying that God created the world by His Word, and mocking the idea that He is coming back…

…Peter gives the believer a number of reasons that we can trust in God’s Word – His promise to return for His people.

1) The universe was created by His Word

2Pet. 3:5 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,

Peter is referring of course to the Genesis account of how God created the universe.

However, many people take the position that the Genesis account is not meant by God to be taken literally, but to be understood symbolically.

Fortunately we have God’s commentary on the Genesis account!

Mark 10:6 “But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’

And..

Mark 13:19 “For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be.

That is to say, that Jesus spoke of creation as the work of God!

2) The world was judged by His Word

2Pet. 3:6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

Peter reminds his readers that God’s Word has the power to judge the wicked, pointing to the great Flood of Noah’s day.

Ah, but there again people want to deny a literal flood. Many who deny the existence of God want to think of the Flood as just a parable, or a legend.

Once again we find that Jesus speaks on this event.

Lu 17:26 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:

Lu 17:27 “They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

That is, Jesus affirms that Noah was a real person, that there was really an ark, and that the flood destroyed all that were not in the ark!

3) The universe maintained by His Word

2Pet. 3:7a But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word,…

Peter reminds us that the world we live in is held together by God’s Word!

Paul tells us the same thing…

Col. 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Col. 1:17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (are “held together” – NIV).

4) The universe will be judged by His Word

2Pet. 3:7b …are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Finally, Peter reminds us that God’s Word reveals that the world as we know it will one day be destroyed by fire!

Ap. What’s the point? Peter reminds us of the power of God’s Word

Why? So that Christians would trust in the promises of His Word, especially, that He is coming back to this earth that they might not give up hope as they endure persecution.

The promise of God’s Word (vs. 8-9)

2Pet. 3:8 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.

2Pet. 3:9 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.

√ The Lord’s promise

In spite of all that the Christians were suffering, in spite of the mocking of unbelievers, in spite of the hopelessness that warred against their spirit…

…Peter encourages believers to recognize that God is not slack concerning the fulfillment of His promise to return to Earth.

He encourages them by pointing out the reasons for the Lord’s delay.

1) Will be accomplished in His timing

In vs. 8 Peter reminds us that God is working in a different

time frame that we are!

Let’s not forget that God is an eternal – infinite being.

Humans are not eternal (looking back anyway), and are

finite in their knowledge and understanding.

Simply put, God has a perfect timetable and He’s going to

return on His schedule, not ours!

Ex. Forgetting my clip-on’s

2) Evidence of His mercy

Peter reminds us that some might think Jesus is slow to fulfill

His promise to come back to earth, He’s waiting because of

His great love and mercy for us!

Ex. If the Lord came back in 1968 – how many of us here

today would be saved?

Peter’s point is that while we may be growing impatient,

Jesus is willing to wait until everyone that will be saved – is

saved!

Thank the Lord He’s waited this long!

Close

√ The promise of God

Peter has taken great care to remind us that God’s promise to return for His people is a sure promise!

You and I can count on it!

Why? Because God has given us His Word!

√ Are you saved this morning?

If Jesus was to call His people home today – would you be among that blessed company?

√ Are you ready?

Christian, if Jesus was to call us home today – would you be ready? Would you be found faithfully doing what He’s called you to do? Would you be ashamed anything in your life?