II Peter 3:10-18
The call of Grace
“Would you open your Bibles with me to...”
√ Read text
Pray
Into
√ Therefore
You’ll note that there are 3 divisions within out text (2
Peter
“therefore”
…you’ll find them in verses 11, 14 & 17
The word “therefore” is used as a call to action. That is, when you find the word “therefore” used in the scripture…
…it is calling the reader to action based upon some truth that has just been communicated.
Ex. Lion training school
Truth: hungry lions have been known to eat people, you are a person, the lion next to you is hungry…
Action: therefore – RUN!
It’s a call to action based upon a truth previously communicated.
√ A call to action
The instructions we find in our study this morning all tie back to the foundational truth that is communicated in vs. 10…
…the truth that the Lord will judge this world & ultimately destroy the heavens (universe) and the earth with fire!
Ap. In view of that fact, Peter calls Christians to live for Jesus today.
He calls us to…
A life of holiness
Be diligent in our service to Jesus
To grow in His Grace
√ Disclaimer
Please recognize that these few verses of Peter’s writing are not meant to be a complete commentary on the “Day of the Lord”…
…rather, a passing reference to stir the Christian to live for Jesus Christ!
For further study you might want to check out the tapes on…
1 Thess. 5:1-3
Rev. 4:1
So, let’s look at what it is that God has called us to.
The day of the Lord (vs. 10)
2Pet. 3:10 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.
√ The day of the Lord
Please understand that when Peter speaks of the…
“day of the Lord”
…that he has in mind only one aspect of that time, that is, the final judgement of God upon the universe as we know it.
It’s important when we talk about the “day of the Lord” that we wisely take into consideration the whole counsel of God’s Word…
…not just one verse.
√ So what is the Day of the Lord?
First of all, understand that when the Bible speaks of a "day", it can be refereeing either to a literal 24 hour day, or symbolically to a longer period of time.
Gen
Note that God defines His terminology - "day" = “evening and the morning" - a literal 24 hour day.
Gen. 2:4
Gen 2:4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
Here, "day" symbolically represents the entire 7 literal days in which the Lord created the universe.
So, we have an example of how the word "day" can be used in the Bible to speak of a literal day, and symbolically as a period of time.
√ Back to our study in 2nd Peter.
The "Day of the Lord" which Peter speaks of is that period of time - yet future - when God will judge the World for it's rejection of His Son. It is not one day, but a period of time.
Begins after the Rapture and culminates with the commencement of eternity at the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ.
In the Old Testament this time is called...
"Day of the Lord" - Amos
"Time of Jacobs Trouble" - Jer. 30:7
In the New Testament this time is called...
"Day of the Lord" - I Thess. 5:2
"The (great) Tribulation" - Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14
However, the Day of the Lord is not the main point in this section, rather it is the Christians response to the coming of that Judgement.
Ap. Therefore, the important point for us in our study is that Peter is calling Christians to action.
That is, in light of the coming judgement of God upon the world that has rejected His Grace…
…Peter calls those of us who have received God’s Grace to live our lives for Jesus.
To live a life of holiness
To be diligent in our service to Jesus
To grow in His Grace
In view of the truth that Jesus has saved us from the wrath to come, how can you or I say “no” to the Lord’s call?
A call to holy living (vs. 11-13)
2Pet.
2Pet.
2Pet.
√ A call to holiness
Note Peter’s question to us in vs. 11…
“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,”
That is, since everything we now see, the earth and all that is in it, the universe and the billions of stars that are contained there, are destined to be destroyed by fire…
…how should we then live? The answer – a holy life. What does it mean to have a holy life?
Holy = separate (separated from the world system, those things which are destined to burn).
That is, the Christian should life their life for those things which are eternal (those things that will not burn!)
Don’t invest your life in the pursuit and accumulation of those things, which are destined to be burned by the fire of God’s judgement.
Ex. The things of the world
Possessions, titles, fame, pleasure.
So, how should we live? Simply put, live for Jesus!
Do the things that God has given you to do.
Invest your time, talent, & treasure into His kingdom that is eternal instead of the things of this world that will one-day burn up.
How do we do that? Using our lion analogy put as much distance between you and that hungry lion!
Ap. Judgement and the Christian
May I encourage those who are Christians not to take a caviler attitude toward God’s judgement?
It’s easy to become lazy in our conduct and attitude toward life and godliness knowing that the blood of Jesus has redeemed us and that are sins are covered!
While we will not be judged in regards to our righteousness and salvation, our works will be!
1Cor.
1Cor. 3:12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
1Cor.
1Cor.
1Cor.
Note that both the person whose work endures, and the one, whose work is burned, is saved…
…but only the one who’s work endures will receive a reward.
Ap. How do we maintain an attitude of holiness in an unholy world?
Worship! By giving ourselves to the worship of Jesus you will find that your heart & your desires will change so that you long to be separated from the world.
In worship we find our eyes opened so that we see Jesus as the “lamb that was slain” which produces a passion for holiness.
A call to diligence (vs. 14-16)
2Pet.
2Pet.
2Pet. 3:16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
√ A call to diligence
Peter reminds us that while we wait for the Lord to return that we must guard against becoming apathetic and lazy!
Note vs. 14…
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless”
Note…”to be found by Him…”
That really catches my attention because it sounds like a warning, that is, Peter is telling us that we need to be faithful to do what Jesus has called us to do…
…lest He catches us goofing off when He comes for His Church!
Ex. Reminds me of the Lord calling in the Garden…
“Adam where are you?”
Remember, the theme of Jesus’ teaching, and that of the apostles, concerning the Rapture of the Church is that it will come…
Unexpectedly
Without warning
And that it could happen at any time
…therefore, we must be diligent to guard our heart and mind against the tendency to grow weary of good works, or to become apathetic about the work of God.
Jesus has given us all a job to do until He returns. Peter’s encouragement is to make sure we’re busy about the King’s business so that when Jesus comes again He will find us doing what He’s called us to do!
Ap. How do we maintain a diligent service to Jesus?
In a word, prayer.
You won’t always feel like serving the Lord. It’s not always exciting – sometimes serving the Lord requires a sacrifice of our will!
Ex. Paul’s encouragement to Timothy to “stir up the gift of God within him”
God imparts fresh strength and desire to serve Him when we meet with Him in prayer.
As you pray and step out in faith you’ll discover that your feelings will follow your faith!
So, be diligent in
your faith – do what the Lord has told you to do.
√ Paul’s epistles – a bonus point!
In vs. 15 & 16 Peter reminds us that he’s not the only one writing to Christians about the Lord’s return…
…so is Paul.
What’s so cool about this verse is that it establishes that Peter considered Paul’s writings as the inspired Word of God, note vs. 15 &16 again…
2Pet.
2Pet. 3:16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
That is, Peter put Paul’s letters on the same level as the Old Testament Scriptures! He understood that Paul and the rest of the apostles were writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Ap. Important to us today
There are many people today who reject Paul’s writings and claim that they are not the Word of God!
Yet, we find Peter affirming Paul’s letters as the inspired word of God!
A powerful proof text when dealing with those who have tried to incorporate the Law of Moses into their Christian faith because Paul overwhelmingly demonstrates that the Old covenant cannot be incorporated with the New!
We have Old Covenant roots, but we live under a New Covenant!
A call to growth (vs. 17-18)
2Pet.
2Pet.
√ A call to grow
Peter closes his letter the way he began his first…
…with a message of Grace!
Note that Peter calls us to grow in…
“ the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”
Grace & knowledge of Jesus. The two go hand in hand because if you want to know what Grace is…
Then look at Jesus!
If you want to know Who Jesus is…
Then look at Grace!
You simply can’t have one without the other! Jesus defines Grace for us.
John wrote…
Joh
The point that the Holy Spirit wants us to grasp is that all of the instructions, which Peter has given to us as Christians, must be seasoned with Grace.
Or as we said when we began this journey, our lives are to be marked by God’s Grace.
√ Why the reminder to grow in grace?
Because our old nature, stirred up by the lies of the devil, would just as soon take credit for all the wonderful changes that God has worked in our life by His Grace!
Ex. Remember what you were like when you got saved!
No one else wanted anything to do with you! But, Jesus in His Grace took you just the way you were and made you one of His.
Now, we’re tempted to look down our self-righteous noses at people who are no worse than we were when Jesus found us!
Christians need to be constantly reminded that our lives are to be marked by the Grace of God!
If you or I ever move from Grace, we will find that our lives will become spiritually dry, joyless, and fruitless.
For God will not use us if we change His message and begin to live and preach as if Man is able to make himself right before God.
Or we begin to judge others by our self-righteousness and see ourselves as somehow better than the next person because they don’t measure up to our standard
So, Peter closes his 2nd letter the way he began his first…
…by calling us to grow in God’s Grace.
To never move from His Grace, to always keep close to our heart this truth…
I’m a sinner saved by Grace!
Ap. How do we do that? Peter tells us right there in vs. 18…
…through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The more you know Jesus, the more you know about Grace. Keep close to Jesus and His Grace will rub off on you.
In a practical way we grow in the knowledge of Jesus through the study of His Word. It is in His Word primarily that God has chosen to reveal Himself to Mankind.
“The Word made flesh”
So, we’re called to grow in God’s Grace through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Close
√ Time is short – judgement is coming!
So, open your ears to the Lord because He is calling you and me to…
A holy life
To be diligent in our work for the Lord
To grow in His Grace & the knowledge of Jesus
May the Lord bless you and keep you, may He work His Grace into your life.