2 Peter 3:1-18, Keep growing in the knowledge of Jesus

Review:
• 2 key words to describe the unbeliever (ignorant and foolish)
• Ignorant: doesn't know the facts (or truth)
• Foolish: doesn't want to know any different
• 2 key words to describe the non-growing believer (blind and nearsighted)
• Blind: does not see his own faults
• Nearsighted: only focuses on the things around him/her; selfish; pre-occupied with here and now


2 Peter 3:1–2 (ESV) — 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 Savior through your apostles,


• What does Peter say is his purpose of his letters?
• Reminders
• The implication by the use of the word reminder is what? Reminder implies already knows truth
• Sincere mind is honest and straight-forward. Peter talks generally about two things to remember
• Predictions--things Prophets and others have said would happen, such as suffering (this does refer to the OT, but not to the  commands)
• Commandments of the Lord (through the Apostles) -- this is NOT the same thing as the OT law or the ten commandments
• NOTE: The Word of God is important to protect our mind


2 Peter 3:3–9 (ESV) — 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 fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.


• What is the first promise?
• In the last days, there will be scoffers
• It is especially noticeable in the last days
• What is a scoffer?
• A scoffer is one who deliberately pokes fun or questions God's truth
• SCOFF, SCOFFER
The verb indicates the manifestation of contempt by insulting words or actions; it combines bitterness with ridicule.
(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright (c)1996 by Biblesoft)
• Their argument is what?
• There is no evidence of God
• Everything is explainable (at least that is the presumption, that is not a provable statement)
• What is also characteristic of a scoffer?
• Deliberately forget 3 things
• God created everything
• God destroyed almost everything by water
• God will destroy everything by fire
• Today, it is not "forget" but choose to ignore any evidence that might support the idea of God as a creator (we replace the idea of God with human explanations)
• Peter lists a couple of other problems
• Time is not the same issue for God as it is for man (man, who only lives, at most 120 years, it is a paltry argument)
• Some have used this verse to suggest that the "days" of Genesis represent periods longer than 24 hours
• Lastly, the delay in the end of times is only a delay in our eyes


2 Peter 3:10–13 (ESV) — 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.


• The day of the Lord refers to what?
• Christ's return
• Characteristic is that of a thief
• Sudden
• Unexpected
• The day of the Lord is followed by ("… and then the …") the thousand year millennial kingdom, then the uprising, and then finally, the new heaven and the new earth
• Why should the knowledge of this world's ultimate fate influence our lifestyle?
• There are more important things to live for
• Anything we do in this world of temporal consequence will ultimately be destroyed
• Verse 13 reminds us of a similar attitude expressed in Hebrews 11
• Hebrews 11:13–16 (ESV) — 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
• This is a great reminder that the world is not our home


2 Peter 3:14–16 (ESV) — 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.


• Where else do we see the phrase "be diligent" (ESV) "make every effort" (NIV84) and what is it referring to?
• We see the phrase in 1 Pet 1:5-8, referring to the seven qualities we are to be growing in if we are to avoid being blind and nearsighted
• This time, the effort is applied to:
1. spotless (staying away from sin),
2. blameless (staying away even from the appearance of sin),
3. and at peace with him (having a clear conscience with God regarding our behavior)
• NOTE:  I think these latter 3 "results" come out of the application of the first seven qualities
• What does Peter think of Paul's letters?
• He calls them scripture
• He says that people , false teachers, distort (only here in the NT, meaning to twist or or wrench or torture, i.e., put on the rack) them
• He says that they are difficult to understand (but that does not make them untrue in any way)
• Cross-reference 2 Pet 3:2 "commands given by our Lord through the apostles"


2 Peter 3:17–18 (ESV) — 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 Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.


• Here is I believe is Peter's summary paragraph for his letter and also his last words.  How does he summarize his letter?
• Be on guard (NIV84, NAS95), Take care (ESV)
• Error of lawless men (false teachers)
• Fall from secure position (NIV84), lose your stability (ESV)
• Grow (opposite of effect of false teachers is growing)
• Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord
• [this keeps us from being blind and nearsighted]


APPLICATION:
1. We need to be "Bereans"
Acts 17:11 (ESV) — 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
2. We need to be growing in the seven character qualities
3. We need to be on guard against false teaching, even from good or believing teachers
4. We need to be on guard against false teachers, who may present a message that tickles the ears (this is one of the problems in our world today, the variety of sources has allowed everyone to pick the news that fits their concept of how the world should be)