II PETER 3:1-18 Lesson #5
REMINDER OF THE LAST DAYS
I. Greetings:
II. Introduction:
Note: Today’s lesson will focus on an aspect of the “Second Coming”. Some pastors and churches really stress this doctrine and others expressly ignore it. It is a major doctrine that is both in the major creeds and throughout the Bible itself. There are prophecies in the Old Testament and New Testaments, the book of Revelation, large sections of the Gospels, through the letters of Paul and, of course, in II Peter.
What is interesting about Peter, is that his emphasis is so closely tied to how Jesus deals with the “Second Coming” in Mark 13, Matthew 24-25, or Luke 17 and 21.
Q Why do some people mock the “Second Coming”? What motivates them?
An = Let them give their answers and give preference to those who did some homework before they came. Then let them turn to II Peter 3:4. >>> Have someone read II Peter 3:4.
Note: These people say nothing has changed. Everything has stayed the same since the creation of time. What could be implied here, is they mock this doctrine because it disturbs them. If there is a “Second Coming” then things will not “continue as they were”. God will break in. God will disturb their control. If God could come at any time then it would be best to pay attention to His Will. We had better be on good terms with Him. With a true understanding of the Coming of the Lord, Christianity becomes “quite intrusive”!!
Let’s see how Peter handles this question….
III. Warning Against Mockers: II Peter 3:1-10.
A. The Challenge of the Mockers: II Peter 3:1-4.
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 3:1-4
Q How does Peter address his readers in verse 1? What title does he use?
An = He calls them “beloved”. He calls them by this title four times in this little chapter alone: 1,8,14,17. He also calls them “brethren” in 1:10.
Q What do these titles indicate about Peter’s attitude towards his readers?
An = He identifies with them and deeply cares about them. This is the key to great pastoring and teaching: loving those who you teach. You warn because you care. You warn because you want them to live, to succeed in their spiritual life.
Q According to verse two where did the message come from that Peter is reminding his readers to remember?
An = From the holy prophets and the teaching of the apostles who are quoting the Lord Jesus Himself. The holy prophets could refer to the Old Testament prophets but it could also refer to the present day “present day prophets” who gave messages charismatically in the early church.
Note: Peter’s teaching on the “mockers” is a prelude to his real concern. Notice how he opens verse 3 with the words: “Know this first of all” (NASB), “First of all” (NIV), “Knowing this first” (KJV).
Q According to verse 3, what is the motivation for the mockers’ words?
An = They are being led by their lusts. It seems that these men, due to their lusts, do not want the teaching of the Lord’s Coming to go unchallenged. It, no doubt, makes them uncomfortable and we will see why towards the end of the chapter.
Note: When someone starts knocking the true message of the Second Coming and mocking the doctrine itself, then they could be involved with practices that they do not want the Lord’s Coming to interrupt.
B. The First Answer to Mockers: II Peter 3:5-7
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 3:5-7.
Q What have the mockers forgotten in verses 5-6?
An = Their mocking shows they have forgotten that the Promise Giver of the Second Coming is also the Creator. It was God’s Word that created the heavens and the earth out of water, and it will be God’s Word that destroys it by fire. It was once destroyed by water (3:6), and it will be destroyed once again but this time by fire (3:7).
The mockers have also forgotten that destruction did once come in Noah’s time and therefore could come again.
C. The Second Answer to the Mockers: II Peter 3:8-10
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 3:8-10.
Q What does Peter not want them to not forget in verse 8?
An = The Lord’s relationship to time. With Him, it is elastic. One day could be a thousand years and one thousand years as a day. He is not captive to time but outside of it, though He can inter into it.
Q Why has the Lord delayed His Coming according to verse 9?
An = He is patient. His patience is extended so that repentance can take place.
Q Have you ever seen judgment postponed in your life or another’s, so that positive change has a chance to take place?
An = Let them share. Let them see through their own examples the heart of their Lord.
Q According to verse 10 what will the coming of the Lord be like?
An = 1) Like a thief in the night, i.e. suddenly and without prediction being possible, and 2) dramatically, i.e. the heavens and earth will pass away with a great noise via fire or heat. It is almost as if creation is being undone. It was the Word of God that created the world, and it will be His Word that uncreates it (Frank Portugal).
IV. Exhortation to Be Ready: Peter’s Desired Goal. II Peter 3:11-18
Note: Many times “Second Coming” teaching is given because it is interesting to teach. The Bible has deeper motivations, ones that are in behalf of our best interests. Throughout the Gospels Jesus has a very consistent “intent” or “goal” when He talks on this subject, and II Peter echoes this goal.
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 3:11-13.
Note: Peter speaks both of the threat of the Lord’s Coming (12) and the promise or good news of His Coming (13). This world will be destroyed but a new one filled with righteousness will commence.
Q Given these facts how should believers respond according to verse 11?
An = We should conduct ourselves with holiness and godliness. This is the key: be ready. You cannot predict it, but you can be ready for it. How is one ready? Not by understanding the day or the hour (Jesus says you cannot know that Matt 24:36, Mark 13:32) but by being prepared, by being alert or ready (Matthew 24:44; Mark 13:34,35,37; Luke 21:34,36). II Peter has the same major messages as the Gospels.
RQ How is one to be prepared or how is one to be ready? This is what Peter will now tell us….
>>>> Have someone read II Peter:3:14.
Q How is one prepared according to verse 14?
An = Be diligent! Be diligent to be found in Him. If we are truly in Him we have His peace (communion), His cleansing, His freedom from guilt. If we are not in Him, we are not in fellowship with Him, not clean, nor free of our sin…nor are we ready for His Coming.
Note: If we are not diligent (remember chapter 1) in adding to our faith so as to partake of the divine nature, then we will sink down to the level of our fleshly wants and lusts and wind up being disloyal to our Lord. When we are immoral and disloyal to His truth, then we are not “in Him” and we are not ready for the Second Coming.
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 3:15-16.
Note: Peter is repeating the reason for the Lord’s delay in coming so we can “get in Him”. He also mentions that folks have distorted Paul’s teaching (as they do the rest of Scripture) so they do not have to hear these warnings. They do so to their own destruction!
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 3:17-18.
Q Why does Peter want us to be on our guard according to verse 17?
An = Lest we be carried away by false teachers who do not care enough about us to warn us to be diligent. Peter knows that false teachers will not teach such warnings but will appeal to the lower elements in the believers and try with “secret teaching” to appeal to their fleshly desires. True leaders warn and call us to be “diligent” because they are not trying to be popular but to save up from falling. True leaders love us and want for us one more thing….
Q What does Peter want them to do in verse 18?
An = He want them to grow! He wants them to “add” to their spiritual lives, to become more. He wants them to do so in specific ways: in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 1:2-4 (for its sheer beauty)
>>>> Have someone read II Peter 1:5-7
Note: Peter ends his book much like he began it: urging growth, encouraging us to “add” to what we have and what we are.
Note: Peter ends his book as His Lord begins and ends the Lord’s Prayer. Ascribing glory and honor to God (and therefore to Jesus Christ).