Sermon Tone Analysis

2 Peter 3:1-10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2004

Both Days

 

The following conversation was heard between an old farmer in the country and the new parstor.

/Do you belong to the Christian family?/ asked the minister.

*No, they live two farms down, replied the farmer.*

/No, no, I mean are you lost?/ *Lost?

Why, I’ve lived here thirty years.*

/I mean are you ready for the Judgment Day? /*When is it?

asked the farmer/./*

/Well, it could be today or tomorrow./

*Well, said the farmer, when you find out for sure when it is, you let me know.

My wife will probably want to go on both days.

*

 

A month ago we saw God's */Marked Men/*.

He has reserved these false teachers for judgment.

These men are willfully ignorant of God's prophetic Word.

Peter affirmed the certainty of Christ’s coming in glory in chapter one and in his first epistle.

Apostates question and deny this prophecy.

They scoff at the very idea of the return of the Lord, the judgment of the world, and the establishment of a glorious kingdom.

We will see 3 things about the Day of the Lord: */Reminders Of Christ's Coming, Reasons For Sinners Scoffing, and Reasons For God's Delay.

/*

 

/Firstly,     /Reminders Of Christ's Coming

/ /

What the Bible teaches about the Day of the Lord was not invented by the Apostles.

The prophets taught it and so did our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peter emphasized the /unity/ of the Word of God.

When scoffers deny the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, they are denying the truth of the prophetic books, the teaching of our Lord in the Gospels, and the writings of the Apostles!

Like our Lord’s seamless garment, the Scriptures cannot be cut apart without ruining the whole./

Let's look at the different saints who foretold of Christ's return!/

/ /

/a.

Peter's Epistles/

/ /

*2 Peter 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,/

 

Peter wrote to the Church to remind believers of things they already knew.

He stated this purpose in chapter one also.

He doesn't want us to forget God's Word because it's just so important.

The */Doctrine/* of the */Second Coming/* is a vital part of God's Word.

It provides the Christian with hope when going through trials and persecution*/.

Today, we are so much closer to the Lord's return, yet we rarely hear a message of the Blessed Hope.

Yet, in both of Peter's letters he refers to it with certainty./*

/He is absolutely sure that Jesus Christ will come again to judge the world and set up His heavenly kingdom./

Peter doesn't want believers to ever forget this.

The Blessed Hope is a Christian’s number one motivation for godly living.

/b.

Prophets Word/

/ /

*3:2a: */That you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets.

/

 

The Old Testament prophets refer to Christ's return many times as well.

Beginning with Enoch and continuing to Malachi man is warned to prepare for the Lord's return.

*Jude 14-15: */Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him./

Most of the prophets who spoke in the Old Testament gave prophecies that came to pass in their own life time.

However, they also gave long range messages about judgment and the Lord's return.

Since their short term messages came true we are wise to heed their long range messages concerning Christ's return.

They all predicted great suffering and upheaval before Jesus returns.

/c.

Apostles Commands/

/ /

*2 Peter 3:2b:*/ And of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior./

/ /

In the New Testament there are even more prophetic messages than in the Old.

The New Testament apostles and prophets give further detail about the end of the age and Christ's coming.

Paul reveals how society would become lawless in the last days.

There are warnings that the Church will become complacent and luke warm at the end of the age.

A great apostasy in the Church is foretold by Paul and John.

*1 Timothy 4:1:* /Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons./

/ /

/d.

Christ's Word/

/ /

The apostles knew that Christ would come back.

Since Jesus kept His Word about His death and resurrection He will certainly fulfill His Word on the second coming.

The Lord warned of apostasy, a falling away from the faith.

*Luke 18:8b:* N/evertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?/ *Matthew 24:12: */And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

/On the Mount of Olives Jesus told them about the events that would come to pass just prior to the end of the age.

The Lord said that false Christ's would appear and deceive many.

He spoke of wars and rumors of wars.

He spoke of famines and pestilence's.

Christ said that there would be an increase in the number of earthquakes in various places.

/Why have I referred to these prophecies?/

Because they are being fulfilled right before our eyes.

Therefore the prophecies of Christ's return will soon come to pass also!!

/ /

The Final Victory

 

Some will tell you that triumph will come by the development of human beings.

We should just give it time, wait and see.

Everything's coming up roses.

World War I dealt that theory the cutting blow.

World War II broke its spirit.

Vietnam laid it in its grave.

The takeovers of Czechoslovakia and Afghanistan shoveled the dirt of interment on it.

/Will human progress stop people and nations from sinning?/ /Will human progress and achievement ever wipe away all tears from our eyes or heal our broken hearts?/

No, the final victory will not come through some natural progress of human development.

The victory will not come by an improvement of the present order but through its complete overthrow.

The high point of history will be the sudden appearance of the captain of our salvation.

John beheld: /Look, I see a great white horse and on that horse a rider whose name is Faithful and True, and there are many crowns upon his head./

Application

/ /

Prophetic Scripture shines before us like a guiding light.

/Have you studied it?

Are you living in the light of it?

Are you sharing the Blessed Hope?

Are you looking for Christ’s return?/

/ /

/Secondly, /Reasons For Sinners Scoffing

/ /

*2 Peter 3:3-4: */knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 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.

Indulgence In Their Own Lust/

/ /

If you have tried at all to witness for Jesus Christ, you have no doubt met people who scoff at the idea of hell or a future day of judgment for this world.

/Why do these folk scoff?/ */Because they want to continue living in their sins./*

Peter made it clear that false teachers cultivate the lust of uncleanness and allure weak people by means of the lusts of the flesh.