Sermon: Living in Light of Christ’s Return 2 Peter 3:11-18
Truth Taught- Because Jesus Christ is returning and because all things will dissolve and be made new, therefore, we must remain steadfast, focusing on eternity not the things of this world that are perishing
Our current text for today will refer back to 2 Peter 3:7-10.
2 Peter 3:7–10 (ESV)
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. 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.
Because this is going to happen. Because the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. Because the cosmos/universe will pass away. Because our solar system will be dissolved. Because the earth will also be remade by fire and all works exposed, how should we, as God’s people live?
Peter does not write this just to inform or just to stir up our minds to correct thinking but his desire is that we understand rightly and that right doctrine will lead us to right living. Orthodoxy must lead to orthopraxy.
We must realize, this is not theory. If it’s theory then we can all land on our own belief and come to our own conclusions and every idea is as good as the next. However, this is not theory. This is not theory but absolute provable reality. Since it’s reality we must change to accommodate what’s real. Reality changes how we live. So must the reality of the Second Coming of Christ.
2 Peter 3:11–18 (ESV)
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.
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. 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.
1. Our Lives Will be Consistent with Our Beliefs (3:11-13)
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.
One universal dynamic that holds true is that people act on what they believe. We do that so well and so consistently, our actions often give us away. Actions serve as the litmus test to what we really believe down deep.
Like everyone, the false teachers and scoffers live according to what they believe. What they do shows what they believe.
2 Peter 3:3 (ESV)
3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
They live lives being led by their sinful desires. Their sinful desires drive their behavior. We should realize that we will live according to what we believe or what our convictions are.
Those who desire to lead us astray do not live by biblical convictions but live following their sinful desires. Their lusts for material goods drive the false teacher.
By the same principle we must live according to what we believe. We will live according to what we believe. That’s a dynamic of human nature.
This is how we live in every way. For example…if you’re walking down a path in the woods and you see what you think is a poisonous snake…it looks just like a copperhead sunning itself. You’re going to leave the trail and take a wide circle to get to the other side of the snake without disturbing it. However, you get a little closer and see that its actually just a stick laying across the path. You walk straight ahead and step over it, no problem. Your belief completely dictated your behavior.
This is how it works in every realm. If you really absolutely believe Jesus is returning and the world as we know it is going to be dissolved, as the Bible says, then you will live differently than you would if you did not believe these things. So, how you live shows what you believe.
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved…
Beloved, I pray we believe this. Everything we see around us will be gone one day. Peter tells us this current world will dissolve. We cannot trust in this world for security since it is all going to be dissolved one day. Find security in Christ not in the things of creation.
Because Christ died for us and because He’s given us saving faith and because we now believe not only unto salvation but all God’s Word tells us, which includes the second coming of Christ we will live much different than the lost world around us does. They are following their beliefs and we follow ours.
2 Peter 1:3–8 (ESV)
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
False teachers and scoffers follow their sinful desires. Beloved, we have escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desires. Not by our own abilities but because God has granted us all things, we need pertaining to life and godliness. Rather than following our sinful desires, we are called to follow Christ by faith and to supplement our faith with virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness and godliness. We are called to live differently than the world that’s perishing. We are called to live according to the fact that this world is going to pass away and the eternal new creation is coming.
Living in this world and following your sinful desires and placing your trust and finding security in this world, it’s like investing your money in a company that is about to go belly-up in a day or to. The stocks are down and they have declared bankruptcy and in a day or two they will be closing the doors but you think this will be a good investment.
Or you could be like Harry Truman who was killed when Mount Saint Helen’s erupted. He ignored all the warnings…trees are dying, the ground in places is rising some fifty feet, Steam is spouting up. However, he did not listen to the warnings and died when the eruption occurred. He lived according to what he believed.
We know and we believe all Peter tells us is true because it’s God’s Word then how should we then live?
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!
Waiting- So, if we truly believe Peter then we will be waiting. The waiting Peter has in mind is not a passive but an active waiting. Here, prosdokōntas means to wait or watch with great or eager anticipation. So, if we truly believe Christ is returning, we will be watching with anticipation. Here’s the flip side, if we are not watching with anticipation then do we really believe?
Beloved, watch for Christ. This does not mean to walk outside and look up waiting. Watching and waiting for Christ’s return means you will live in light of that reality. Your life choices will be made with that belief guiding you. Watching for Jesus means your focus will gravitate toward eternal things not worldly things.
Since the heavens and the heavenly bodies will be set on fire and dissolved, it makes way more sense to make eternal investments that to do your banking in a bank that is about to be dissolved.
John explains what waiting and watching looks like…
1 John 2:28 (ESV)
28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
Hastening- and hastening the coming of the day. As we watch and anticipate the day by living accordingly and as we pray come Lord Jesus and long for His return, Peter tells us the day is hastened. It is sped along as we pray for and live in light of His return.
Isaiah 60:21–22 (ESV)
21 Your people shall all be righteous;
they shall possess the land forever,
the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,
that I might be glorified.
22 The least one shall become a clan,
and the smallest one a mighty nation;
I am the Lord;
in its time I will hasten it.
Our prayers and obedience will hasten the Lord’s return.
Waiting for the New Heavens and New Earth
13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
The idea of the New Heavens and New Earth come from Isaiah…
Isaiah 65:17 (ESV)
17 “For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
Isaiah 66:22 (ESV)
22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth
that I make
shall remain before me, says the Lord,
so shall your offspring and your name remain.
Paul explains in Romans…
Romans 8:21 (ESV)
21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
The amazing language is very similar to what God is doing within us. We are being made new through the sacrifice of Christ. Christ’s cross is such a powerful force that it will even one day renew the land that’s been cursed because of the sin of Adam. It too will be made new…behold I am making all things new.
2. Beloved, Be Diligent While Waiting (3:14-16)
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.
Since these things are going to take place, we must be diligent to abide in Christ while we wait. To be found without spot or blemish and in peace, means to live out your true salvation while you wait. Live like Christians while you wait. Not be lazy but be diligent and in doing so you will experience the peace that passes all understanding. This is how Jesus wants to find us when He returns.
While we wait, we are to engage in Gospel ministry. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation,
Be diligent to teach your children the truth. Tell others about Jesus. Teach others the Gospel.
While Christ will return, He has not returned yet. There is still time. His patience and the fact that He has not returned means salvation for others.
Peter then tells his readers to not only listen to what he says, but look at Paul’s writings. Paul also writes about Christ’s return.
1 Thessalonians 5:1–6 (ESV)
5 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
Because some of what Paul writes concerning the Day of the Lord is somewhat difficult to understand, the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
In this example, it’s really not hard to understand. He tells us basically the same things Peter does. Jesus is coming like a thief, be ready.
3. Beloved, Take Great Care in This World (3:17-18)
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.
Peter ends but giving us a two-fold command…take care in this world and continue spiritual progress.
Don’t allow false teachers or unbiblical teaching to infiltrate your life. Don’t be carried away by the lies of those who are not a teacher called by God but seeking their own advancement.
Ephesians 4:11–16 (ESV)
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
Don’t loose your spiritual stability but remain steadfast in the truth.
While doing that, make spiritual progress.
We are to grow as Christians.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…
As our knowledge of Christ comes straight from the Scriptures, we will become more and more able to spot and resist the lies of the false teachers. We will grow in truth and be steadfast in our faith. This will be a safeguard from being unstable.
But remember, what we believe affects our behavior. The more we learn Christ rightly the closer our walk with Him will be.
Finally, Peter closes his short letter with…
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
To who? We look to the previous verse…to Jesus Christ.
This is a sure affirmation of the deity of Jesus Christ. We are to worship and praise Jesus.
To ascribe glory to Jesus is to affirm His deity. This is exactly what Peter refers to when he calls all of us to grow in grace and knowledge…
Conclusion
How does what you believe determine your actions? Do you believe Jesus is returning?
Are you waiting for, watching for, hastening the Lord’s return?
Are you counting the patience of God as salvation for others?
Are you resisting the lies of false teachers and are you growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?
Benediction.
Revelation 21:1–7
Beloved of God we will see a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And Beloved of God, we will see the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Beloved, we will hear a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 Beloved, He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
All of God’s People said…AMEN!
Resources Used:
1 & 2 Peter and Jude by Thomas Schreiner
Jude and 2 Peter by Gene L. Green
Jude and 2 Peter by MacArthur
The Letters of 2 Peter and Jude by Peter H. Davids
Word Biblical Commentary by Richard Bauckham
1&2 Peter by Alexander Nisbet
