The Word God Said - Confirm Your Calling & Election,  By Reminder of Christ’s Return - 2 Peter 3:1-10 pt. 1

Isn't that nice? The reality of our responsibility

to love God. Now you see, over the last few months

when we were teaching about obedience, the importance

of obedience. Because if we are truly obedient,

Then we will love God with all our heart, with

all our soul, with all our might, with all our

mind. And we will be able to love our neighbor

as ourselves or as he has loved us as Jesus gave

a new commandment. Today's message, let's connect.

All right. Today's message. confirm your calling

and election by reminder of Christ's return.

So interesting enough, what Peter does is he

reminds us several times in his second letter,

and there's a reason. It's not just a reminder

to live holy and right lives. That's the idea

of being prepared, but it's also the reminder

of his return. That the calling and our election

is confirmed when we not only continue to challenge

each other, remind each other to walk in accordance

to the word of God. But that we are also reminding

each other of the importance of that life as

being prepared for his return. Because he is

going to come. And we're going to deal with that

in chapter 3 of 2 Peter. So if you guys would

turn there. 2 Peter chapter 3. I will read the

2 Peter 3 · chapter mention

first 10 verses, and then we will end up going

on into the message. He says, this is now the

second letter that I'm writing to you, beloved.

In both of them, I am stirring you up. your sincere

mind by way of reminder that you should remember

the predictions of the holy prophets and the

commandments of the Lord and Savior through your

apostles. Let's pray. Father, I want to thank

you so much for your faithfulness. Thank you,

Lord, for your word. As we go through this second

letter, this last chapter, I pray that you are

honored and glorified and that we would... rightly

handle the Word of God as workmen approve, but

also that your full counsel of your Word will

be taught as we dig into understanding what it's

truly going to be like in the day of the Lord.

Lord, we ask for your wisdom. We ask for your

truth. And we pray that you are honored and glorified

in and through it. In Jesus' name, amen. Verse

3, knowing this, first of all, That scoffers

will come in the last days with scoffing, following

their own sinful desires. 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.

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. And that by means of these, the

world that then existed was deluged with water

and perished. But by the same word, the heavens

and the earth that now exist are stored up. for

fire being kept until the day of judgment and

the destruction of the ungodly. 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. 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. But the

day of the Lord. Will come like a thief. And

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. May the Lord bless the reading

of his word. So the reason why we're only doing.

Verse 1 through 10, technically. You could probably

do an entire sermon just on verses 1 through

4. But as you know, we've been going through

these letters in an introduction, in a broad

covering of the letters so you understand why

it was written and what it was written for. And

the reality is, it really does practically fit

for today. There is a lot of nonsense. Being

taught concerning the last days. A lot of prophets

preaching as if they know why they had a dream.

That the Lord was coming. Well, thank you for

letting me know. I didn't, I thought God's word

was true. I mean, thank you for the heads up.

And this all started since the beginning. You

guys probably remember one of our favorite false

prophets was Howard Camping. That's facetious.

I'm just being facetious, not a favorite. And

so the reason why I think it's important that

we handle this subject, since we do expository

preaching, is that we must have a real good sound

biblical overview. Of the Lord's return and the

day of the Lord. And Peter does a very good job

to summarize the reality of this truth. And it's

kind of cool to see God's providential hand through

the process of how we have gone through each

letter. And each letter over these last four

years have been exactly what we needed as a people.

So principle number one. What is our responsibility?

What's my responsibility? What's your responsibility?

Let us stir up one another until his return.

Our job, our responsibility is not just preaching

the word, but it's to stir you to continue to

preach the word. Right? I've said this before.

There are many churches go, well, I have a vision.

I'm glad. That's really nice. You know, and many

times churches are looking for those pastors

who are vision casters. When the reality is the

one thing they should be focused on casting is

getting the people to continue doing the mission.

Preach the gospel. Pretty simple. But remember,

we have all these other visions that we're trying

to do. All those things are important. They matter.

It's not that they don't matter. But if my vision

is to do this and not preach the gospel, then

I've lost the purpose of the mission. My mission

is not to do the vision. My mission is to do

the gospel. The vision is to help do the work,

equip the saints. Very important. When a church

is doing something outside of the gospel, then

it's not a vision. It's a deception. So, how

do we stir up one another until his return? Remind

you. Of how you should live as a holy people.

Obedient to the commandments of the Lord because

you love him. The fact that God lives in you

stirs you to move and live in such a way that

I want to please him. And as a result, I am stirring

you up until his return that you are busy doing

the mission. Now, in Luke. 12, 35 says, stay

dressed for action and keep your lamps burning.

Do you hear that? Are you dressed for action?

What does it mean to be dressed for action? Have

you put on Christ? The helmet of salvation, the

breastplate of righteousness, the buckle of truth.

Are your feet fitted with the readiness of the

gospel of peace? Are you carrying the sword of

the spirit and know it well so you know how to

handle your weapon? And do you have the shield

of faith that you can extinguish the flaming

darts of the evil one? Very important. Are you

dressed in Christ? Have you put on his righteousness?

It wasn't by an accident that this was mentioned

today. We don't see Christ because of our own

righteousness. We will see him because of his

righteousness. He who knew no sin became sin

for us that we may become the righteousness of

God. Are you dressed for action? And are you

keeping your lamp burning? What lamp are you

burning? What lamp are you burning? Thankfully,

we're a non -denominational church. But the reality

is, Are you burning your lamp for your denomination?

Are you burning your lamp for the gospel? Are

you burning your lamp for America? Are you burning

your lamp for the nation called the church? Which

lamp are you burning? Are you burning your lamp

at both ends? Christ says, burn your lamp. And

it's interesting because Peter talks about that

in chapter 1, does he not? 2 Peter 3, 1 through

3. This is now the second letter. I'm writing

you, beloved. And in both of them, I am stirring

you up. I'm stirring up your sincere mind by

way of reminder. So what happens in families,

right? We get comfortable. Right? I got to tell

you, my wife never lets me get comfortable. You

know, come home, want to chill. She's like, you

got to do the dishes. I'm like, well, yes, dear.

It's a reminder that the work is never done.

The work is never done. 1 Peter chapter 4, verse

1 Peter 4:7

7. Notice what it says here. As a reminder, the

end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be self

-controlled, sober -minded for the sake of your

prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly.

Since love covers a multitude of sins. He reminds

us there. He tells us how we should be living.

And he's reminding us again. I am stirring up

your sincere mind by way of reminder. That you

should remember the predictions of the holy prophets.

And the commandments of the Lord and Savior through

your apostles. Interesting. What is he reminding

us? Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, the Psalms. Christ

is and will return. There is that day. It will

happen. And what he's doing here is he is letting

them know, don't forget what the Lord had given

you through his word, through the prophets and

the apostles. Remember, they had talked about

this. Why? Because God's word is true and you

can take it to the bank. It will happen. It's

giving Peter's statement authority. It is the

word of God that claims this truth. Remember

the predictions of his return. You know because

he promised he would come the first time. And

he did. Matthew 24, 44. Look what Jesus says.

Therefore, you also must be ready. For the Son

of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Are you ready? Are you ready? Because when we

get to the other part of this chapter and we

start to read what happens to the earth and everything

that is ungodly, you want to be ready. It is

a terrifying thing to be in the hands of an angry

God. Not only does he have love and grace for

his people, but he is angry towards sin and he

will utterly destroy it. Down to the smallest

particle. He actually says that here. Knowing

this first of all, that scoffers will come in

the last days with scoffing. Hear that. Are you

ready? Can you, knowing fully the word of God,

be able to defend the faith that God has faithfully

entrusted to you? Can you handle the word of

God in such a way that when someone comes to

debate you or scoff you or to malign the reality

of Christ's coming, can you defend it properly?

You'd be surprised how many people aren't ready.

Why? Because we had faithless men teaching a

faithless gospel to a faithless people. What

is faith? God's promises are true. And knowing

that he will faithfully commit them to you on

your behalf for the glory of Christ. Being sure

of what you hope for and the evidence of what

you don't see. I know God is faithful to keep

his word and he will do it fully. It's an amazing,

beautiful thing. Now, what's interesting about

this word. Here in the last days was scoffing

following their own sinful desires. Epithumia

is the word here. It means desire what is forbidden.

That these faithless preachers, these faithless

teachers, they only seek the desires of the flesh.

Why is this so important? I think because in

the days that we live in right now, the leaders

of the world are surrounding themselves with

faithless people. Second principle. The fool

says in his heart there is no God. He also says

he's not coming. But history reminds us that

there was a flood. Noah had flood insurance.

And do you have fire insurance? Because this

time, It'll be burned. What was Noah's flood

insurance? The promise of the word of God. I

will keep you through this wrath. And he did.

Noah believed him and he built a boat. And we

know because last week we talked about what happened

to Noah. The scripture says that the day it started

to rain. Noah was put in the boat, and God closed

the door. Matthew 24, 37 through 39. For as were

the days of Noah, so will the coming of the Son

of Man be. For as in those days before the flood,

they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving

into marriage, until the day when Noah entered

the ark. Do you hear that? The reason why Jesus

says it this way is a reminder that Noah entered

the ark the day the wrath started. Get that.

Forget about all the other crazy nonsense you're

being taught. The day the wrath started, Noah

was put into the ark. The very day. And God closed

him in. And when they were unaware until the

flood came and swept them all away, except for

Noah, who was in the ark, so will be the coming

of the Son of Man. Oh, thank God that you will

be in Christ. That's the point of the removal

of God's people. He is our ark. He is our security.

He is our safety. And then in Peter 3, 4 through

7, 2 Peter, they will say, where's the promise

of his coming? Oh, don't you know? It's coming.

They're going to say it. They're saying it now.

For ever since the father fell asleep, I want

you to notice how Peter uses this language. He's

talking to, he's talking about the Jews. Making

fun of the believers. Where's this coming? Reminds

me of a prophet. We talked a little bit about

that. Elijah and the 250 priests of Baal. Well,

in the same way, they're going to try to say,

ah, God's not real. Do you know what the percentage

is of atheist Jews? It's over 65%. Did you guys

know that? They don't believe in God. They believe

in the law called the Talmud. That's what they

believe in. That's their God. And that's why

Paul says the God is their stomach. So they make

fun of the reality of the deity of Jesus because

they never believed. In the living God. It's

a crazy statistic. Just look up Pew. Where is

the promise of his coming? For ever since the

father fell asleep, all things are continuing

as they were from the beginning of creation.

It's interesting. It's an atheistic view. John

MacArthur puts it this way. It's immutable uniformitarianism.

You're like, say that word. He just coined it.

But it's so true. Immutable uniformitarianism.

The unchanging uniformity. John MacArthur states,

quote unquote. For they deliberately overlook.

Thelo lanthano. They willfully keep hidden. Out

of sight, out of mind is the idea. Romans chapter

Romans 1 · chapter mention

1. Turn there. Verse 19. For what can be known

about God is plain to them because God has shown

it to them for his invisible attributes, namely

his eternal power and divine nature, having been

clearly perceived ever since the creation of

the world in the things that have been made so

that they are without excuse. For although they

knew God, they did not honor him as God and give

thanks to him, but became futile in their thinking

and their foolish hearts were darkened. Out of

sight, out of mind. Thalo Lanzano. They don't

really care. This fact, the reality of this truth,

that the heavens existed long ago and the earth

was formed out of water and through water by

the word of God. I want you to get this. I don't

know how it was taught to you. Hopefully you're

not an evolution creationist. Doesn't exist.

The reality is that God had brought together

hydrogen and oxygen. Whether it's gas or liquid,

no one knows. What we do know is that it was

present. And out of that, God creates everything.

What a powerful God we have. And that was his

point. God destroyed the earth with water the

first time by the very thing that he created

it. Except this time, not so much. Verse 6. And

that by means of these, the world that then existed

was deluged with water and perished. We know

what that looks like in Genesis 6 .13. And God

said to Noah, I have determined to make an end

of all flesh. For the earth is filled with violence

through them. Behold, I will destroy them with

the earth. With the earth. The very thing that

I created for my glory that they may live and

walk with me, that very thing I will destroy

them with. Except this time, not so much. Look

what it says in chapter 7, verse 23 and 24. He

blotted out every living thing that was on the

face of the ground, man and animals and creeping

things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted

out from the earth. Only Noah was left and those

who were with him in the ark. And the waters

prevailed on the earth for 150 days. If you want

to know, was God making sure everything was dead?

I don't know about you, but treading water for

150 days is an impossibility. Now, if you're

a great swimmer, maybe a Navy SEAL, you might

be able to do it for like two days. But there

comes a time when every muscle in your body is

going to cramp up and you're going to sink. God

made sure even the best of swimmers were sinking.

But look what it says in verse 7. But by the

same word, the same word that God created all

things out of ex nihilo, out of nothing. The

same word, by the same word, the heavens and

the earth that now exist are stored up for fire,

judgment, purification. There's one thing that

water can't do. It cannot purify the soul of

its sin. There's one thing that fire can do.

Destroy everything. Being kept until the day

of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly.

Revelation 20. Verse 11. Then I saw a great white

throne and him who sat on it. And from his presence,

earth and sky fled away. And no place was found

for them. And I saw the dead, great and small,

standing before the throne. And the books were

opened. And another book was opened, which is

the book of life. And the dead were judged by

what was written in the books according to what

they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who

were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead

who were in them. And they were judged, each

of them, according to what they had done. Then

death and Hades were thrown into the lake of

fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

And if anyone's name was not found written in

the book of life, they were thrown into the lake

of fire. The idea of fire is a total annihilation.

In Revelation, the scripture says that Jesus

is a God of war. He has declared war upon all

things that are ungodly and sinful. That is a

reality. When Christ comes, he's not coming to

save. He's coming to destroy. And those who are

saved in him, he has promised to keep. Look what

it says here. Christ will keep his promise to

deliver his people from his wrath and to bring

to nothing all that is wicked and corrupt. 1

Thessalonians 5, 9 through 11. For God has not

destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation

through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us.

That whether we are awake or asleep, we might

live with him. Whether we are walking this earth

or we are buried in it, if you are in Christ,

you are alive in him. Therefore, encourage one

another and build up one another just as you

are doing. Again, Paul states the same thing.

Which Peter gives Paul recognition for the same

thing. What's interesting in verses 8 through

10, and we're done, is in the original language

it says, but you not overlook this one. That's

what it says in the original. I don't know why

they use the word do not when it's specifically

talking to you. But you as God's people. Do not

overlook this one reality, this one truth, this

one fact. And they use the word fact in the English,

but it's not there in the Greek. And the point

is, don't overlook this truth, this reality.

That with the Lord, one day is as a thousand

years, and a thousand years is as a day. And

trust me, many believers get this wrong. To be

like, see, you know. A day is as a thousand years

and a thousand years is as a day. And they just

decide to throw it into their ecclesiastical

arguments. It's not what he means here. Peter

clarifies what he means here. This idea that

one day is as a thousand years and a thousand

years is as a day just means with God, time doesn't

matter. And he clarifies this truth. If you're

God and you sit outside of time, a thousand years

this way and a thousand years this way looks

the same. As one day, the Lord is not slow to

fulfill his promise as some count slowness. I

got to tell you, the ESV has done a phenomenal

job in translation here. Can't say it any better.

The Lord not slow his promise as some count slowness.

In other words, Time doesn't matter. What matters

is his promise. And if we know that God keeps

his promise, notice what he says here in the

original, but patient toward you. He's talking

to the church. When he says you, he's not talking

to lost people because lost people don't read

the word. It's specifically a message to you.

This is what Peter's writing to them. This is

a letter to the church. But is patient toward

you. Not wishing, not willing, not pleased that

any. The word any is tis. And I've looked at

the BLB and I've looked at Step Bible, Strong's,

all the concordances say the same thing. Certain

one or some of many. Do you get that? He's not

wishing that the certain ones, you. Not wishing

that some of many, you, should be destroyed.

In what? The fire. That's what he's talking about

here. Context is everything. But we know, we

got those favorite little messages we got to

put together. Just to take things way out of

context so that we don't understand. So that

when you see things happening, fear is present.

I don't live in fear of the day. I live in joy

and expectation. That's what keeps me preaching

the gospel. That's the point. I mean, knowing

that I belong to him and that when he comes,

I will be put, that I'm in him as Noah was in

the ark, protected from his wrath. That he has

not destined me for his wrath, but he is faithful

to keep his promise that I will continue with

him forever. What's interesting is this next

word. Notice what it says here. But that all,

pas, all the whole should reach, should proceed,

should turn. All of what? All of tis, all of

the certain ones, all of the some of many. All

of you should turn, should come to the change

concerning any and all. elements of life. That's

the idea. Repentance is not turning away from

sin by itself. Repentance is turning toward God

away from sin. Not turning from sin to go to

God. Listen, if God left me to my own demise

to turn from the very thing that I love more

than anything on the planet. That I gave my mind,

my body, my money, my thoughts to. Why in the

world would I leave the thing I love the most

to go to the one I hate? Think logically. But

God has presented himself to us in holiness and

goodness. And in his justice has paid a price

for us that we cannot pay. By placing his wrath

on his son. And then we see the beauty of that

reality because of the regeneration of the Holy

Spirit in my heart. I turn him and I go, oh my

gosh, that's beautiful. I want that. And I turn

to God and I look at my sin and I go, I don't

want that. That is repentance. Biblical repentance

is a turning to God away from sin. That's what

biblical repentance is. It's the change that

happens by the power of the Holy Spirit in the

entire life of the individual. They become a

new creature. The doctrine of regeneration. But

the day of the Lord will come like a thief. We

know that. 1 Thessalonians 5. Everybody likes

to quote these verses, I know. If you ever want

to wreck your eschatology, Just read 1 Thessalonians

5 and 2 Thessalonians 2. Read it. And you go,

I got a conundrum now. What do I do with that?

But look what it says, verse 4, 1 Thessalonians

5, 4. But you are not in darkness, brothers,

for the day to surprise you like a thief. And

Peter again says the day of the Lord will come

like a thief. And why are so many believers surprised?

Why are so many believers surprised? And what

do they do? They go to their churches and sit

in their pews and are looking. But they do nothing.

They're not ready. They're not doing the work.

It should drive you to work. Jesus is coming.

I want to work. Jesus is coming. I want to be

found faithful. Jesus is coming. I want to be

busy. Jesus is coming. You know the best way

for you to look for his return is to do what

he's commanded. Not sit on your bum looking up

wondering, I wonder if he's going to come today.

Oh, there's a cloud. I like that one. That looks

like a chariot. Oh, he's not there. But that's

what people do. And then the heavens will pass

away with a roar. What should you be doing being

busy? Why? Because when he returns, the heavens

will pass away with a roar. Isn't that what it

says in chapter 20 of Revelation at the judgment

seat? This word roar means a crash or a loud

noise. And the heavenly bodies, the natural universe,

the elements, this word bodies means the smallest

of things. The things you can't even see, he

is going to burn up and dissolve, demolish. He

will burn it up and demolish it. And the earth,

the land, the world, and the works, all the accomplishments

of men that are done on it will be exposed. They

will be unhidden. They will be found out. So

how should you live as a people? As we are reminded

of the liberty that we have been freely given.

Is our work just to be, attend church, go home?

Or is our work is to preach the gospel to all

creatures? Don't you want to be found busy working?

My wife and I, I've got to use this. My wife

and I was talking about Mary and Martha. And

this will hit home for some of the moms. She's

doing a great job mentoring them. Now, she shared

with me, I want to be a Mary. I want to be at

Jesus' feet. You ever notice that Jesus never

rebukes Martha for her service? That's not why

he rebuked her. He didn't go, you know, you should

be like Mary and be sitting down. He never says

that. Martha's problem is she's focused on Mary.

It's like I'm doing all this work in the house

and I'm left to do this by myself. Or tell her

to get up. I mean, this is ridiculous. This is

her responsibility. I mean, she's a woman after

all. Because she's rebuking her sister for being

lazy. But he never rebukes Martha for work. He

says, Mary has chosen the better. What's the

better? Not doing any work? No. She has chosen

me. But Martha, if Martha served Christ and was

busy for serving Christ because of her love for

her Savior, for her God, she would have chosen

the better. But Mary wasn't worried about Jesus

and serving him. She was worried about getting

the work done. So it's not by an accident that

God calls us to be busy. The question is, what

is your purpose and reason for being busy? To

please him. When you settle in and lay at his

feet, you do it because you want to please him.

When you serve and work, you serve and work because

you want to please him. What's interesting is

you hear the second time Martha is found working

is when Mary is before Jesus and she takes the

alabaster jar and breaks it. And anoints him.

And the disciples go, Judas, that's a lot of

money. But you never know, what most people don't

know is there's this little statement in there.

It says, as Martha was serving, never rebukes

her for not serving. Why? She learned her lesson.

The service that she had rendered was for his

service. She was focused on the Savior and serving

him, not focused on her sister as she broke the

jar. Are you busy? Are you serving? Because that's

my challenge to you and your freedom. We don't

just have a freedom to gather. We have a freedom

to preach. And there are many brothers and sisters

who are dying for preaching because they don't

have the freedom. in their land, but they have

the freedom in their spirit. Father, I want to

thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness.

Thank you for this word. May we always be busy

knowing that you are and will fulfill your promise

that you will return and that everything on this

earth will be burned. Everything concerning the

ungodliness of men will be Exposed and destroyed.

That you'll be honored and glorified as the king

who reigns and sits on the throne. We praise

you and thank you in Jesus' name.