WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.200 Do turn back with me in your Bibles to 2 Peter chapter 3, which is on page 1019 of the Church Bibles. 00:00:12.200 --> 00:00:13.000 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:50.079 And at first hand, it seems frankly a bit silly and a bit flippant, a bit of a waste of someone's money to put these things on the side of the bus. 00:00:50.299 --> 00:00:55.600 It's a slogan dreamt up as a comedian, and perhaps we might be tempted to just laugh it off. 00:00:55.600 --> 00:01:04.760 But I think, perhaps accidentally, perhaps really quite knowingly, that slogan touches on something fairly deep, doesn't it? 00:01:05.560 --> 00:01:09.299 It's something that's been gnawing at mankind for a very long time. 00:01:10.359 --> 00:01:14.200 There probably is no God, you can't stop worrying and enjoy your life. 00:01:15.340 --> 00:01:17.060 There's two parts to that statement, aren't there? 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:20.620 The first part is a kind of pessimistic scepticism. 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:22.920 There probably is no God. 00:01:23.620 --> 00:01:24.159 This is it. 00:01:24.159 --> 00:01:26.539 There's nothing left after life. 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:27.920 Nothing more. 00:01:28.019 --> 00:01:30.780 Nothing really looking down and smiling when you do good. 00:01:30.899 --> 00:01:32.119 There's no one who cares. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:33.060 This is it. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:34.079 This is all there is. 00:01:35.379 --> 00:01:37.959 This world full of civil wars. 00:01:38.659 --> 00:01:41.199 Some sets, yes, but civil wars and diseases. 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:46.739 Beautiful mountains, lovely animals, and sin and pain and misery. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:47.539 This is it. 00:01:47.620 --> 00:01:48.439 This is all there is. 00:01:48.599 --> 00:01:49.699 There probably is no God. 00:01:49.700 --> 00:01:54.240 The first part is a gloomy scepticism, isn't it? 00:01:54.939 --> 00:01:57.180 But it seems to be driven by that second part. 00:01:58.379 --> 00:01:59.520 There probably is no God. 00:01:59.659 --> 00:02:01.439 Now stop worrying and enjoy your life. 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:05.800 This pessimism is seen by so many as liberation. 00:02:05.799 --> 00:02:08.379 There is no God. 00:02:08.479 --> 00:02:09.300 There's no judge. 00:02:10.219 --> 00:02:12.659 There's no eternal consequences to what you do now. 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:14.520 Just stop all that worrying. 00:02:15.359 --> 00:02:19.340 There's a 112 million percent chance that there's nothing out there. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:21.079 The percentage doesn't work, doesn't it? 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:22.960 But it's very unlikely there's anything out there. 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:26.099 So let's just quit worrying. 00:02:26.219 --> 00:02:27.560 Let's just enjoy our lives. 00:02:28.140 --> 00:02:29.060 We'll have much more fun. 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:32.500 And it sounds like a modern statement, doesn't it? 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:36.920 I think the people who make statements like this like to think of this as being the height 00:02:36.920 --> 00:02:41.800 of enlightenment after however millennia we finally come to this position. 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:45.159 But really, there's nothing new about this statement at all. 00:02:45.480 --> 00:02:47.219 It's been there since the beginning of time. 00:02:47.219 --> 00:02:52.439 And at root, it's this challenge that Peter is dealing with in 2 Peter chapter 3. 00:02:52.539 --> 00:02:53.539 There's probably no God. 00:02:54.340 --> 00:02:56.419 So just enjoy your life. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:00.280 We're going to look this evening at how Peter answers this challenge. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:03.699 We're going to look at it broadly in three sections. 00:03:03.900 --> 00:03:08.520 Firstly, we're going to analyse the challenge itself, roughly looking at verses 1 to 4. 00:03:09.219 --> 00:03:13.780 Then we're going to see Peter's very direct and pretty blunt response to this challenge 00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:15.539 in verses 5 to 7. 00:03:15.539 --> 00:03:18.620 And then his broader explanation. 00:03:19.479 --> 00:03:20.659 Well, where is God? 00:03:21.079 --> 00:03:21.680 Where is he? 00:03:22.099 --> 00:03:23.139 In verses 8 to 10. 00:03:24.359 --> 00:03:28.359 Firstly, the challenge that comes to the churches Peter's writing to. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:31.060 We see it in verses 3 and 4, don't we? 00:03:31.739 --> 00:03:36.120 Knowing this, first of all, the scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing. 00:03:36.739 --> 00:03:39.359 Following their own sinful desires, they will say, 00:03:39.739 --> 00:03:41.379 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:49.099 For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing, as they were, from the beginning of creation. 00:03:50.099 --> 00:03:51.019 Come on, Christians. 00:03:52.120 --> 00:03:54.199 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:56.199 Jesus has said he's coming back, but where is he? 00:03:56.199 --> 00:03:58.819 Are you sure you heard it right? 00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:01.339 You didn't just misunderstand something he said. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:04.060 It's been 30 years now since he ascended. 00:04:05.359 --> 00:04:06.159 Where is he? 00:04:06.979 --> 00:04:08.500 Surely he didn't really mean it. 00:04:09.439 --> 00:04:10.879 There probably is no God. 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:12.859 There probably is no second coming. 00:04:12.860 --> 00:04:17.120 It's quite a lot like that bus campaign, isn't it? 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:22.220 But unlike that bus campaign, there's something more sinister, more insidious about this scoffing. 00:04:23.560 --> 00:04:26.100 This scoffing comes from within the church. 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:29.920 It's a challenge from not outside. 00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:33.400 It's not smug atheists who perhaps you can laugh off. 00:04:33.580 --> 00:04:35.139 It's a challenge from within the church. 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:39.259 The scoffers come and they say, well, maybe he's not coming back. 00:04:40.580 --> 00:04:42.199 We know this from the context of the book. 00:04:42.639 --> 00:04:44.800 Chapter 1 of 2 Peter. 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:49.539 Peter is addressing really the certainty of the apostolic teaching. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:53.939 He goes back to basics and says, everything we've taught you is true. 00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:55.920 Chapter 1, verse 16. 00:04:56.219 --> 00:05:01.800 For we did not follow cleverly desired myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:05:02.099 --> 00:05:04.060 but we were eyewitnesses to his majesty. 00:05:04.060 --> 00:05:06.199 This stuff I've told you, I didn't make it up. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:09.719 I didn't come with my own idea of the gospel. 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:11.939 I got it firsthand. 00:05:12.199 --> 00:05:13.719 You can trust the apostolic word. 00:05:14.659 --> 00:05:19.519 And then chapter 2, having reasserted the authority of the apostolic word, 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:26.899 Peter goes on and introduces us to the false teachers who've come to usurp that apostolic word. 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:30.759 We're introduced to them, really, in chapter 2, verses 1 and 2. 00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:34.879 But false prophets also arose among the people. 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:40.659 Just as there will be false teachers among you who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:46.319 even denying the master who brought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:47.839 And many will follow their sensuality. 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:51.579 And because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. 00:05:52.579 --> 00:05:55.839 And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:06:00.919 The apostolic word is reaffirmed in chapter 1. 00:06:00.919 --> 00:06:05.659 In chapter 2, we're given an introduction to who these false teachers are, to their character. 00:06:06.299 --> 00:06:10.899 And now in chapter 3, really, Peter is addressing the specific heresies they have, 00:06:11.299 --> 00:06:13.699 the specific challenge they're bringing to the church. 00:06:14.019 --> 00:06:14.599 And it's this. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:17.039 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:21.760 It's more insidious than just an attack from outside. 00:06:22.180 --> 00:06:26.879 And I'd imagine that this would have hit the church that Peter's speaking to particularly hard. 00:06:28.280 --> 00:06:31.040 Peter makes it clear in verse 1, doesn't he, that this is his second letter. 00:06:31.260 --> 00:06:33.700 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:37.960 The only other letter we have from Peter is his first letter. 00:06:38.540 --> 00:06:41.340 So it seems a reasonable assumption that he's writing to the same people. 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:43.660 If not to exactly the same people, 00:06:43.660 --> 00:06:47.460 then they'll be the same group of churches that he pastored to. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:49.820 And we know from the book of 1 Peter 00:06:49.820 --> 00:06:52.960 that the Christians he's writing to are oppressed. 00:06:53.780 --> 00:06:56.740 He calls them the elect exiles of the dispersion. 00:06:57.360 --> 00:07:00.160 They're spread out all across the ancient Near East. 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:01.740 And they're isolated. 00:07:01.940 --> 00:07:02.560 They're marginalized. 00:07:03.620 --> 00:07:05.220 They're not in Christian societies. 00:07:05.480 --> 00:07:07.700 They're surrounded by pagan beliefs. 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:11.540 They're feeling cut off, perhaps, from Jerusalem. 00:07:11.540 --> 00:07:13.160 They're feeling cut off from Christianity. 00:07:14.540 --> 00:07:16.500 And in 1 Peter, they need real encouragement. 00:07:18.100 --> 00:07:20.660 And in the first book that Peter writes, 00:07:21.400 --> 00:07:24.200 he encourages them by directing them to the second coming of Jesus. 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:30.400 Even now, if you are suffering with trials, yet just for a little while, 00:07:31.180 --> 00:07:34.560 he encourages them with the certainty of a future judgment 00:07:34.560 --> 00:07:36.280 and the second coming of Jesus. 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:41.579 He talks about the treasure, the imperishable riches that are hidden for us, 00:07:42.039 --> 00:07:45.500 waiting for the day when Jesus appears for a second time. 00:07:46.799 --> 00:07:52.399 So you can imagine, this church is really struggling with the claim that Jesus might not come back. 00:07:52.459 --> 00:07:54.799 It's the only thing that's encouraging them to hold on. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:58.100 So why? 00:07:59.220 --> 00:08:04.280 If that's the only thing that would keep you hanging on when you're a persecuted church, 00:08:05.280 --> 00:08:07.460 why would any Christian deny that hope? 00:08:07.819 --> 00:08:09.319 Why would these false teachers come? 00:08:09.460 --> 00:08:13.960 Surely that would undermine and defeat the whole point of the faith they're supposed to be teaching. 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:18.819 Well, there's a little phrase that gives them away in verse 3, doesn't it? 00:08:19.019 --> 00:08:20.419 That describes these scoffers. 00:08:21.419 --> 00:08:26.339 The scoffers will come in the last days scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 00:08:27.419 --> 00:08:31.459 These scoffers, we're told, are coming with their sinful desires in mind. 00:08:31.459 --> 00:08:34.720 The reason they come with this challenge is not because they've found a new truth, 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:38.799 not because they've worked something out that Peter was too dense to understand, 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:41.679 not because they've got some new revelation, 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:45.000 but it's because there's some motivation there. 00:08:45.079 --> 00:08:47.120 They want to get away with something, frankly. 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:54.720 We get a snapshot into the attitudes of these scoffers in chapter 2, verse 19. 00:08:55.100 --> 00:08:59.779 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:03.459 For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 00:09:04.319 --> 00:09:08.879 For if, after they have escaped the defiance of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, 00:09:08.939 --> 00:09:12.639 Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome. 00:09:13.220 --> 00:09:15.779 The last state has become worse for them than the first. 00:09:16.459 --> 00:09:21.240 These are people who want to justify a libertarian living, 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:24.159 a life free from law, free from regulation, 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:26.500 free from any morality, 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:31.199 on the grounds that it satisfies their sinful desires. 00:09:32.719 --> 00:09:36.719 Their motivation is not truth, it's their sinful desire. 00:09:38.019 --> 00:09:39.120 At the end of the passage, 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:41.759 we're looking at today 2 Peter 3, 00:09:42.039 --> 00:09:44.839 did you notice that slightly awkward phrase, 00:09:44.939 --> 00:09:47.659 where we find that Peter found Paul difficult to understand? 00:09:48.159 --> 00:09:49.779 Quite an encouragement, really, isn't it? 00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:54.299 It's right at the end, verse 16. 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:56.019 Peter says, doesn't he, 00:09:56.199 --> 00:09:58.199 there are some things in Paul's writings 00:09:58.199 --> 00:09:59.579 that are hard to understand, 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:01.480 which the ignorant and unstable twist 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:04.059 to their own destruction as they do the other scriptures. 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:07.000 And I think this really helps us understand 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:10.159 what the specific false teaching would be. 00:10:10.919 --> 00:10:12.519 Martin actually referred to it this morning, 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:13.839 in Romans 6. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:15.620 Do you remember if you were here, 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:19.519 Martin was talking about how Paul teaches grace so strongly 00:10:19.519 --> 00:10:22.240 that people might be tempted to think 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:23.620 that sin might even be a good thing. 00:10:24.259 --> 00:10:25.800 We have a God who forgives, 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:28.800 who forgives our sin no matter how bad we are. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.320 But why don't we just keep on sinning? 00:10:32.120 --> 00:10:33.860 If grace is so great, 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:35.120 if God is so merciful, 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:36.879 why don't we just keep on sinning? 00:10:37.720 --> 00:10:40.040 And it seems to be that that is the real challenge here. 00:10:40.180 --> 00:10:42.320 Look, Jesus isn't going to judge us. 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:44.360 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:10:44.980 --> 00:10:46.560 He's not going to judge us for this sin. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:48.860 We can carry on as we have been. 00:10:49.160 --> 00:10:50.740 We can carry on in our old ways. 00:10:51.800 --> 00:10:52.400 It's as if they're saying, 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:54.640 look, you followers of Peter, 00:10:54.700 --> 00:10:55.740 we've gone back to Paul, 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:56.600 and you're just, 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.240 you're taking it all a bit too seriously. 00:10:59.080 --> 00:11:00.860 Jesus is not coming back to judge. 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:03.900 He's not going to stop you from enjoying your life. 00:11:04.640 --> 00:11:06.140 Do you know, there probably is no God. 00:11:06.300 --> 00:11:07.480 Why don't you just stop worrying? 00:11:08.040 --> 00:11:09.380 Stop worrying, calm down, 00:11:09.700 --> 00:11:10.860 and enjoy your life. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:17.160 It's the same as our bus posters, isn't it? 00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:20.260 And it's actually the oldest lie in history. 00:11:21.020 --> 00:11:22.740 It's the oldest lie in history. 00:11:23.180 --> 00:11:24.920 We can find it right back in Genesis. 00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:27.460 Turn with me quickly to Genesis chapter 3. 00:11:31.660 --> 00:11:32.900 Genesis chapter 3. 00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:34.600 Eve and Adam are in the garden. 00:11:35.080 --> 00:11:36.900 They're in the garden that God's created for them. 00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:40.500 And the serpent, Satan, comes to them. 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:41.899 And we read, 00:11:42.259 --> 00:11:47.259 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God made. 00:11:47.879 --> 00:11:48.639 He said to the woman, 00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:52.159 Did God actually say to you, 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:55.819 You shall not eat of any tree in the garden? 00:11:55.820 --> 00:11:59.240 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:01.640 Did God actually say to you, 00:12:01.680 --> 00:12:03.280 You shall not eat of any tree in the garden? 00:12:03.800 --> 00:12:04.900 And the woman said to the serpent, 00:12:05.100 --> 00:12:07.460 We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:08.240 But God said, 00:12:08.340 --> 00:12:11.220 You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, 00:12:11.680 --> 00:12:13.460 Neither shall you touch it, lest you die. 00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:16.120 But the serpent said to the woman, 00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:18.780 You will not surely die. 00:12:19.900 --> 00:12:21.240 You will not surely die. 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:23.259 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:12:23.480 --> 00:12:24.560 He's not going to judge you. 00:12:25.100 --> 00:12:26.580 That's not the kind of God you've got. 00:12:27.600 --> 00:12:28.860 You shall not surely die. 00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:30.800 There probably is no God. 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:32.060 There probably is no judgment. 00:12:32.940 --> 00:12:35.500 Why don't you calm down and just enjoy your life? 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:38.540 That's the lie of those of us posters. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:42.280 That's the lie that's being faced by the church here. 00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:44.980 And that's the lie that Satan would come to us today. 00:12:46.319 --> 00:12:48.199 And it's not a first century problem, is it? 00:12:49.299 --> 00:12:52.480 We hear that snake voice in our ears from all sorts of corners, don't we? 00:12:53.740 --> 00:12:55.139 We hear from the world around us, 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.779 Not just on posters on the street, 00:12:56.860 --> 00:12:59.699 Not just from blatant, aggressive atheism, 00:12:59.839 --> 00:13:02.659 But from the general culture of our society, don't we? 00:13:03.100 --> 00:13:04.120 A society that says, 00:13:04.220 --> 00:13:06.279 Well, if it hasn't hurt anyone, 00:13:06.839 --> 00:13:07.759 Then there's nothing wrong with it. 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:08.720 There's no judgment. 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:10.659 There's no final comeuppance. 00:13:10.659 --> 00:13:12.639 Frankly, if you can get away with it, 00:13:12.699 --> 00:13:13.639 Why not? It might be fun. 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:15.959 We hear it from our society, don't we? 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:17.120 You shall not surely die. 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:20.240 Where is the promise that is coming? 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:25.000 Shockingly, sometimes we hear it from the church, don't we? 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:28.339 We hear it from obvious liberalism sometimes. 00:13:29.199 --> 00:13:33.480 A church that completely denies that certain things are sins. 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:37.220 But we can hear it as well from people who call themselves evangelicals. 00:13:38.300 --> 00:13:42.740 Every problem in church history, it seems, I'm sure church historians will correct me, 00:13:42.800 --> 00:13:45.759 But it seems to be on an overemphasis of one truth over another. 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:49.100 And there seems to be a massive habit at the moment of saying, 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:49.980 Well, God is love. 00:13:50.580 --> 00:13:52.920 Talking so much about love that we say, 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:54.279 Well, you shall not surely die. 00:13:54.920 --> 00:13:56.300 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:13:56.299 --> 00:14:00.019 We can emphasise love so much that there's no judgement anymore. 00:14:00.599 --> 00:14:03.959 And I think there are some evangelicals who can fall foul of that. 00:14:04.959 --> 00:14:06.939 We hear it from the world, we hear it from the church, 00:14:07.079 --> 00:14:08.799 But don't we most often hear it in ourselves? 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:11.159 When we're sitting at home, 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:14.919 And we know that we're committing the same old sins again. 00:14:15.899 --> 00:14:17.879 But we also know that we've got away with it yesterday. 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:20.179 We got away with it the day before, 00:14:20.179 --> 00:14:21.259 So we say to ourselves, 00:14:21.399 --> 00:14:24.019 Well, you shall not surely die. 00:14:24.599 --> 00:14:25.979 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:14:26.579 --> 00:14:27.859 Jesus hasn't come back yet. 00:14:28.459 --> 00:14:30.179 He probably won't come back for a week or so. 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:31.159 So I'll wait. 00:14:31.719 --> 00:14:32.379 I'll wait. 00:14:32.479 --> 00:14:33.659 I'll sort this out another time. 00:14:34.819 --> 00:14:37.019 It's the same devil lie, isn't it, that we hear. 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:38.979 There probably is no God. 00:14:39.559 --> 00:14:40.859 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:14:41.159 --> 00:14:42.699 You shall not surely die. 00:14:43.599 --> 00:14:45.000 That's the problem we're facing here. 00:14:46.459 --> 00:14:48.939 So, how does Peter deal with it? 00:14:48.939 --> 00:14:50.579 How does Peter address this problem? 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:53.859 Well, we get a very blunt response in verses 5-7. 00:14:53.979 --> 00:14:54.959 Frankly, it's very blunt. 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:56.519 There's a very direct answer here. 00:14:57.400 --> 00:14:59.379 This challenge, this statement, 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:03.480 relies on a willful ignorance of the truth. 00:15:04.420 --> 00:15:05.519 A willful ignorance. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:08.220 Just find my page. 00:15:08.220 --> 00:15:17.980 The challenge the scoffers bring, we read in verse 5, 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:23.019 is because they deliberately overlook a fact. 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:25.940 They deliberately overlook a fact. 00:15:26.420 --> 00:15:27.740 You can't bring this challenge, 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:29.980 you can't promote this lie 00:15:29.980 --> 00:15:32.680 without deliberately overlooking the fact. 00:15:32.679 --> 00:15:34.239 What is the fact? 00:15:34.239 --> 00:15:36.139 Well, let's read. 00:15:36.359 --> 00:15:37.699 They deliberately overlook this fact 00:15:37.699 --> 00:15:39.239 that the heavens existed long ago 00:15:39.239 --> 00:15:41.419 and the earth was formed out of water 00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:44.179 and through water by the word of God 00:15:44.179 --> 00:15:46.279 and that by means of these, 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.799 the world that then existed 00:15:47.799 --> 00:15:50.099 was deluged with water and perished. 00:15:50.959 --> 00:15:52.239 By that same word, 00:15:52.839 --> 00:15:54.479 the heavens and earth that now exist 00:15:54.479 --> 00:15:55.519 are stored up for fire, 00:15:56.339 --> 00:15:58.019 being kept until the day of judgment 00:15:58.019 --> 00:15:59.879 and destruction of the ungodly. 00:16:01.299 --> 00:16:02.960 What is it that's being overlooked here? 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:04.600 What is this willful ignorance? 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:08.199 Well, they're overlooking the word, aren't they? 00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:09.740 They're overlooking the word of God 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.960 and the certainty of it. 00:16:12.259 --> 00:16:12.699 Did you see? 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:15.759 The earth is created by God's word. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:18.019 The heavens existed long ago 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:19.699 and the earth was formed out of water 00:16:19.699 --> 00:16:22.000 and through water by the word of God. 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.919 God created through the word. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:26.899 And then, at Noah's time, 00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:29.759 God destroyed through the word. 00:16:30.979 --> 00:16:32.620 And that by means of these, 00:16:32.959 --> 00:16:33.959 the word, 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.740 the world that then existed 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:38.240 was deluged by water and perished. 00:16:38.939 --> 00:16:40.559 God created by the word. 00:16:41.099 --> 00:16:43.339 He's destroyed by the word in the past. 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:45.259 And now we read verse 7, 00:16:45.339 --> 00:16:46.779 but by that same word, 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:48.819 the heavens and earth that now exist 00:16:48.819 --> 00:16:49.759 are stored up for fire, 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:51.699 being kept until the day of judgment 00:16:51.699 --> 00:16:53.159 and destruction of the ungodly. 00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:56.259 God created through his word, 00:16:56.719 --> 00:16:57.519 the word of power. 00:16:57.860 --> 00:17:00.039 He has brought judgment before by his word. 00:17:01.099 --> 00:17:02.740 And now it's that same word 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:05.420 that comes to us in judgment, 00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:07.940 that promises that Jesus will return 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:11.379 to bring the ultimate hope of Christians with him 00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:15.180 and to bring judgment upon our world. 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:19.659 Essentially, the point that Peter makes here 00:17:19.659 --> 00:17:20.960 is that God doesn't cry wolf 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.680 and it's foolish to think he does. 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:24.620 If God says he's going to do something, 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.460 he's going to do it. 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:27.880 He's shown us how he is in the past. 00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:29.580 We've seen in the past. 00:17:30.320 --> 00:17:32.799 Did you notice in the Scoffler's statement, 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:35.460 they actually get it wrong, don't they? 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.360 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:17:37.620 --> 00:17:39.320 For ever since the fathers fell asleep, 00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.580 all things are continuing 00:17:40.580 --> 00:17:42.220 as they were from the beginning of creation. 00:17:43.560 --> 00:17:44.580 They've got that wrong, haven't they? 00:17:44.620 --> 00:17:45.720 They've forgotten Noah's flood. 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:47.340 They've forgotten history. 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:49.519 They're deliberately overlooking the fact 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:51.779 that when God has promised judgment in the past, 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:52.679 it's come. 00:17:53.939 --> 00:17:55.500 And now we're in the same situation. 00:17:55.659 --> 00:17:56.839 God has promised judgment. 00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.199 It really will come. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.740 God doesn't cry wolf. 00:18:01.619 --> 00:18:03.199 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:18:04.199 --> 00:18:05.139 Peter is asked. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:07.339 And he says, well, I don't know. 00:18:08.139 --> 00:18:09.480 It's not mine to say. 00:18:09.879 --> 00:18:11.119 I don't know where it is. 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:13.439 But I know that it's his promise. 00:18:14.019 --> 00:18:14.919 So it's going to happen. 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:17.399 It's not mine to say when. 00:18:17.599 --> 00:18:18.759 But it's his promise. 00:18:19.399 --> 00:18:20.259 So I trust it. 00:18:23.659 --> 00:18:25.619 There's an implicit reference in the background here, 00:18:25.699 --> 00:18:26.339 isn't there, to Noah. 00:18:26.779 --> 00:18:29.619 And to Noah's attitude towards a promise of God for judgment. 00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:32.119 I think it illustrates the kind of faith 00:18:32.119 --> 00:18:34.599 that we as Christians, living in this period, 00:18:34.739 --> 00:18:37.279 waiting for the coming of Jesus, should have. 00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:40.119 I don't know if you've ever thought about it, 00:18:40.119 --> 00:18:42.379 but it would have taken a long time to build the ark. 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:43.479 It's a big boat. 00:18:44.359 --> 00:18:45.379 You can work it out. 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:47.619 Well, you can try and piece it together 00:18:47.619 --> 00:18:49.479 by the ages of Noah and his sons. 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:51.139 And it looks like it may have taken Noah 00:18:51.139 --> 00:18:52.979 around about 100 years to build the ark. 00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:54.779 Now, that's a little inaccurate 00:18:54.779 --> 00:18:57.239 because you have to guess at some of the ages. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:59.419 But it was a long time to build the boat. 00:19:00.479 --> 00:19:03.019 And I would imagine he would have looked absolutely mad 00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:04.179 to everyone around him, wouldn't he? 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:07.339 Building a big boat a long way from water. 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.059 It wasn't even a dry dock. 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:12.460 He's building a huge boat for a flood 00:19:12.460 --> 00:19:13.879 that he's been promised by God. 00:19:15.059 --> 00:19:16.460 You can imagine that every time 00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:18.559 a little rain shower comes, 00:19:18.639 --> 00:19:19.500 people are loved in it. 00:19:19.740 --> 00:19:20.839 Hey Noah, here's your flood. 00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:22.799 Is it going to flood us this time? 00:19:23.940 --> 00:19:25.899 You can imagine that people would have come to it 00:19:25.899 --> 00:19:27.039 and said, well, come on, 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:29.480 where is this flood that you're so busy preparing for? 00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:32.220 We've barely seen a rain cloud this year. 00:19:32.279 --> 00:19:33.159 Where is this flood? 00:19:33.659 --> 00:19:34.960 Where is the promise of this coming? 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:37.680 He would have looked absolutely ridiculous. 00:19:38.940 --> 00:19:41.220 You'd imagine at times in that 100 years 00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.160 or however long it was, 00:19:42.200 --> 00:19:42.920 he would have doubted. 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:45.539 Well, maybe I have got this wrong. 00:19:45.600 --> 00:19:46.340 Maybe I misheard. 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:48.600 Maybe I did this wrong. 00:19:49.900 --> 00:19:51.600 But he trusted in the word of God, didn't he? 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:54.840 He continued on what looked like a foolhardy scheme. 00:19:54.980 --> 00:19:55.960 He built his boat. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:58.579 And only he and his family survived. 00:19:58.579 --> 00:20:01.279 He trusted in the word of God 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:03.039 when it looked frankly ridiculous 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.480 to the world around him. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:07.339 How much more should we trust? 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:08.699 You think Noah, 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:11.819 Noah had so little of the world's history 00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:13.919 in place to see. 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:17.179 Perhaps, perhaps he knew about Adam and Eve in the garden. 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:20.559 Perhaps he knew of the handful of dealings 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:22.119 God had had with people before that. 00:20:23.019 --> 00:20:24.599 But he didn't know about the covenants. 00:20:25.199 --> 00:20:27.559 He didn't know about God's grace to his people Israel. 00:20:27.559 --> 00:20:30.259 He'd never even heard Jesus' name. 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:33.679 He hadn't seen the death and the resurrection of Jesus. 00:20:34.419 --> 00:20:37.379 He hadn't seen how our Lord has time and time again 00:20:37.379 --> 00:20:39.639 come to us and been faithful to us. 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:40.779 And yet he trusted. 00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:43.200 How much more should we as his people 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:45.659 who've got all this knowledge, 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:48.940 all this evidence of his faithfulness to us, 00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:52.379 trust that if God has said he's coming, 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:53.379 he's coming. 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:55.940 Where is the promise of his coming? 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:57.940 Well, we don't know. 00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.620 We don't know. 00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:00.660 It's not ours to know. 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.840 But it's his promise. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:04.100 So, we'll trust it. 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.460 That's Peter's direct response. 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:09.940 But perhaps it's leaving us a little underwhelmed. 00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:12.680 It gives us confidence, doesn't it? 00:21:13.340 --> 00:21:14.580 God's word is certain. 00:21:14.920 --> 00:21:16.759 We know the second coming is coming. 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:18.759 It gives us confidence. 00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:22.039 But it doesn't necessarily give us comfort, does it? 00:21:22.879 --> 00:21:26.119 You can imagine the church that Paul's writing to 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:26.920 sitting there and thinking, 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.879 well, that's all very well, 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:30.039 but where is he now? 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:32.720 Where is he now while I need him? 00:21:34.460 --> 00:21:36.180 This is a suffering church. 00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:39.840 I imagine a church perhaps not dissimilar 00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:41.920 to the church in Nigeria at the moment, 00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:43.039 Egypt, Syria, 00:21:43.560 --> 00:21:45.220 where people are persecuted for their faith. 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.440 You can almost hear them, perhaps, 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:50.600 singing the word of that hymn we sung earlier, 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:52.200 the serpent's brooding crease, 00:21:52.519 --> 00:21:54.680 the power of hell broke but bold, 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.060 the conflict thickens, 00:21:56.220 --> 00:21:56.920 faith is low, 00:21:57.299 --> 00:21:58.680 and love is waxing cold. 00:21:58.680 --> 00:22:00.900 How long, O Lord, our God, 00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:02.560 holy and true and good? 00:22:02.920 --> 00:22:05.039 Wilt thou not judge thy suffering church, 00:22:05.580 --> 00:22:07.440 her sighs and tears and blood? 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:08.720 Where are you, God? 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.200 Okay, you're coming, 00:22:10.320 --> 00:22:11.480 but why are you delaying? 00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:14.200 You can imagine them saying to Peter, 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:16.560 well, okay, Jesus will return, 00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:18.740 but why hasn't he returned yet? 00:22:19.600 --> 00:22:20.560 Has he forgotten us? 00:22:21.320 --> 00:22:22.840 Does he not care that we're suffering? 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.740 Why hasn't he come back? 00:22:25.740 --> 00:22:30.279 Well, Peter nips this in the bud, really, 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:31.180 in verse 8, 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:33.900 by reminding us of the difference 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:34.900 between God and man. 00:22:36.120 --> 00:22:36.859 Verse 8, 00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:39.339 Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:42.460 that with the Lord one day is a thousand years, 00:22:42.779 --> 00:22:44.980 and a thousand years as one day. 00:22:46.279 --> 00:22:48.079 It's a very poetic way of saying, 00:22:49.120 --> 00:22:49.940 look, guys, 00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.859 God isn't constrained like we are. 00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:53.960 It's a very poetic way of saying 00:22:53.960 --> 00:22:56.960 God is not a man to be stuck behind roadblocks, 00:22:57.180 --> 00:22:59.360 to be held back by accidents. 00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:01.519 He's not a man to be forgetful. 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:02.740 He's God. 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:05.180 If God's delaying, 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:05.940 he hasn't forgotten. 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:08.200 He's not being held back 00:23:08.200 --> 00:23:09.420 by something stronger than him. 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:10.120 He's God. 00:23:11.579 --> 00:23:12.579 If God's delaying, 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:13.799 it's got to be deliberate. 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.279 If God's delaying, 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:17.759 it's got to be because he's waiting for something. 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:20.420 But then, 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:22.420 what is he waiting for? 00:23:23.059 --> 00:23:24.640 We need him now, don't we? 00:23:25.400 --> 00:23:27.059 But why has God not come back? 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:31.420 We read it in verse 9, don't we? 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:35.019 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:36.240 as some count slowness, 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:39.200 but is patient towards you, 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:42.000 not wishing that any should perish, 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:43.980 but that all should reach repentance. 00:23:43.980 --> 00:23:46.740 The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:47.759 as some count slowness, 00:23:48.079 --> 00:23:49.940 but he is being patient towards you. 00:23:51.319 --> 00:23:52.620 God hasn't forgotten you. 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:55.860 He's not just decided he doesn't care about you. 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:57.660 He hasn't got other priorities in mind. 00:23:58.299 --> 00:23:59.380 He's not forgotten you, 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.940 Peter says to the church. 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.819 He's waiting for you. 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:03.740 He's waiting until you're ready. 00:24:04.940 --> 00:24:06.279 He's bearing with you. 00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:07.960 He's showing you grace. 00:24:10.360 --> 00:24:11.740 See, the problem in this church 00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:15.380 is that Christians are clinging to their sin. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:17.000 They're saying, 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:17.240 well, 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:19.680 we like Jesus, 00:24:19.940 --> 00:24:20.660 we like the Bible, 00:24:21.019 --> 00:24:21.859 we like God's word, 00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:23.240 but we like the world, 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:24.120 we like our sin, 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.640 we like those pleasures 00:24:25.640 --> 00:24:26.799 that we've always enjoyed. 00:24:27.620 --> 00:24:28.539 And they're clinging to them, 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.380 they're not giving them up. 00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.839 And God is being patient with them. 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:37.200 Do you notice the scoffer's lie 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:39.319 is a particularly dangerous experiment? 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:40.599 The scoffer's lie 00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:41.839 is a really bad experiment, 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.439 dangerous and bad, 00:24:43.819 --> 00:24:44.599 because it's based on 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:45.859 a really flawed judgment, 00:24:46.839 --> 00:24:47.960 a really flawed, 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.460 messy logic. 00:24:51.200 --> 00:24:52.619 Let me try and explain it in an analogy. 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:54.139 Imagine if I went to Australia. 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:55.019 I never will, 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:56.079 because I'm scared of animals 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:56.720 that would kill me. 00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:58.939 But imagine if I went to Australia 00:24:58.939 --> 00:25:01.179 with all its big bad bugs and things, 00:25:01.919 --> 00:25:03.099 and I were to go to the beach, 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:04.740 and I were to want to go swimming, 00:25:04.740 --> 00:25:06.700 and there was a sign up saying, 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:08.220 danger, sharks. 00:25:09.460 --> 00:25:10.420 Imagine if I said, 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:11.980 well, okay, there are sharks, 00:25:12.140 --> 00:25:12.859 there might be sharks, 00:25:14.160 --> 00:25:16.019 but I'll believe they're a danger to me 00:25:16.019 --> 00:25:16.799 when they've bitten me. 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:18.299 I'm going to go swimming. 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:19.660 I'm going to keep on swimming, 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.779 and if they bite me, 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:22.039 then I'll believe there's a danger. 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:24.039 It's not great logic, is it? 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:26.599 Because by the time I've found out 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:27.740 whether there is a danger or not, 00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.460 by that logic, 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.299 I'll have lost a leg. 00:25:29.299 --> 00:25:31.779 It's terrible logic. 00:25:32.700 --> 00:25:33.879 I will only know 00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:35.399 whether the danger is real 00:25:35.399 --> 00:25:36.680 when it's too late. 00:25:37.639 --> 00:25:39.319 And it's exactly that logic 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:41.200 that's being used by the scoffer here. 00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:42.859 Well, I sinned yesterday. 00:25:43.319 --> 00:25:44.079 I sinned today. 00:25:44.859 --> 00:25:45.819 I'll probably sin tomorrow. 00:25:46.680 --> 00:25:47.759 God's never judged me for it. 00:25:47.879 --> 00:25:49.799 So when God starts judging me, 00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:50.940 then I'll believe. 00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:53.159 But it's foolish, isn't it? 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:54.039 It's too late. 00:25:56.659 --> 00:25:57.960 So God's giving them time. 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.299 It's a foolish logic, 00:26:00.440 --> 00:26:01.960 and perhaps we use it all the time, 00:26:02.019 --> 00:26:02.359 don't we? 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:04.819 We use it when we sit there, 00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.680 and we think, well, 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:09.000 there is this sin that frustrates me. 00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:10.440 There is this habit I have 00:26:10.440 --> 00:26:11.879 that I know God doesn't approve of, 00:26:11.980 --> 00:26:14.460 but I'll sort it out 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.919 when work isn't so stressful. 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.159 I'll sort it out 00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:18.200 when the kids have left home. 00:26:18.460 --> 00:26:19.680 I'll sort it out when I retire. 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:22.159 Where is the promise of this coming? 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:23.879 You shall not surely die. 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:27.079 It's that same false logic, 00:26:27.079 --> 00:26:28.859 the logic that gets my leg 00:26:28.859 --> 00:26:29.939 bitten off by a shark, 00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:31.839 the logic that leads to 00:26:31.839 --> 00:26:33.439 really a shaky ground 00:26:33.439 --> 00:26:34.480 for any confidence. 00:26:36.399 --> 00:26:37.500 And God is being patient 00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:39.179 with us, his church. 00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.980 As we use that logic 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:41.839 day after day, 00:26:41.939 --> 00:26:43.299 God is being patient with us. 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:45.359 He's waiting for us to repent. 00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:49.899 That's what Peter can say 00:26:49.899 --> 00:26:51.659 in verse 15. 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:54.060 This is not God's indifference 00:26:54.060 --> 00:26:54.580 towards you. 00:26:54.840 --> 00:26:56.180 This is not God's 00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:57.580 carelessness of you. 00:26:58.820 --> 00:27:00.820 It's not his lack of love for you. 00:27:01.660 --> 00:27:03.320 Verse 15. 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:05.600 Count the patience of our Lord 00:27:05.600 --> 00:27:06.220 as salvation. 00:27:07.300 --> 00:27:08.580 Count the patience of our Lord 00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:09.140 as salvation. 00:27:09.580 --> 00:27:10.800 You've got another day today. 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:12.420 You've got another day today. 00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:14.019 Count it as salvation. 00:27:14.840 --> 00:27:16.019 Because it allows you 00:27:16.019 --> 00:27:17.700 to turn away from those things 00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:19.040 that perhaps keep you from it. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:22.619 that perhaps 00:27:22.619 --> 00:27:23.799 you're not a Christian 00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.279 here tonight 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:26.359 and maybe you find 00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:27.879 the things of the Bible 00:27:27.879 --> 00:27:28.480 interesting. 00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:29.960 You've heard the gospel 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:32.119 and maybe very sensibly 00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:32.680 you're weighing up 00:27:32.680 --> 00:27:33.279 the probabilities. 00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.299 It's true. 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:37.099 If there probably is no God 00:27:37.099 --> 00:27:38.259 then what are we 00:27:38.259 --> 00:27:39.159 wasting our time for? 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.279 I would stress that 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:41.539 that probability is based 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:42.879 on a very poorly weighted dice. 00:27:43.159 --> 00:27:44.879 But the probabilities 00:27:44.879 --> 00:27:45.839 we might be weighing up, 00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.240 mightn't we? 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:48.420 If the gospel is true, 00:27:48.420 --> 00:27:50.640 if the word of God 00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.140 is true, 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.860 then frankly 00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:54.100 life's going to have to change. 00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.820 Perhaps you're weighing that up. 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.060 Well, 00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.720 can I encourage you 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.360 not to follow 00:27:58.360 --> 00:27:59.160 the fool's logic? 00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:01.200 There are lots of important things 00:28:01.200 --> 00:28:02.300 that you need to consider 00:28:02.300 --> 00:28:04.200 that Jesus has promised 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:05.420 he will return to judge. 00:28:06.420 --> 00:28:07.440 And when he comes back 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.740 it will be too late. 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:10.800 The test of 00:28:10.800 --> 00:28:12.640 I'll wait till he's judged me 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:14.380 is not good logic. 00:28:15.120 --> 00:28:15.900 Count the patience 00:28:15.900 --> 00:28:16.860 of the Lord 00:28:16.860 --> 00:28:17.480 of salvation. 00:28:17.740 --> 00:28:18.120 Today 00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:19.000 he has given us 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.720 time to repent. 00:28:22.120 --> 00:28:23.120 And to those of us 00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:24.420 who are Christians already 00:28:24.420 --> 00:28:26.200 I would encourage us 00:28:26.200 --> 00:28:27.180 to think about those things 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:28.100 that perhaps we put off 00:28:28.100 --> 00:28:28.660 dealing with. 00:28:29.700 --> 00:28:30.860 The specific sins, 00:28:30.980 --> 00:28:32.060 the sins we know about 00:28:32.060 --> 00:28:33.540 where we say 00:28:33.540 --> 00:28:33.900 well 00:28:33.900 --> 00:28:36.240 maybe I'll 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:37.600 continue in that one 00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:38.080 because God's 00:28:38.080 --> 00:28:38.900 let me off so far. 00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.540 It's a fool's logic 00:28:40.540 --> 00:28:40.900 isn't it? 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.500 We say to ourselves 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.380 don't we so often 00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:44.220 where is the promise 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:44.740 of his coming 00:28:44.740 --> 00:28:46.180 but we know 00:28:46.180 --> 00:28:47.100 God's word is true. 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:48.759 It's a fool's logic. 00:28:49.339 --> 00:28:50.180 But perhaps there are 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:51.740 more general things 00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.140 we've got. 00:28:53.100 --> 00:28:53.759 I don't know about you 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:54.460 I find myself 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.160 regularly saying 00:28:55.160 --> 00:28:56.140 well I see I'm not 00:28:56.140 --> 00:28:57.059 that godly this week. 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:58.880 Maybe next week. 00:28:59.299 --> 00:28:59.779 Or I say 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:01.660 well I'll have more time 00:29:01.660 --> 00:29:02.079 for God 00:29:02.079 --> 00:29:03.200 when I finish 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:04.180 these professional exams 00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.440 or I'll have more time 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:05.860 for God 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:07.400 when I've got the house 00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:08.880 or I'll have more time 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.299 for God 00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:10.180 perhaps when the children 00:29:10.180 --> 00:29:10.620 move out 00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:11.259 perhaps whatever. 00:29:11.259 --> 00:29:13.640 count the patience 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:14.119 of the Lord 00:29:14.119 --> 00:29:15.259 today as salvation. 00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:17.519 Today God calls us 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:17.839 to repent. 00:29:18.079 --> 00:29:19.440 Today God calls us 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:20.839 to worship him 00:29:20.839 --> 00:29:21.720 with all of our heart 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.559 and all of our mind 00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.240 and all of our soul. 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:26.079 Count the patience 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:26.599 of the Lord 00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:27.420 as salvation. 00:29:29.299 --> 00:29:30.440 Notice just before we close 00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:31.599 there are two words 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:33.379 in Peter's 00:29:33.379 --> 00:29:35.460 explanation here. 00:29:35.720 --> 00:29:36.799 The first one is patience. 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:38.400 It's a very important word 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:38.779 patience 00:29:38.779 --> 00:29:40.019 and it's an incredible word. 00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:41.259 The patience of God 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.279 is a glorious thing. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:43.539 I don't know if you've 00:29:43.539 --> 00:29:44.099 ever thought about it 00:29:44.099 --> 00:29:44.759 but patience 00:29:44.759 --> 00:29:46.000 is grace 00:29:46.000 --> 00:29:47.259 extended over time. 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.319 It's grace 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:49.240 that comes back 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:51.139 time and time again. 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:54.220 It's more than grace 00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.079 because it's grace 00:29:55.079 --> 00:29:55.819 that happens 00:29:55.819 --> 00:29:57.099 when we continue 00:29:57.099 --> 00:29:57.839 to mess up. 00:29:59.400 --> 00:30:00.359 It's the grace 00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:01.240 that's forgiven us 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.019 for every sin. 00:30:02.139 --> 00:30:02.539 It's the grace 00:30:02.539 --> 00:30:03.180 that's given us 00:30:03.180 --> 00:30:03.859 breath to live 00:30:03.859 --> 00:30:04.400 every day. 00:30:05.259 --> 00:30:06.200 Every day since 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:06.879 we've been born 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:07.579 we've been rebelling 00:30:07.579 --> 00:30:08.279 against God 00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:09.619 and yet God 00:30:09.619 --> 00:30:10.500 has given us grace. 00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:11.839 He's shown his patience 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.519 towards us. 00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:15.079 The patience of God 00:30:15.079 --> 00:30:15.980 is a glorious thing 00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:17.559 but notice that if 00:30:17.559 --> 00:30:18.859 patience goes on 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.180 forever 00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:20.079 then it's not patience 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.399 anymore. 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:22.359 There's a word for patience 00:30:22.359 --> 00:30:23.119 that goes on forever 00:30:23.119 --> 00:30:23.779 and that is 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:24.579 indifference. 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:26.460 If you keep on 00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:27.639 forgiving and forgiving 00:30:27.639 --> 00:30:28.160 and forgiving 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:29.039 with no end 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:30.700 then clearly 00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.700 you just don't care. 00:30:31.700 --> 00:30:35.140 imagine the parent 00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:36.160 around the dinner table 00:30:36.160 --> 00:30:37.340 and I don't know 00:30:37.340 --> 00:30:38.340 I'm not very 00:30:38.340 --> 00:30:39.180 I've never done 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:39.660 parenting 00:30:39.660 --> 00:30:41.340 but I've been a child 00:30:41.340 --> 00:30:41.880 and I've thrown 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:42.880 broccoli at my sister. 00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.400 Imagine the parent 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.279 at the dinner table 00:30:46.279 --> 00:30:46.980 and the child 00:30:46.980 --> 00:30:47.620 throws broccoli 00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:48.160 at the sister 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:49.140 and the parent says 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:49.400 well 00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:51.720 that's your first warning 00:30:51.720 --> 00:30:52.240 two more 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.539 and you're on the stairs 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:54.360 you're going up 00:30:54.360 --> 00:30:54.779 to your room 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:56.380 the child 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.039 throws the broccoli 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.440 again 00:30:57.440 --> 00:30:59.080 second warning 00:30:59.080 --> 00:31:00.220 that's patience 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:01.740 that's grace there 00:31:01.740 --> 00:31:03.259 second warning 00:31:03.259 --> 00:31:04.980 third warning 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:06.160 now there are two options 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:06.740 here aren't there 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:08.420 the third time 00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:10.059 the parent can either 00:31:10.059 --> 00:31:10.579 send them up 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.160 to their bedroom 00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:11.960 in which case 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.799 they've shown grace 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.120 throughout 00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:14.500 they've shown grace 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.140 and then they've shown 00:31:15.140 --> 00:31:15.700 judgment 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:17.559 so they've been patient 00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:18.620 or they can just say 00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:18.980 well 00:31:18.980 --> 00:31:20.620 yep you threw broccoli 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.160 at your sister 00:31:21.160 --> 00:31:22.700 never mind 00:31:22.700 --> 00:31:24.160 that's indifference 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.559 for patience 00:31:25.559 --> 00:31:26.339 to be glorious 00:31:26.339 --> 00:31:26.900 for patience 00:31:26.900 --> 00:31:28.019 to be really patient 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.920 it has to have an end 00:31:29.920 --> 00:31:31.640 and that's what we're told 00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:32.960 in verse 10 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.960 God's grace 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:35.019 comes back 00:31:35.019 --> 00:31:35.900 and back to us 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:37.220 but the day of the Lord 00:31:37.220 --> 00:31:38.700 will come like a thief 00:31:38.700 --> 00:31:39.720 and then the heavens 00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:40.600 will pass away 00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:41.240 with a roar 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.460 and the heavenly bodies 00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:43.380 will be burned up 00:31:43.380 --> 00:31:44.000 and dissolved 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:45.200 and the earth 00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:45.880 and the works 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:46.560 that are done on it 00:31:46.560 --> 00:31:47.700 will be exposed 00:31:47.700 --> 00:31:49.360 God's grace 00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:50.019 comes back to us 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:51.080 time and time again 00:31:51.080 --> 00:31:52.800 but there will be a day 00:31:52.800 --> 00:31:53.680 when that finishes 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.779 and you and I 00:31:54.779 --> 00:31:55.700 don't know when that is 00:31:55.700 --> 00:31:57.200 count the day 00:31:57.200 --> 00:31:58.120 count the patience 00:31:58.119 --> 00:31:58.839 of the Lord 00:31:58.839 --> 00:32:00.019 as salvation 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:01.899 as we're told elsewhere 00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:02.739 today is the day 00:32:02.739 --> 00:32:03.319 of salvation 00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:04.559 we don't know about 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:04.919 tomorrow 00:32:04.919 --> 00:32:06.199 we don't know about 00:32:06.199 --> 00:32:06.819 the day after 00:32:06.819 --> 00:32:08.000 and our God 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:09.579 isn't an indifferent God 00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:11.519 he's a just and a holy God 00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:13.459 a God who is truly patient 00:32:13.459 --> 00:32:15.699 secondly 00:32:15.699 --> 00:32:17.059 and finally 00:32:17.059 --> 00:32:17.599 notice 00:32:17.599 --> 00:32:19.219 what God is waiting for 00:32:19.219 --> 00:32:21.799 is God waiting 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:22.359 for holiness 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:23.619 no 00:32:23.619 --> 00:32:25.119 is he waiting 00:32:25.119 --> 00:32:26.000 for godliness 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.000 no 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.240 is he waiting 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:28.980 for perfection 00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:30.339 no not at all 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:33.599 the Lord is not slow 00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:34.799 to fulfill his promise 00:32:34.799 --> 00:32:35.759 as some counselors 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:36.559 but is patient 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.160 towards you 00:32:37.160 --> 00:32:38.359 not wishing that any 00:32:38.359 --> 00:32:38.920 should perish 00:32:38.920 --> 00:32:40.000 but that all should 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:40.759 reach repentance 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:42.579 the bar is set 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:43.900 as low as it could be 00:32:43.900 --> 00:32:45.740 God isn't waiting 00:32:45.740 --> 00:32:46.400 for us to have 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:47.319 sorted everything out 00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:48.359 he's not waiting 00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:49.400 for the finished article 00:32:49.400 --> 00:32:49.740 is he 00:32:49.740 --> 00:32:51.220 he's waiting for us 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.160 to be repentant 00:32:52.160 --> 00:32:53.559 for us to turn away 00:32:53.559 --> 00:32:54.279 from those sins 00:32:54.279 --> 00:32:55.200 even if we continue 00:32:55.200 --> 00:32:55.899 to mess up 00:32:55.899 --> 00:32:57.279 to turn away 00:32:57.279 --> 00:32:58.379 from the things 00:32:58.379 --> 00:32:58.940 that we love 00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.559 in the world 00:32:59.559 --> 00:33:01.240 which offend him 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:02.879 and to worship him 00:33:02.879 --> 00:33:03.279 instead 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:06.220 he's asking for a start 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:07.200 and not for the 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:07.920 finished article 00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:09.240 the bar is set 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:10.279 as low as it could be 00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.639 as one hymn writer 00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:12.119 puts it 00:33:12.119 --> 00:33:13.639 all the fitness 00:33:13.639 --> 00:33:14.740 he requireth 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:15.619 is to feel 00:33:15.619 --> 00:33:16.420 your need of him 00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.599 you don't need 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:18.279 anything else 00:33:18.279 --> 00:33:20.299 God's only waiting 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:21.480 for repentance 00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:23.500 we see that 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:23.839 don't we 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:24.660 reflects in 00:33:24.660 --> 00:33:25.460 Jesus' life 00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:28.059 Jesus came to us 00:33:28.059 --> 00:33:29.220 as a human 00:33:29.220 --> 00:33:30.720 God in human flesh 00:33:30.720 --> 00:33:32.460 and did he wait 00:33:32.460 --> 00:33:33.400 till people were perfect 00:33:33.400 --> 00:33:33.920 before he went 00:33:33.920 --> 00:33:34.480 to sleep with them 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:34.920 well no 00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:36.740 he ate with tax 00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.120 collectors 00:33:37.120 --> 00:33:37.839 and sinners 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:39.579 he spoke with 00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.299 prostitutes 00:33:40.299 --> 00:33:41.620 he made friends 00:33:41.620 --> 00:33:42.319 with the lowest 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:42.839 people 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:44.079 and he offered 00:33:44.079 --> 00:33:44.620 them forgiveness 00:33:44.620 --> 00:33:46.819 and while we were 00:33:46.819 --> 00:33:47.400 still sinners 00:33:47.400 --> 00:33:48.880 he died for us 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:50.480 God isn't waiting 00:33:50.480 --> 00:33:52.140 for us to be perfect 00:33:52.140 --> 00:33:53.500 don't hold back 00:33:53.500 --> 00:33:54.140 in coming to him 00:33:54.140 --> 00:33:54.680 because you think 00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.600 you're not the real deal 00:33:55.600 --> 00:33:56.260 you're not the finished 00:33:56.260 --> 00:33:56.880 article yet 00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:58.460 he's only waiting 00:33:58.460 --> 00:33:59.200 for repentance 00:33:59.200 --> 00:34:01.100 count the patience 00:34:01.100 --> 00:34:02.360 of our Lord 00:34:02.360 --> 00:34:03.680 as salvation 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:05.480 let me read 00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.040 as we close 00:34:06.040 --> 00:34:08.280 Peter's conclusion 00:34:08.280 --> 00:34:09.260 really 00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:10.619 in verses 11 00:34:10.619 --> 00:34:12.740 onwards 00:34:12.740 --> 00:34:14.039 since all these things 00:34:14.039 --> 00:34:14.920 are thus to be dissolved 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:16.099 what sort of people 00:34:16.099 --> 00:34:16.800 ought you to be 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:18.400 in lives of godliness 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:19.320 and holiness 00:34:19.320 --> 00:34:20.720 waiting for 00:34:20.720 --> 00:34:21.440 and hastening 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.920 the coming 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:22.980 of the day of our Lord 00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:24.599 because of which 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:25.260 the heavens will be 00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:25.900 set on fire 00:34:25.900 --> 00:34:26.480 and dissolved 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:27.579 and the heavenly bodies 00:34:27.579 --> 00:34:28.660 will melt as they burn 00:34:28.660 --> 00:34:30.559 but according to his promise 00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.920 we are waiting 00:34:31.920 --> 00:34:33.099 for a new heavens 00:34:33.099 --> 00:34:34.559 and a new earth 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:36.599 in which righteousness dwells 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:40.420 let's close together 00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:41.539 by affirming 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:42.119 and a new earth 00:34:42.119 --> 00:34:43.659 and a new earth 00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:43.659 00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:44.779 and a new earth 00:34:44.779 --> 00:34:46.460 and a new earth 00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:46.460 00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.199 and a new earth 00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:48.159 and a new earth 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.559 and a new earth 00:34:49.559 --> 00:34:50.639 and a new earth 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639 00:34:50.639 --> 00:34:50.639