WEBVTT

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 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church,

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 and it's my joy to bring God's Word to you today.

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 A special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. We're glad that you're here,

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 and we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats,

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 but because we're following Jesus together as one community, and as we follow Jesus together,

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 we become convinced there's no one so good they don't need God's grace,

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 and no one so bad they can't have it, which means that God has something to say to everyone in His Word.

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 He has something to say to people who have been Christians their entire lives.

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 He has something to say to those who have been Christians only for a short time,

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 and He has something to say to people who would not consider themselves Christians,

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 people who have doubts or questions or objections to Christianity,

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 and so it's for that reason that we turn every week to hear what God has to say to us in His Word.

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 We're continuing our series in 2 Peter, and you'll remember that 2 Peter is a letter written by a man named Peter.

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 He writes it to a church somewhere in the Roman Empire in the 60s A.D.,

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 and He writes it with one hope, one desire, that these people would grow.

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 We know that's His desire because that's how He both begins and ends the letter,

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 and He wants them to grow in two ways.

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 He wants them to grow in grace, and He wants them to grow in knowledge.

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 We've been discussing the false teachers since chapter 2 who are threatening both knowledge and grace,

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 and last week we looked at a question that we're going to continue this week.

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 It's the question that we receive in chapter 3, verses 3 and 4.

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 These false teachers, these scoffers, are asking,

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 why hasn't Jesus returned yet?

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 And since He hasn't returned yet, should we not doubt that He will ever return?

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 They're denying a variety of things in this book.

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 Remember, they deny the authority of the Bible.

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 They deny the reality that Jesus is coming again.

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 They use the denial of both of those to encourage people to live in sin, to celebrate sin.

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 And so last week we looked at that question,

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 why should we believe that Jesus is coming again?

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 And we believe it because of the signs.

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 And we had four signs.

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 The first and foundational one is that we believe in the Bible.

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 We believe that God's Word is our ultimate authority.

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 It is the match that lights.

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 And that was our foundation for the other signs.

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 The sign that God created the world.

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 He's so powerful.

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 And so, of course, He's going to be able to come back again.

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 The sign that He judged the world at the time of Noah.

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 And so, of course, He's going to be able to judge the world again.

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 And then finally, the fourth sign that He is, in fact, coming back.

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 We turn again to that question this week.

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 And Peter is going to give us some new answers to that question.

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 Some people believe the answers last week were answers directed to the scoffers, the false teachers.

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 And that these answers this week are directed to Christians, people who believe in the Bible,

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 but still need assurance that Jesus is, in fact, returning to this world.

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 Now, I'll warn you as we come to this passage.

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 We're in chapter 3, by the way, starting at verse 8.

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 We have some heavy sledding ahead of us.

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 So, there's some big theological topics we're going to have to cover.

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 To make sure we don't get off track, we're going to have a strategy heading in.

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 And our strategy is this.

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 We're going to focus primarily on verses 8 and 9,

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 because those are the verses that answer our question about Jesus' return.

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 We are going to touch on verse 10.

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 I am not going to talk about it in detail,

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 not because we're going to avoid it,

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 but because we want to do it full justice next week.

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 So, we'll look carefully at verses 8 and 9, a little bit at verse 10.

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 I haven't completely decided yet,

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 but I think we're probably going to spend two weeks in 10 through 14,

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 first focusing on Jesus' return,

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 and then second focusing on our lives of holiness.

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 With that, as we turn now together to God's word,

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 we are in 2 Peter chapter 3, starting at verse 8,

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 and I invite you to turn with me.

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 You can turn in your worship guide, or in your Bible, or in your phone.

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 No matter where you turn, remember that this is God's word.

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 And Proverbs chapter 30, verse 5,

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 tells us that every word of God proves true.

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 He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

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 And so, that's why we read now, starting at verse 8.

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 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved,

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 that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years,

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 and a thousand years as one day.

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 The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise,

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 as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,

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 not wishing that any should perish,

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 but that all should reach repentance.

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 Verse 10.

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 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,

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 and then the heavens will pass away with a roar,

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 and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved,

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 and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

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 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word.

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 Our Father in heaven, we thank you again,

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 that you have given us your word as a gift,

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 that you are a good father,

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 and so you haven't left us alone as orphans in a merciless universe,

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 but instead you speak to us.

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 And so we simply ask this morning that you would do that,

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 you would speak to us in your word.

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 You'd speak us words of encouragement,

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 and you'd speak us words of challenge,

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 and most of all, you would remind us of the grace that you offer

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 in your Son and our Savior,

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 in whose name we pray, the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

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 Amen.

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 Growing up, I was a huge fan of the TV show The West Wing.

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 I grew up right outside Washington, D.C.,

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 and so I had a lot of exposure to politics,

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 and I loved the fun of the show,

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 the wonderful banter that they had,

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 and it was known for the camera angles,

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 the walk and talk that the show is famous for,

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 and of course now people look back to The West Wing with longing

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 because it was an idealistic show,

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 and it showed us what politics could potentially be,

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 and as our country becomes more and more divisive,

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 the world that The West Wing portrayed

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 seems farther and farther away.

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 If you're familiar with the show,

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 you know the character, Leo McGarry,

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 who for most of the show is the chief of staff to the president,

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 but when we get to season seven,

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 Leo actually has the chance to run for vice president,

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 and so as he's running,

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 he has a media consultant helping him to deal with the press,

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 and his consultant reminds him,

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 if you receive a question,

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 and you don't like the question,

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 one of your options is just to reject the premise of the question.

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 Just decide you disagree with everything they've assumed before they asked it.

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 And of course I could give you a few examples of that today.

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 I could walk up to you and I could ask you,

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 what did you eat for breakfast?

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 What's my premise?

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 My premise is that you ate breakfast.

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 You could tell me,

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 I didn't eat breakfast.

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 You've rejected the premise of my question.

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 I could ask you,

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 what is your favorite kind of bread?

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 My premise,

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 you eat bread.

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 You could tell me,

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 you know what,

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 I reject the premise of your question.

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 I'm gluten free.

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 That is what Peter does here for these people

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 as they ask about why Jesus has not come back.

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 Where is the promise of his coming?

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 Verses three and four,

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 Peter rejects the premise of his question.

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 Your premise is this,

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 it has been a long time since Jesus went up to heaven.

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 But you know what?

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 I reject the assumption that it's been a long time.

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 I reject your definition of long.

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 Why?

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 Because verse eight,

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 God has a different view and experience of time

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 than you do.

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 His relationship with time is very different.

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 Now this raises all kinds of philosophical,

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 theological questions about God and time.

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 We are not gonna resolve all of those this morning.

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 And in fact,

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 when we get to questions like this,

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 we are in very deep waters.

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 And so it's important that we're very careful

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 about the way we talk about it

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 and what we articulate.

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 We don't wanna say more than what the Bible says.

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 We don't wanna get ourselves tied up into knots

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 we can't untangle.

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 And so I'm gonna rely this morning on one theologian

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 who lists four different ways the Bible tells us

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 that God's relationship to time

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 is different than our relationship to time.

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 He tells us this,

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 God's relation to time is very different from our own.

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 For the biblical God transcends a number of limitations

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 associated with our experience of temporality.

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 Now I'm gonna give you all four.

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 You don't have to remember all of these

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 because this verse only focuses

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 on one of our differences with God.

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 First of all,

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 God does not experience what he calls

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 the limitation of beginning and end.

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 We have a beginning and an end,

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 God does not.

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 God does not experience the limitation of change.

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 As we experience time,

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 we change throughout it.

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 God does not.

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 God does not experience the limitation of ignorance.

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 God knows perfectly what to us are past,

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 present, and future,

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 seeing them in effect with equal vividness.

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 He does see all events laid out before him

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 as one can see an entire procession

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 from a high vantage point.

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 I'm gonna read that last part again.

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 He does see all events laid out before him

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 as one can see an entire procession

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 from a high vantage point.

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 So we get a sense of God's experience of time.

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 He can see past, present, and future all at once.

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 And then finally,

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 this is the difference we're talking about this morning,

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 the limitation of temporal frustration.

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 In other words,

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 as this theologian explains it,

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 things don't happen too quickly for God

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 and they don't happen too slowly for God.

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 They happen sometimes too quickly for us,

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 sometimes too slowly for us.

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 Everything happens perfectly for God

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 according to his plan.

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 And so we must recognize God as Lord in time

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 as well as Lord above time.

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 God's relationship to time is different than ours.

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 Peter rejects the premise of the question.

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 It has been a long time

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 only from your human, earthly perspective.

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 It has not been a long time

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 from God's perspective.

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 The point is this.

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 As we come to the Bible

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 with large and tough questions,

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 we have to remember

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 how finite and small and limited we are.

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 There are things that appear difficult

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 and challenging to us

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 because, as the Psalms tell us,

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 we are only dust.

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 And so we remember that

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 as we come up against

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 hard and difficult questions,

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 feeling like it has been too long

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 since Jesus left.

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 God and his purposes

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 are much greater than anything

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 we can understand and see.

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 He sees all of time.

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 We only see a portion.

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 And so it's this fact

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 that God is so much greater than us

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 that causes some of our frustrations.

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 The limitation is not God's but ours.

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 This is part of why we have trouble

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 talking about certain theological concepts.

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 Just think about this for a second.

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 The Bible doesn't answer

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 all of our questions.

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 And even when it does,

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 we have hard time understanding.

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 The Trinity, for example.

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 God is three persons in one.

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 Why is that so hard to understand?

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 Because there's nothing else

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 that we experience

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 that's three in one.

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 We don't have another point of reference.

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 Not because God is limited,

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 because we are limited.

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 So that's why all illustrations

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 about the Trinity fail.

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 The Trinity is not like an egg, okay?

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 The egg is not three in one.

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 There is no other thing

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 that is three persons in one,

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 so it's difficult for us to understand.

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 Eternity, challenging for us to understand.

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 Not because God is limited,

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 but because we are limited.

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 We have no frame of reference

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 for something that never ends

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 and doesn't have a beginning.

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 Why?

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 Because we have a beginning

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 and an end.

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 So the Bible does not tell us

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 everything that we want to know.

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 Even the things it tells us

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 are difficult to understand.

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 That is not God's fault.

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 God's purposes, His plan,

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 His designs are far greater

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 and more wonderful

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 than we can understand and imagine.

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 We have to remember

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 the greatness of God

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 and the smallness of man

00:12:38.800 --> 00:12:39.380
 when we come up

00:12:39.380 --> 00:12:40.520
 against questions like this.

00:12:40.519 --> 00:12:41.720
 Isaiah chapter 55

00:12:41.720 --> 00:12:43.259
 spells it out for us clearly.

00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:44.539
 God tells them,

00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:46.159
 My thoughts are not your thoughts.

00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:49.340
 Neither are your ways my ways,

00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:50.439
 declares the Lord.

00:12:50.539 --> 00:12:51.279
 For as the heavens

00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:52.480
 are higher than the earth,

00:12:53.019 --> 00:12:55.079
 so are my ways higher than your ways

00:12:55.079 --> 00:12:57.279
 and my thoughts than your thoughts.

00:12:58.740 --> 00:13:00.120
 Deuteronomy 29, 29

00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:01.220
 tells us something similar.

00:13:01.319 --> 00:13:01.539
 It says,

00:13:01.639 --> 00:13:03.439
 The secret things belong to the Lord.

00:13:03.939 --> 00:13:04.779
 God doesn't choose

00:13:04.779 --> 00:13:06.259
 to reveal everything to us.

00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:08.679
 We shouldn't expect Him to, right?

00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:10.620
 You don't reveal everything

00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:11.879
 about yourself to everyone.

00:13:12.720 --> 00:13:14.340
 Why would you expect God

00:13:14.340 --> 00:13:15.500
 to be any different?

00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.559
 And so God is so great,

00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:22.720
 He has such a different perspective

00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:23.939
 on the world

00:13:23.939 --> 00:13:28.419
 that He does not see slowness

00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:29.659
 in the same way that we do.

00:13:30.059 --> 00:13:31.259
 Remember in the book of Job,

00:13:31.580 --> 00:13:32.779
 Job has all these complaints

00:13:32.779 --> 00:13:33.460
 against God,

00:13:33.460 --> 00:13:35.280
 and then in chapters 38 through 41,

00:13:35.460 --> 00:13:36.320
 God comes back

00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:38.840
 and in those three, four chapters,

00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:39.800
 He basically says,

00:13:40.280 --> 00:13:41.160
 I'm God, you're not.

00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:41.900
 Who do you think you are?

00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:45.480
 I am much higher than you are.

00:13:45.580 --> 00:13:46.360
 There are things

00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:48.400
 you cannot understand.

00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:52.120
 And so that's Peter's

00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:54.040
 first answer for us here

00:13:54.040 --> 00:13:55.660
 about why Jesus hasn't come back.

00:13:56.300 --> 00:13:57.500
 He says basically this,

00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:59.820
 You think it's been a long time.

00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:01.519
 From God's perspective,

00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:02.519
 it has not.

00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:06.860
 His ways are higher than your ways

00:14:06.860 --> 00:14:10.160
 as the heavens are above the earth.

00:14:11.100 --> 00:14:12.300
 Have some humility.

00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:18.280
 Now we could come back

00:14:18.280 --> 00:14:19.139
 at this point, right?

00:14:19.160 --> 00:14:19.560
 And we could say,

00:14:19.660 --> 00:14:21.600
 Okay, you've rejected

00:14:21.600 --> 00:14:23.000
 the premise of my question.

00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:25.480
 However you define slowness,

00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:27.420
 let's just take that word out,

00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.460
 there's still been

00:14:29.460 --> 00:14:30.879
 so many generations.

00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:32.539
 Let's talk in terms of generations, right?

00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:33.939
 So we won't argue about premises,

00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:35.100
 we'll just say a fact.

00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:36.779
 There's been a lot of generations

00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:38.399
 since Jesus has come.

00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:40.659
 Why has He taken

00:14:40.659 --> 00:14:42.200
 so many generations

00:14:42.200 --> 00:14:43.740
 to return?

00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.620
 This is where Peter

00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:47.179
 gives us our second answer.

00:14:47.340 --> 00:14:48.240
 It's not just that

00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:49.799
 God has a different relationship

00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:50.419
 with time.

00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:52.379
 He rejects the premise again

00:14:52.379 --> 00:14:53.779
 here in verse 9.

00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:55.460
 God is not slow,

00:14:55.580 --> 00:14:56.379
 He tells us,

00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:57.419
 but patient.

00:14:58.700 --> 00:15:00.019
 He's not slow,

00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:01.759
 He's patient.

00:15:04.840 --> 00:15:06.039
 And we see this

00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:07.820
 as a character of God

00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:08.600
 throughout the Bible.

00:15:08.759 --> 00:15:09.720
 It's often talked about

00:15:09.720 --> 00:15:11.259
 as His forbearance.

00:15:11.980 --> 00:15:13.799
 God takes a long time

00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:15.299
 before He brings judgment.

00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.740
 That is part of what it means

00:15:16.740 --> 00:15:17.399
 to be God.

00:15:17.779 --> 00:15:18.379
 God delays,

00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:18.980
 delays,

00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:21.000
 He waits

00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:23.059
 to give people

00:15:23.059 --> 00:15:24.059
 a chance to repent.

00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:24.879
 He waits

00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:25.879
 because He's patient.

00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:27.639
 It's not that He's inactive.

00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:29.899
 It's that His character

00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:30.659
 is such

00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:32.139
 that He wants people

00:15:32.139 --> 00:15:33.439
 to have a chance

00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:34.399
 to repent.

00:15:34.620 --> 00:15:35.080
 We're told this

00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:36.139
 both in the New Testament

00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:37.379
 and in the Old Testament.

00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.120
 In the New Testament,

00:15:38.220 --> 00:15:39.299
 in Romans chapter 2,

00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:40.279
 verse 4,

00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:41.080
 we're told this,

00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:42.820
 Do you presume

00:15:42.820 --> 00:15:43.639
 on the riches

00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:44.600
 of His kindness

00:15:44.600 --> 00:15:45.519
 and forbearance

00:15:45.519 --> 00:15:46.019
 and patience,

00:15:46.179 --> 00:15:46.879
 not knowing

00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:48.559
 that God's kindness

00:15:48.559 --> 00:15:49.720
 is meant to lead you

00:15:49.720 --> 00:15:50.320
 to repentance?

00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:52.879
 God is waiting

00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:54.159
 for Jesus to return

00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:55.460
 to allow people

00:15:55.460 --> 00:15:56.080
 to repent.

00:15:57.439 --> 00:15:58.740
 We're told this as well

00:15:58.740 --> 00:15:59.299
 in descriptions

00:15:59.299 --> 00:16:00.240
 of God's character

00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.059
 in the Old Testament.

00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:02.039
 Exodus 34,

00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:02.740
 verse 6,

00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:03.320
 tells us

00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:04.720
 that God passed

00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:05.240
 before Him

00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:05.820
 and proclaimed,

00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:06.399
 The Lord,

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:06.879
 the Lord,

00:16:06.960 --> 00:16:07.779
 a God merciful

00:16:07.779 --> 00:16:08.360
 and gracious,

00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:11.080
 slow to anger

00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:13.139
 and abounding

00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:14.340
 in steadfast love

00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.320
 and faithfulness.

00:16:16.299 --> 00:16:16.840
 And if you were

00:16:16.840 --> 00:16:18.280
 with us last spring,

00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:18.840
 near the end,

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.340
 you'll remember

00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:19.780
 that we went

00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:20.200
 through the book

00:16:20.200 --> 00:16:20.740
 of Jonah.

00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:22.820
 Jonah has a complaint

00:16:22.820 --> 00:16:23.759
 against God.

00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:24.820
 Chapter 4,

00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:25.820
 verse 2,

00:16:27.139 --> 00:16:27.899
 O Lord,

00:16:28.220 --> 00:16:28.960
 is not this

00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:29.519
 what I said

00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:30.139
 when I was yet

00:16:30.139 --> 00:16:30.960
 in my country?

00:16:31.480 --> 00:16:32.040
 That is why

00:16:32.040 --> 00:16:32.740
 I made haste

00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.780
 to flee to Tarshish,

00:16:34.160 --> 00:16:35.000
 for I knew

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.580
 that you are

00:16:35.580 --> 00:16:36.720
 a gracious God

00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.560
 and merciful,

00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:39.759
 slow to anger,

00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.300
 abounding

00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:42.460
 in steadfast love

00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:43.280
 and relenting

00:16:43.280 --> 00:16:44.460
 from disaster.

00:16:44.460 --> 00:16:47.120
 Jonah was angry

00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:47.780
 with God

00:16:47.780 --> 00:16:49.120
 because he held

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:50.040
 back his judgment

00:16:50.040 --> 00:16:50.759
 on Nineveh

00:16:50.759 --> 00:16:51.840
 to give them

00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:53.400
 time to repent.

00:16:54.900 --> 00:16:55.360
 Now,

00:16:55.400 --> 00:16:56.200
 we've talked also

00:16:56.200 --> 00:16:56.720
 a lot about

00:16:56.720 --> 00:16:57.660
 the story of Noah,

00:16:57.780 --> 00:16:58.620
 both in 1 Peter

00:16:58.620 --> 00:16:59.600
 and in 2 Peter.

00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:00.420
 Remember,

00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:01.900
 Noah spent years

00:17:01.900 --> 00:17:02.600
 and years

00:17:02.600 --> 00:17:03.300
 and years

00:17:03.300 --> 00:17:04.140
 building the ark.

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:04.720
 We found out

00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:06.140
 earlier in this book,

00:17:06.500 --> 00:17:07.259
 in chapter 2,

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:08.059
 that he was a herald

00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:08.660
 of righteousness.

00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:09.500
 And so,

00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.200
 even as God

00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:10.740
 was bringing

00:17:10.740 --> 00:17:11.299
 the judgment

00:17:11.299 --> 00:17:12.360
 that we saw last week,

00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:12.819
 the judgment

00:17:12.819 --> 00:17:13.500
 of the flood,

00:17:14.159 --> 00:17:14.659
 he was slow

00:17:14.659 --> 00:17:15.099
 to anger.

00:17:15.459 --> 00:17:16.439
 He had forbearance.

00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:17.240
 He gave people

00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:19.000
 years to repent.

00:17:20.019 --> 00:17:21.659
 He was not slow,

00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:23.419
 he was patient.

00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:25.959
 And so,

00:17:26.079 --> 00:17:26.839
 once again,

00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:28.379
 Peter here

00:17:28.379 --> 00:17:29.159
 is rejecting

00:17:29.159 --> 00:17:30.000
 the premise

00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:31.339
 of the question.

00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:31.939
 Yes,

00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.000
 God brought judgment

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.059
 in the days of Noah.

00:17:34.259 --> 00:17:35.519
 He was also patient.

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.159
 He also waited.

00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.859
 He gave time

00:17:38.859 --> 00:17:39.839
 for people

00:17:39.839 --> 00:17:40.899
 to repent.

00:17:43.179 --> 00:17:43.579
 Now,

00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:44.000
 I told you

00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.539
 we had some

00:17:44.539 --> 00:17:45.859
 heavy sledding

00:17:45.859 --> 00:17:46.919
 theologically today.

00:17:47.079 --> 00:17:47.399
 One of them

00:17:47.399 --> 00:17:48.299
 is God's relationship

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:48.879
 to time.

00:17:49.399 --> 00:17:49.879
 One of them

00:17:49.879 --> 00:17:51.240
 is this next portion

00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.199
 of verse 9,

00:17:52.599 --> 00:17:53.220
 which has caused

00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:54.359
 great controversy.

00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:55.619
 It tells us here

00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:56.019
 we're going to take

00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.639
 a little bit

00:17:56.639 --> 00:17:57.439
 of a detour here

00:17:57.439 --> 00:17:58.480
 to address this section.

00:17:59.099 --> 00:17:59.699
 Not wishing,

00:17:59.819 --> 00:18:00.359
 this is the end

00:18:00.359 --> 00:18:00.919
 of verse 9,

00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:01.519
 not wishing

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:02.720
 that any should perish,

00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.639
 but that all

00:18:03.639 --> 00:18:04.480
 should reach repentance.

00:18:05.619 --> 00:18:06.439
 What do we do

00:18:06.439 --> 00:18:06.939
 with the fact

00:18:06.939 --> 00:18:07.599
 that we're told

00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.559
 that God wants

00:18:08.559 --> 00:18:10.059
 all to reach repentance?

00:18:11.679 --> 00:18:12.679
 And we know

00:18:12.679 --> 00:18:13.119
 that all

00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:14.079
 don't reach repentance.

00:18:14.919 --> 00:18:15.779
 Does God,

00:18:15.899 --> 00:18:16.740
 this is the question,

00:18:16.899 --> 00:18:18.399
 somehow lack power?

00:18:18.500 --> 00:18:19.019
 Is he somehow

00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.879
 unable to bring

00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.879
 about what he wishes?

00:18:23.139 --> 00:18:23.720
 And this is something

00:18:23.720 --> 00:18:24.500
 people have spilled

00:18:24.500 --> 00:18:25.359
 an enormous amount

00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:26.000
 of ink over

00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.819
 to try to resolve.

00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.539
 I'm going to explain

00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.139
 it to you this morning

00:18:29.139 --> 00:18:29.740
 what I hope

00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:30.759
 will make it simple,

00:18:30.879 --> 00:18:31.700
 which is by way

00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.700
 of an analogy,

00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:33.519
 because I think

00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.519
 what makes this difficult

00:18:34.519 --> 00:18:35.339
 is the fact

00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:35.980
 that it's related

00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.700
 to salvation.

00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:36.819
 salvation.

00:18:37.900 --> 00:18:38.880
 We understand

00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:39.819
 this intuitively,

00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:40.440
 actually,

00:18:40.620 --> 00:18:41.299
 when it comes

00:18:41.299 --> 00:18:42.259
 to other things

00:18:42.259 --> 00:18:42.980
 that God wishes.

00:18:43.140 --> 00:18:43.539
 So I want you

00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:43.860
 to think about

00:18:43.860 --> 00:18:44.600
 the Ten Commandments

00:18:44.600 --> 00:18:44.980
 with me.

00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:46.940
 We have the Sixth Commandment,

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:47.880
 which is don't murder.

00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:50.340
 Does God wish

00:18:50.340 --> 00:18:50.940
 that no one

00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:51.440
 should murder?

00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:54.779
 Yeah, of course.

00:18:54.840 --> 00:18:55.799
 It's the Sixth Commandment.

00:18:55.860 --> 00:18:56.440
 He's commanded

00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:57.059
 don't murder.

00:18:58.660 --> 00:18:59.680
 Do people murder?

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.700
 Yes, people sin.

00:19:02.700 --> 00:19:03.759
 We live in a sinful world.

00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:05.019
 People don't always

00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.079
 do what God commands.

00:19:06.920 --> 00:19:07.920
 No one's having

00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.960
 a debate about that.

00:19:09.339 --> 00:19:10.180
 We understand

00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:11.059
 that God commands

00:19:11.059 --> 00:19:12.039
 things on the one hand,

00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:13.220
 and people don't always

00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.519
 follow it on the other hand.

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.180
 Take that understanding,

00:19:16.819 --> 00:19:17.599
 transfer it over

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:18.279
 to salvation.

00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:19.839
 Jesus commands,

00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:20.799
 Mark chapter 1,

00:19:20.859 --> 00:19:21.500
 verse 15,

00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:22.839
 repent and believe

00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:23.319
 the gospel.

00:19:24.440 --> 00:19:25.859
 Not everyone repents

00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:26.839
 and believes the gospel.

00:19:27.720 --> 00:19:28.379
 Of course,

00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:28.900
 he wishes

00:19:28.900 --> 00:19:29.680
 that all repent.

00:19:29.819 --> 00:19:30.920
 That's his command.

00:19:30.920 --> 00:19:31.720
 He wishes

00:19:31.720 --> 00:19:32.500
 that all would repent

00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.839
 in the same way

00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:35.000
 that he's commanded

00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:35.699
 and wishes

00:19:35.699 --> 00:19:36.619
 there will be no murder.

00:19:37.519 --> 00:19:38.819
 It does not mean

00:19:38.819 --> 00:19:40.279
 that God lacks power.

00:19:40.959 --> 00:19:41.899
 It means

00:19:41.899 --> 00:19:42.439
 that God

00:19:42.439 --> 00:19:43.579
 has given commands,

00:19:44.199 --> 00:19:45.299
 and because of sin

00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:46.019
 in the world,

00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:47.539
 man often fails

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.220
 to follow them.

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.079
 God's commanded

00:19:49.079 --> 00:19:49.839
 people not murder,

00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.679
 people still murder.

00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:51.759
 God has commanded

00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:52.899
 everyone to repent,

00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.399
 not everyone repents.

00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.619
 And so it's not

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.919
 a problem for us

00:19:57.919 --> 00:19:59.039
 that we're told

00:19:59.039 --> 00:20:00.339
 that God desires

00:20:00.339 --> 00:20:02.359
 everyone's salvation.

00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:03.639
 not wishing

00:20:03.639 --> 00:20:04.079
 that anyone

00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:04.659
 should perish.

00:20:05.059 --> 00:20:06.159
 In the same way,

00:20:06.679 --> 00:20:07.139
 he commands

00:20:07.139 --> 00:20:07.740
 no one should murder.

00:20:07.839 --> 00:20:08.399
 In the same way,

00:20:08.479 --> 00:20:09.119
 seventh commandment,

00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:09.519
 he commands

00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:09.959
 no one should

00:20:09.959 --> 00:20:10.619
 commit adultery.

00:20:10.959 --> 00:20:11.699
 In the same way,

00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:12.439
 the tenth commandment,

00:20:12.459 --> 00:20:12.879
 he commands

00:20:12.879 --> 00:20:13.599
 no one should covet.

00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:15.119
 This is how

00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:15.879
 the world works.

00:20:16.679 --> 00:20:17.559
 But when it comes

00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:18.259
 to salvation,

00:20:18.419 --> 00:20:18.759
 it becomes

00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:19.779
 this difficult issue.

00:20:19.919 --> 00:20:20.219
 We just need

00:20:20.219 --> 00:20:21.399
 to take our understanding

00:20:21.399 --> 00:20:22.459
 from everything else

00:20:22.459 --> 00:20:22.939
 in the world

00:20:22.939 --> 00:20:23.479
 when it comes

00:20:23.479 --> 00:20:24.359
 to God and his commands

00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:25.299
 and transfer it over.

00:20:25.699 --> 00:20:26.279
 That's something

00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:27.439
 I believe all sides

00:20:27.439 --> 00:20:27.939
 of this argument

00:20:27.939 --> 00:20:28.899
 can agree about, right?

00:20:28.919 --> 00:20:29.819
 We can all agree,

00:20:30.259 --> 00:20:31.240
 whether you're an Arminian

00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.099
 or a Calvinist,

00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.319
 whether you're a dispensationalist,

00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:34.440
 you believe in covenant theology,

00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.680
 you know how the world works.

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:37.120
 You know God commands things.

00:20:37.420 --> 00:20:38.380
 Not everyone obeys them.

00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:40.700
 Same thing is going on here.

00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:42.160
 Okay?

00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:45.740
 That is our theological

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:47.339
 heavy sledding for the day.

00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:48.779
 And I'll point out also

00:20:48.779 --> 00:20:49.579
 that Peter knows

00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:50.279
 this is true.

00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.559
 He's aware of this

00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:52.240
 when he says it

00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:53.539
 because he's already told us

00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.240
 multiple times

00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.920
 that God is going

00:20:54.920 --> 00:20:55.680
 to judge the wicked.

00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:57.880
 So he tells us

00:20:57.880 --> 00:20:58.840
 on the one hand

00:20:58.840 --> 00:20:59.840
 God wishes all

00:20:59.840 --> 00:21:00.519
 to be saved,

00:21:00.620 --> 00:21:01.420
 all to reach repentance,

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.580
 and he knows

00:21:02.580 --> 00:21:03.420
 they're not going to.

00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:04.299
 So we see things

00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:06.580
 like 2 Peter 2, verse 1,

00:21:06.660 --> 00:21:07.279
 the false teachers

00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:08.700
 are bringing upon themselves

00:21:08.700 --> 00:21:10.120
 swift destruction.

00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.920
 They're not going to repent.

00:21:13.060 --> 00:21:14.640
 2 Peter 3, verse 7,

00:21:14.980 --> 00:21:15.640
 we know the day

00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:16.779
 of judgment is coming.

00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:17.799
 What will happen?

00:21:17.900 --> 00:21:18.620
 The destruction

00:21:18.620 --> 00:21:20.080
 of the ungodly.

00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.860
 This is often

00:21:21.860 --> 00:21:22.660
 what's talked about

00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.360
 in theology

00:21:23.360 --> 00:21:24.700
 as God's two wills.

00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:25.440
 He has his

00:21:25.440 --> 00:21:27.660
 variety of terms for it.

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.279
 Some people call it

00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:29.100
 his decretive will

00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:30.759
 or his preceptive will,

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.620
 what he's declared

00:21:31.620 --> 00:21:32.740
 like the Ten Commandments,

00:21:33.180 --> 00:21:33.740
 and his secret

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.380
 or hidden will,

00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:35.019
 what he's actually

00:21:35.019 --> 00:21:35.759
 foreordained

00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:37.799
 to come to pass.

00:21:38.980 --> 00:21:40.380
 The purpose, however,

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.279
 of all this

00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.340
 is not

00:21:42.340 --> 00:21:43.420
 that we would

00:21:43.420 --> 00:21:45.500
 untie theological knots

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.160
 and have

00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:46.720
 a wonderful

00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.039
 intellectual exercise,

00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:48.980
 but instead

00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:50.880
 that we would know

00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:52.299
 God's heart.

00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:55.919
 God has not

00:21:55.919 --> 00:21:57.000
 yet returned,

00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.220
 not because

00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.139
 he is inactive,

00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.079
 but because

00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.980
 of his love.

00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.819
 God has not

00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:04.480
 returned

00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.200
 because,

00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.079
 as we're told

00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:07.599
 in Ezekiel chapter 18,

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:09.159
 I have no pleasure

00:22:09.159 --> 00:22:10.000
 in the death

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:10.599
 of anyone,

00:22:10.740 --> 00:22:11.799
 declares the Lord God.

00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:12.960
 So turn

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:13.740
 and live.

00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:17.200
 you long,

00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:17.940
 Christian,

00:22:18.900 --> 00:22:20.460
 for people

00:22:20.460 --> 00:22:21.160
 and your family,

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:21.680
 your friends

00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.620
 who don't know Christ

00:22:22.620 --> 00:22:23.220
 to come

00:22:23.220 --> 00:22:24.339
 and to know him.

00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:27.180
 How much

00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:27.859
 more

00:22:27.859 --> 00:22:28.980
 has Christ

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.460
 suffered

00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.039
 for the sake

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.559
 of the world?

00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:32.819
 How much

00:22:32.819 --> 00:22:33.120
 more

00:22:33.120 --> 00:22:34.359
 has he hurt

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:36.200
 for people

00:22:36.200 --> 00:22:36.980
 to come to him?

00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:38.620
 He

00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:39.880
 is patient

00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:41.200
 because of his love.

00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:42.279
 It is not

00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:42.759
 that God

00:22:42.759 --> 00:22:43.500
 has forgotten

00:22:43.500 --> 00:22:43.920
 us,

00:22:44.120 --> 00:22:44.620
 that he does

00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.259
 not return,

00:22:45.360 --> 00:22:46.259
 quite the opposite.

00:22:46.759 --> 00:22:47.140
 We're told

00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:47.980
 in 2 Corinthians

00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.740
 chapter 5

00:22:48.740 --> 00:22:49.360
 that he was

00:22:49.360 --> 00:22:50.000
 working to

00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:50.539
 reconcile

00:22:50.539 --> 00:22:51.240
 the world

00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:51.980
 to himself.

00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.180
 His patience

00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.259
 is part

00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:55.600
 of that.

00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.620
 In fact,

00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:58.880
 I want you

00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.259
 to think about

00:22:59.259 --> 00:23:00.860
 it in this way.

00:23:00.900 --> 00:23:01.140
 If you're

00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:01.620
 a Christian,

00:23:02.700 --> 00:23:03.620
 God's patience

00:23:03.620 --> 00:23:04.640
 has been

00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:05.340
 undoubtedly

00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:06.600
 for us.

00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:08.580
 Think about,

00:23:08.840 --> 00:23:09.500
 thought experiment,

00:23:09.779 --> 00:23:10.240
 if Jesus

00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:10.980
 had returned,

00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.440
 when the

00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:11.819
 recipients

00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.380
 of this

00:23:12.380 --> 00:23:12.720
 letter

00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:13.519
 wanted him

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:13.799
 to.

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:15.079
 What would

00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:15.440
 that mean

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:15.900
 for you?

00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.400
 You

00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.039
 would not

00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:19.519
 be in

00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:19.860
 God's

00:23:19.860 --> 00:23:20.140
 kingdom

00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:21.319
 if he

00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:21.440
 had

00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:21.960
 returned

00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:23.079
 in 75

00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:23.500
 AD.

00:23:25.380 --> 00:23:25.940
 God's

00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:26.339
 patience

00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.000
 is good

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.440
 news for

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:27.960
 you if

00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:28.099
 you're

00:23:28.099 --> 00:23:28.539
 a Christian.

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:29.519
 His

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:29.980
 patience

00:23:29.980 --> 00:23:30.640
 means that

00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:31.360
 he brought

00:23:31.360 --> 00:23:32.339
 you into

00:23:32.339 --> 00:23:32.980
 his kingdom.

00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:34.680
 And so,

00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:35.400
 it is good

00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:35.680
 news.

00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:36.259
 If you

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:36.900
 are not

00:23:36.900 --> 00:23:37.460
 a Christian,

00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.620
 perhaps

00:23:39.619 --> 00:23:40.500
 God's

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:40.959
 patience

00:23:40.959 --> 00:23:41.739
 is for

00:23:41.739 --> 00:23:42.099
 you.

00:23:43.939 --> 00:23:44.419
 His

00:23:44.419 --> 00:23:44.959
 patience

00:23:44.959 --> 00:23:46.139
 is giving

00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:47.159
 you time

00:23:47.159 --> 00:23:47.939
 to repent.

00:23:48.939 --> 00:23:49.679
 If you

00:23:49.679 --> 00:23:50.339
 do not,

00:23:50.579 --> 00:23:51.079
 you will

00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:51.659
 not be able

00:23:51.659 --> 00:23:52.059
 to say

00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.519
 you didn't

00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.079
 have time.

00:23:54.659 --> 00:23:55.379
 If you

00:23:55.379 --> 00:23:55.819
 do not,

00:23:55.919 --> 00:23:56.159
 you will

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:56.779
 not be able

00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:57.439
 to say

00:23:57.439 --> 00:23:58.239
 that no

00:23:58.239 --> 00:23:59.119
 one told

00:23:59.119 --> 00:23:59.359
 you.

00:24:00.479 --> 00:24:00.899
 We've

00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:01.279
 talked about

00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:01.819
 this a lot

00:24:01.819 --> 00:24:02.579
 in previous

00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:03.319
 chapters because

00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.119
 this is a

00:24:04.119 --> 00:24:04.839
 theme in

00:24:04.839 --> 00:24:05.419
 2 Peter.

00:24:05.420 --> 00:24:06.240
 no one

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.759
 knows the

00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.240
 day or

00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:07.800
 the hour

00:24:07.800 --> 00:24:08.100
 of the

00:24:08.100 --> 00:24:08.519
 coming of

00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:08.940
 our Lord.

00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:10.680
 And so,

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.340
 the time

00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:11.960
 to repent

00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.400
 is now.

00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:15.500
 If you're

00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:15.980
 a Christian,

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:16.720
 God's

00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:17.500
 patience is

00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:18.039
 for you.

00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:18.360
 It has

00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:18.860
 allowed you

00:24:18.860 --> 00:24:19.259
 to be part

00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.519
 of his

00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:19.800
 kingdom.

00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:20.680
 If you

00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.259
 are not

00:24:21.259 --> 00:24:21.759
 a Christian,

00:24:21.940 --> 00:24:22.539
 you need

00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.180
 to wonder

00:24:23.180 --> 00:24:23.820
 and think

00:24:23.820 --> 00:24:24.740
 and consider

00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:25.440
 is God's

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:25.840
 patience

00:24:25.840 --> 00:24:26.759
 for you

00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.700
 now allowing

00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:28.680
 you still

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.660
 time to

00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:31.060
 repent and

00:24:31.060 --> 00:24:31.759
 to turn to

00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.500
 Jesus Christ

00:24:32.500 --> 00:24:33.440
 in faith.

00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:35.500
 I said

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:35.799
 this a

00:24:35.799 --> 00:24:36.220
 couple weeks

00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:36.460
 ago.

00:24:36.620 --> 00:24:37.059
 Some of

00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:38.680
 you are

00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.640
 hanging around

00:24:39.640 --> 00:24:40.160
 the edges

00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:40.519
 of the

00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:40.840
 church.

00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:43.140
 Some of

00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:43.500
 you are

00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.100
 nibbling

00:24:44.100 --> 00:24:44.799
 around the

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.380
 edges of

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:45.980
 Christianity.

00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:48.360
 God is

00:24:48.360 --> 00:24:49.080
 patient with

00:24:49.080 --> 00:24:49.360
 you.

00:24:49.759 --> 00:24:50.000
 He will

00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:50.380
 not be

00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:50.700
 patient

00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.080
 forever.

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:54.000
 The time

00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.620
 to repent

00:24:54.620 --> 00:24:55.580
 is now.

00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:56.279
 The time

00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:57.240
 to commit

00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.100
 is now.

00:24:58.360 --> 00:24:58.759
 Not only

00:24:58.759 --> 00:24:59.240
 do we not

00:24:59.240 --> 00:24:59.519
 know the

00:24:59.519 --> 00:24:59.940
 day and

00:24:59.940 --> 00:25:00.360
 the hour

00:25:00.360 --> 00:25:00.640
 of the

00:25:00.640 --> 00:25:01.200
 coming of

00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:01.539
 our Lord

00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:02.240
 Jesus Christ,

00:25:02.320 --> 00:25:02.660
 we do

00:25:02.660 --> 00:25:03.200
 not know

00:25:03.200 --> 00:25:03.819
 the day

00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:04.180
 and the

00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:04.640
 hour of

00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:05.039
 our own

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.400
 end.

00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:09.019
 Do not

00:25:09.019 --> 00:25:09.519
 take

00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:10.140
 advantage

00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:11.080
 of God's

00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:11.620
 patience.

00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.500
 Let his

00:25:13.500 --> 00:25:14.180
 patience be

00:25:14.180 --> 00:25:14.840
 for you

00:25:14.840 --> 00:25:15.680
 now.

00:25:17.360 --> 00:25:17.840
 His

00:25:17.840 --> 00:25:18.299
 patience,

00:25:18.420 --> 00:25:19.019
 it tells us

00:25:19.019 --> 00:25:19.759
 here very

00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.200
 clearly,

00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:21.299
 is so that

00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:21.819
 all should

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.720
 reach repentance.

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:23.819
 That means

00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.480
 that everyone

00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.140
 would turn

00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:25.860
 away from

00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:26.460
 their sins

00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.140
 confessing

00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.380
 that they

00:25:27.380 --> 00:25:27.799
 have no

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.720
 hope outside

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:29.180
 of Jesus

00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:30.200
 Christ and

00:25:30.200 --> 00:25:30.940
 resting and

00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.819
 relying upon

00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:32.860
 him alone

00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.839
 for salvation.

00:25:34.299 --> 00:25:34.639
 That is

00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:35.199
 what God's

00:25:35.199 --> 00:25:35.799
 patience is

00:25:35.799 --> 00:25:36.319
 waiting for

00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:36.959
 from you

00:25:36.959 --> 00:25:37.379
 if you

00:25:37.379 --> 00:25:37.699
 are not

00:25:37.699 --> 00:25:38.159
 a Christian.

00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:39.740
 Waiting

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.119
 for you

00:25:40.119 --> 00:25:40.819
 to repent

00:25:40.819 --> 00:25:41.879
 and trust

00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:42.959
 on Christ.

00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.699
 That leads

00:25:45.699 --> 00:25:46.419
 us to

00:25:46.419 --> 00:25:46.979
 Peter's

00:25:46.979 --> 00:25:47.679
 final point

00:25:47.679 --> 00:25:47.899
 here.

00:25:47.979 --> 00:25:48.399
 Remember

00:25:48.399 --> 00:25:49.159
 that the

00:25:49.159 --> 00:25:49.719
 point of

00:25:49.719 --> 00:25:50.639
 this passage

00:25:50.639 --> 00:25:51.019
 is to

00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:51.519
 answer the

00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:51.899
 question,

00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.639
 why has

00:25:52.639 --> 00:25:53.339
 Jesus not

00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:54.000
 come back?

00:25:54.419 --> 00:25:55.039
 Peter ends

00:25:55.039 --> 00:25:55.639
 by reminding

00:25:55.639 --> 00:25:56.199
 us he

00:25:56.199 --> 00:25:56.899
 has not

00:25:56.899 --> 00:25:57.659
 come back,

00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.419
 but he

00:25:58.419 --> 00:25:58.799
 will.

00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:00.199
 Verse

00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:00.840
 10.

00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:01.720
 The day

00:26:01.720 --> 00:26:02.000
 of the

00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.200
 Lord

00:26:02.200 --> 00:26:02.799
 will come

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.319
 like a

00:26:03.319 --> 00:26:03.680
 thief,

00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:04.480
 and then

00:26:04.480 --> 00:26:04.960
 the heavens

00:26:04.960 --> 00:26:05.440
 will pass

00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:05.920
 away with

00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.299
 a roar,

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.100
 and the

00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:07.799
 heavenly bodies

00:26:07.799 --> 00:26:08.160
 will be

00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:08.840
 burned up

00:26:08.840 --> 00:26:09.440
 and dissolved,

00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.180
 and the

00:26:10.180 --> 00:26:10.700
 earth and

00:26:10.700 --> 00:26:11.160
 the works

00:26:11.160 --> 00:26:11.440
 that are

00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:11.799
 done on

00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.100
 it will

00:26:12.100 --> 00:26:12.960
 be exposed.

00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:14.160
 I told

00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:14.380
 you we're

00:26:14.380 --> 00:26:14.620
 not going

00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:14.980
 to focus

00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.660
 on everything

00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:16.059
 in verse

00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.279
 10,

00:26:16.360 --> 00:26:16.539
 but I

00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:16.740
 want to

00:26:16.740 --> 00:26:17.360
 highlight a

00:26:17.360 --> 00:26:17.740
 few things

00:26:17.740 --> 00:26:18.059
 for you

00:26:18.059 --> 00:26:18.519
 this morning.

00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:18.860
 First,

00:26:18.940 --> 00:26:19.259
 the main

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.660
 point is

00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:19.920
 this,

00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:21.039
 Jesus is

00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:21.600
 coming back.

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.059
 God may

00:26:22.059 --> 00:26:22.519
 be patient,

00:26:22.580 --> 00:26:22.900
 he's not

00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:23.600
 patient forever.

00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.799
 Jesus will

00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.819
 return to

00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.700
 this earth.

00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.460
 when he

00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.039
 does,

00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:29.259
 it will

00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.080
 be like a

00:26:30.080 --> 00:26:30.660
 thief in

00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:31.080
 the night.

00:26:32.340 --> 00:26:32.960
 He will

00:26:32.960 --> 00:26:33.940
 come when

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.279
 you don't

00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:34.920
 expect him.

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:38.960
 Not only

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.319
 will he

00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.140
 come like

00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:40.819
 a thief in

00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.200
 the night,

00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:41.500
 but he's

00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:41.740
 going to

00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:42.039
 come,

00:26:42.160 --> 00:26:42.720
 verse 10,

00:26:43.340 --> 00:26:43.680
 on the

00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.240
 day of

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:44.700
 the Lord.

00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.080
 Remember,

00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:45.720
 we've talked

00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.180
 about the

00:26:46.180 --> 00:26:46.660
 theology,

00:26:46.779 --> 00:26:47.180
 the meaning

00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:47.660
 behind the

00:26:47.660 --> 00:26:48.340
 day before

00:26:48.340 --> 00:26:48.700
 when we

00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.259
 were earlier

00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.900
 in 2 Peter.

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.580
 The day

00:26:50.580 --> 00:26:51.819
 is an idea

00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.299
 in the Old

00:26:52.299 --> 00:26:52.620
 Testament,

00:26:52.700 --> 00:26:53.039
 in the New

00:26:53.039 --> 00:26:53.400
 Testament,

00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:54.080
 that refers

00:26:54.080 --> 00:26:54.759
 to when

00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.420
 God will

00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.160
 come back

00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:57.000
 to bring

00:26:57.000 --> 00:26:57.820
 both salvation

00:26:57.820 --> 00:26:58.560
 and judgment.

00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.380
 God is

00:26:59.380 --> 00:26:59.740
 patient,

00:26:59.820 --> 00:27:00.100
 he will

00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:00.420
 not be

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:00.720
 patient

00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.100
 forever.

00:27:01.300 --> 00:27:01.580
 Jesus

00:27:01.580 --> 00:27:02.019
 will

00:27:02.019 --> 00:27:02.480
 return,

00:27:02.779 --> 00:27:03.340
 he is

00:27:03.340 --> 00:27:03.640
 coming

00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:03.940
 back,

00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.240
 he will

00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:04.660
 be like

00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:05.100
 a thief

00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:05.380
 in the

00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:05.580
 night,

00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:05.940
 we will

00:27:05.940 --> 00:27:06.660
 not know

00:27:06.660 --> 00:27:07.259
 or be

00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:07.680
 able to

00:27:07.680 --> 00:27:07.940
 predict,

00:27:08.100 --> 00:27:08.300
 we will

00:27:08.300 --> 00:27:09.180
 be surprised

00:27:09.180 --> 00:27:09.640
 by the

00:27:09.640 --> 00:27:10.320
 timing of

00:27:10.320 --> 00:27:10.720
 his second

00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.100
 coming.

00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:12.700
 And when

00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:13.460
 he does,

00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:14.160
 he will

00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:14.940
 be patient

00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:15.560
 no more,

00:27:15.840 --> 00:27:16.500
 he will

00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.400
 bring full

00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.100
 and final

00:27:18.100 --> 00:27:18.580
 judgment,

00:27:19.480 --> 00:27:20.080
 and he

00:27:20.080 --> 00:27:20.460
 will bring

00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.380
 full and

00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:22.740
 final salvation.

00:27:22.740 --> 00:27:22.819
 salvation.

00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:25.960
 And so,

00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:26.779
 do not

00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:27.339
 make the

00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:27.920
 mistake

00:27:27.920 --> 00:27:28.519
 that Paul

00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.000
 warns us

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.460
 against in

00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:30.079
 Romans chapter

00:27:30.079 --> 00:27:30.500
 2.

00:27:31.380 --> 00:27:31.720
 Do you

00:27:31.720 --> 00:27:32.200
 not know

00:27:32.200 --> 00:27:32.819
 that God's

00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.299
 kindness

00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:34.140
 is meant

00:27:34.140 --> 00:27:34.640
 to lead

00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:35.319
 you to

00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:35.759
 repentance?

00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:38.039
 For the

00:27:38.039 --> 00:27:38.460
 Christian,

00:27:38.640 --> 00:27:38.799
 then,

00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.519
 the encouragement

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:40.140
 from Peter

00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.779
 is this,

00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:41.579
 take heart,

00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:42.240
 God has

00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:43.039
 not forgotten

00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.480
 you.

00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.460
 It may

00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.160
 seem like

00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:47.599
 a long

00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.160
 time,

00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:49.420
 and Jesus

00:27:49.420 --> 00:27:49.980
 is coming

00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:50.380
 back.

00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:53.880
 For the

00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.599
 non-Christian,

00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:56.299
 repent,

00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.140
 because God

00:27:58.140 --> 00:27:58.620
 has not

00:27:58.620 --> 00:27:59.099
 forgotten

00:27:59.099 --> 00:27:59.559
 you,

00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:01.240
 and he

00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.740
 is coming

00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:02.200
 back.

00:28:04.759 --> 00:28:05.319
 Just

00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.160
 because it

00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:06.799
 is delayed

00:28:06.799 --> 00:28:07.680
 does not

00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.319
 mean it

00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:08.700
 will not

00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:09.120
 happen.

00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:10.200
 And so,

00:28:10.299 --> 00:28:10.500
 for the

00:28:10.500 --> 00:28:10.839
 Christian,

00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:11.860
 live as if

00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.339
 Jesus is

00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:13.000
 coming back.

00:28:14.799 --> 00:28:15.559
 That is

00:28:15.559 --> 00:28:16.059
 your great

00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.360
 hope.

00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:16.980
 That is

00:28:16.980 --> 00:28:17.339
 what our

00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:17.920
 eyes are

00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:18.380
 focused

00:28:18.380 --> 00:28:18.860
 towards.

00:28:18.859 --> 00:28:19.519
 For the

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.139
 non-Christian,

00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:20.619
 he will

00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:21.319
 come like

00:28:21.319 --> 00:28:22.000
 a thief

00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:22.979
 at a

00:28:22.979 --> 00:28:23.619
 time you

00:28:23.619 --> 00:28:24.059
 do not

00:28:24.059 --> 00:28:24.559
 expect.

00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.240
 Remember,

00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:26.719
 we talked

00:28:26.719 --> 00:28:27.179
 earlier about

00:28:27.179 --> 00:28:27.740
 the danger

00:28:27.740 --> 00:28:28.259
 of knowledge.

00:28:28.439 --> 00:28:28.899
 One of the

00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.439
 dangers is

00:28:29.439 --> 00:28:29.679
 that we

00:28:29.679 --> 00:28:30.119
 would become

00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:30.539
 numb.

00:28:31.699 --> 00:28:32.159
 Don't

00:28:32.159 --> 00:28:32.979
 allow the

00:28:32.979 --> 00:28:33.679
 knowledge of

00:28:33.679 --> 00:28:33.899
 Jesus'

00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.500
 return to

00:28:34.500 --> 00:28:34.919
 make you

00:28:34.919 --> 00:28:35.179
 numb.

00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:35.659
 Instead,

00:28:35.939 --> 00:28:36.399
 make it

00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:37.279
 move you

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:37.779
 towards

00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.199
 repentance.

00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.279
 When the

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:41.119
 day comes

00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:41.819
 like a

00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.299
 thief,

00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:43.719
 will you

00:28:43.719 --> 00:28:44.419
 be saved

00:28:44.419 --> 00:28:45.319
 or destroyed?

00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:47.879
 When the

00:28:47.879 --> 00:28:48.679
 day comes,

00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:49.279
 like a

00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:49.620
 thief,

00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:50.720
 will you

00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.600
 be saved

00:28:51.600 --> 00:28:52.820
 or destroyed?

00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.060
 Remember,

00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:57.360
 every sin,

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.400
 not all

00:28:58.400 --> 00:28:58.779
 sins.

00:28:59.560 --> 00:29:00.380
 Every sin

00:29:00.380 --> 00:29:01.360
 deserves

00:29:01.360 --> 00:29:02.299
 God's

00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:02.779
 wrath

00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.400
 and

00:29:03.400 --> 00:29:03.820
 punishment.

00:29:06.299 --> 00:29:06.940
 Jesus

00:29:06.940 --> 00:29:08.120
 shows us

00:29:08.120 --> 00:29:09.299
 that this

00:29:09.299 --> 00:29:09.880
 is God's

00:29:09.880 --> 00:29:10.100
 will.

00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:10.779
 We talked

00:29:10.779 --> 00:29:11.299
 about that

00:29:11.299 --> 00:29:12.160
 God wishes

00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:12.580
 not that

00:29:12.580 --> 00:29:12.920
 any should

00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:13.320
 perish.

00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:13.359
 church.

00:29:13.859 --> 00:29:14.559
 I told

00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:14.779
 you in

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.399
 Mark 1,

00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:16.139
 verse 15,

00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:16.939
 he commands

00:29:16.939 --> 00:29:17.359
 that we

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:17.980
 repent and

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.359
 believe in

00:29:18.359 --> 00:29:18.819
 the gospel.

00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.460
 And then

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:22.000
 Jesus also

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.740
 tells us a

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.939
 story about

00:29:23.939 --> 00:29:24.639
 a thief in

00:29:24.639 --> 00:29:25.000
 the night.

00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:25.639
 Peter is

00:29:25.639 --> 00:29:26.359
 taking these

00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:26.899
 words from

00:29:26.899 --> 00:29:27.500
 Jesus who

00:29:27.500 --> 00:29:28.119
 taught him.

00:29:29.399 --> 00:29:29.960
 And Jesus

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:31.659
 tells us in

00:29:31.659 --> 00:29:32.279
 that same

00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:32.879
 way about

00:29:32.879 --> 00:29:33.599
 his second

00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:33.960
 coming.

00:29:34.059 --> 00:29:34.419
 I'm looking

00:29:34.419 --> 00:29:34.859
 now at

00:29:34.859 --> 00:29:35.759
 Matthew 24,

00:29:36.460 --> 00:29:37.359
 starting at

00:29:37.359 --> 00:29:38.159
 verse 36.

00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:39.700
 This will

00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:40.259
 sound very

00:29:40.259 --> 00:29:40.779
 familiar to

00:29:40.779 --> 00:29:41.060
 what we've

00:29:41.060 --> 00:29:41.420
 just looked

00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.000
 at at

00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.519
 2 Peter.

00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:43.860
 Concerning

00:29:43.860 --> 00:29:44.300
 that day

00:29:44.300 --> 00:29:44.700
 and hour,

00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:45.160
 no one

00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:45.519
 knows,

00:29:45.620 --> 00:29:45.960
 not even

00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:46.440
 the angels

00:29:46.440 --> 00:29:46.940
 of heaven

00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.360
 nor the

00:29:47.360 --> 00:29:47.680
 Son,

00:29:48.080 --> 00:29:48.480
 but the

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:48.800
 Father

00:29:48.800 --> 00:29:49.220
 only.

00:29:50.320 --> 00:29:50.620
 By the

00:29:50.620 --> 00:29:50.779
 way,

00:29:50.840 --> 00:29:51.160
 at times

00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:51.519
 like this

00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:51.740
 in our

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:51.940
 world,

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.420
 people like

00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:52.900
 to ask

00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:53.880
 pastors if

00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.200
 the second

00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.720
 coming is

00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.440
 soon.

00:29:56.420 --> 00:29:56.720
 The

00:29:56.720 --> 00:29:57.580
 appropriate

00:29:57.580 --> 00:29:58.440
 response is

00:29:58.440 --> 00:29:59.019
 not even

00:29:59.019 --> 00:29:59.680
 Jesus knows.

00:30:00.960 --> 00:30:01.620
 Verse 37,

00:30:01.759 --> 00:30:02.200
 for as were

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.700
 the days of

00:30:02.700 --> 00:30:02.960
 Noah,

00:30:03.120 --> 00:30:03.519
 so will be

00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.040
 the coming

00:30:04.040 --> 00:30:04.400
 of the

00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:04.700
 Son of

00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:05.000
 Man.

00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.200
 Jesus,

00:30:06.580 --> 00:30:07.100
 like Peter,

00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:07.840
 focuses on

00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:08.060
 Noah.

00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.120
 For as

00:30:09.120 --> 00:30:09.440
 in those

00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:09.980
 days before

00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.300
 they were

00:30:10.300 --> 00:30:10.759
 the flood,

00:30:10.840 --> 00:30:11.060
 they were

00:30:11.060 --> 00:30:11.540
 eating and

00:30:11.540 --> 00:30:11.860
 drinking,

00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:12.660
 marrying and

00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.080
 giving in

00:30:13.080 --> 00:30:13.360
 marriage,

00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:13.800
 until the

00:30:13.800 --> 00:30:14.160
 day when

00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:14.660
 Noah entered

00:30:14.660 --> 00:30:15.140
 the ark,

00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:16.160
 and they

00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:16.700
 were unaware

00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.360
 until the

00:30:17.360 --> 00:30:17.980
 flood came

00:30:17.980 --> 00:30:18.460
 and swept

00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:19.040
 them away,

00:30:19.660 --> 00:30:20.460
 so will be

00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:20.940
 the coming

00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.259
 of the

00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:21.540
 Son of

00:30:21.540 --> 00:30:21.779
 Man.

00:30:22.900 --> 00:30:23.519
 God was

00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.040
 patient in

00:30:24.040 --> 00:30:24.420
 the times

00:30:24.420 --> 00:30:24.759
 of Noah.

00:30:25.500 --> 00:30:25.900
 He brought

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.720
 judgment in

00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:27.160
 the time

00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:27.960
 of Noah.

00:30:28.920 --> 00:30:29.500
 Then two

00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:30.120
 men will be

00:30:30.120 --> 00:30:30.660
 in the field,

00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:31.200
 one will be

00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:31.640
 taken and

00:30:31.640 --> 00:30:32.220
 one left.

00:30:32.560 --> 00:30:33.080
 Two women

00:30:33.080 --> 00:30:33.400
 will be

00:30:33.400 --> 00:30:33.960
 grinding at

00:30:33.960 --> 00:30:34.340
 the mill,

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:34.980
 one will be

00:30:34.980 --> 00:30:35.420
 taken and

00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:35.980
 one left.

00:30:36.440 --> 00:30:36.860
 Therefore,

00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.140
 stay awake,

00:30:38.160 --> 00:30:39.400
 for you do

00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:39.920
 not know on

00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:40.340
 what day

00:30:40.340 --> 00:30:41.180
 your Lord is

00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:41.500
 coming.

00:30:42.120 --> 00:30:42.620
 But know

00:30:42.620 --> 00:30:44.019
 this, that if

00:30:44.019 --> 00:30:44.759
 the master of

00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.360
 the house had

00:30:45.360 --> 00:30:46.080
 known in what

00:30:46.080 --> 00:30:46.580
 part of the

00:30:46.580 --> 00:30:47.000
 night the

00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:47.580
 thief was

00:30:47.580 --> 00:30:48.480
 coming, he

00:30:48.480 --> 00:30:48.740
 would have

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.640
 stayed awake

00:30:49.640 --> 00:30:50.480
 and would not

00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:50.940
 have let his

00:30:50.940 --> 00:30:51.320
 house be

00:30:51.320 --> 00:30:51.900
 broken into.

00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:53.960
 therefore,

00:30:54.519 --> 00:30:55.400
 verse 44,

00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.759
 you also must

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.420
 be ready for

00:30:57.420 --> 00:30:58.280
 the Son of

00:30:58.280 --> 00:30:58.780
 Man is

00:30:58.780 --> 00:30:59.720
 coming at

00:30:59.720 --> 00:31:00.640
 an hour you

00:31:00.640 --> 00:31:01.100
 do not

00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:01.600
 expect.

00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:03.940
 Who then is

00:31:03.940 --> 00:31:04.360
 the faithful

00:31:04.360 --> 00:31:04.940
 and wise

00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.519
 servant whom

00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.040
 his master

00:31:06.040 --> 00:31:06.560
 has set over

00:31:06.560 --> 00:31:07.240
 his household

00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.080
 to give them

00:31:08.080 --> 00:31:08.600
 food at the

00:31:08.600 --> 00:31:09.300
 proper time?

00:31:09.820 --> 00:31:10.120
 What is that

00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:10.560
 servant whom

00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:11.040
 his master

00:31:11.040 --> 00:31:11.860
 will find so

00:31:11.860 --> 00:31:12.840
 doing when

00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:13.420
 he comes?

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.480
 Truly I say

00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:15.960
 to you, he

00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:16.600
 will set him

00:31:16.600 --> 00:31:17.519
 over all his

00:31:17.519 --> 00:31:18.000
 possessions.

00:31:18.820 --> 00:31:19.360
 Now listen to

00:31:19.359 --> 00:31:20.740
 this, but if

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.259
 that wicked

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:22.000
 servant says

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.619
 to himself,

00:31:23.199 --> 00:31:23.859
 my master

00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:25.539
 is delayed,

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:27.219
 or it's

00:31:27.219 --> 00:31:28.019
 familiar for us,

00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:28.479
 right, from

00:31:28.479 --> 00:31:29.299
 2 Peter 3,

00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:30.679
 he's become

00:31:30.679 --> 00:31:31.559
 lulled into a

00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:32.179
 false sense of

00:31:32.179 --> 00:31:32.979
 security because

00:31:32.979 --> 00:31:33.659
 Jesus hasn't

00:31:33.659 --> 00:31:34.399
 come back yet.

00:31:34.859 --> 00:31:35.679
 My master is

00:31:35.679 --> 00:31:36.279
 delayed and

00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:36.959
 begins to beat

00:31:36.959 --> 00:31:37.399
 his fellow

00:31:37.399 --> 00:31:38.039
 servants and

00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:38.779
 eats and drinks

00:31:38.779 --> 00:31:39.459
 with drunkards.

00:31:39.879 --> 00:31:40.679
 The master of

00:31:40.679 --> 00:31:41.159
 that servant

00:31:41.159 --> 00:31:41.879
 will come on

00:31:41.879 --> 00:31:42.939
 a day when

00:31:42.939 --> 00:31:43.500
 he does not

00:31:43.500 --> 00:31:45.059
 expect him and

00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:45.959
 at an hour he

00:31:45.959 --> 00:31:46.859
 does not know

00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:48.719
 and will cut

00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.400
 him in pieces

00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:50.140
 and put him

00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:50.460
 with the

00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:51.019
 hypocrites.

00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.500
 In that

00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:53.799
 place there

00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:54.160
 will be

00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:55.319
 weeping and

00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:56.480
 gnashing of

00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:56.819
 teeth.

00:31:58.779 --> 00:31:59.700
 Why has

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.500
 Jesus not

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:01.299
 come back?

00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:03.519
 Christian,

00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:04.319
 Jesus has

00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:05.259
 not come back

00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:06.200
 so that you

00:32:06.200 --> 00:32:07.200
 could be a

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:07.980
 part of his

00:32:07.980 --> 00:32:08.319
 kingdom.

00:32:10.740 --> 00:32:11.579
 If you are

00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.039
 not a

00:32:12.039 --> 00:32:12.640
 Christian, it

00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:13.319
 is God's

00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:14.740
 patience that

00:32:14.740 --> 00:32:15.539
 means that he

00:32:15.539 --> 00:32:16.600
 still offers

00:32:16.600 --> 00:32:18.220
 for you to

00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:18.880
 be a part

00:32:18.880 --> 00:32:19.660
 of his

00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:20.039
 kingdom.

00:32:21.600 --> 00:32:22.339
 Do not

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:22.900
 let the

00:32:22.900 --> 00:32:23.500
 day and

00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:23.980
 the hour

00:32:23.980 --> 00:32:25.120
 surprise you

00:32:25.120 --> 00:32:26.839
 because it

00:32:26.839 --> 00:32:27.440
 will come

00:32:27.440 --> 00:32:28.140
 like a

00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:29.039
 thief in

00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:29.400
 the night.

00:32:30.620 --> 00:32:31.360
 Let's pray.

00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:33.779
 Our Father

00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.160
 in heaven,

00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:35.360
 we thank you

00:32:35.360 --> 00:32:35.900
 again for

00:32:35.900 --> 00:32:36.440
 your word,

00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.519
 even when it

00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:38.279
 speaks to us

00:32:38.279 --> 00:32:39.759
 words that

00:32:39.759 --> 00:32:40.500
 wake us up,

00:32:41.839 --> 00:32:42.220
 words that

00:32:42.220 --> 00:32:42.799
 are uncomfortable.

00:32:44.180 --> 00:32:44.920
 Ask for

00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:45.539
 these people

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.640
 here that we

00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:47.079
 would be like

00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:47.699
 a wise and

00:32:47.699 --> 00:32:48.439
 faithful servant,

00:32:49.519 --> 00:32:50.099
 knowing that

00:32:50.099 --> 00:32:50.859
 your return

00:32:50.859 --> 00:32:51.919
 is sure,

00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:52.859
 and so that

00:32:52.859 --> 00:32:53.359
 we would live

00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:53.899
 in light of

00:32:53.899 --> 00:32:54.480
 that, live

00:32:54.480 --> 00:32:55.419
 looking forward

00:32:55.419 --> 00:32:56.199
 to your

00:32:56.199 --> 00:32:57.460
 coming, ready

00:32:57.460 --> 00:32:57.899
 for you to

00:32:57.899 --> 00:32:58.259
 return.

00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.839
 Father, ask

00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.599
 for those who

00:33:00.599 --> 00:33:01.339
 do not know

00:33:01.339 --> 00:33:02.779
 you, that you

00:33:02.779 --> 00:33:03.559
 would use your

00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:04.339
 patience this

00:33:04.339 --> 00:33:04.899
 morning to

00:33:04.899 --> 00:33:05.659
 bring them to

00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:07.099
 repentance, that

00:33:07.099 --> 00:33:07.579
 they would have

00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:08.720
 faith and trust

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.439
 and hope in

00:33:09.439 --> 00:33:10.119
 Jesus Christ.

00:33:10.579 --> 00:33:11.319
 It's in his

00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:11.939
 name that we

00:33:11.939 --> 00:33:13.019
 ask these

00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:13.439
 things.

00:33:13.699 --> 00:33:13.919
 Amen.

00:33:13.919 --> 00:33:14.039
 Amen.