Thanks, Aaron and Danny and the band.
Before we turn to God's word,
please do have that passage open in front of you
as we walk through it,
but let us come to God in prayer.
Let's pray together.
Our Heavenly Father, we come before you this evening
and we thank you for the joy it is
to be able to open your word together.
And Father, we pray that you would bless
the words of my mouth
and the meditations of all of our hearts
and would it all be pleasing to you,
our rock and our Redeemer.
And it's in his name that we pray.
Amen.
Now, one of the things that you may
or may not know about me
is that I have a terrible memory
and it is unbelievably annoying.
So we all know that feeling, right?
You remember something as you're sitting on the couch,
probably on a Friday night.
You're really comfy, but you've remembered
and so you traipse upstairs to the room
or to the office and you open the door
and something magical happens
in a negative sense of the word.
You completely forget what you wanted to do.
You forget why you entered into the room
and you stand amazed that your brain
has just simply stopped working.
Or you leave the house with a shopping list
of one thing, a pint of milk.
You walk around the shop,
you get distracted by everything else on the shelves,
you pick up a few bargains here or there,
you remember a few things.
And then you get home to realize
the one thing you went for
is the thing you forgot to get.
Now, I know that that isn't just me.
People forget things all the time
and we know it,
which is why you get reminder letters
from the dent or texts
from dentists and doctors offices.
It's why there are tons of different apps
that ping you notifications on your phone
to remind you of deals or upcoming events
that may interest you.
And it's why we have strings on our glasses
because we know if we put them down,
we will never find them again.
We are a people who need to be reminded.
And as we turn to 2 Peter 3 this evening,
Peter gives us and his readers,
original readers, a reminder.
Peter says, remember that Jesus is coming back.
So live holy and godly lives.
Now, why did his first readers need this reminder?
Well, because there were false teachers,
as we've seen through this series,
who were saying, forget about Jesus.
He hasn't come back.
He isn't coming back.
So you can live as you please.
And so out of love for his fellow Christians,
Peter turns his attention
to the return of Jesus,
which he's already touched on before in the letter.
Remember chapter 1, verses 16 to 18.
Peter said that he was an eyewitness
of the majesty of Jesus at the transfiguration,
which points us to the future return
and glory of Jesus.
And in chapter 1, verses 19 to 20,
Peter told us that scripture teaches us
that Jesus will return.
And in chapter 2, verses 1 to 10,
he told us that there are real historical stories
that tell us of a time where God will judge the wicked
and save the righteous.
These have all been building blocks,
pointing us to this part of the letter
where Peter speaks about the return of Jesus
and why it is so important that we remember
Jesus is coming back.
So Peter says,
remember that Jesus is coming back
and so live holy and godly lives.
That's the main message for tonight
and that's the sentence that we'll use
to think about these verses.
So the first thing we see
is Peter's call to remember
in verses 1 to 7.
Remember.
Peter begins his reminder in verse 1.
Read it with me.
Dear friends,
this is now my second letter to you.
I have written both of them
as reminders to stimulate you
to wholesome thinking.
Now the NIV says,
Dear friends,
but a better translation of that word
is beloved.
Like a close friend or family member,
Peter calls his readers his loved ones,
which reminds them of both his love for them,
but also of God's love for them
shown in Christ Jesus.
And this is Peter's second letter to them.
We talked about that
in the first sermon in this series.
The first letter was either 1 Peter
or a lost letter that we no longer have.
I think it's probably 1 Peter.
And the good thing is
that Peter doesn't leave us guessing
why he has written to them.
The end of verse 1.
Both letters are reminders
to stimulate the readers
to wholesome thinking.
So Peter wants his readers
to think sincerely
and properly
about their faith
and to not have any
hidden motives or agendas
like the false teachers did.
Now how do we do this?
Well, we remember.
Peter says to remember
two things in verse 2.
Do you see them?
The words spoken in the past
by the holy prophets
and the command given
by our Lord and Saviour
through your apostles.
The words spoken
by the holy prophets
refers to the whole Old Testament
which points forward
to the coming of Jesus
and the forgiveness
and reconciliation with God
that is only to be found
through him.
Peter says that these words
continue to testify today.
serving believers
as they point us
to the good news
of Jesus Christ.
And the command given
by our Lord and Saviour
through the apostles
is most likely
a reference to the gospel.
Peter's reminding his readers
of Jesus' command
to repent
and follow him.
That same message
was passed down
from Jesus
to the apostles
and to all churches
ever since
through their testimony.
And it spread
as people became Christians.
As fallible human beings
we need reminders.
Peter isn't telling
these people
anything new right now
but he's saying
remember what you have been taught.
Remember
what Jesus said.
And then in verse 3
we see why it's so important
to have this reminder.
Now there are
degrees of importance
in reminders
aren't there?
For example
this past month
I've had two reminders.
One was to sign up
to the gym
and the other one
was to be a witness
in a court case.
Both reminders
but with varying degrees
of importance.
One is good
for my health
and my ever-expanding
waist.
but the other
is important
because
only if I show up there
will justice be served.
Both reminders
with very different degrees
of importance.
But I still needed
reminding of both things.
And so Peter helps
his readers
see why it's so important
for them to remember
the truth of the gospel
and to remember
that Jesus is coming back.
Read verse 3 with me.
Above all
you must understand
that in the last days
scoffers will come.
Scoffing and following
their own evil desires.
Now scoffers get a kick
out of mocking people
or ideas
and the dangerous thing
that these particular
scoffers were doing
is that they are
toying with
and mocking ideas
and promises
that Jesus Christ gave.
And by doing so
they are showing
their arrogance
and contempt
for the truth.
Peter says,
remember these people
will come
in verse 3
in the last days.
Now the last days
is a term
that the Bible
uses to describe
the time between
Jesus' birth
or the New Testament
uses to describe
the time between
Jesus' birth
and his second coming.
Which is a future date
when Jesus will come
and will judge
the wicked
and save those
who believe in him
as verse 13
tells us.
But following
their evil desires
as the end of verse
3 says,
what will these
scoffers say?
In verse 4
they will say,
where is this coming
he promised.
Ever since
our ancestors died
everything goes on
as it has
since the beginning
of creation.
Do you see
how flippantly
these scoffers
were responding
to promises
that Jesus said?
They're basically
calling Jesus
a liar.
Saying,
well,
if he said
he would come
where is he?
Also saying
that from the beginning
of time
things have just happened.
God has had no hand
in anything.
He hasn't intervened
at all in creation.
And so Peter sets them
right in verses
5 to 7
because these scoffers
are deliberately
forgetting.
They are deliberately
intentionally
ignoring the truth
that verse 5
God created
the world
by his word
in Genesis 1 and 2.
And they continue
to ignore the truth
that verse 6
God also judged
the world
by water
in the flood
in Genesis 6 to 8.
See,
these scoffers
are mocking
these truths
and deliberately
ignoring
the warnings
that the Bible
gives.
Both in the Old Testament
and in the teaching
of Jesus
that judgment
will fall
on all those
who reject him.
That's why Peter
says in verse 7
by the same word
the present heavens
and earth
are reserved
for fire
being kept
for the day
of judgment
and destruction
of the ungodly.
Do not be ignorant
of this fact
that scoffers
will come.
Do not be ignorant
that people
will mock the truth
and stand up
and say that judgment
doesn't exist.
And people
will say
that a loving
God
wouldn't judge
people
that hell
is just
a creation
of the church.
All of these
things are lies
that act like
a comfort blanket
to people
whilst they walk
on their path
to hell
and judgment.
Deliberately
forgetting
truths
that the Bible
makes abundantly
clear.
Friends,
if you're flirting
with these ideas,
if you're flirting
with preachers
and people
who promote
these ideas
in any form
whether that's
sermons,
books,
blog posts,
whatever,
be careful.
And remember
the truth of Scripture.
Remember the gospel
of Jesus Christ
and run a mile
from all teaching
that would seek
to distract you
from Him.
As Christians
we need to be able
to discern
the truth.
We need
to know the Bible
because doing that
we will remember
what we need to.
We need to get
into our Bibles
to know God's Word
well and that way
we can discern
what is true
and what is false.
So Peter says
remember.
And the second thing
we see Peter saying
is that Jesus
is coming back
in verses 8 to 10.
Jesus is
coming back.
See one of the things
that these false
teachers were using
as their so-called
evidence for Jesus
not coming back
is that it hadn't
happened yet.
But Peter was a witness
of Jesus' promises.
Peter saw the amazing
miracles that Jesus
did.
He was a witness
of all Jesus said
and did
through his time.
and Peter
saw some of the
things Jesus said
come true
in his life.
So Peter says
in verse 8
do not forget
this one thing
dear friends
with the Lord
a day is like
a thousand years
and a thousand years
are like a day.
The Lord is not
slow in keeping
his promise
as some understand
slowness.
Instead
he is
patient with you.
Not wanting
anyone to perish
but everyone to come
to repentance.
Peter says
don't be like
the false teachers
and the scoffers
who deliberately
forget in verse 5
but instead
remember
that God's timing
is not our own.
Timing has been
a distraction
for people
for thousands
of years.
In every generation
there is normally
at least one person
somewhere on the planet
who
says that they
have a specific date
that they know
Jesus will come back on.
The day comes
the day goes
and nothing happens.
That doesn't mean
we aren't waiting
eagerly for that day.
See realistically
I think many of us
would like Jesus
to return now
wouldn't we?
We turn on our news
and we see news
we see reports
of war in Ukraine
not to mention
the ongoing wars
in Syria
Yemen
Mozambique
war crimes
hatred
murder
bombing
school shootings
we see all of these events
and we think
Jesus
why have you not
come back yet?
And because of our
natural
good
God-given
desire for justice
we want to see
Jesus come
as judge
and because
people are eager
for Jesus'
return
when we read
verses like
verse 8
that with the
Lord a day
is like a thousand
years and a thousand
years are like a day
the temptation
is to read that
like a mathematical
formula
and to pin down
a day when we
think Jesus
will return
but that's not
what Peter's saying
remember he was
there
physically with
Jesus in act
1
where Jesus
said about his
second coming
it is not for you
to know the times
or dates
that the father
has set by his
own authority
Peter is saying
that God's
relationship
with time
goes beyond
what our finite
minds can imagine
because
God has always
existed
as Psalm 90
verse 4
tells us
which Peter's
alluding to
here
see the reason
Jesus hasn't
returned yet
is not because
he's slow
or reluctant
it's not because
he isn't planning
on coming through
on his promises
but Jesus
hasn't returned
yet because
God is merciful
God's patience
is evident
in verse 9
God is patient
with you
not wanting
anyone to
perish
but everyone
to come
to repentance
God's patience
is a common
theme throughout
the Bible
but God
isn't just
God isn't
being patient
because he
doesn't want
to come
and judge
God's
patience
is intended
to lead
people to
repentance
as Romans
chapter 2
verse 4
says
because whilst
God is
merciful and
wants people
to be saved
he is just
and his
sovereign
he is sovereign
over creation
and judgment
is coming
verse 10
but the day
of the Lord
will come
like a thief
the heavens
will disappear
with the roar
the elements
will be destroyed
by fire
and the earth
and everything
done in it
will be laid
bare
the day
of the Lord
is a term
used in the
Bible
to describe
that final
day of
judgment
that final
day when
all of
humanity
will stand
before God
and be
judged
and that day
will come
like a thief
meaning that it
will be sudden
but it won't
be a secret
it cannot
be missed
and it
cannot be
avoided
you don't
get a save
the date
card through
the post
and you
leave it
sitting on
the sides
do you
thinking
or questioning
whether the
day is going
to actually
happen
if you do
that you'll
probably miss
a party
or a wedding
or some
kind of
special event
no
if you're
told that
something's
coming up
you prepare
for it
don't you
you make
sure you're
free
you look
forward to
you plan
around it
well whilst
we do not
know the
date
we can be
certain
that a
day is
coming
where this
world will
be transformed
and everything
in it will
be laid
bare
verse 10
that means
that all of
humanity will
stand before
God and
give an
account of
their actions
in this
life and
how they
responded to
Jesus
so this
is your
save the
date card
that day
is coming
are you
ready for
it
the false
teachers
weren't
they mocked
God
they distorted
the truth
they lived
as they
pleased
deliberately
ignoring the
truth that
Jesus was
coming back
friends please
please do
not be like
them
do not go
through the
motions but
remember that
Jesus is
coming back
and let that
truth challenge
your heart
and how you
respond to
Jesus but
also make it
challenge your
heart as you
look out to a
world that is
dying without the
saving knowledge
of Jesus
do you love
this world
as God
does are you
actively sharing
the gospel or
are we simply
playing lip
service to a
belief system
without actually
caring about
people's eternal
state before
God
Jesus is
coming back
the day of
the Lord
the day of
judgment is
coming
what are we
doing about
it
and that's
what Peter
touches on in
the last section
of our passage
tonight he
says remember
that Jesus is
coming back
and so live
godly lives
in verses
11 to 13
live holy
and godly
lives
Peter is
saying to
these Christians
in light of
the knowledge
that one day
Jesus will
judge the
world that
all the actions
of people will
be laid bare
then we are
to live holy
lives
so the reality
of the day of
the Lord demands
us to live a
certain way
not because a
moral life makes
us right with
God but because
our salvation
through Jesus
and his death
and resurrection
should result
in us
wanting to
live the way
God created
us to live
and so Peter's
summary is
live holy
and godly
lives
we see the
same Peter
making the same
call in 1
Peter 1
verses 15
to 16
that Christians
should live
holy lives
why
because Christians
are called to
be holy
because God
is holy
1 Peter 1
15 to 16
because God
has made us
into a holy
priesthood
1 Peter 2
verse 5
and a holy
nation
1 Peter 2
verse 9
therefore the
life of every
Christian
the life of
every church
should be
different
set apart
for God
following his
will
following his
word
following his
plans
living this
kind of life
is necessary
for every
Christian
but it is
also the
fruit of
looking forward
to the day
of the
Lord
with eager
anticipation
so it is
looking forward
to the day
of the Lord
is waiting
but it isn't
passive
now we're all
used to waiting
for things
but it doesn't
mean that we
like it
but we know
what it means
to wait
maybe you're
like me
and you get
impatient
you're standing
at the bus
stop
you've got
the app
open
with the
live updates
on when
the bus
will arrive
constantly
checking the
app
refreshing
constantly
looking around
the corner
waiting
this happened
to Sabina
and I
this week
we were
standing
waiting
for the
bus
that just
decided
it wasn't
going to
show up
but we
kept
looking
waiting
doing a
little bit
of complaining
too
but apart
from that
we could do
nothing
else
all we
could do
was stand
there
we were
passive
in our
waiting
but Peter
says that
doesn't work
with the
Christian life
but it's a
whole life
orientation
Christians should
be living
for the
day of
the Lord
when judgment
will fall
as verse
12
reminds us
but also
the day
as verse
13 says
that in
keeping with
his promise
we are looking
forward to a
new heaven
and a new
earth
where
righteousness
dwells
see the
day of
the Lord
isn't only
about judgment
but it is
the day
where salvation
is complete
the day
where all
Christians
will be in
the new
heavens
and the
new earth
the place
where
righteousness
dwells
that righteousness
refers to
those who have
been made
righteous
who are
right with
God
through
Jesus
but the
new creation
will be a
place of
righteousness
the place
that righteousness
dwells because
ultimately
God is there
and he is the
very definition
of righteousness
so what would it
look like for us
to live holy
and godly
lives as we
eagerly look
forward to the
second coming
of Jesus
well it means
living a life of
holiness that the
Bible calls us to
it means standing
out for Jesus
it means relying
on him
as we live in a
broken world
in our broken
bodies
it means living a
God orientated
life
living for his
glory
it means taking
our faith
seriously
investing time
to know the
truth
it means having
our whole life
shaped by our
new identity
in Jesus
it means gathering
with your brothers
and sisters in
Christ
encouraging them
building one
another up in
the faith
worshipping God
as a local
church and it
means taking
the good news
of Jesus to a
world because a
day is coming
where the
opportunity to
repent and
believe will
no longer be
there
so Peter says
to his readers
and to us this
evening remember
that Jesus is
coming back
so live holy
and godly
lives
we're a people
who constantly
need reminding
of things
that's why we
have shopping
lists
doctors and
dentists
appointment
reminder text
to-do lists
and so on
but the most
important thing
that we can
and should
remember in this
life
is that as
Christians we
are not our
own
we live for
God and we
should be
constantly reminding
one another of
the truth that
Jesus is coming
back and
discipling one
another living the
Christian life
together in
eager anticipation
of the day when
we will meet
Jesus face to
face
brothers and
sisters remember
that Jesus is
coming back
and live holy
and godly
lives
let us pray
together
heavenly father
we come before
you and we
ask for forgiveness
for the times
where we coast
through the
Christian life
where we don't
think about the
second coming of
Jesus and we
go about our
day to day as
if it will
never happen
but by your
spirit I pray
that you would
give us the
strength and
the ability to
fix our eyes on
Jesus
to eagerly await
the day when he
will come
and would that
day change the
way we live
would it give us
a burden for
those around us
to come to know
Jesus Christ as
their own Lord and
Savior would it
give us a burden
for our own lives
that we would live
in a way that
glorifies him
and father we pray
for that day
and we look
forward to the
day where there
will be no more
tears no more
pain no more
suffering and no
more death and
that you will dwell
with your people
that glorious day
when we will meet
you face to face
help us to
eagerly expect
that day in
Jesus name we
pray amen