WEBVTT

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 My name is Paul Buckley. I pastor a church in Haverhill Mass.

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 And I know a number of you. Some years ago, we helped you guys get started in 2015.

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 And I also serve as a provisional elder with Sean.

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 So I just help him out with some other elders as well as he seeks to lead you guys.

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 It's wonderful to be here. It's wonderful to watch God at work in and through your church.

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 And I haven't been here in a little while. I haven't been here since you came back to the school here.

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 So it's wonderful that you're here back in East Cambridge.

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 And it's my privilege to proclaim God's Word this morning.

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 I had asked Sean. I gave him some options.

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 And he asked me to speak from 2 Peter 3.

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 So in a little bit, we're going to stand and read that together.

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 Before you do that, though, let me ask you a question to kind of get you thinking about this passage.

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 What would you do if you knew you had, for the best of reasons, one year left in your life?

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 Now, the best of reasons, I think, are the story of Elijah, right?

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 Where the Lord took him up bodily to heaven.

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 So think of something like that.

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 Some positive thing that's going to happen, not a negative thing.

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 And so you know at the end of the year, you know, maybe like Elijah, you're going to be taken up into heaven.

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 But the thought experiment is about having a year, knowing that you have a year.

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 What would you do?

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 How would you live?

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 What choices would you make?

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 Now let's say you know you have one day.

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 Tomorrow would be your final full day.

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 How would you think about what to do tomorrow?

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 Wouldn't it bring that idea?

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 Wouldn't it bring great focus and clarity to what your priorities are, what you would want to do?

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 And I know many of you are thinking, well, I would want to make sure I said goodbye to those I love.

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 Or maybe for some of you, I'd like to knock that one thing off the bucket list I never got to, the skydiving thing or something like that.

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 Or maybe it's a little more down to earth, that local ice cream place I didn't get to go to.

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 Or maybe you can combine it all together, go skydiving with your friends on that last day.

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 Whatever it might be.

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 There are a lot of different things you might choose to do.

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 But that knowledge brings great focus.

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 Well, the reality is, the Bible teaches us that we all have one day awaiting us.

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 It's unlikely to be tomorrow, but it's the final day.

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 The final day.

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 There is a final day coming for all of us.

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 The ultimate day for all of humanity.

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 We sang about it a little bit.

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 And the knowledge of having this final day awaiting us should bring the same sort of focus to our lives.

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 And really that's what this chapter in 2 Peter is about.

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 So let's stand.

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 Let me pray for the reading of God's Word.

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 Then we will read together.

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 If you're able, you can sit if you're not able to stand.

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 That's fine.

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 But we'll read God's Word together.

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 So if you have a Bible, open that up.

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 We're not going to project it so that you can focus here.

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 I think there are some Bibles on the table there.

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 So if you need a Bible, maybe raise your hand.

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 Someone can run you one.

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 Or you can just listen with us as we read along.

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 Let me pray for God's Word in this time.

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 And then we'll read.

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 Lord, we thank you for your Word.

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 We thank you that you bring to us truth that brings great focus in our lives.

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 And you not only want to inform us of this truth, but you want to empower us.

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 You want this truth to be a living truth in our lives.

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 And so we ask now as we read your Word and as I proclaim your Word,

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 would you breathe life into us through this truth.

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 We thank you so much.

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 Bless the reading and the hearing of your Word.

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 Be glorified in it, we pray.

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 Amen.

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 Let's read chapter 3.

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 Listen as I read chapter 3, verse 1.

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 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved.

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 In both of them, I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder

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 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets

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 and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.

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 Knowing this, first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing,

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 following their own sinful desires.

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 They will say,

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 Where is the promise of His coming?

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 For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were

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 from the beginning of creation.

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 For they deliberately overlook this fact,

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 that the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water

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 and through water by the Word of God.

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 And that by means of these, the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.

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 But by the same word, the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire,

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 being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

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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, as some count slowness,

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 but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish,

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 but that all should reach repentance.

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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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 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved,

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 what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

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 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,

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 because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved,

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 and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn.

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 But according to His promise,

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 we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth

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 in which righteousness dwells.

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 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these,

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 be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace,

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 and count the patience of our Lord as salvation.

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 Just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you,

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 according to the wisdom given him,

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 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters,

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 there are some things in them that are hard to understand,

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 which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction.

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 As they do the other scriptures.

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 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand,

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 take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people,

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 and lose your own stability,

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 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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 To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.

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 Amen.

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 God's word from 2 Peter 3.

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 You may be seated.

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 Well, as you can tell, listening to God's word,

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 that Peter is eager to help his readers think in terms of the ultimate day,

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 the day of the Lord.

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 They are facing some challenges to that mindset,

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 and Peter wants to bring them back,

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 bring them back to Christ-centered wisdom.

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 He's teaching, really,

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 that we must live every day in light of the ultimate day.

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 We must live every day in light of the ultimate day.

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 He's doing three things in this chapter.

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 First, he's calling us to be aware.

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 Secondly, to be ready.

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 And thirdly, to be strengthened.

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 So that's what we're going to do.

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 We're just going to go through the chapter,

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 learn about this idea of living every day in light of the ultimate day

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 under these three different sub-points.

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 So he starts out writing to his friends and telling them

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 that he wants to remind them of these things.

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 He's saying he wants to stir up their sincere minds or sincere hearts.

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 He knows that there's good things already there in his ears.

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 People are hearing this read.

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 He knows that there's good things in their hearts already,

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 but he wants to stir them up by way of reminder.

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 It's an important point, really,

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 this idea of reminding.

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 Sometimes we can feel insulted when people remind us of things, right?

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 We can be like, I already know that.

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 I already knew that.

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 I knew that before you knew it.

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 We can take offense.

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 But if we're honest, we forget a lot of things, don't we?

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 I forget many things,

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 and it brings me some comfort to know, actually, when I was young,

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 I'm almost 60 now,

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 when I was in my teens even,

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 I forgot things like my wallet.

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 I would forget my homework assignments.

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 I would forget to take out the trash.

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 I even think I forgot Mother's Day once or twice.

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 Not good when you're a kid.

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 I still have those dreams, by the way.

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 So sorry if this is bad news for you if you're a student now.

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 I still have those dreams that it's the end of the semester,

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 and I forgot to go to class all semester long,

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 and I have to take the final.

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 I still have those.

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 So I know that you're thinking,

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 probably having those if you're young and thinking they'll stop.

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 Well, they haven't stopped for me.

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 I have these nightmares about forgetting things.

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 We forget lots of things,

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 but then we remember all sorts of things that are obscure, don't we?

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 Words to songs, the stats of your favorite athlete, things like that.

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 And yet we forget the most important thing,

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 the good news of Jesus.

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 And that's what Peter wants to do here.

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 He wants to remind his people of the good news of Jesus

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 because there's something in us, in our human nature,

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 our fallen human nature,

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 that can remember all these other things, perhaps,

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 but we forget the most important thing,

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 that Christ has died.

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 Christ has risen.

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 He'll come again.

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 Christ has overcome sin and death.

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 God loves us and has sent God the Son for us

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 that we might live in him.

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 And this important news is something we need to be reminded of.

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 And really, every time that we live outside of faith, hope, and love,

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 outside of believing God and hoping and loving others in his name,

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 we are forgetting the good news.

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 And I do that all the time, every day.

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 There's moments throughout my days where I don't live in faith, hope, and love.

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 And therefore, I know I've forgotten this good news.

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 I need to be reminded, and all of us do,

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 and it's really the most loving thing we can do for one another

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 is to remind each other of the good news of Jesus.

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 And so that's what Peter's doing here for his friends.

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 He loves them.

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 He calls them beloved, actually.

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 He calls them, I think, four times beloved in this passage.

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 We don't call each other beloved these days.

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 That's a little bit of a different word, right?

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 If someone came up to you and you had a friend and said,

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 Oh, beloved, good to see you today.

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 You'd be like, What is going on?

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 Have you had too much coffee?

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 What's happening?

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 We don't use this word.

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 But it was a word back in this day that was very common,

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 especially for your family members.

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 And so it's this term of endearment.

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 I'm not sure.

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 I can't think off the cuff of an equivalent.

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 It's dangerous to think off the cuff when you're in the pulpit,

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 so I won't try to think of one.

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 But it's that sort of word.

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 It's the word for someone who you especially love,

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 who is very close to you.

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 I call my wife Lovey, so that's maybe the equivalent for us.

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 Sorry, honey.

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 I didn't get permission to share that, but I hope it's okay.

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 So beloved.

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 Beloved is what Peter's calling.

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 He loves these people.

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 Because he loves them, he wants to remind them of the good news.

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 And like I said, that's one of the most important things we can do

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 for those whom we love.

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 That's what's going on here.

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 He wants to remind them of this truth about Christ.

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 Really, all the Bible is about Jesus.

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 Ultimately, it all is pointing to him or from him.

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 Jesus says in John 5,

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 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life.

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 And it is they that bear witness about me.

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 Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

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 All the Bible is about Jesus.

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 And so reminding each other about Jesus is really important.

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 Now, Peter has a specific aspect of how he wants to remind them

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 related to the core truth about Christ.

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 He wants to remind them about this sad reality, actually,

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 that comes alongside the truth, alongside the good news.

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 It's somewhat of bad news.

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 And it's that there will always be scoffers.

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 There has been and will be until this final day scoffers.

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 And so he's reminding them about this idea of scoffers,

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 that they might be aware of this reality,

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 that they may be aware of Christ most of all, of course,

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 but aware of scoffers that will be there.

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 He says,

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 Knowing this, first of all,

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 that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing.

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 They will follow their own sinful desires.

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 These are scoffers who are following their sinful desires,

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 these desires that are actually in all humans,

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 this desire to do things on our own,

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 to not live in dependence on God,

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 to live in opposition to his ways,

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 in either subtle ways or bold ways.

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 It's a problem with all of humanity.

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 That's what Jesus came to rescue us from.

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 But scoffers are making the choice to live by those desires,

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 to define their motivations and what they do and say

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 by their sinful desires.

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 So that's how they're characterized.

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 They've denied God and they've pursued this.

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 They oppose the truth.

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 And they openly do that.

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 They scoff at the truth.

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 They ask questions in this passage

00:12:56.740 --> 00:13:00.979
 to legitimize their cynicism in opposition to the truth.

00:13:01.079 --> 00:13:03.319
 So Peter says in chapter 3, verse 4,

00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:03.839
 they will say,

00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:05.759
 Where is this promise of his coming?

00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:07.839
 For ever since the fathers fell asleep,

00:13:07.939 --> 00:13:09.500
 all things are continuing as they were

00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:10.819
 from the beginning of creation.

00:13:11.479 --> 00:13:15.199
 Where is this supposed day that's supposed to be looming?

00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:18.200
 Where is this Jesus who is supposed to be coming back?

00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:21.160
 It's just the same today as it's been always.

00:13:21.400 --> 00:13:22.240
 Look around you.

00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:23.660
 Stop believing in fairy tales.

00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:26.140
 That's kind of what the scoffers are saying.

00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:32.180
 But Peter says they willfully overlook that there's more to the story.

00:13:32.179 --> 00:13:34.419
 Certainly we can look around us at creation

00:13:34.419 --> 00:13:36.159
 and assume, presume,

00:13:36.659 --> 00:13:38.459
 that it's always been this way

00:13:38.459 --> 00:13:39.899
 and always will be this way.

00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:42.899
 There was a belief in this day

00:13:42.899 --> 00:13:46.979
 in the necessity and eternality of creation

00:13:46.979 --> 00:13:49.879
 that everything we see

00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.919
 has been since the very beginning

00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:54.059
 and will have to endure as it is always.

00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:56.399
 This is the ultimate reality,

00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:57.899
 what you can see with your senses,

00:13:58.039 --> 00:13:59.719
 what you maybe can discern with your mind,

00:13:59.720 --> 00:14:00.620
 and then that's it.

00:14:01.460 --> 00:14:02.500
 And so they're scoffing,

00:14:03.040 --> 00:14:04.560
 basically saying there's no other reality.

00:14:04.740 --> 00:14:06.279
 Stop living that way

00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:08.360
 and make choices that are reasonable

00:14:08.360 --> 00:14:09.460
 according to what we say.

00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.660
 They're scoffing.

00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:12.740
 But Peter says they're deliberately,

00:14:13.580 --> 00:14:14.700
 willfully overlooking

00:14:14.700 --> 00:14:16.320
 that there's more to the story.

00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.060
 There's more to the story

00:14:18.060 --> 00:14:19.139
 than what they're claiming.

00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:20.360
 There is a creator

00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:23.820
 who has made all these things.

00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:26.600
 And if we acknowledge that there is a creator,

00:14:26.700 --> 00:14:27.500
 we must acknowledge

00:14:27.500 --> 00:14:29.020
 that the creator has a prerogative

00:14:29.020 --> 00:14:30.040
 over his creation.

00:14:30.400 --> 00:14:32.680
 This is his creation, not ours.

00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:36.500
 And he is the one who has made all things

00:14:36.500 --> 00:14:39.840
 and he is the one who can unmake all things

00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:40.820
 if he so chooses.

00:14:42.040 --> 00:14:44.180
 And so Peter references the original creation.

00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.879
 He says that God,

00:14:47.320 --> 00:14:49.040
 that the earth was formed out of water

00:14:49.040 --> 00:14:49.800
 and through water,

00:14:49.920 --> 00:14:52.320
 as it explains in Genesis chapter one.

00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:54.480
 And it was formed by the word of God.

00:14:54.700 --> 00:14:56.100
 So God spoke

00:14:56.100 --> 00:14:57.980
 and creation was formed

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:59.480
 out of water and through water.

00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:00.760
 The earth came forward

00:15:00.760 --> 00:15:02.020
 and what we know

00:15:02.020 --> 00:15:03.840
 came into being by God.

00:15:03.940 --> 00:15:04.660
 God made it.

00:15:06.420 --> 00:15:07.780
 God created all things

00:15:07.780 --> 00:15:10.260
 through water and by his word.

00:15:11.180 --> 00:15:13.140
 And Peter says just as he did that,

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.820
 he used water and his word

00:15:15.820 --> 00:15:16.820
 to bring judgment

00:15:16.820 --> 00:15:18.900
 in the ancient world.

00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:21.160
 He's speaking of the days of Noah.

00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:22.679
 And if we read about that

00:15:22.679 --> 00:15:24.539
 back in Genesis chapter six

00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:25.179
 and following,

00:15:25.779 --> 00:15:27.980
 we learn that what was going on

00:15:27.980 --> 00:15:30.120
 in the earth among mankind

00:15:30.120 --> 00:15:32.480
 is mankind had grown very wicked.

00:15:33.839 --> 00:15:35.819
 Mankind had followed the trajectory

00:15:35.819 --> 00:15:38.179
 of scoffing and denying the Lord

00:15:38.179 --> 00:15:39.399
 and defying themselves

00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:40.620
 independently from God

00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:43.919
 and following their worst instincts.

00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:46.339
 And it had gotten worse

00:15:46.339 --> 00:15:47.860
 and worse and worse

00:15:47.860 --> 00:15:50.180
 so bad that in Genesis chapter six,

00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:50.700
 verse five,

00:15:50.740 --> 00:15:51.259
 it says this,

00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:54.659
 the Lord saw that the wickedness of man

00:15:54.659 --> 00:15:57.620
 was great in the earth

00:15:57.620 --> 00:16:00.300
 and that every intention

00:16:00.300 --> 00:16:01.879
 of the thoughts of his heart

00:16:01.879 --> 00:16:05.539
 was only evil continually.

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:09.639
 It's a horrible, horrible thought

00:16:09.639 --> 00:16:10.800
 that mankind,

00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:13.440
 pretty much everybody,

00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:16.000
 their thoughts of their hearts

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:18.780
 were only evil continually.

00:16:19.060 --> 00:16:20.720
 That's how bad it had become.

00:16:21.040 --> 00:16:22.400
 And so God in his goodness

00:16:22.400 --> 00:16:24.020
 and in his justice

00:16:24.020 --> 00:16:26.020
 and in his divine prerogative

00:16:26.020 --> 00:16:26.920
 as creator

00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:28.280
 who has made all things

00:16:28.280 --> 00:16:29.500
 and created all things

00:16:29.500 --> 00:16:31.440
 that mankind might live in creation

00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:32.660
 and image him,

00:16:32.800 --> 00:16:34.380
 reflect his goodness and glory,

00:16:34.920 --> 00:16:36.220
 it is his prerogative

00:16:36.220 --> 00:16:37.520
 to bring judgment.

00:16:37.640 --> 00:16:38.540
 And that's what he did.

00:16:39.020 --> 00:16:39.780
 People on that day

00:16:39.780 --> 00:16:40.960
 were presuming on things

00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.300
 just as in Peter's day

00:16:42.300 --> 00:16:43.639
 and our day as well.

00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:46.540
 And yet God brought judgment.

00:16:46.780 --> 00:16:47.900
 He has made all things.

00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.560
 He can unmake all things.

00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:50.879
 He is God.

00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:53.060
 He is good and just.

00:16:53.580 --> 00:16:54.879
 And this is what the scoffers

00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:55.580
 are ignoring.

00:16:55.759 --> 00:16:56.620
 He did it before,

00:16:56.700 --> 00:16:57.320
 Peter's saying,

00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:58.800
 and he's going to do it again.

00:16:59.540 --> 00:17:00.340
 There'll be a day

00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:01.240
 that is coming.

00:17:02.540 --> 00:17:04.220
 This is the sad reality

00:17:04.220 --> 00:17:05.380
 that there are scoffers

00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:05.980
 in our world

00:17:05.980 --> 00:17:08.460
 and mankind has fallen.

00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:09.880
 It's what we call the fall.

00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:11.000
 We understand it

00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:12.320
 from Genesis chapter 3.

00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:12.860
 What happened?

00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:15.020
 Mankind has fallen away

00:17:15.020 --> 00:17:16.600
 from his relationship with God,

00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:18.520
 proper dependence on God,

00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:20.820
 proper living in fellowship with God,

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:21.980
 and imaging God

00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:22.540
 and who we are.

00:17:22.600 --> 00:17:23.440
 We've fallen from that

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:24.780
 and we live in this broken state.

00:17:25.420 --> 00:17:27.080
 And Romans 1 teaches us

00:17:27.080 --> 00:17:28.620
 that what has happened really

00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:29.940
 is the wheels have come off

00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:31.340
 among mankind.

00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:33.100
 It's gotten worse and worse

00:17:33.100 --> 00:17:34.700
 among cultures over time.

00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:36.480
 Mankind ultimately in this

00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:38.100
 has exchanged the glory of God

00:17:38.100 --> 00:17:39.780
 for the image of created things.

00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:41.720
 We've exchanged worshiping God,

00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:42.480
 depending on God

00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:43.359
 and enjoying God

00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:45.539
 and through him

00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:46.319
 and dependence on him

00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:47.440
 enjoying all that he's made.

00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:48.779
 We've swapped that out

00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:50.779
 and we've chosen to worship

00:17:50.779 --> 00:17:53.440
 and deify his creation,

00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:54.440
 including ourselves,

00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.519
 instead of him.

00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:57.799
 This is what Romans 1 teaches us.

00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:00.940
 It's a terrible cosmic rebellion.

00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:06.700
 Imagine that you were a wealthy

00:18:06.700 --> 00:18:08.799
 and benevolent duke or duchess.

00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:10.279
 You had a grand estate,

00:18:10.840 --> 00:18:12.240
 beautiful estate,

00:18:12.340 --> 00:18:13.500
 with manicured gardens

00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:16.000
 and a big castle house thing.

00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:18.019
 And you just,

00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:19.140
 you loved your neighbors,

00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.779
 and so you decided to have a party.

00:18:21.580 --> 00:18:23.420
 And you invited everyone from the county

00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.019
 to come to your estate

00:18:25.019 --> 00:18:27.440
 and just enjoy a weekend

00:18:27.440 --> 00:18:29.580
 of feasting and celebrating

00:18:29.580 --> 00:18:30.700
 and being together.

00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:32.860
 And so you had the party

00:18:32.860 --> 00:18:35.420
 and as things progressed,

00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:37.960
 you were just making the rounds,

00:18:38.299 --> 00:18:39.299
 just seeing how things are.

00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:40.779
 And you went out in the backyard

00:18:40.779 --> 00:18:41.799
 among your gardens

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:43.900
 and you noticed that there was,

00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.440
 like, trash.

00:18:46.140 --> 00:18:47.140
 People were, like,

00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:49.080
 throwing discarded cups

00:18:49.080 --> 00:18:50.019
 and plates everywhere.

00:18:50.340 --> 00:18:51.360
 There were, like,

00:18:51.580 --> 00:18:53.340
 empty beer bottles here and there.

00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:55.159
 And there was, you know,

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.759
 you went out in there in your pool.

00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:57.359
 Someone had, like,

00:18:57.419 --> 00:19:00.759
 dumped the lounge and so forth,

00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:01.799
 the seats in the pool.

00:19:01.939 --> 00:19:02.159
 And, like,

00:19:02.179 --> 00:19:03.139
 what's going on?

00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:04.199
 And then you go into the house

00:19:04.199 --> 00:19:05.980
 and you're inside the house

00:19:05.980 --> 00:19:06.379
 and, like,

00:19:06.439 --> 00:19:07.259
 there's, like,

00:19:07.899 --> 00:19:09.859
 there's discarded food on the couch,

00:19:09.959 --> 00:19:10.779
 like, kind of squished

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:12.139
 into the corner of the couch.

00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:13.179
 And there's, like,

00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.059
 trash and stuff.

00:19:14.119 --> 00:19:14.279
 And you're like,

00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:15.139
 what's going on?

00:19:15.459 --> 00:19:15.859
 You know,

00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:16.500
 I had this party.

00:19:16.659 --> 00:19:17.480
 I don't understand.

00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:18.759
 Then you go out in the front lawn

00:19:18.759 --> 00:19:19.759
 just to see what's happening there.

00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:21.359
 And you notice that your car

00:19:21.359 --> 00:19:23.199
 is in the middle of the front lawn

00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.420
 and there's a donut.

00:19:24.559 --> 00:19:25.539
 Someone was doing donuts

00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.680
 with your car on your lawn.

00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:26.880
 You're like,

00:19:27.039 --> 00:19:28.059
 what's going on?

00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:29.600
 What, what's,

00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:30.940
 this is my house.

00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:31.819
 I, my grounds,

00:19:31.860 --> 00:19:32.860
 I invited everyone to be here

00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:34.220
 and it's getting trashed.

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.259
 And now let's make it

00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:36.500
 a little more ridiculous even.

00:19:37.660 --> 00:19:38.279
 You're there

00:19:38.279 --> 00:19:39.180
 and you're trying to interact

00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:40.000
 with people as well.

00:19:40.080 --> 00:19:40.980
 You're trying to be hospitable.

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:43.220
 And every time you go up to somebody,

00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:43.539
 you're like,

00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:45.259
 hi, I'm Duke Paul.

00:19:45.840 --> 00:19:46.799
 I'm glad you're here.

00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:48.200
 And they just look at you

00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:49.500
 and they roll their eyes

00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.960
 and they walk away.

00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:52.380
 And you notice this happens

00:19:52.380 --> 00:19:53.100
 over and over again.

00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:54.639
 Like people don't want to acknowledge

00:19:54.639 --> 00:19:56.000
 your presence there.

00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:57.539
 What's going on?

00:19:57.699 --> 00:19:58.539
 This is my house.

00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:58.980
 You're here.

00:19:59.159 --> 00:20:00.000
 How can you do this?

00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:01.779
 And, and now let's get even more ridiculous

00:20:01.779 --> 00:20:02.799
 with my illustration.

00:20:03.459 --> 00:20:04.519
 There's people who,

00:20:04.679 --> 00:20:05.659
 after the weekend's over,

00:20:05.659 --> 00:20:06.959
 are still in your house.

00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:08.659
 And they're,

00:20:08.659 --> 00:20:09.939
 they're like sleeping in the rooms

00:20:09.939 --> 00:20:11.359
 and they're like using the kitchen

00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:12.799
 and you don't know who they are.

00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:13.419
 You're like,

00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:14.240
 what's going on?

00:20:14.279 --> 00:20:14.819
 And they're,

00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:16.299
 and you find out actually

00:20:16.299 --> 00:20:17.459
 that they've hired a lawyer

00:20:17.459 --> 00:20:19.459
 to take possession of the house from you.

00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:19.699
 And like,

00:20:20.099 --> 00:20:20.359
 what?

00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:21.219
 What happened?

00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:22.240
 I had a party.

00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:23.699
 I wasn't inviting everybody to my house

00:20:23.699 --> 00:20:23.979
 and this,

00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:25.179
 and this is turning out this way.

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:26.719
 And it gets even worse actually.

00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.419
 They,

00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:28.459
 this group of squatters

00:20:28.459 --> 00:20:29.399
 deny your existence.

00:20:29.399 --> 00:20:30.859
 They say that there's no such thing

00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:31.559
 really as the Duke.

00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.079
 It's only a,

00:20:32.199 --> 00:20:32.939
 it's a myth

00:20:32.939 --> 00:20:35.019
 to represent the spirit of the estate.

00:20:35.459 --> 00:20:36.959
 And then they take your cat

00:20:36.959 --> 00:20:37.959
 and they say,

00:20:38.019 --> 00:20:39.500
 this cat is,

00:20:39.699 --> 00:20:41.359
 represents the spirit of the estate.

00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:41.859
 And they start,

00:20:41.919 --> 00:20:42.979
 they put it on a special pillow

00:20:42.979 --> 00:20:44.259
 and they have ceremonies.

00:20:44.379 --> 00:20:46.000
 They walk around with the cat

00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:46.880
 and they think about

00:20:46.880 --> 00:20:48.299
 the wonderful spirit of the estate.

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.380
 Now it's really ridiculous,

00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:49.880
 isn't it?

00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:51.200
 But if you are familiar

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:52.319
 with Romans chapter one,

00:20:53.039 --> 00:20:54.119
 it actually describes

00:20:54.119 --> 00:20:55.500
 what's going on in Romans one.

00:20:55.619 --> 00:20:56.660
 And this is the reality

00:20:56.660 --> 00:20:58.319
 about God's creation.

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:01.519
 It is very much a real story

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:04.039
 because we live on God's estate.

00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:05.380
 He is the benevolent one

00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:06.319
 who has invited us

00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:07.400
 to a party of,

00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:08.299
 to know him,

00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:09.099
 to walk with him.

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:12.759
 And we have desecrated his place.

00:21:12.859 --> 00:21:13.900
 We have denied him

00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:15.300
 and we have replaced him.

00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:17.320
 And we roll our eyes

00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:18.740
 with the idea

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:20.440
 that somehow this is his estate.

00:21:21.500 --> 00:21:22.600
 It's that audacious.

00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.340
 That's why I use

00:21:23.340 --> 00:21:24.640
 such a ridiculous illustration

00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:25.920
 to help us understand reality.

00:21:26.080 --> 00:21:26.340
 This is,

00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:28.120
 this is the reality of mankind.

00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:29.040
 This is the reality

00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:30.380
 of the scoffers.

00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.480
 And that's what Peter's

00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:33.220
 trying to get at

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.380
 is that he's made all this.

00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.360
 It's his house.

00:21:36.060 --> 00:21:38.519
 And he gets to make the call

00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:39.920
 on what to do with his house.

00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:41.940
 And when things get out of hand,

00:21:42.080 --> 00:21:43.259
 he has the right,

00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.059
 the prerogative

00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:45.180
 and the goodness

00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:46.480
 to bring judgment.

00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:48.039
 And he did it before

00:21:48.039 --> 00:21:49.539
 and he's going to do it again.

00:21:49.799 --> 00:21:50.799
 That's what he's saying here.

00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:52.119
 And the scoffers

00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:54.259
 are in a dangerous place

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:57.640
 because they are presuming on God.

00:21:57.859 --> 00:21:59.200
 And yet God is bringing

00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:00.359
 a day of judgment

00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:02.480
 when he will judge the scoffers.

00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.460
 He will judge those

00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:04.299
 who have denied him.

00:22:04.519 --> 00:22:05.339
 He will judge those

00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.740
 who have not run to him

00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:07.980
 for his strength

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:09.140
 and his life for forgiveness,

00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:09.960
 who have not run

00:22:09.960 --> 00:22:11.740
 to Christ ultimately,

00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:12.500
 but have decided

00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.779
 to go their own way.

00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.319
 He will bring judgment.

00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.839
 It'll be a just judgment.

00:22:17.120 --> 00:22:17.920
 It won't be cruel.

00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.819
 It won't be tyrannical.

00:22:18.920 --> 00:22:20.140
 It will be perfectly just.

00:22:20.759 --> 00:22:21.759
 And any human being

00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:22.759
 who tries to stand

00:22:22.759 --> 00:22:24.039
 on their own two feet

00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.859
 on a day of judgment

00:22:24.859 --> 00:22:26.120
 is in for trouble

00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:27.680
 because all of us

00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:28.740
 have exchanged

00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:30.380
 the glory of God

00:22:30.380 --> 00:22:31.519
 for his creation.

00:22:31.640 --> 00:22:32.599
 We've all fallen short

00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:33.339
 of the glory of God.

00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:34.079
 We've all chosen

00:22:34.079 --> 00:22:35.259
 to one degree or another,

00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.940
 maybe subtly or boldly,

00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:39.039
 to rebel against him.

00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:41.400
 He is God.

00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:42.920
 He is good.

00:22:44.059 --> 00:22:44.759
 And he will bring

00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:46.799
 his judgment ultimately.

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:48.500
 I love how C.S. Lewis

00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:49.599
 describes Aslan,

00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.500
 the Christ figure

00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.559
 in The Lion,

00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:51.859
 the Witch,

00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:52.400
 and the Wardrobe

00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:53.240
 when they ask,

00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:54.920
 is he safe?

00:22:54.980 --> 00:22:55.720
 Is this lion,

00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.120
 Aslan,

00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:57.279
 safe who represents Christ?

00:22:57.839 --> 00:22:58.579
 The reply is,

00:22:58.660 --> 00:22:59.920
 who said anything

00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.160
 about safe?

00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:03.220
 Of course he isn't safe,

00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:04.500
 but he's good.

00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:06.099
 And this is God.

00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.279
 He isn't safe,

00:23:07.380 --> 00:23:08.480
 but he's good.

00:23:09.380 --> 00:23:10.420
 And Peter tells us

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.200
 that the day of the Lord

00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:11.819
 will come.

00:23:12.480 --> 00:23:13.360
 It is coming,

00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:14.259
 it will come,

00:23:14.420 --> 00:23:15.200
 and he says it will come

00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:15.819
 like a thief.

00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:17.400
 What does that mean?

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.620
 How does a thief come?

00:23:18.660 --> 00:23:19.319
 Well, a thief comes

00:23:19.319 --> 00:23:20.240
 when you don't expect him,

00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:20.460
 right?

00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:22.480
 You don't make a schedule

00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.480
 for when the thief comes.

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:23.960
 Like, okay,

00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:24.860
 come up to my house

00:23:24.860 --> 00:23:26.019
 at this date and this time.

00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:27.200
 He comes unexpectedly,

00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:28.079
 and that's the idea.

00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:29.519
 He comes when the doors

00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.620
 and windows are unlocked

00:23:30.620 --> 00:23:31.480
 and you're not prepared,

00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.440
 and that's what Peter is saying.

00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.720
 This day is going to come.

00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:34.920
 It's going to come

00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:36.039
 when you least expect it,

00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:36.839
 but it will come,

00:23:37.259 --> 00:23:38.579
 and you should know about this.

00:23:38.620 --> 00:23:39.220
 It's going to come,

00:23:39.400 --> 00:23:40.360
 and the reality is

00:23:40.360 --> 00:23:41.440
 that the heavenly bodies

00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.240
 will be burned up

00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:42.839
 and dissolved.

00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.279
 All of creation

00:23:44.279 --> 00:23:44.960
 as we know it

00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:46.079
 will be dissolved.

00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:47.980
 There will be no more

00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.779
 of what we've expected

00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:50.740
 and experienced,

00:23:51.059 --> 00:23:52.940
 and everything will be exposed.

00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:55.480
 Every human's life,

00:23:56.279 --> 00:23:57.839
 deeds, choices, thoughts,

00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:58.779
 every aspect

00:23:58.779 --> 00:24:00.620
 will be totally exposed

00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:01.360
 before God.

00:24:02.579 --> 00:24:03.620
 He's saying that explicitly.

00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.720
 He's saying that

00:24:04.720 --> 00:24:06.559
 God will justly judge all,

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:09.200
 and those who have decided

00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:10.860
 to follow the scoffers

00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:12.240
 and to live their own life

00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.319
 and to walk in rebellion

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:14.200
 and not run to Him

00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:15.120
 for mercy and grace

00:24:15.120 --> 00:24:17.339
 will suffer judgment.

00:24:19.019 --> 00:24:20.880
 It's not a happy topic.

00:24:22.259 --> 00:24:23.420
 It's not a topic

00:24:23.420 --> 00:24:25.759
 that you want to hear,

00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:27.579
 and among the wrong crowd,

00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:28.559
 it can get you in trouble,

00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:29.539
 but it wouldn't be good

00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:32.620
 for me to not tell you about this.

00:24:32.619 --> 00:24:34.759
 Peter loves his listeners

00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:35.979
 enough to tell them,

00:24:36.519 --> 00:24:38.379
 and I love you,

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:40.479
 in Christ's name,

00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:42.659
 enough to tell you

00:24:42.659 --> 00:24:43.619
 so that you can be aware

00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:44.939
 there is a final day

00:24:44.939 --> 00:24:45.739
 of judgment coming,

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.679
 and all the things

00:24:47.679 --> 00:24:49.019
 that we've grown so used to

00:24:49.019 --> 00:24:49.919
 will be gone

00:24:49.919 --> 00:24:51.379
 and exposed.

00:24:51.739 --> 00:24:52.500
 Now, there's more coming.

00:24:52.559 --> 00:24:53.179
 We're going to talk about

00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:53.699
 the new heavens

00:24:53.699 --> 00:24:54.399
 and the new earth,

00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:55.880
 but what we've known

00:24:55.880 --> 00:24:56.960
 will no longer be,

00:24:57.540 --> 00:24:58.600
 and God will judge,

00:24:58.680 --> 00:24:59.820
 and those who choose

00:24:59.820 --> 00:25:00.920
 to go their own way

00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:04.440
 will be judged eternally.

00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:06.740
 They will live apart from God

00:25:06.740 --> 00:25:08.019
 in what we call hell,

00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.759
 a place of regret

00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:11.040
 and darkness,

00:25:11.540 --> 00:25:12.259
 utter darkness.

00:25:13.480 --> 00:25:15.220
 There will be justice there.

00:25:15.320 --> 00:25:16.360
 There will be nothing cruel

00:25:16.360 --> 00:25:17.500
 or unusual in that.

00:25:17.540 --> 00:25:18.700
 It will be a just judgment,

00:25:18.820 --> 00:25:19.920
 but it will be a real one,

00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:21.500
 and you don't want to be there.

00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:24.099
 There's warning here

00:25:24.099 --> 00:25:25.380
 in this chapter for us

00:25:25.380 --> 00:25:25.940
 to be aware

00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:27.359
 that this day is coming,

00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:29.579
 so the question I would ask is,

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:31.960
 are you a scoffer?

00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:35.180
 Are you someone who's presumed

00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:36.819
 on what you see around you

00:25:36.819 --> 00:25:37.759
 and are living,

00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:39.299
 feeling secure in that?

00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:41.299
 Or are you someone

00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:43.599
 who's impressed by scoffers,

00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:45.720
 thinking they have interesting

00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:47.599
 and intelligent things to say?

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:48.539
 They might,

00:25:49.380 --> 00:25:50.019
 but beware.

00:25:51.500 --> 00:25:52.920
 Because behind the scoffer

00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:54.539
 is somebody who's choosing

00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.819
 to follow their sinful desires

00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:57.119
 rather than depend on God

00:25:57.119 --> 00:25:59.700
 and learn to grow more like Christ.

00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:02.880
 Peter is calling us

00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:03.759
 to be aware of this,

00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:05.339
 to know that the scoffers

00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:05.920
 are in danger,

00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:07.299
 and he's warning his people,

00:26:07.420 --> 00:26:08.380
 don't follow them.

00:26:08.460 --> 00:26:09.059
 Don't be them.

00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:09.980
 Don't follow them.

00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.720
 I was reading the story,

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:13.799
 actually just this morning,

00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:15.660
 and I had read other stories

00:26:15.660 --> 00:26:19.040
 about the Mayanus River Bridge

00:26:19.040 --> 00:26:20.440
 in Coscob, Connecticut.

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:22.000
 Back in 1983,

00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:23.460
 at 1.30 in the morning,

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:25.640
 the bridge collapsed.

00:26:26.060 --> 00:26:27.060
 So this is Route 95,

00:26:27.300 --> 00:26:28.900
 similar to what we saw recently

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.460
 in Philadelphia,

00:26:29.720 --> 00:26:31.180
 but this was a large section

00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:32.220
 of the bridge over the river,

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.759
 collapsed in the middle of the night.

00:26:34.620 --> 00:26:36.040
 A couple tractor-trailers

00:26:36.040 --> 00:26:37.380
 actually skidded and went over,

00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.100
 fell in.

00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:40.040
 One car went over.

00:26:40.539 --> 00:26:42.420
 Then other cars were able

00:26:42.420 --> 00:26:43.579
 to skid and stop

00:26:43.579 --> 00:26:44.960
 and immediately got out

00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:45.460
 of their car

00:26:45.460 --> 00:26:46.659
 and started frantically waving

00:26:46.659 --> 00:26:47.779
 at people to stop,

00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:49.639
 and one car stopped,

00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:53.420
 but one car accelerated,

00:26:54.339 --> 00:26:55.980
 and the driver made a gesture,

00:26:56.279 --> 00:26:57.099
 an obscene gesture,

00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:58.720
 to those frantically waving

00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.440
 for him to stop

00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:01.299
 and accelerated over the cliff

00:27:01.299 --> 00:27:02.659
 into the gap.

00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:05.579
 That's a picture of the scoffers.

00:27:06.940 --> 00:27:08.859
 Peter is warning the scoffers

00:27:08.859 --> 00:27:10.159
 and warning us,

00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:11.779
 don't follow the scoffers

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.839
 because they are accelerating,

00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:14.959
 making an obscene gesture

00:27:14.959 --> 00:27:16.019
 at God, so to speak,

00:27:16.119 --> 00:27:18.359
 and driving quickly over the edge.

00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:19.959
 There's a day coming,

00:27:20.119 --> 00:27:21.399
 and so be aware.

00:27:21.939 --> 00:27:23.359
 Be wise.

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:27.359
 Now, understand, too,

00:27:28.299 --> 00:27:32.599
 that God takes no pleasure

00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:34.799
 in the death of the wicked.

00:27:35.599 --> 00:27:36.899
 That's what Peter's talking about

00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:37.699
 here in this passage.

00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:40.160
 He's talking about this reality

00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:44.539
 of a day being like a thousand years,

00:27:44.580 --> 00:27:46.279
 and a thousand years are like a day.

00:27:47.340 --> 00:27:48.799
 He's patient, it says,

00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.660
 because one of the things

00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:50.480
 the scoffers are doing,

00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:50.799
 they're saying,

00:27:50.940 --> 00:27:53.340
 when is this going to happen?

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.660
 What about this delay?

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:55.920
 Wasn't it supposed to happen

00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.779
 way long ago?

00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:57.100
 Why?

00:27:57.160 --> 00:27:58.200
 It's been 2,000 years

00:27:58.200 --> 00:27:58.980
 since Christ came,

00:27:59.319 --> 00:28:00.539
 so what's going on?

00:28:00.559 --> 00:28:01.860
 And so Peter explains that.

00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:04.299
 He wants them to understand

00:28:04.299 --> 00:28:05.240
 what's going on,

00:28:05.240 --> 00:28:06.220
 and it's important for us

00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:06.960
 to understand this

00:28:06.960 --> 00:28:08.200
 and understand the heart of God

00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:10.299
 and what he calls us to as well.

00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:13.359
 Let me just look at it here

00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:16.839
 so I can follow it.

00:28:17.099 --> 00:28:18.180
 He says in verse 8,

00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.920
 but do not overlook this one fact,

00:28:20.079 --> 00:28:20.400
 beloved,

00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:21.740
 that with the Lord,

00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:23.700
 one day is as a thousand years,

00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:26.220
 and a thousand years are as one day.

00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.539
 Now, you've maybe heard

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:29.059
 that expression before,

00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:31.420
 and what it's basically saying

00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.600
 is that in God's mind,

00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:33.680
 there's not necessarily

00:28:33.680 --> 00:28:34.380
 any difference

00:28:34.380 --> 00:28:35.640
 between a thousand years

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:36.079
 and a day

00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:37.059
 or a day and a thousand years,

00:28:37.140 --> 00:28:38.600
 so God's sense of time

00:28:38.600 --> 00:28:39.779
 is not our sense of time.

00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:41.400
 That's what it's teaching,

00:28:41.740 --> 00:28:43.759
 but there's a particular aspect

00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:44.940
 to it here

00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:46.700
 where he's getting at something.

00:28:46.779 --> 00:28:47.559
 He's not just saying,

00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:47.799
 you know,

00:28:47.860 --> 00:28:48.960
 time is different with God.

00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:49.980
 Yes, it is.

00:28:50.039 --> 00:28:51.100
 God has different priorities

00:28:51.100 --> 00:28:52.000
 than the clock

00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:52.819
 that we might have

00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.519
 as our priority.

00:28:54.579 --> 00:28:55.960
 What is his priority here?

00:28:55.960 --> 00:28:57.299
 What is the other thing?

00:28:57.500 --> 00:28:59.279
 What's he more interested in

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.720
 than time in this passage?

00:29:02.360 --> 00:29:03.279
 It's not so much

00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:04.220
 when the schedule is,

00:29:04.259 --> 00:29:05.160
 it's something else, right?

00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:06.799
 The Lord is not slow

00:29:06.799 --> 00:29:07.960
 to fulfill his promise,

00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:08.680
 Peter says,

00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:10.100
 as some count slowness,

00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:14.880
 but is patient toward you,

00:29:16.100 --> 00:29:21.279
 not wishing that any should perish,

00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:25.940
 but that all should reach repentance.

00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:28.319
 That's why there's a delay.

00:29:29.120 --> 00:29:31.720
 That's why it's been thousands of years.

00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:35.000
 Because God has a higher priority

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.100
 than the schedule.

00:29:36.840 --> 00:29:37.299
 People.

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:40.180
 And he desires that none should perish.

00:29:40.279 --> 00:29:41.360
 He doesn't want anybody

00:29:41.360 --> 00:29:42.259
 going over the edge,

00:29:42.340 --> 00:29:43.460
 scoffer or not.

00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:45.460
 He wants everyone

00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.559
 to come to repentance,

00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:47.840
 to run to him

00:29:47.840 --> 00:29:49.559
 for the forgiveness he's provided

00:29:49.559 --> 00:29:50.940
 richly in Christ.

00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.700
 He took on flesh.

00:29:52.700 --> 00:29:53.580
 God came down,

00:29:53.720 --> 00:29:54.980
 born as a baby,

00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:56.640
 lived humbly,

00:29:57.640 --> 00:29:59.640
 walked among us,

00:30:00.059 --> 00:30:01.380
 fulfilled all righteousness,

00:30:02.039 --> 00:30:02.880
 loved his father,

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:03.860
 loved others,

00:30:04.200 --> 00:30:04.960
 taught truth,

00:30:05.440 --> 00:30:06.840
 lived this amazing life,

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:07.580
 God himself,

00:30:07.740 --> 00:30:08.259
 in the flesh,

00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:09.640
 as a full human.

00:30:10.920 --> 00:30:12.500
 Because he desired

00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:13.580
 that none should perish,

00:30:13.700 --> 00:30:14.319
 he desired

00:30:14.319 --> 00:30:15.819
 that you should not perish.

00:30:16.360 --> 00:30:17.279
 He didn't want you

00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.000
 going over the cliff.

00:30:18.200 --> 00:30:19.940
 He knew that day is coming,

00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:21.980
 and he's made provision for you.

00:30:23.539 --> 00:30:24.900
 That beautiful,

00:30:25.460 --> 00:30:27.279
 righteous life of his,

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:29.299
 he willingly offered up

00:30:29.299 --> 00:30:29.920
 on the cross

00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:30.940
 in your place.

00:30:32.360 --> 00:30:33.580
 Bearing your sin,

00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.160
 my sin.

00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.340
 Bearing my scoffing,

00:30:36.380 --> 00:30:37.539
 and I could tell lots of stories

00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:38.440
 about my scoffing

00:30:38.440 --> 00:30:39.160
 in my life.

00:30:40.120 --> 00:30:41.620
 Bearing that in himself

00:30:41.620 --> 00:30:42.620
 on the cross.

00:30:43.200 --> 00:30:44.340
 Dying in my place,

00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:44.980
 your place.

00:30:45.320 --> 00:30:46.440
 So that justice

00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:48.279
 for true evil,

00:30:48.420 --> 00:30:49.440
 true wrong against God

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:49.920
 and one another,

00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:51.480
 could be satisfied.

00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:54.059
 And then he rose again

00:30:54.059 --> 00:30:54.960
 on the third day,

00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:57.620
 victorious over your sin

00:30:57.620 --> 00:30:59.140
 and over death.

00:30:59.580 --> 00:31:00.680
 He rose again,

00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:01.759
 he's ascended,

00:31:01.880 --> 00:31:02.779
 he's reigning now,

00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:03.960
 and he's waiting

00:31:03.960 --> 00:31:06.279
 patiently

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:09.700
 to return for that final day.

00:31:11.080 --> 00:31:12.340
 This is God's desire

00:31:12.340 --> 00:31:13.100
 that none should perish,

00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:14.200
 that you shouldn't perish,

00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:15.120
 that your neighbors

00:31:15.120 --> 00:31:16.000
 shouldn't perish,

00:31:16.120 --> 00:31:17.320
 that your family members

00:31:17.320 --> 00:31:17.860
 shouldn't perish,

00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:18.620
 that your coworkers

00:31:18.620 --> 00:31:19.259
 shouldn't perish,

00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:21.240
 but find life in Christ,

00:31:21.379 --> 00:31:22.160
 find forgiveness

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:23.440
 in him.

00:31:23.720 --> 00:31:24.599
 He's patient

00:31:24.599 --> 00:31:25.460
 and waiting.

00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.859
 And so we need to understand

00:31:26.859 --> 00:31:28.339
 that the day is looming,

00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:29.720
 it could happen tomorrow,

00:31:29.879 --> 00:31:30.940
 but there's something

00:31:30.940 --> 00:31:31.660
 delaying it,

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:33.039
 and that's God is waiting

00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.879
 patiently

00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:35.339
 that none should perish.

00:31:35.420 --> 00:31:36.160
 I'm going to talk a little bit

00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:36.799
 more about that

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.400
 in a bit.

00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:42.180
 I think the thing we need

00:31:42.180 --> 00:31:42.460
 to hear,

00:31:42.460 --> 00:31:42.500
 I think the thing we need to hear,

00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:42.740
 though,

00:31:42.780 --> 00:31:43.660
 is the day looms,

00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:45.540
 and yet provision has been made,

00:31:45.620 --> 00:31:47.560
 so let's not procrastinate.

00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:49.320
 If you have not put your faith

00:31:49.320 --> 00:31:50.000
 in Christ,

00:31:50.860 --> 00:31:51.700
 do that now,

00:31:51.780 --> 00:31:52.519
 because you don't know

00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.380
 when the day will come.

00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.980
 But the day will come.

00:31:56.360 --> 00:31:57.280
 Peter makes it clear.

00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:58.860
 The day of judgment

00:31:58.860 --> 00:31:59.660
 is coming

00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.440
 when the universe,

00:32:00.560 --> 00:32:00.940
 as we know it,

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.580
 will be dissolved

00:32:01.580 --> 00:32:02.519
 and transformed,

00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.400
 and all mankind

00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.720
 will answer for their lives.

00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:06.059
 What should we do?

00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.940
 That's the next question.

00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:09.460
 What should we do?

00:32:10.299 --> 00:32:11.559
 He will say in verse 11,

00:32:11.680 --> 00:32:11.900
 and following,

00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:13.100
 since all these things

00:32:13.100 --> 00:32:14.339
 are thus to be dissolved,

00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:15.160
 what sort of people

00:32:15.160 --> 00:32:16.059
 ought you to be?

00:32:17.240 --> 00:32:17.720
 You see,

00:32:17.779 --> 00:32:19.400
 the knowledge of that final day

00:32:19.400 --> 00:32:20.700
 changes our lives.

00:32:20.819 --> 00:32:21.799
 We know the future.

00:32:22.600 --> 00:32:24.779
 We know the future.

00:32:25.299 --> 00:32:26.319
 We know what's coming.

00:32:27.100 --> 00:32:27.819
 Can you imagine

00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.779
 what you would do

00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:29.339
 if somehow

00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:30.100
 you were able

00:32:30.100 --> 00:32:31.700
 to go back in time,

00:32:32.779 --> 00:32:33.860
 and somehow,

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.460
 let's just say

00:32:34.460 --> 00:32:36.059
 bear with me

00:32:36.059 --> 00:32:36.819
 in these thought experiments.

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:38.340
 I think they'll illustrate things.

00:32:38.460 --> 00:32:39.480
 So say you were able

00:32:39.480 --> 00:32:40.420
 to go back in time

00:32:40.420 --> 00:32:42.720
 to 1930 Germany.

00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:44.900
 What's going on

00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:46.000
 in 1930 in Germany?

00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:49.680
 The Nazis are starting to rise.

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:51.860
 And you go there

00:32:51.860 --> 00:32:53.019
 knowing what you know now, right?

00:32:53.120 --> 00:32:53.920
 What would you do?

00:32:55.279 --> 00:32:56.400
 Hitler is not yet in power,

00:32:56.500 --> 00:32:57.840
 but his power is growing.

00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:59.700
 He's not been elected yet,

00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:01.539
 but the Nazi party is growing.

00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:04.899
 You are hearing,

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:05.940
 say you're fluent in German,

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:06.379
 of course.

00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.940
 You're hearing the rhetoric,

00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:10.379
 and you're seeing through it, right?

00:33:10.639 --> 00:33:11.139
 You know.

00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:13.519
 And you know that actually

00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:16.519
 within eight, nine years,

00:33:16.759 --> 00:33:18.099
 most of the German citizens

00:33:18.099 --> 00:33:18.859
 will be persuaded

00:33:18.859 --> 00:33:19.579
 by that rhetoric

00:33:19.579 --> 00:33:22.659
 and will be faithful

00:33:22.659 --> 00:33:23.839
 to the Nazi party.

00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.240
 You know that's coming,

00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:25.960
 and you know,

00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:26.559
 more importantly,

00:33:26.559 --> 00:33:27.940
 that what will come

00:33:27.940 --> 00:33:29.059
 with this reign of terror

00:33:29.059 --> 00:33:32.079
 will be the death

00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:34.119
 of six million Jews, right?

00:33:34.940 --> 00:33:36.500
 Seventy million war dead.

00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:39.039
 And you're there in 1930.

00:33:39.579 --> 00:33:40.519
 You know the future.

00:33:41.799 --> 00:33:43.480
 You're going to do something, right?

00:33:44.039 --> 00:33:44.960
 Now, I know we're limited,

00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:46.299
 but you would find something to do.

00:33:46.359 --> 00:33:47.539
 At least your Jewish friends,

00:33:47.579 --> 00:33:48.700
 you would tell them what's coming

00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.579
 and try to get them

00:33:49.579 --> 00:33:50.339
 out of the country, right?

00:33:50.399 --> 00:33:51.679
 You might get involved in politics

00:33:51.679 --> 00:33:53.259
 and try to expose things

00:33:53.259 --> 00:33:53.720
 and campaign.

00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:54.779
 Whatever it might be,

00:33:54.899 --> 00:33:55.740
 you're going to do something

00:33:55.740 --> 00:33:56.480
 with that knowledge

00:33:56.480 --> 00:33:57.460
 because you know the future.

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.160
 You know it's coming.

00:33:58.339 --> 00:33:59.180
 You can't help

00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:00.420
 but be motivated by it.

00:34:01.620 --> 00:34:03.579
 Similarly, for the final day,

00:34:03.799 --> 00:34:05.220
 you do know the future.

00:34:05.900 --> 00:34:07.039
 You know that judgment day

00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:07.779
 is coming.

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.019
 And therefore,

00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:11.380
 we do something about it.

00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:12.880
 We live our lives differently

00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.659
 in light of the final day.

00:34:15.260 --> 00:34:16.659
 And there are all sorts of things

00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.420
 that we can do.

00:34:17.719 --> 00:34:19.059
 And Peter's getting that here,

00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.219
 getting at that here

00:34:20.219 --> 00:34:20.860
 in this passage.

00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:22.179
 And he says,

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.500
 what sort of people ought you to be

00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:24.300
 in lives of holiness

00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:24.920
 and godliness

00:34:24.920 --> 00:34:26.880
 waiting for and hastening

00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:28.539
 the coming of the day of God.

00:34:28.980 --> 00:34:30.840
 So what should you do?

00:34:30.920 --> 00:34:31.880
 What sort of people ought you to be

00:34:31.880 --> 00:34:33.180
 in lives of holiness

00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:33.740
 and godliness?

00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.619
 He says first,

00:34:34.980 --> 00:34:35.700
 a life of holiness.

00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:36.740
 What does holiness mean?

00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:38.579
 That can become a religious word

00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:39.720
 sometimes that we miss.

00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:40.639
 It just simply means

00:34:40.639 --> 00:34:41.880
 being set apart for God.

00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:44.200
 So it's a life of holiness.

00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:44.619
 In other words,

00:34:44.680 --> 00:34:45.599
 I don't mess around

00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.500
 with distractions

00:34:46.500 --> 00:34:47.840
 that are going to get me off track

00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:49.059
 from this ultimate reality.

00:34:49.260 --> 00:34:50.400
 I'm going to live my life

00:34:50.400 --> 00:34:51.200
 in knowledge

00:34:51.200 --> 00:34:52.519
 that judgment day is coming.

00:34:52.519 --> 00:34:54.079
 I'm going to depend on God

00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:55.300
 because I need his strength

00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:56.259
 and I'm going to live

00:34:56.259 --> 00:34:57.019
 to help others

00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:58.139
 in light of that final day.

00:34:58.219 --> 00:34:58.960
 I'm going to live a life

00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.420
 of holiness

00:34:59.420 --> 00:35:01.000
 set apart for him

00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:01.780
 and his truth

00:35:01.780 --> 00:35:02.300
 and his ways.

00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:03.639
 And what does godliness mean?

00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:05.679
 Godliness really is the lifestyle

00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:06.719
 that comes with that.

00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:08.139
 It's who we are personally

00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:08.960
 and our practices

00:35:08.960 --> 00:35:09.960
 in light of that.

00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:11.360
 I'm going to make sure

00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:11.880
 that every morning

00:35:11.880 --> 00:35:13.259
 I get time in the word of God

00:35:13.259 --> 00:35:13.699
 and I pray

00:35:13.699 --> 00:35:14.259
 because I know

00:35:14.259 --> 00:35:15.699
 I can't do the day without him

00:35:15.699 --> 00:35:16.659
 and I know the day,

00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.699
 the ultimate day is coming

00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.820
 so I want to live a life

00:35:18.820 --> 00:35:19.460
 of godliness

00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:20.680
 and dependence on him.

00:35:20.840 --> 00:35:21.500
 So that's what

00:35:21.500 --> 00:35:23.700
 Peter is getting at.

00:35:24.740 --> 00:35:26.580
 He wants us to live that life

00:35:26.580 --> 00:35:30.019
 of godliness and holiness.

00:35:30.420 --> 00:35:31.039
 And then he says

00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:32.660
 something really amazing actually.

00:35:33.940 --> 00:35:35.960
 Waiting for and hastening

00:35:35.960 --> 00:35:37.580
 the coming of the day of God.

00:35:38.880 --> 00:35:40.720
 Waiting for and hastening.

00:35:43.200 --> 00:35:44.539
 We get the waiting part, right?

00:35:44.660 --> 00:35:45.760
 We know it's coming,

00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:46.539
 we're waiting for it,

00:35:46.580 --> 00:35:47.180
 we're expecting it,

00:35:47.179 --> 00:35:47.980
 but hastening?

00:35:49.259 --> 00:35:50.599
 How can you hasten the day?

00:35:52.359 --> 00:35:54.119
 Well actually he tells us how

00:35:54.119 --> 00:35:56.019
 earlier, right?

00:35:56.359 --> 00:35:57.679
 Because why is the day delaying?

00:35:59.419 --> 00:36:00.379
 The day is delaying

00:36:00.379 --> 00:36:01.219
 because God is waiting

00:36:01.219 --> 00:36:02.940
 that none should perish.

00:36:04.179 --> 00:36:06.259
 God wants all to come to know him.

00:36:06.339 --> 00:36:07.219
 He wants to work.

00:36:07.319 --> 00:36:09.079
 He wants the good news of Christ,

00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:10.019
 the reality of Christ

00:36:10.019 --> 00:36:12.480
 to go out to the whole world.

00:36:13.239 --> 00:36:14.319
 He's told us that, right?

00:36:14.320 --> 00:36:15.820
 When Jesus rose

00:36:15.820 --> 00:36:17.820
 and gave his final instructions,

00:36:17.940 --> 00:36:18.680
 what did he say?

00:36:20.080 --> 00:36:21.039
 Go therefore,

00:36:21.680 --> 00:36:22.860
 all authority in heaven and earth

00:36:22.860 --> 00:36:24.280
 has been given to me.

00:36:24.660 --> 00:36:25.860
 I have overcome sin and death

00:36:25.860 --> 00:36:27.340
 and I now preside over all things

00:36:27.340 --> 00:36:28.280
 as the ultimate human,

00:36:28.360 --> 00:36:29.500
 as God in the flesh.

00:36:30.220 --> 00:36:31.019
 Go therefore,

00:36:31.240 --> 00:36:32.160
 and make disciples

00:36:32.160 --> 00:36:35.059
 of all peoples,

00:36:35.140 --> 00:36:35.780
 all nations.

00:36:37.420 --> 00:36:38.200
 Of course that means

00:36:38.200 --> 00:36:39.559
 those in your neighborhood,

00:36:39.780 --> 00:36:40.240
 but it means

00:36:40.240 --> 00:36:41.300
 to the ends of the earth.

00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:44.620
 And he says elsewhere in Matthew,

00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:45.640
 then the end will come.

00:36:47.460 --> 00:36:48.820
 That's what Peter's talking about.

00:36:49.660 --> 00:36:51.180
 That's how you hasten the day.

00:36:52.039 --> 00:36:53.080
 You hasten the day

00:36:53.080 --> 00:36:54.420
 by depending on him,

00:36:55.240 --> 00:36:56.280
 drawing on his strength.

00:36:56.340 --> 00:36:57.060
 We're going to talk about that

00:36:57.060 --> 00:36:57.820
 in the close,

00:36:57.960 --> 00:36:59.260
 but drawing on his strength,

00:37:00.100 --> 00:37:01.460
 living an exemplary life

00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:02.240
 by grace,

00:37:02.680 --> 00:37:03.680
 loving your neighbors

00:37:03.680 --> 00:37:05.039
 and telling them the good news

00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:06.340
 and helping them to understand

00:37:06.340 --> 00:37:07.640
 there's a bridge that's down

00:37:07.640 --> 00:37:09.080
 and it's looming ahead.

00:37:09.640 --> 00:37:10.680
 And yet there's a solution.

00:37:11.300 --> 00:37:12.519
 And you pray,

00:37:12.620 --> 00:37:13.400
 as you guys do,

00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:13.900
 I'm sure,

00:37:14.480 --> 00:37:15.640
 that God will work in their lives.

00:37:15.920 --> 00:37:16.820
 And you go

00:37:16.820 --> 00:37:18.360
 to the nations

00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:20.700
 who don't yet know.

00:37:21.340 --> 00:37:22.480
 Because God's heart

00:37:22.480 --> 00:37:23.539
 is for them.

00:37:26.760 --> 00:37:28.300
 That's who he's waiting for.

00:37:29.340 --> 00:37:30.240
 Your neighbors

00:37:30.240 --> 00:37:31.740
 and those among the nations.

00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:33.600
 He's desiring

00:37:33.600 --> 00:37:34.800
 that none should perish.

00:37:35.940 --> 00:37:37.539
 That all should come to know him

00:37:37.539 --> 00:37:39.180
 and certainly all peoples,

00:37:39.180 --> 00:37:40.320
 all people groups.

00:37:41.300 --> 00:37:43.680
 there are

00:37:43.680 --> 00:37:46.760
 about 8 billion people

00:37:46.760 --> 00:37:47.220
 in the world

00:37:47.220 --> 00:37:49.300
 and just a little over

00:37:49.300 --> 00:37:51.120
 3 billion of those

00:37:51.120 --> 00:37:52.760
 have no opportunity

00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:54.000
 whatsoever

00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:56.480
 to hear the good news of Jesus.

00:37:56.780 --> 00:37:57.400
 None at all.

00:37:57.820 --> 00:37:59.080
 They don't know any Christians

00:37:59.080 --> 00:38:00.000
 and many of them

00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:00.820
 have no idea

00:38:00.820 --> 00:38:02.360
 who Jesus is at all.

00:38:02.360 --> 00:38:04.940
 God is waiting

00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:07.180
 for those 3 billion

00:38:07.180 --> 00:38:09.519
 and their villages

00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:11.460
 and their ethnic groups

00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:13.200
 to hear the good news

00:38:13.200 --> 00:38:14.160
 because he desires

00:38:14.160 --> 00:38:15.700
 that they wouldn't perish

00:38:15.700 --> 00:38:18.059
 but be saved.

00:38:18.059 --> 00:38:21.519
 recently I

00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:24.059
 got to read a letter

00:38:24.059 --> 00:38:26.400
 written to

00:38:26.400 --> 00:38:27.219
 a man I know

00:38:27.219 --> 00:38:28.059
 who served

00:38:28.059 --> 00:38:28.940
 on the mission field

00:38:28.940 --> 00:38:30.759
 by somebody

00:38:30.759 --> 00:38:32.679
 in a neighboring tribe

00:38:32.679 --> 00:38:33.440
 to his friend.

00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:34.619
 his friend

00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:35.619
 had gone to

00:38:35.619 --> 00:38:36.659
 the Eteri people

00:38:36.659 --> 00:38:37.820
 in Papua New Guinea

00:38:37.820 --> 00:38:38.460
 so you can look

00:38:38.460 --> 00:38:39.179
 this story up.

00:38:39.980 --> 00:38:40.460
 He had labored

00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:41.480
 for 20 years

00:38:41.480 --> 00:38:43.460
 to translate the Bible

00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:44.760
 and to live

00:38:44.760 --> 00:38:46.139
 a life of dependence

00:38:46.139 --> 00:38:46.740
 on Jesus

00:38:46.740 --> 00:38:47.700
 before these people

00:38:47.700 --> 00:38:48.380
 to love them

00:38:48.380 --> 00:38:48.700
 truly.

00:38:50.099 --> 00:38:51.019
 This tribe

00:38:51.019 --> 00:38:52.440
 was in deep

00:38:52.440 --> 00:38:53.280
 darkness.

00:38:55.280 --> 00:38:56.360
 Great darkness.

00:38:57.900 --> 00:38:58.420
 Demonization.

00:38:58.639 --> 00:38:59.539
 Demonic activity.

00:39:00.240 --> 00:39:00.579
 Murder.

00:39:00.579 --> 00:39:01.480
 Regular murder.

00:39:01.759 --> 00:39:02.539
 Regular rape.

00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:02.880
 Actually

00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.960
 from what I understand

00:39:03.960 --> 00:39:05.179
 every woman in the tribe

00:39:05.179 --> 00:39:05.880
 had been raped.

00:39:06.699 --> 00:39:07.239
 Deceit.

00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:08.299
 Warfare.

00:39:08.659 --> 00:39:09.199
 And disease

00:39:09.199 --> 00:39:10.119
 marked this tribe.

00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:11.759
 This is how they lived

00:39:11.759 --> 00:39:13.460
 as this man came to them

00:39:13.460 --> 00:39:14.400
 and he labored

00:39:14.400 --> 00:39:15.259
 for 20 years.

00:39:15.639 --> 00:39:16.319
 Translated the Bible

00:39:16.319 --> 00:39:16.779
 for them.

00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:17.420
 Loved them.

00:39:17.900 --> 00:39:19.759
 Explained the good news

00:39:19.759 --> 00:39:21.279
 as best he could.

00:39:22.179 --> 00:39:23.699
 And around 20 years

00:39:23.699 --> 00:39:25.039
 of labor

00:39:25.039 --> 00:39:27.719
 resulted by God's grace

00:39:27.719 --> 00:39:29.079
 and a breakthrough

00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:29.719
 in this tribe.

00:39:29.719 --> 00:39:31.099
 They believed

00:39:31.099 --> 00:39:31.980
 the good news.

00:39:32.399 --> 00:39:33.000
 They believed it

00:39:33.000 --> 00:39:33.699
 for themselves.

00:39:33.919 --> 00:39:34.599
 They understood

00:39:34.599 --> 00:39:35.299
 it was for them

00:39:35.299 --> 00:39:36.619
 and the whole tribe

00:39:36.619 --> 00:39:37.799
 put their faith in Christ.

00:39:38.059 --> 00:39:38.739
 There's videos

00:39:38.739 --> 00:39:39.399
 you can see of them

00:39:39.399 --> 00:39:40.179
 celebrating when they

00:39:40.179 --> 00:39:40.899
 received the Bible

00:39:40.899 --> 00:39:42.279
 and it transformed

00:39:42.279 --> 00:39:42.819
 this tribe.

00:39:43.279 --> 00:39:44.359
 Radical transformation.

00:39:44.739 --> 00:39:45.179
 Forgiveness.

00:39:45.539 --> 00:39:45.899
 Love.

00:39:46.279 --> 00:39:46.699
 Godliness.

00:39:46.939 --> 00:39:47.819
 It just totally

00:39:47.819 --> 00:39:48.719
 changed the tribe

00:39:48.719 --> 00:39:49.919
 and the other tribes

00:39:49.919 --> 00:39:51.139
 around the area

00:39:51.139 --> 00:39:52.139
 who spoke different languages

00:39:52.139 --> 00:39:52.879
 that's how it works

00:39:52.879 --> 00:39:53.500
 in Papua New Guinea

00:39:53.500 --> 00:39:54.379
 because of the ruggedness.

00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:55.480
 They spoke different languages.

00:39:55.619 --> 00:39:56.279
 They started hearing

00:39:56.279 --> 00:39:57.000
 about what happened

00:39:57.000 --> 00:39:58.019
 in this tribe

00:39:58.019 --> 00:39:59.199
 and they realized

00:39:59.199 --> 00:39:59.719
 even though

00:39:59.719 --> 00:40:00.619
 they were not followers

00:40:00.619 --> 00:40:01.019
 of Christ

00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:01.639
 they understood

00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:02.519
 their own darkness

00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:03.840
 and they wrote letters

00:40:03.840 --> 00:40:04.940
 to my friend

00:40:04.940 --> 00:40:06.199
 asking him to help.

00:40:06.320 --> 00:40:07.519
 This is one letter.

00:40:07.659 --> 00:40:08.239
 It's a real letter

00:40:08.239 --> 00:40:09.980
 from a man named

00:40:09.980 --> 00:40:10.440
 Wapia.

00:40:12.559 --> 00:40:13.579
 And he writes,

00:40:14.280 --> 00:40:15.360
 What's going on?

00:40:16.940 --> 00:40:18.039
 Where is our help?

00:40:19.300 --> 00:40:20.659
 Have you forgot about us?

00:40:21.400 --> 00:40:22.440
 We have sinned now

00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:23.019
 and haven't forgot

00:40:23.019 --> 00:40:24.039
 about wanting a missionary.

00:40:24.219 --> 00:40:25.400
 We carry a huge heavy

00:40:25.400 --> 00:40:26.719
 constantly about this.

00:40:26.719 --> 00:40:28.039
 We carry this heavy

00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:28.759
 because we fear

00:40:28.759 --> 00:40:29.599
 for our lives.

00:40:29.859 --> 00:40:30.579
 We know the Bible

00:40:30.579 --> 00:40:31.480
 says you should come

00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:32.099
 and tell us.

00:40:32.339 --> 00:40:33.299
 Us dark ones need it.

00:40:33.359 --> 00:40:33.980
 How will we go

00:40:33.980 --> 00:40:34.619
 to God's place

00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:35.239
 if not?

00:40:35.759 --> 00:40:36.919
 Only those who know

00:40:36.919 --> 00:40:37.639
 will go.

00:40:37.799 --> 00:40:38.459
 How will we know

00:40:38.459 --> 00:40:39.699
 if no one teaches us?

00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:41.159
 That's the bottom line

00:40:41.159 --> 00:40:41.699
 of my worry.

00:40:41.799 --> 00:40:42.819
 We want a missionary now

00:40:42.819 --> 00:40:43.919
 to give us God's talk.

00:40:44.539 --> 00:40:45.299
 We're Piusanaki,

00:40:45.459 --> 00:40:46.159
 Sinal Village.

00:40:47.980 --> 00:40:49.059
 My friend couldn't go.

00:40:52.579 --> 00:40:54.139
 He had other things

00:40:54.139 --> 00:40:54.779
 he had to do.

00:40:54.780 --> 00:40:57.360
 God is waiting

00:40:57.360 --> 00:40:58.580
 for Wapia

00:40:58.580 --> 00:40:59.620
 and his tribe.

00:41:00.580 --> 00:41:01.060
 That's why

00:41:01.060 --> 00:41:01.560
 Judgment Day

00:41:01.560 --> 00:41:02.080
 hasn't come.

00:41:04.640 --> 00:41:05.760
 Wapia needs somebody

00:41:05.760 --> 00:41:06.740
 to go there

00:41:06.740 --> 00:41:07.860
 and there's many

00:41:07.860 --> 00:41:08.300
 like him.

00:41:11.320 --> 00:41:12.080
 I don't know

00:41:12.080 --> 00:41:12.700
 what God's call

00:41:12.700 --> 00:41:13.700
 is on your life

00:41:13.700 --> 00:41:14.480
 but it might be

00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:15.240
 that you would be

00:41:15.240 --> 00:41:15.620
 the one

00:41:15.620 --> 00:41:16.500
 to go

00:41:16.500 --> 00:41:18.080
 there

00:41:18.080 --> 00:41:19.540
 or somewhere else.

00:41:20.480 --> 00:41:21.220
 That's how we

00:41:21.220 --> 00:41:21.940
 hasten the day.

00:41:22.040 --> 00:41:22.580
 That's what Peter

00:41:22.580 --> 00:41:23.320
 is talking about.

00:41:23.320 --> 00:41:25.280
 We hasten the day

00:41:25.280 --> 00:41:26.480
 by being diligent

00:41:26.480 --> 00:41:27.420
 about the work

00:41:27.420 --> 00:41:28.660
 he's called us to do

00:41:28.660 --> 00:41:29.900
 and Peter further

00:41:29.900 --> 00:41:31.260
 tells us in verse 14

00:41:31.260 --> 00:41:31.920
 to be diligent

00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:33.059
 to be found by him

00:41:33.059 --> 00:41:33.740
 without spot

00:41:33.740 --> 00:41:34.320
 or blemish

00:41:34.320 --> 00:41:35.360
 and at peace.

00:41:36.220 --> 00:41:37.260
 This day is coming

00:41:37.260 --> 00:41:38.000
 and so you want

00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:38.460
 to be ready.

00:41:38.620 --> 00:41:39.539
 You want to be there

00:41:39.539 --> 00:41:40.680
 without spot

00:41:40.680 --> 00:41:41.320
 or blemish

00:41:41.320 --> 00:41:41.940
 and at peace.

00:41:42.019 --> 00:41:42.720
 What does that mean?

00:41:42.800 --> 00:41:43.220
 Does that mean

00:41:43.220 --> 00:41:44.280
 we have to be perfect?

00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:45.920
 I'm sure that's

00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:46.720
 a scary thought

00:41:46.720 --> 00:41:47.400
 as I even

00:41:47.400 --> 00:41:48.039
 I said that

00:41:48.039 --> 00:41:48.680
 without spot

00:41:48.680 --> 00:41:49.080
 or blemish

00:41:49.080 --> 00:41:49.760
 I'm in a lot

00:41:49.760 --> 00:41:50.160
 of trouble.

00:41:50.159 --> 00:41:51.359
 Well biblically

00:41:51.359 --> 00:41:52.019
 when it talks

00:41:52.019 --> 00:41:52.480
 about this

00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:53.079
 it doesn't mean

00:41:53.079 --> 00:41:53.559
 perfection.

00:41:55.159 --> 00:41:55.879
 You're not going

00:41:55.879 --> 00:41:56.500
 to be perfect

00:41:56.500 --> 00:41:57.259
 without sin

00:41:57.259 --> 00:41:57.739
 until you go

00:41:57.739 --> 00:41:58.500
 to be with Jesus.

00:41:59.779 --> 00:42:00.399
 But being without

00:42:00.399 --> 00:42:01.259
 spot or blemish

00:42:01.259 --> 00:42:02.219
 means being someone

00:42:02.219 --> 00:42:03.759
 who doesn't

00:42:03.759 --> 00:42:04.659
 allow sin

00:42:04.659 --> 00:42:05.480
 to rule

00:42:05.480 --> 00:42:06.339
 and run your life.

00:42:07.420 --> 00:42:08.659
 You don't stay

00:42:08.659 --> 00:42:09.539
 dirty

00:42:09.539 --> 00:42:10.239
 when you're dirty

00:42:10.239 --> 00:42:11.159
 you get clean

00:42:11.159 --> 00:42:11.739
 quickly.

00:42:12.819 --> 00:42:13.279
 That's

00:42:13.279 --> 00:42:14.239
 that's how

00:42:14.239 --> 00:42:15.139
 a believer actually

00:42:15.139 --> 00:42:15.639
 is distinguished

00:42:15.639 --> 00:42:16.259
 from somebody

00:42:16.259 --> 00:42:16.920
 who's not following

00:42:16.920 --> 00:42:17.199
 Jesus

00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:18.099
 but claiming to.

00:42:18.099 --> 00:42:19.239
 The one who's

00:42:19.239 --> 00:42:19.880
 following Jesus

00:42:19.880 --> 00:42:20.599
 will get dirty

00:42:20.599 --> 00:42:21.579
 along with the other

00:42:21.579 --> 00:42:22.259
 but they'll run

00:42:22.259 --> 00:42:22.799
 to the light.

00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:24.019
 So John

00:42:24.019 --> 00:42:24.759
 says it this way

00:42:24.759 --> 00:42:25.739
 if we say

00:42:25.739 --> 00:42:26.460
 we have fellowship

00:42:26.460 --> 00:42:27.119
 with him

00:42:27.119 --> 00:42:27.679
 while we walk

00:42:27.679 --> 00:42:28.119
 in darkness

00:42:28.119 --> 00:42:28.579
 we lie

00:42:28.579 --> 00:42:28.900
 and do not

00:42:28.900 --> 00:42:29.639
 practice the truth.

00:42:30.039 --> 00:42:30.679
 But if we walk

00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:31.099
 in the light

00:42:31.099 --> 00:42:32.000
 as he is in the light

00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:32.579
 we have fellowship

00:42:32.579 --> 00:42:33.239
 with one another

00:42:33.239 --> 00:42:33.980
 and the blood

00:42:33.980 --> 00:42:34.759
 of Jesus' son

00:42:34.759 --> 00:42:35.500
 cleanses us

00:42:35.500 --> 00:42:36.639
 from all sin.

00:42:37.779 --> 00:42:38.539
 The difference

00:42:38.539 --> 00:42:39.880
 is that you run

00:42:39.880 --> 00:42:40.420
 to the light.

00:42:41.279 --> 00:42:41.920
 That's how you

00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:42.619
 get yourself ready.

00:42:43.380 --> 00:42:43.940
 And so if you're

00:42:43.940 --> 00:42:44.380
 in the darkness

00:42:44.380 --> 00:42:44.900
 right now

00:42:44.900 --> 00:42:45.440
 as a believer

00:42:45.440 --> 00:42:47.599
 you don't want

00:42:47.599 --> 00:42:48.039
 to be found

00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:48.579
 in the darkness

00:42:48.579 --> 00:42:49.779
 if the day

00:42:49.779 --> 00:42:50.239
 were to come

00:42:50.239 --> 00:42:50.659
 today.

00:42:51.719 --> 00:42:52.460
 You want

00:42:52.460 --> 00:42:53.519
 to be one

00:42:53.519 --> 00:42:54.360
 who keeps

00:42:54.360 --> 00:42:54.779
 on running

00:42:54.779 --> 00:42:55.619
 to the light.

00:42:56.019 --> 00:42:56.759
 And you do that

00:42:56.759 --> 00:42:57.380
 by being here

00:42:57.380 --> 00:42:58.139
 that's a wonderful

00:42:58.139 --> 00:42:58.579
 step.

00:42:59.019 --> 00:42:59.599
 You do that

00:42:59.599 --> 00:43:00.579
 by talking

00:43:00.579 --> 00:43:01.059
 to others

00:43:01.059 --> 00:43:01.559
 who you can

00:43:01.559 --> 00:43:01.900
 trust

00:43:01.900 --> 00:43:02.400
 and tell them

00:43:02.400 --> 00:43:02.880
 your struggle

00:43:02.880 --> 00:43:03.420
 so you can

00:43:03.420 --> 00:43:04.059
 pray for each

00:43:04.059 --> 00:43:04.319
 other.

00:43:04.579 --> 00:43:05.440
 We all struggle

00:43:05.440 --> 00:43:07.219
 but we want

00:43:07.219 --> 00:43:07.500
 to run

00:43:07.500 --> 00:43:07.980
 to the light.

00:43:08.159 --> 00:43:08.380
 We want

00:43:08.380 --> 00:43:08.759
 to live

00:43:08.759 --> 00:43:09.119
 in this

00:43:09.119 --> 00:43:09.739
 lifestyle

00:43:09.739 --> 00:43:10.500
 of dependence

00:43:10.500 --> 00:43:11.039
 on him

00:43:11.039 --> 00:43:11.779
 getting clean

00:43:11.779 --> 00:43:12.639
 and receiving

00:43:12.639 --> 00:43:13.279
 his power.

00:43:14.139 --> 00:43:14.480
 We want

00:43:14.480 --> 00:43:16.279
 to be ready.

00:43:16.719 --> 00:43:16.940
 We want

00:43:16.940 --> 00:43:17.519
 to be aware.

00:43:17.940 --> 00:43:18.200
 We want

00:43:18.200 --> 00:43:18.619
 to be ready.

00:43:18.800 --> 00:43:19.159
 And finally

00:43:19.159 --> 00:43:19.740
 and more quickly

00:43:19.740 --> 00:43:20.139
 we want

00:43:20.139 --> 00:43:20.800
 to be strengthened

00:43:20.800 --> 00:43:21.599
 but probably

00:43:21.599 --> 00:43:22.559
 most importantly.

00:43:23.920 --> 00:43:24.760
 Peter continues

00:43:24.760 --> 00:43:26.740
 in verse 15

00:43:26.740 --> 00:43:28.000
 through 18

00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:29.200
 speaking about

00:43:29.200 --> 00:43:30.240
 this idea

00:43:30.240 --> 00:43:30.679
 that really

00:43:30.679 --> 00:43:31.059
 the idea

00:43:31.059 --> 00:43:31.400
 of being

00:43:31.400 --> 00:43:31.900
 strengthened.

00:43:32.340 --> 00:43:32.940
 He mentions

00:43:32.940 --> 00:43:34.980
 the apostle

00:43:34.980 --> 00:43:35.480
 Paul.

00:43:35.780 --> 00:43:36.599
 He says

00:43:36.599 --> 00:43:37.059
 to count

00:43:37.059 --> 00:43:37.599
 the patience

00:43:37.599 --> 00:43:38.159
 of our Lord

00:43:38.159 --> 00:43:38.940
 as salvation.

00:43:39.179 --> 00:43:39.380
 And so

00:43:39.380 --> 00:43:39.920
 the patience

00:43:39.920 --> 00:43:40.360
 of God.

00:43:40.639 --> 00:43:40.940
 We live

00:43:40.940 --> 00:43:41.480
 in this time

00:43:41.480 --> 00:43:42.159
 he's waiting.

00:43:42.599 --> 00:43:42.960
 It's for the

00:43:42.960 --> 00:43:43.760
 sake of salvation.

00:43:44.079 --> 00:43:44.820
 It's for the

00:43:44.820 --> 00:43:45.179
 sake of our

00:43:45.179 --> 00:43:45.860
 own salvation.

00:43:45.860 --> 00:43:46.620
 He wants

00:43:46.620 --> 00:43:47.400
 us to be

00:43:47.400 --> 00:43:47.740
 saved

00:43:47.740 --> 00:43:48.280
 and to

00:43:48.280 --> 00:43:48.880
 grow in

00:43:48.880 --> 00:43:49.519
 our salvation.

00:43:49.860 --> 00:43:50.260
 He wants

00:43:50.260 --> 00:43:50.579
 us to

00:43:50.579 --> 00:43:51.099
 grow in

00:43:51.099 --> 00:43:51.340
 Christ.

00:43:51.579 --> 00:43:51.900
 He wants

00:43:51.900 --> 00:43:52.180
 us to

00:43:52.180 --> 00:43:52.559
 extend

00:43:52.559 --> 00:43:52.780
 that

00:43:52.780 --> 00:43:53.160
 salvation

00:43:53.160 --> 00:43:53.559
 to others.

00:43:53.640 --> 00:43:54.039
 So count

00:43:54.039 --> 00:43:54.440
 our lives

00:43:54.440 --> 00:43:55.019
 this way.

00:43:55.079 --> 00:43:55.220
 And then

00:43:55.220 --> 00:43:56.039
 he mentions

00:43:56.039 --> 00:43:56.599
 he talks

00:43:56.599 --> 00:43:57.240
 about Paul

00:43:57.240 --> 00:43:57.920
 in there.

00:43:58.420 --> 00:43:58.840
 And then

00:43:58.840 --> 00:43:59.559
 returns to

00:43:59.559 --> 00:44:00.140
 the scoffers

00:44:00.140 --> 00:44:00.660
 again because

00:44:00.660 --> 00:44:01.140
 he says

00:44:01.140 --> 00:44:01.519
 that there

00:44:01.519 --> 00:44:01.900
 are certain

00:44:01.900 --> 00:44:03.400
 people that

00:44:03.400 --> 00:44:03.960
 take the

00:44:03.960 --> 00:44:04.579
 hard things

00:44:04.579 --> 00:44:05.380
 about Paul

00:44:05.380 --> 00:44:05.620
 that are

00:44:05.620 --> 00:44:05.900
 hard to

00:44:05.900 --> 00:44:06.220
 understand.

00:44:06.380 --> 00:44:06.539
 And there

00:44:06.539 --> 00:44:06.840
 are some

00:44:06.840 --> 00:44:07.579
 deep theological

00:44:07.579 --> 00:44:08.120
 truths in

00:44:08.120 --> 00:44:08.400
 Paul's

00:44:08.400 --> 00:44:08.660
 writings.

00:44:08.780 --> 00:44:09.059
 Wonderful

00:44:09.059 --> 00:44:09.420
 ones.

00:44:09.519 --> 00:44:10.000
 But can

00:44:10.000 --> 00:44:10.300
 be hard

00:44:10.300 --> 00:44:10.880
 to understand.

00:44:11.500 --> 00:44:11.700
 And he

00:44:11.700 --> 00:44:12.220
 says that

00:44:12.220 --> 00:44:12.800
 those who

00:44:12.800 --> 00:44:13.140
 are ignorant

00:44:13.140 --> 00:44:13.620
 and unstable

00:44:13.619 --> 00:44:14.500
 twist those

00:44:14.500 --> 00:44:15.079
 things.

00:44:16.099 --> 00:44:16.719
 They take

00:44:16.719 --> 00:44:17.339
 those teachings

00:44:17.339 --> 00:44:17.779
 and they

00:44:17.779 --> 00:44:18.259
 twist them

00:44:18.259 --> 00:44:18.679
 really to

00:44:18.679 --> 00:44:19.119
 the wrong

00:44:19.119 --> 00:44:19.799
 purpose.

00:44:20.659 --> 00:44:21.339
 Instead of

00:44:21.339 --> 00:44:21.799
 the purpose

00:44:21.799 --> 00:44:23.159
 being learning

00:44:23.159 --> 00:44:23.839
 more about

00:44:23.839 --> 00:44:24.799
 the wonder

00:44:24.799 --> 00:44:25.400
 of grace

00:44:25.400 --> 00:44:25.699
 and the

00:44:25.699 --> 00:44:26.179
 goodness of

00:44:26.179 --> 00:44:26.579
 God and

00:44:26.579 --> 00:44:27.239
 depending on

00:44:27.239 --> 00:44:28.880
 Jesus and

00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:29.920
 producing a

00:44:29.920 --> 00:44:31.019
 life like

00:44:31.019 --> 00:44:31.759
 Jesus, they

00:44:31.759 --> 00:44:32.359
 twist it for

00:44:32.359 --> 00:44:32.900
 other reasons.

00:44:33.059 --> 00:44:33.859
 Probably there

00:44:33.859 --> 00:44:34.480
 are libertines

00:44:34.480 --> 00:44:35.119
 who take the

00:44:35.119 --> 00:44:35.719
 idea of grace

00:44:35.719 --> 00:44:36.799
 to mean you

00:44:36.799 --> 00:44:37.000
 can do

00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:37.319
 whatever you

00:44:37.319 --> 00:44:37.579
 want.

00:44:38.079 --> 00:44:38.579
 Don't worry

00:44:38.579 --> 00:44:38.819
 about it.

00:44:38.819 --> 00:44:38.960
 You're

00:44:38.960 --> 00:44:39.199
 forgiven.

00:44:39.299 --> 00:44:39.579
 Do whatever

00:44:39.579 --> 00:44:40.019
 you want.

00:44:40.239 --> 00:44:40.779
 They twist

00:44:40.779 --> 00:44:40.960
 it.

00:44:41.219 --> 00:44:41.480
 And Peter

00:44:41.480 --> 00:44:42.199
 says don't

00:44:42.199 --> 00:44:42.799
 fall for

00:44:42.799 --> 00:44:42.980
 that.

00:44:43.039 --> 00:44:43.199
 That's

00:44:43.199 --> 00:44:43.619
 another

00:44:43.619 --> 00:44:44.299
 type of

00:44:44.299 --> 00:44:45.000
 scoffing

00:44:45.000 --> 00:44:45.779
 that scoffs

00:44:45.779 --> 00:44:46.960
 and misunderstands

00:44:46.960 --> 00:44:47.460
 the intent

00:44:47.460 --> 00:44:47.960
 of all

00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:48.460
 theology.

00:44:48.599 --> 00:44:49.419
 The intent

00:44:49.419 --> 00:44:49.819
 of all

00:44:49.819 --> 00:44:50.379
 theology is

00:44:50.379 --> 00:44:50.899
 to know

00:44:50.899 --> 00:44:51.460
 God and

00:44:51.460 --> 00:44:51.939
 to live

00:44:51.939 --> 00:44:52.519
 in his

00:44:52.519 --> 00:44:53.159
 grace and

00:44:53.159 --> 00:44:54.019
 walk in

00:44:54.019 --> 00:44:54.480
 his ways.

00:44:54.599 --> 00:44:55.119
 So don't

00:44:55.119 --> 00:44:55.859
 get

00:44:55.859 --> 00:44:56.980
 destabilized

00:44:56.980 --> 00:44:57.259
 is what

00:44:57.259 --> 00:44:57.659
 Peter is

00:44:57.659 --> 00:44:58.019
 saying.

00:44:59.599 --> 00:45:00.079
 Instead

00:45:00.079 --> 00:45:00.980
 do what?

00:45:02.259 --> 00:45:02.779
 Grow

00:45:02.779 --> 00:45:03.759
 in the

00:45:03.759 --> 00:45:04.919
 grace and

00:45:04.919 --> 00:45:05.719
 knowledge of

00:45:05.719 --> 00:45:06.000
 our Lord

00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:06.299
 and Savior

00:45:06.299 --> 00:45:06.599
 Jesus

00:45:06.599 --> 00:45:07.019
 Christ.

00:45:07.339 --> 00:45:07.699
 That's

00:45:07.699 --> 00:45:08.000
 what it's

00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:08.359
 about.

00:45:09.480 --> 00:45:09.960
 Grow

00:45:09.960 --> 00:45:10.339
 in the

00:45:10.339 --> 00:45:10.719
 grace.

00:45:10.799 --> 00:45:11.279
 The grace

00:45:11.279 --> 00:45:11.819
 that we

00:45:11.819 --> 00:45:12.219
 have in

00:45:12.219 --> 00:45:12.959
 Christ is

00:45:12.959 --> 00:45:13.519
 amazing.

00:45:14.019 --> 00:45:14.219
 You'll

00:45:14.219 --> 00:45:15.399
 never finish

00:45:15.399 --> 00:45:16.199
 understanding

00:45:16.199 --> 00:45:16.799
 all the

00:45:16.799 --> 00:45:17.359
 wonders that

00:45:17.359 --> 00:45:17.919
 God would

00:45:17.919 --> 00:45:18.339
 die in

00:45:18.339 --> 00:45:18.719
 your place.

00:45:18.779 --> 00:45:18.980
 That he

00:45:18.980 --> 00:45:19.480
 loves you.

00:45:19.539 --> 00:45:19.839
 He's loved

00:45:19.839 --> 00:45:20.119
 you from

00:45:20.119 --> 00:45:20.639
 eternity.

00:45:21.079 --> 00:45:21.399
 That he

00:45:21.399 --> 00:45:22.059
 keeps you.

00:45:22.279 --> 00:45:22.579
 That he

00:45:22.579 --> 00:45:23.219
 empowers you.

00:45:23.299 --> 00:45:23.519
 That he

00:45:23.519 --> 00:45:24.099
 uses you.

00:45:24.259 --> 00:45:24.599
 That he

00:45:24.599 --> 00:45:25.239
 forgives you

00:45:25.239 --> 00:45:26.219
 freely all

00:45:26.219 --> 00:45:26.719
 the time.

00:45:26.799 --> 00:45:27.079
 That he's

00:45:27.079 --> 00:45:27.659
 with you.

00:45:27.859 --> 00:45:28.399
 He'll see you

00:45:28.399 --> 00:45:28.819
 to the end.

00:45:28.899 --> 00:45:29.379
 All these

00:45:29.379 --> 00:45:29.859
 wonders of

00:45:29.859 --> 00:45:30.359
 grace are

00:45:30.359 --> 00:45:31.119
 things to

00:45:31.119 --> 00:45:31.500
 explore.

00:45:31.639 --> 00:45:31.799
 We're to

00:45:31.799 --> 00:45:32.899
 grow in

00:45:32.899 --> 00:45:33.379
 the grace

00:45:33.379 --> 00:45:33.959
 and knowledge

00:45:33.959 --> 00:45:34.199
 of our

00:45:34.199 --> 00:45:34.539
 Lord Jesus

00:45:34.539 --> 00:45:34.819
 Christ.

00:45:34.899 --> 00:45:35.279
 To know

00:45:35.279 --> 00:45:35.799
 God in

00:45:35.799 --> 00:45:36.199
 the flesh

00:45:36.199 --> 00:45:36.500
 and who

00:45:36.500 --> 00:45:37.039
 he is.

00:45:37.639 --> 00:45:38.279
 More and

00:45:38.279 --> 00:45:38.500
 more.

00:45:38.799 --> 00:45:39.139
 There are some

00:45:39.139 --> 00:45:39.940
 wonderful books

00:45:39.940 --> 00:45:40.539
 on this.

00:45:41.199 --> 00:45:42.179
 I'm reading

00:45:42.179 --> 00:45:42.699
 a book called

00:45:42.699 --> 00:45:43.739
 Deeper.

00:45:45.279 --> 00:45:45.799
 Is it

00:45:45.799 --> 00:45:46.359
 Gavin Ortlund?

00:45:46.440 --> 00:45:46.699
 Or Dane

00:45:46.699 --> 00:45:47.000
 Ortlund?

00:45:47.099 --> 00:45:47.679
 By Dane

00:45:47.679 --> 00:45:48.019
 Ortlund.

00:45:48.519 --> 00:45:49.139
 Helping me to

00:45:49.139 --> 00:45:49.559
 grow in the

00:45:49.559 --> 00:45:49.900
 grace and

00:45:49.900 --> 00:45:50.279
 knowledge of

00:45:50.279 --> 00:45:50.400
 the Lord.

00:45:50.460 --> 00:45:50.779
 That's what

00:45:50.779 --> 00:45:51.659
 Peter wants

00:45:51.659 --> 00:45:52.179
 them to do.

00:45:52.279 --> 00:45:52.759
 He wants

00:45:52.759 --> 00:45:53.059
 them to,

00:45:53.519 --> 00:45:54.119
 he's finishing

00:45:54.119 --> 00:45:54.460
 the letter

00:45:54.460 --> 00:45:54.940
 really with

00:45:54.940 --> 00:45:55.579
 this emphasis.

00:45:57.159 --> 00:45:57.920
 To grow in

00:45:57.920 --> 00:45:58.480
 the grace and

00:45:58.480 --> 00:45:58.879
 knowledge of

00:45:58.879 --> 00:45:59.059
 the Lord.

00:45:59.379 --> 00:45:59.699
 Let your

00:45:59.699 --> 00:46:00.539
 life be

00:46:00.539 --> 00:46:01.420
 nourished by

00:46:01.420 --> 00:46:02.259
 the grace and

00:46:02.259 --> 00:46:02.839
 knowledge of

00:46:02.839 --> 00:46:03.259
 Christ.

00:46:03.659 --> 00:46:04.159
 He said

00:46:04.159 --> 00:46:05.099
 later, I'm

00:46:05.099 --> 00:46:05.859
 sorry, earlier in

00:46:05.859 --> 00:46:06.759
 the letter, he's

00:46:06.759 --> 00:46:07.500
 talked about all

00:46:07.500 --> 00:46:08.199
 that we have.

00:46:08.360 --> 00:46:08.960
 He says in

00:46:08.960 --> 00:46:09.860
 verse 3 of

00:46:09.860 --> 00:46:10.480
 chapter 1,

00:46:10.599 --> 00:46:11.099
 his divine

00:46:11.099 --> 00:46:11.639
 power has

00:46:11.639 --> 00:46:12.739
 granted to

00:46:12.739 --> 00:46:13.599
 us all things

00:46:13.599 --> 00:46:14.159
 that pertain to

00:46:14.159 --> 00:46:14.500
 life and

00:46:14.500 --> 00:46:15.019
 godliness through

00:46:15.019 --> 00:46:15.659
 the knowledge of

00:46:15.659 --> 00:46:16.599
 him who called

00:46:16.599 --> 00:46:17.059
 us to his own

00:46:17.059 --> 00:46:17.500
 glory and

00:46:17.500 --> 00:46:17.780
 excellence.

00:46:17.900 --> 00:46:18.739
 So he's saying

00:46:18.739 --> 00:46:19.420
 earlier that you

00:46:19.420 --> 00:46:20.400
 have all these

00:46:20.400 --> 00:46:21.219
 things you need

00:46:21.219 --> 00:46:22.019
 in Christ, so

00:46:22.019 --> 00:46:22.820
 grow in the

00:46:22.820 --> 00:46:23.320
 grace and

00:46:23.320 --> 00:46:23.840
 knowledge of

00:46:23.840 --> 00:46:24.099
 the Lord.

00:46:24.300 --> 00:46:24.800
 We need

00:46:24.800 --> 00:46:25.380
 nourishment.

00:46:25.739 --> 00:46:26.199
 It's not

00:46:26.199 --> 00:46:27.079
 enough simply

00:46:27.079 --> 00:46:28.079
 to know that

00:46:28.079 --> 00:46:29.139
 the final day

00:46:29.139 --> 00:46:29.619
 is coming.

00:46:29.840 --> 00:46:30.239
 Yes, it's

00:46:30.239 --> 00:46:30.800
 really important,

00:46:31.500 --> 00:46:32.179
 but you need

00:46:32.179 --> 00:46:32.800
 strength.

00:46:33.579 --> 00:46:34.039
 You need

00:46:34.039 --> 00:46:35.500
 grace to

00:46:35.500 --> 00:46:35.940
 live each

00:46:35.940 --> 00:46:36.300
 day.

00:46:36.880 --> 00:46:37.119
 And so

00:46:37.119 --> 00:46:37.639
 Peter wants

00:46:37.639 --> 00:46:38.199
 to finish

00:46:38.199 --> 00:46:38.659
 with this.

00:46:38.759 --> 00:46:38.940
 He's

00:46:38.940 --> 00:46:39.719
 emphasizing

00:46:39.719 --> 00:46:40.799
 growing in

00:46:40.799 --> 00:46:41.219
 the grace

00:46:41.219 --> 00:46:41.679
 and knowledge,

00:46:41.759 --> 00:46:42.440
 being nourished

00:46:42.440 --> 00:46:43.279
 by Christ.

00:46:45.139 --> 00:46:45.460
 I'm sure

00:46:45.460 --> 00:46:45.880
 many of you

00:46:45.880 --> 00:46:46.259
 know what

00:46:46.259 --> 00:46:47.079
 lembas bread

00:46:47.079 --> 00:46:47.900
 is, right?

00:46:47.980 --> 00:46:48.400
 Anyone know

00:46:48.400 --> 00:46:49.000
 what lembas bread

00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:49.299
 is?

00:46:49.579 --> 00:46:50.000
 Because I'll

00:46:50.000 --> 00:46:50.359
 skip the

00:46:50.359 --> 00:46:51.059
 illustration if

00:46:51.059 --> 00:46:51.460
 you don't.

00:46:52.179 --> 00:46:52.799
 Lembas bread

00:46:52.799 --> 00:46:53.659
 is in the

00:46:53.659 --> 00:46:54.159
 Lord of the

00:46:54.159 --> 00:46:54.679
 Rings, this

00:46:54.679 --> 00:46:55.179
 kind of

00:46:55.179 --> 00:46:55.940
 magical bread

00:46:55.940 --> 00:46:56.380
 that the

00:46:56.380 --> 00:46:58.059
 elves make.

00:46:58.299 --> 00:46:58.699
 Originally

00:46:58.699 --> 00:46:59.259
 it comes from

00:46:59.259 --> 00:46:59.719
 the Valar,

00:46:59.819 --> 00:47:00.279
 which is kind

00:47:00.279 --> 00:47:01.000
 of like these

00:47:01.000 --> 00:47:01.980
 archangels, and

00:47:01.980 --> 00:47:02.480
 we won't get

00:47:02.480 --> 00:47:02.779
 into that.

00:47:02.839 --> 00:47:03.119
 But anyhow,

00:47:03.259 --> 00:47:03.819
 this amazing

00:47:03.819 --> 00:47:05.839
 bread, one

00:47:05.840 --> 00:47:06.440
 little wafer

00:47:06.440 --> 00:47:06.960
 of it is

00:47:06.960 --> 00:47:07.880
 all that a

00:47:07.880 --> 00:47:09.260
 full-grown man

00:47:09.260 --> 00:47:09.760
 needs for a

00:47:09.760 --> 00:47:10.280
 whole day for

00:47:10.280 --> 00:47:10.620
 energy.

00:47:10.760 --> 00:47:11.260
 It's like this

00:47:11.260 --> 00:47:13.140
 power bread in

00:47:13.140 --> 00:47:13.620
 the storyline.

00:47:14.940 --> 00:47:15.380
 And it's a

00:47:15.380 --> 00:47:15.760
 picture, I

00:47:15.760 --> 00:47:17.160
 think, of the

00:47:17.160 --> 00:47:17.860
 power bread we

00:47:17.860 --> 00:47:18.660
 have, the

00:47:18.660 --> 00:47:19.240
 manna we've

00:47:19.240 --> 00:47:19.700
 been giving.

00:47:20.579 --> 00:47:21.380
 And John 6

00:47:21.380 --> 00:47:22.880
 says it this

00:47:22.880 --> 00:47:23.240
 way, Jesus

00:47:23.240 --> 00:47:23.900
 says to them,

00:47:23.980 --> 00:47:24.880
 I am the

00:47:24.880 --> 00:47:26.100
 bread of life.

00:47:26.960 --> 00:47:27.140
 Whoever

00:47:27.140 --> 00:47:27.940
 comes to me

00:47:27.940 --> 00:47:28.420
 shall not

00:47:28.420 --> 00:47:29.240
 hunger, and

00:47:29.240 --> 00:47:29.880
 whoever believes

00:47:29.880 --> 00:47:30.360
 in me shall

00:47:30.360 --> 00:47:31.640
 never thirst.

00:47:31.639 --> 00:47:34.139
 Christ, my

00:47:34.139 --> 00:47:34.839
 brothers and

00:47:34.839 --> 00:47:35.440
 sisters, you

00:47:35.440 --> 00:47:36.799
 have probably

00:47:36.799 --> 00:47:37.599
 many days ahead

00:47:37.599 --> 00:47:38.400
 of you until

00:47:38.400 --> 00:47:39.279
 that final day,

00:47:40.179 --> 00:47:40.799
 and you need

00:47:40.799 --> 00:47:41.679
 each day to

00:47:41.679 --> 00:47:42.639
 nourish yourself

00:47:42.639 --> 00:47:44.239
 in Christ, to

00:47:44.239 --> 00:47:45.339
 eat of this

00:47:45.339 --> 00:47:46.159
 bread that is

00:47:46.159 --> 00:47:46.960
 Christ himself

00:47:46.960 --> 00:47:48.119
 given for you,

00:47:48.699 --> 00:47:49.980
 to find your

00:47:49.980 --> 00:47:51.460
 life in him, to

00:47:51.460 --> 00:47:52.279
 walk with him,

00:47:52.319 --> 00:47:53.119
 and therefore to

00:47:53.119 --> 00:47:53.920
 continue to be

00:47:53.920 --> 00:47:55.460
 aware, to be

00:47:55.460 --> 00:47:56.420
 ready, to hasten

00:47:56.420 --> 00:47:57.400
 his coming, and

00:47:57.400 --> 00:47:58.000
 to be strengthened

00:47:58.000 --> 00:47:58.500
 by him.

00:47:58.579 --> 00:47:59.519
 Peter finishes

00:47:59.519 --> 00:48:01.420
 with this verse

00:48:01.420 --> 00:48:01.780
 that's so

00:48:01.780 --> 00:48:02.280
 important, which

00:48:02.280 --> 00:48:02.740
 I'll finish

00:48:02.740 --> 00:48:03.079
 with.

00:48:03.980 --> 00:48:04.300
 He says,

00:48:04.400 --> 00:48:05.320
 but grow in

00:48:05.320 --> 00:48:06.340
 the grace and

00:48:06.340 --> 00:48:07.059
 knowledge of our

00:48:07.059 --> 00:48:07.700
 Lord and Savior

00:48:07.700 --> 00:48:08.840
 Jesus Christ, to

00:48:08.840 --> 00:48:10.519
 him be the

00:48:10.519 --> 00:48:11.559
 glory both now

00:48:11.559 --> 00:48:12.800
 and today of

00:48:12.800 --> 00:48:13.300
 eternity.

00:48:14.000 --> 00:48:14.360
 Amen.

00:48:14.740 --> 00:48:15.019
 Amen.

00:48:15.059 --> 00:48:15.539
 Let me pray.

00:48:15.760 --> 00:48:16.300
 Lord, we thank

00:48:16.300 --> 00:48:17.599
 you for this

00:48:17.599 --> 00:48:18.440
 wonderful chapter

00:48:18.440 --> 00:48:19.019
 and how it

00:48:19.019 --> 00:48:19.619
 changes our

00:48:19.619 --> 00:48:21.400
 lives, and I

00:48:21.400 --> 00:48:21.960
 pray, Lord, that

00:48:21.960 --> 00:48:22.860
 you would help

00:48:22.860 --> 00:48:23.740
 us to remember

00:48:23.740 --> 00:48:24.980
 these truths, and

00:48:24.980 --> 00:48:25.960
 Lord, you would

00:48:25.960 --> 00:48:28.059
 lead us in your

00:48:28.059 --> 00:48:28.460
 ways.

00:48:28.659 --> 00:48:29.380
 I pray for each

00:48:29.380 --> 00:48:30.119
 one here, Lord,

00:48:30.200 --> 00:48:30.880
 to buy your

00:48:30.880 --> 00:48:31.400
 spirit, to

00:48:31.400 --> 00:48:32.700
 hear your call

00:48:32.700 --> 00:48:33.960
 to apply your

00:48:33.960 --> 00:48:34.619
 word in some

00:48:34.619 --> 00:48:36.180
 specific way to

00:48:36.180 --> 00:48:36.740
 our lives.

00:48:37.519 --> 00:48:38.079
 Guide us in

00:48:38.079 --> 00:48:38.380
 that.

00:48:38.579 --> 00:48:39.160
 Glorify your

00:48:39.160 --> 00:48:39.780
 name, we pray.

00:48:40.820 --> 00:48:41.119
 Amen.

00:48:41.539 --> 00:48:41.780
 Amen.