2Peter 3:11-18
Peter’s Last Message
Last Wednesday, we began studying Peter’s last thoughts in this
Book.
1. \\#3:1\\ Peter wanted to remind us of some things and to stir
us up.
2. What were the things about which Peter wanted us to remember
and get stirred?
a. \\#3-7\\ He wanted us to remember the scoffers were
coming.
b. \\#8-10\\ He wanted us to remember the judgment was
coming.
c. \\#11-18\\ He wanted us to remember to be faithful.
If there is anything that Christians need to get stirred about, it is
being faithful. The scoffers are coming whether we are faithful or
not. Judgment is coming whether we are faithful or not. But only by
our effort and dedication we will finish our race with faithfulness.
Peter was not writing a book that was "just" theological. He—like
all the New Testament writers—was lead of the Holy Ghost to write a
book that was also practical. It is that practice that leads me to
believe that if you know what you ought to know, you will live like
you ought to live.
What do we need to get stirred to do?
I. \\#17\\ The faithful need to be beware.
2Peter 3:17 …beware lest ye also, being led
away with the error of the wicked, fall from your
own stedfastness.
A. Peter has been warning that false prophets are both in and
outside of the church.
B. His warnings should not be taken lightly.
1. There are many more false prophets in the world than
there are true prophets.
2. They use our terms, even the words Christian and Christ.
3. And God’s sheep are not immune to their wiles.
C. Sadly, sitting in a church listening to preachers preach does
not guarantee you are learning the Word of God.
1. In some cases, preachers are not giving out the Word.
a. I am amazed at how many use a text verse, barely
mention what it says, and then never refer to the
Bible again.
b. While the sermons of such preachers may be true and
interesting, they are not the Word of God.
c. Church goers are left with the impression what the
preacher says is as good as what God says. It isn’t!
2. In many more cases, church attenders are not active in the
worship service.
a. Some don’t listen.
b. Some don’t follow.
c. Some don’t think on what they hear.
d. And most don’t medicate on what they heard.
D. As a result, Christians that have sat in church services for
decades are as easily lead down a false trail as sheep are
lead to the slaughter.
E. "Beware," Peter warns. The false prophets may be able to take
you if you do not grow in the Word.
II. \\#12-14\\ The faithful need to be "looking."
A. Peter wanted us to focus our sight on the future.
1. Christians focus on the future when we are tired of this
world.
2. Peter mentioned it three times in three verses.
2Peter 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the
coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens
being on fire shall be dissolved, and the
elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his
promise, look for new heavens and a new
earth….
2Peter 3:14 …seeing that ye look for such
things….
B. In \\#12\\, Peter commanded us to look for Jesus’ return.
1. Interestingly, this is a reference to Jesus’ return for us
not with us.
a. It is a reference to Jesus coming with us to judge the
world.
b. Peter looked right past the rapture of the church!
2. Why would Peter mention the LAST return of Jesus instead
of the NEXT return of Jesus?
a. Christians typically look at the last coming of Jesus
when they want justice.
b. It is a harsh and hard world, especially you are being
persecuted like the church has been persecuted.
c. There are days when even the most loving of Christians
are ready to see God deal some justice to the wicked.
3. Notice Peter did not just say "look for" this day but also
"hasten" it.
a. How do we hasten the coming of the Lord in judgment?
b. I am not sure.
c. My first thought was By being salt and light.
(1) The more believers stand for right against sin,
the more this world is going to hate us.
(2) And that condition is not only normal. It is
also necessary.
(3) It is the battle between good and evil and right
and wrong propels either the kingdom of God of
the kingdom of the evil.
(4) Of course only God knows whether the conflict
will result in revival or the return of Jesus;
but whichever it brings, the conflict is
necessary to move things along.
C. In \\#13\\, Peter command us to look for the new heavens and
the new earth.
1. Christians typically look for the glorified life when they
are tired and ready for peace.
2. Peter indicated that his time on this life was almost over
earlier.
2 Peter 1:14 Knowing that shortly I must put off
this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ
hath shewed me.
3. Like Paul, Peter had fought a good fight and nearly
completely his course.
4. He was tired and wanted to see the glory that waited
ahead.
D. Regardless of how we may feel today, you and I need to keep
our focus on future.
III. The faithful need to finish right.
A. Peter made several statements with two thoughts in mind.
1. With one set of statements, Peter set GOALS for the
believers.
2. With the other, Peter gave METHODS how to obtain the goals.
B. \\#14\\ The Goals:
1Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye
look for such things, be diligent that ye may be
found of him in peace, without spot, and
blameless.
1. First, note the admonition:
a. Make this a "diligent" goal.
b. We should put effort and energy into achieving these
goals.
2. Second, note the Inspector: "found by Him"
a. The idea is that there will be an inspection of the
believer by Him, by Jesus Christ.
b. Let us never forget Jesus does not ask us to obey Him.
(1) He commands it.
(2) And He expects it.
(3) And so He will look for it.
c. The Bible describes the believer’s inspection day:
1Cor 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made
manifest: for the day shall declare it, because
it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall
try every man’s work of what sort it is.
14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet
so as by fire.
3. Third, note the goals. There were three of them.,
a. That we finish "in peace."
(1) Peace means to be calm, without anxiety.
(2) God’s desire is for our soul and spirit to be
calm even if our life is not.
(3) How?
(a) I have had to easy of a life to know much
about this.
(b) My guess is to have such a faith that we
look past our problems to our blessings.
(c) Much like what Peter was saying when he said
the faithful need to be looking to the
future \\#12-14\\.
b. That we finish "without spot."
(1) This goal relates to us. We should finish
without getting dirty.
(2) I am a very messy person. I can walk by a garage
and get grease on me. I have gone to see Leroy
in the middle of his workday, and he doesn’t
have a spot of grease on him. I would think he
does work except he is often there by himself
and the work gets done.
(3) There is no slime pit on earth as dirty and nasty
as earth. The grease of sin is everywhere.
(4) God’s desire is that even though we walk in it,
we do not get any of it ON us.
c. That we finish "blameless."
(1) Blameless relates more to our dealings with
others.
(2) If we do something wrong, the tell-tale spot of
sin will be on us. Peter said first that we do
not want that.
(3) But with the word "blameless," Peter was saying
that we do not want the blame for getting sin on
anyone else either!
(a) Cain asked the question, "Am I my brother’s
keeper?’
(b) The question was rhetorical and thus never
answered, but I will tell you the answer
is, "Yes, sometimes we are."
(c) If our actions are the ones that lead
another to do wrong, we will stand before
God with BLAME.
(4) The word means we share in the responsibility or
fault of the wrong another has done.
(5) Repeatedly, the Bible gives us the command to be
blameless: \\#Phi 2:15, Col 1:22, 1Thess 3:13\\
\\#1Thess 5:23, 1Tim 3:2, Tit 1:6\\.
(6) In a day when men do not want "to be judged" for
anything they do, some Christians may be
surprised to find out just how much they will be
judged.
C. The Objectives:
2Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things
shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought
ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
1. \\#11\\ Live a holy conversation (life)
2. Live a godly life
a. Both of these are general statements.
b. Holiness is the inherent quality of God.
(1) I have no holiness.
(2) The best I can do is imitate God.
c. Godliness is imitate God. The word means God-
likeness or to be like God.
d. So both of these words challenge us to be more like
our God and less like our fallen selves.
2Peter 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye
know these things before, beware lest ye also,
being led away with the error of the wicked, fall
from your own stedfastness.
3. \\#17\\ Grow in grace
4. Grow in knowledge
a. Since Peter did not elaborate any more on these, they
too are rather general.
b. Grace is the work that God does in and through us.
(1) To grow in grace is to let God work.
(2) Do not bind or limit God in any way from
accomplishing all that He desires to do with
you.
c. To grow in knowledge means to learn all you can about
our Lord.
(1) That is why we are studying the Bible.
(2) It is the only Source which reveals God.
(3) Ready it. Study it. Learn from it. Then read
is some more.
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