Central Truth: The believer lives in anticipation of Christ's coming.
Bible Focus: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." - 2 Peter 3:13
What's This Lesson About?
What it comes to the matter of Christ's return, Christans often go to extremes. Some eagerly buy every newly published book that promises original insight into the book of Revelation (or Bible Prophecy). They search for clues to the identity of the Beast and consult elaborate charts on the order of end-time events, trying to see how the latest news from the Middle East fits into the prophetic picture. For those, obsessive speculation about the future sometimes crowd out present-day duties and responsibilities.
Others make the opposite mistake. Confronted with Bible prophecy, they opt to abandon the subject all together. For these, the second coming of Christ becomes a neglected doctrine, with little or not relevence to their everyday lives.
In today's lesson, Peter offers some much-needed balance on this important issue.
1. Resist Indifference to Christ's Coming (2 Peter 3:1-7)
2 Peter 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2 Peter 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
2 Peter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2 Peter 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2 Peter 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
The coming of Chirst in power and glory was foretold long ago by the same prophets whose words were fulfilled in his birth, suffering, death, and resurrection. Christ himself spoke many times about his return in parable and promise, and his words have been relayed to us by the apostles who heard them.
Some have lost faith in the prophecies and promises and try to explain them away or "spiritualize" them so as to drain away all concrete meaning. Many others simply scoff at the idea as outdated and unscientific. The concept of a final "end of the world" does not fit into their worldview. Their naturalistic philosophy prevents them from comprehending how the world originated or how it will be renewed.
Such people do not understand that the world was brought into being out of nothing by the creative Word of the sovereign and omnipotent God. Since the beginning of time, the world and all its natural processes have been upheld and maintained in operation by the power of God's sustaining Word. And when God speaks the final Word of judgement, the world as we know it will come to an end [a refining] in a fiery holocaust.
2. Accept the Certianty of Christ's Coming (2 Peter 3:8-10)
2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
God has given a preview and warning of the coming Judgement Day in the flood he went to destroy the world in the time of Noah. When it comes, most people will be caught off guard. Christians should not be.
Early Christians seem to have expected Christ to return in their lifetime. Why the delay? From our perspective, two thousand years seems like a long time to wait. But from a cosmic perspective, this is but a moment. And since we have no idea of the divine timetable, we cannot be too certian whether the time is long or short.
More importantly, this age of grace, before the end, is extended to us out of God's great patience and should be viewed with gratitude. However long it lasts, it provides opportunity for people to hear the gospel and be saved from the coming judgment. When the end comes, it will be sudden, and those caught by surprise will have no further time to repent.
3. Look Forward to Christ's Coming (2 Peter 3:11-18)
2 Peter 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,
2 Peter 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?
2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2 Peter 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.
2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2 Peter 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.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
This world is headed for destruction. All of the towering and elaborate edifices constructed by men will crumble to the ground. All of our technological achievements suddenly will be terminated and rendered useless. Nothing we see around us, natural or man-made, will last. One day the skies above, the earth, and seas below, all together will melt in the fery heat of God's probing gaze.
But that will not be the end of the story. Heaven and earth will be reamde (renewed), purged of sin and all the ill effects of its curse (sin's curse). A renewed and restored world will be prepared for a resurrected and redeemed humanity.
Knowing this, how shall we then live? Does it make sense to fix our hopes on what we can get in this world and live according to its standards? Isn't it wiser to pursue eternal values so we will be fit for a new world where sin is excluded and righteousness reigns?
