WILL THE LORD REALLY RETURN?

November 20, 2005 PM

2 PET 3:1-4

INTRO: I wonder how many of us in our heart of hearts have wondered if the Lord really will return? We may find ourselves with much the same thinking of some people in the second half of the first century ... you told us He was coming again, but nothing has happened ... is He really going to come? And if we are having doubts about His coming, we may become very sloppy about the way we live. We may let things slip to which we once held so tenaciously. We may find ourselves letting weeds grow in our garden of faith. But if He really is not coming again, then, what difference does it make? Apostolic writers had to address just this sort of questions.

1. So, we need reminders - 3:1

a. this was the reason for both of Peters letters - language suggests this letter closely followed the first

b. beloved appears four times in this chapter - affection for recipients

c. there is here a shift from his denunciations of false teachers to the beloved

d. stir - to thoroughly arouse or awaken - see 2 Pet 1:13

e. sincere mind - wholesome thinking ... this is compared to the unwholesome thinking he has described of the false teachers in chapter 2

f. he is encouraging readers not to be corrupted by unwholesome teachings

g. Christians always need reminders ... I often overlook the fact that a subject once taught needs to be taught again, and again

h. quotation from Dr. Samuel Johnson: It is not sufficiently considered that men more frequently require to be reminded than informed

2.Remember the words and the commandments - 3:2

a. I am reminded of Heb 2:1

b. be mindful - there are things which we simply must not forget, neglect

c. words...holy prophets - these are the N.T. prophets who had no doubt spoken of the ultimate coming of the Lord

d. note Eph 3:5 and Pauls reference to the role of the apostles & prophets

e. commandment of us. the apostles... - so, Eph 2:20

f. we must remember Mt 28:20 with Acts 2:42andJno 14:26

g. there are those who minimize the apostolic writings - such claim that Jesus words are superior, weightier ... but the apostles words are those of the Lord!

h. and these are commandments (see 1 Cor 14:37)

3. An important fact of which to be very aware - 3:3

a. first signals something or prominence, priority - not a sequence

b. there will come the scoffers - those who belittle, who ridicule

c. it can be very discouraging to faith to be exposed to those who scoff at the truths of Gods word

d. and if these scoffers are respectable, respected people, its even worse

e. these days many preachers, teachers mock, scoff at the teachers & preachers of years ago with sarcasm in order to promote a liberal agenda

f. they are exactly the kind of people to whom Peter here refers!

g. they have to discredit scripture and those who stand firmly for it in order to satisfy their own selfish interests

h. notice 2 Cor 10:10 - there were those who did this very thing to Paul!

4. What the scoffers would be saying - 4:4

a. this verse tells us exactly how and what they would claim

b. reference to the promise? that Jesus would come again - 1 Thes 4:13-18

c. their point? but He has not come as promised

d. their emphasis? everything is going along now as it always has - He must not be coming again! (they were uniformitarians!)

e. note 2 Thes 2:1,2 - there was apparently considerable concern about this

f. but remember Mt 24:36 - the time of His return was known only to the Father - so, Mt 24:42

g. the scoffers had to espouse their beliefs in order to live they way they chose

CLOSE: Please note 1 Cor 15:51-58. Here is Gods truth. The Lord will come. There will be a great resurrection. Then comes the judgment. That is the reason for v. 58. And Peter wanted his immediate readers...and us...to have a firm grip on this truth.

Cecil A. Hutson

20 November 2005