January 15, 2017
Morning Service

II Pet. 3

 

In chapter one of this letter Peter has told us of the wonderful, and great promises God has given His people.  He goes on in this chapter and tells us what we must put on in our lives in order to make sure we would attain these promises.  In chapter two Peter warns us that there would be false prophets, and teachers come along and try to lead the church astray, and to take advantage of the church monetarily.  These men, and women will be charismatic, and lead some from the truth.  This is why we encourage everyone to read your Bibles.  This is what God has given the church to guide, and direct our paths unto these wonderful promises God has given us.  I believe this letter of II Pet. Is one of the most firm warnings, for the end times, that we have in our Bible.  We’ve been warned of false teachers, and that’s bad enough, but now Peter warns us of other people that will be in the last days.  People that will be easy to detect, and have determined their own destiny.  We will finish up with chapter three this morning, let’s begin:

2Pe 3:1-18  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  (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: 

·        Peter wants us to remember what the Prophets, and the Apostles have told us.  Now we see why God thought it so important to preserve our Holy Bible for mankind.  Peter has already told us in chapter two that God has given unto us all things that pertain to life, and godliness.  THAT IS OUR HOLY BIBLE. It’s the inspired word of God.

·        Jesus, Himself warns His people, “Mat 24:4-5  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  (5)  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

·         What will keep us from being deceived?  OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE BIBLE. There are many today that are not teaching the same gospel that the Apostle Paul taught.  He clearly taught us, that anyone who would preach another gospel than that which he gave us, would be accursed.  Gal 1:6-8  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  (7)  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  (8)  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

·         Doesn’t that sound like it is important?  What is that gospel?  Where would we find it?  Paul gives it to us in 1Co 15:1-8 

·         This is the good news.  The D.B.R. of Jesus of Nazareth.  This is the foundational truth of the gospel Paul taught.  Paul will go on in his teachings of the N.T. and give us further instructions for this gospel.  The gospel, or good news, incorporates all the N.T. teachings.  They are clearly given to us in our Bible, and the only reason we don’t know them is because we don’t read our Bibles.  They all come forth from the Lord’s glorious church.  The men with the gifts teach us concerning all things that pertain to life, and godliness, and we find these teachings in our Bible.

·         The warning has been given us, so it behooves us to seek after this gospel, and obey it.

Now let’s look at this other type of people that will show up in the last days.

(3)  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  (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. 

·         There they are.  Scoffers, or people denying the gospel.  People making fun of this glorious gospel.  They are walking after their own lusts.  The things of the flesh, and the world has them in its grip.  They are blinded to the joys that come with serving Almighty God.  They are only after the things that will satisfy their cravings of the flesh.  Instant pleasure, carnal people.

(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:  (6)  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  (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. 

·        Willingly ignorant.  They could know better, and the truth, if they would only open their minds, and hearts to the Word of God.

·        This same Word tells of the destruction of the people on the earth in the days of the flood.  And this same Word tells of the coming destruction of the people, by fire. 

1.      Psa 50:3  Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.

2.     Mal 4:1  For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

(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. (Psa.90:4) (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.  (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. 

·         See Isa_65:17; also Isa_66:22.

·         This destruction shall come upon the world, because they are not looking for His return.  Paul tells us, 1Th 5:4-5  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.  (5)  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

(11)  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  (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?  (13)  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  (Isa.65;66.)                       (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.  (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;  (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.  (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.  (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.

·         Hopefully we can see how that reading our Bibles brings these types of admonitions to our minds.  And that they will stir us to a closer walk with our God.

ALMIGHTY GOD, IF THERE IS ONE THING YOUR PEOPLE NEED TODAY IT IS A GREATER DESIRE TO STUDY YOUR WORD.  DELIVER US FROM THIS PRESENT, AND VERY DESTRUCTIVE WORLD THROUGH THE STUDY OF YOUR GLORIOUS GOSPEL.  AMEN.