The Hope of His Coming

                                      Sunday School Lesson
        
                                    

Lesson: II Peter 3:3-15                                                                                                

Golden Text:   “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” (II Peter 3:9).

 INTRODUCTION.  One of the biggest challenges to hope is delay.  The Christian faith is built upon the hope or assurance that Jesus will return to earth one day to right all wrongs.  But as one day slips into another and one decade passes into another and Christ does not return, our hope can take a beating.  Peter understood this phenomenon and addressed it directly in this week’s lesson.  He taught that delay should not discourage hope; in fact, it should encourage us to hope more.
II. SCOFFERS ANTICIPATED (II Peter 3:3-7) 
A. The scoffers’ belligerent skepticism (II Peter 3:3-4).  According to the verse immediately preceding our printed text, Peter wanted to remind his readers of things that “were spoken before by the holy prophets, and…the apostles of the Lord (vs. 2).”  In other words, Peter was not communicating new truth to these saints but reminding them of what had already been taught.
1. (vs. 3).  Then in this verse Peter wrote “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.” The phrase “last days” is frequently used to refer to the end times.  However, some passages use this phrase to refer to the entire church age, the time between Jesus’ first and Second comings (see Acts 2:17; II Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:1-2; I John 2:18).  For example, the book of Hebrews begins by stating that God “hath in these last days spoken to us by His Son” (see Hebrews 1:2).  Peter was saying that during the church age there would be “scoffers” or mockers.  Their lives are devoted to “walking after their own lusts” meaning they were following their own evil desires.  It seems certain that the ones Peter called “scoffers” are the same ones he called “false prophets” and false teachers in II Peter 2:1.
2. (vs. 4).  Peter went on to write that these “scoffers” were 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.”  Since several decades had passed and Christ had not returned yet, scoffers and skeptics were asking “Where is the promise of his coming?” making fun of the very idea of Christ’s return.  Evidently the early Christians believed that Christ might return for the church at any moment and were being berated for proclaiming the Second Coming.  From the words of the angels at the ascension of Christ (see Acts 1:11), we can understand why these early Christians expected Jesus to return in their lifetimes.  However, Paul pointed out that Jesus would not return until there was a “falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed” (see II Thessalonians 2:3), who is usually identified as the beast of Revelation chapter 13.  One reason the scoffers mocked Christ’s return was that “since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”  The word “fathers” refers to their forefathers.  The scoffers argued that since the time that their forefathers died, everything in this world has continued as it always had.  Nothing had changed since the world was created.
B.  The scoffers’ perilous ignorance (II Peter 3:5-6). 
1.  (vs. 5).  Peter continued to say “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.”  The word “they” refers to the scoffers.  By insisting that everything has continued from the beginning with no changes, they were showing a willful ignorance of God’s past interventions in history.  Peter noted that “by the word of God the heavens were of old.”  In other words, God created the heavens and the earth by His spoken Word (see Genesis 1:3, 9-11, 14-15, 24).  The phrase “and the earth standing out of the water and in the water” probably refers to the dry land appearing out of the water during creation (see Genesis 1:9-10).
2. (vs. 6).  To further show how the scoffers had willingly forgotten that there had been changes in the world since the creation, Peter wrote “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.”  The word “Whereby” refers back to the water during creation.  The phrase “the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished” is a reference to the Great Flood in Noah’s day.  The earth was not actually destroyed (the meaning of “perished”) by water, but was washed clean because of the wickedness of mankind (see Genesis 6:5-7).  The point Peter was making was that the divine interventions in the past prove that things have not continued and will not always continue as they are.
C.  Perdition of the ungodly (II Peter 3:7).  In this verse Peter said “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.”  Just as sure as divine judgment came once in the form of the Great Flood, it will come again.  Peter wrote that the same word that brought the great flood upon the earth also assures the destruction of the present order of things.  However, when the world is destroyed the second time, it won’t be with water but with fire.  This is the meaning of “reserved unto fire against the Day of Judgment.”  The heavens and the earth are “reserved” or treasured up for fire.  It will be a “day of judgment” bringing the final “perdition” or eternal misery of “ungodly men.”  The “ungodly men” (and women) are those who have not trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and are destined for the second death (see Revelation 20:11-15).  Even though some may think they will escape this final judgment, they won’t (see I Thessalonians 5:2-4; Revelation 6:13-17). 
III. SALVATION OFFERED (II Peter 3:8-10)
A.  God’s Compassion (II Peter 3:8-9).
1. (vs. 8).  Here Peter says “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.”  The scoffers were willingly ignorant of God’s truth, but Peter didn’t want his readers to be ignorant of anything especially that “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”  The psalmist’s words may have been in Peter’s mind: “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night” (see Psalms 90:4).  Peter’s point was that God does not recon time the way man does.  He created time but He is not restricted by it.  Note: Though Peter was not speaking literally, the idea that one day with the Lord is like a thousand years reminds us that it is as if only two days have passed on God’s calendar since Jesus was on earth.   God is not limited by time the way we are, nor does He measure it according to man’s standards.  When we study the works of God we can see that He is never in a hurry, but He is never late.
2. (vs. 9).  Referring to God’s compassion, Peter wrote “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.”  The scoffers may think that the Lord is being “slack” or slow in keeping His promises, but that’s not true.  The very fact that God’s timetable differs from ours should cause us to consider other reasons for His supposed delay in keeping His word.  The delay in the Lord’s return has nothing to do with any slowness to keep His promises, but it has everything to do with His compassion for humanity.  Peter said that God “is longsuffering to us-ward” meaning that He is patient toward sinful man.  Peter identified God’s “longsuffering” or patience toward mankind as the primary reason for His decision not to bring immediate judgment upon sinners.  As the psalmist asked “If thou Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand” (see Psalms 130:3)?  Without God’s patience we would all be consumed by His wrath.  However, despite our sinfulness, Peter said that God is “not willing that any should perish.”  God said it this way in Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God; and not that he should return from his wicked ways, and live?”  Since it is not God’s will for any to be lost, His desire is that “all should come to repentance.”  Literally the word translated “repentance” means “to change one’s mind” and refers to a decision to turn from sin and to God.  Note: The repentance to which men and women are called is more than just sorrow, though it includes that.  It is more than a change of mind, though it includes that.  Repentance calls for a basic change of behavior and lifestyle (see II Corinthians 5:17).  Throughout the book of Acts, it is clear that repentance was required of those who surrendered to Christ by faith (see Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20).  Though some may preach a plan of salvation that does not include repentance, it is clear that no one can receive God’s pardon without this change of heart demonstrated in a new behavior and lifestyle.
B. God’s conflagration or great fire (II Peter 3:10).  Now Peter writes “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.”   The term “day of the Lord” refers to that period of time beginning just after the rapture and just before the seven-year tribulation period described in Revelation 6:1-19:21.  The “day of the Lord” will also include the one-thousand year reign of Christ (see Revelation 20:1-7), the resurrection of the dead (see Revelation 20:12-15), the various judgments (see Revelation chapters 15-16; 20:11-12) and would continue on through to the creation of the new heavens and new earth (see Revelation 21:1).  That the “day of the Lord” will come like “a thief in the night” was also promised by our Lord (see Mathew 24:43-44; Luke 12:39-40).  This proverbial expression simply means that the “day of the Lord” will come suddenly and unexpected just like a thief.  When prophesying about the “day of the Lord” Isaiah said, “Behold, the day of the Lord cometh both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof” (see Isaiah 13:9).  Note: Even though there may be certain events that will alert God’s people that the end is near (see Luke 21:25-31), we must not disregard the Lord’s teaching that no one knows the day or the hour (see Mark 13:32).  Instead of engaging in speculation, our time would be better spent in faithful service and preaching the gospel to the lost (see Matthew 24:14, 42-51).  Believers are not encouraged to prepare for the events of the day of the Lord: we are encouraged to prepare for Christ’s coming in the air for us, which will happen before the day of the Lord.   Peter also said that during the day of the Lord “the heavens shall pass away with a great noise.”   While some people theorize that the universe began with a big bang, it is clear that it will certainly end that way, for the heavens will disappear “with a great noise.”  This will not be the human race blowing itself up with nuclear weapons.  This will be the final divine judgment upon the world resulting in the destruction of our planet.  Not only will the heavens disappear with a great noise, “the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”  The earth and its “elements” or everything in it will be “burned up.”  Some people think that the earth will simply be renovated, but this verse clearly states that it will be obliterated by fire.
IV. SANCTIFICATION ENCOURAGED (II Peter 3:11-15)
A. The earth’s dissolution (II Peter 3:11-12). 
1. (vs. 11).  In this verse Peter said “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.”  Peter concluded that since the world is going to be dissolved, it should affect the way we live.  The word “conversation” means far more than just our speech.  It includes a whole manner of life (see Ephesians 4:22; I Timothy 4:12; Hebrews 13:7; I Peter 1:15).  Peter said that in light of the final destruction of the earth we should live holy and godly lives for Christ now.
2. (vs. 12).  In addition to living holy, godly lives, Peter said that we should be “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?”  The Greek word translated “hasting” means to “hasten” or “speed along” thus implying that we might be able to speed up Christ’s coming by preparing ourselves and helping others get ready (see Matthew 24:14).  However, the Greek word used here can also refer to an eager, active anticipation.  The term “day of God” may be another way of describing the “day of the Lord.”  However, in view of Peter’s reference to the creation of the new heavens and the new earth in verse 13, it seems more likely that Peter had God’s final day of triumph in mind.
B. The believer’s destination (II Peter 3:13).  Peter continued to write “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”  Even though the heavens and the earth will be destroyed, Peter said that believers “according to his (God’s) promise, look for new heavens and a new earth.”  Believers in Christ are anticipating new heavens and a new earth (see Revelation 21:1).  When this happens, the final destination of all believers will be in the New Jerusalem which will come down from God out of heaven (see Revelation 21:1-2, 27). This is in keeping with “His promise” (see Isaiah 65:17; 66:22).  Unlike the present world which is filled with wickedness, the new earth will be filled with “righteousness.”   There will be no death, sorrow, nor pain (see Revelation 21:4).  The absence of Satan (see Revelation 20:10) and those who follow him (see Revelation 21:27; 22:15) will provide a temptation free and sinless environment.  Paradise will be restored in the New Jerusalem for it will be a place “wherein dwelleth righteousness.”  
C. The believer’s diligence (II Peter 3:14-15). 
1. (vs. 14).  In this verse Peter said “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”  Since believers anticipate new heavens and a new earth, we should be “diligent” meaning we should make every effort to live in a manner that reflects “peace” with God and “without spot, and blameless.”  In other words, when Christ returns we want Him to find that we have served Him well (see Matthew 25:21).
2. (vs. 15).  In our final verse Peter writes that his readers should “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.”  Peter reminded his readers once again that “the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.”  In other words, the reason for the Lord’s patience in delaying the day of the Lord is so that the unsaved may have another day to repent.  When the day of the Lord arrives, the day of opportunity will be closed (see II Corinthians 6:2).  Peter concludes by reminding his readers that the apostle Paul “according to the wisdom given unto him” had also written to them regarding God’s longsuffering or patience with sinful man. 
                     
V. Conclusion.  We can be certain Jesus is coming as He promised.  Any apparent delay is only further opportunity for sinners to repent.  Our God loves us and is exceedingly patient with us despite our evil ways.  We have no excuse not to respond favorably to such awesome, patient love from our holy  God.