2Pet3:3-12 Wake Up!

# Wake Up!
## 2 Peter 3:3-12

>>>

---

# The **end** is near! So **what**?

>>>
+ sure, I **know** Christ will return, but
+ it's **far off**, probably not in my lifetime
+ I can't **do** anything abt it
+ still have my **life**, family, job, school
+ ⇒ how does it **affect** me?

---

## 2Pet3: Wake Up!

1. Don't assume **Continuity** [(v3-4)](# "ref")
2. Remember **Creation** + Flood [(v5-7)](# "ref")
3. God's patience is **Charity** [(v8-9)](# "ref")
4. A **Cataclysm** is Imminent [(v10)](# "ref")
5. Anticipate Christ's **Coming** [(v11-12)](# "ref")

[Ales Krivec](https://unsplash.com/photos/ywtbSuCSjhM "caption")

>>>
+ Those who assume **continuity** of world
+ forget about **creation** and
+ make light of God's **charity**.
+ In view of the imminent **cataclysm**,
+ anticipate Christ's **coming** 
 by living holy and reverent lives.

______

+ our idea of present **schema**
  + is aff by view of world **history**
+ infl think of God's **charac**
  + urgency + severity of **judg**
+ **life** in this world reflects
  + **hope** + **fear** for next

---

Above all, you must understand that 
in the last days **scoffers** will come, 
scoffing and following their own **evil desires**.

[2 Peter 3:3 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Edouard Moyse, "Le Grand Sanhedrin", 1868](# "caption")

>>>
+ **scoff**: child play, dance, scorn, deride
  + e.g., abusing ants
+ assumed **superiority**: knowledge/science
  + enlight, liberalism/tolerance
+ but actually: own **lusts**

---

They will say, 
“Where is this ‘coming’ he **promised**? 
Ever since our ancestors died, 
everything **goes on** 
as it has since the **beginning** of creation.”

[2 Peter 3:4 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ goes on, beginning: **then** → **now**
  + but: **created** → **sustains**
+ **Absent** Creator: made world and walked off
+ don't **need** God: doing fine w/o Him
+ don't **want** God: left world to rot
  + God **ignorant**, **weak**, or **cruel**:
  + doubt **wisdom**, **power**, + **love**

---

## Complacency of Continuity

+ **Legalism** / pride: up to us to save the world
+ **Lusts**: indulge own desires [(Jude 1:18-19)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude1:18-19&version=NIV "ref")
+ **Laziness**: when Master is away [(Mt 24:45-51)](https://mobile.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mt24:45-51&version=NIV "ref")

[Caleb George](https://unsplash.com/photos/URmkfvtK3Qw "caption")

>>>
+ if assume "everything **goes on**"
  + as it has since **beginning**
+ 3 **pitfalls** we slide into:
+ God is **not** going to save world
  + so **my actions** will
  + e.g., composting
  + pride: are **you** helping?
+ 2nd: "**scoffers**" also in Jude:

---

In the last time there will be **scoffers**, 
following their own ungodly **passions**.

It is these who cause **divisions**, 
**worldly** people, devoid of the **Spirit**.

[Jude 1:18-19 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Dan Edwards](https://unsplash.com/photos/cgPxN5Y27pA "caption")

>>>
+ if assume **continuity**:
+ no **accountability** to Creator
+ scoff: believing self **superior**
+ led not by logic but **lust**
  + eyes, flesh, pride
+ **divide** not by God's truth
  + but own legalistic rules
+ follow rules of **this world**
  + not God's kingdom
+ unable to perceive **mind of Christ**
+ 3rd pitfall: **laziness**

---

Who then is the **faithful** and **wise** servant, 
whom the master has put in **charge** 
of the servants in his household ... ?

It will be **good** for that servant 
whose master finds him **doing** so 
when he **returns**.

[Matthew 24:45-46 (NIV) (p.1/3)](# "ref")

[Salomon Koninck, "Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard" Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. 1648.](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ASalomon_Koninck_-_Parable_of_the_Workers_in_the_Vineyard_-_WGA12249.jpg "caption")

>>>
+ while Master is **away**
+ He gave us **work** to do

---

But suppose that servant is **wicked** 
and says to himself, 
‘My master is staying away a **long time**,’

and he then begins to **beat** his fellow servants 
and to **eat** and **drink** with drunkards.

[Matthew 24:48-49 (NIV) (p.2/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ abuse **authority**
+ **consume** others instead of **serving**

---

The master of that servant will come 
on a day when he **does not expect** him 
and at an hour he is **not aware** of.

[Matthew 24:50 (NIV) (p.3/3)](# "ref")

>>>
+ cut him to **pieces**
+ place with the **hypocrites**
+ **weeping** and gnashing of teeth.

---

# Have I succumbed to **legalism**, **lust**, or **laziness** by neglecting the **imminence** of Christ's return?

>>>
+ affects our life **right now**

---

## 2Pet3: Wake Up!

1. Don't assume Continuity [(v3-4)](# "ref")
2. **Remember Creation + Flood** [(v5-7)](# "ref")
3. God's patience is Charity [(v8-9)](# "ref")
4. A Cataclysm is Imminent [(v10)](# "ref")
5. Anticipate Christ's Coming [(v11-12)](# "ref")

>>>
+ to correct our thinking about present **schema** of world,
+ look to **history**:

---

But they **deliberately forget** 
that long ago by **God’s word**

the **heavens** came into **being** 
and the **earth** was **formed** 
out of **water** and by water.

[2 Peter 3:5a (NIV)](# "ref")
[Savoie, France. Thomas Tixtaaz](https://unsplash.com/photos/rdwkamJlpiU "caption")

>>>
+ stays **hidden** from them, as they **intend**
  + unrecog as significant

---

By God’s word the **heavens** came into **being** 
and the **earth** was **formed**

[2 Peter 3:5b (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ heavens being (impf): **sustained**
+ earth formed (pf): **created**
  + God's Word: cf Ac17 Mars Hill

---

By these waters also the **world of that time** 
was deluged and destroyed.

[2 Peter 3:6 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Hans Braxmeier](https://pixabay.com/en/wave-sea-surf-swell-foam-spray-384385/ "caption")

>>>
+ the **then-world**
  + parallel to the **now-world**
+ after flood, **sign** of God's **promise**?

---

Whenever ... 
the **rainbow** appears in the clouds,

I will remember my **covenant** 
between me and you ...

Never again will the **waters** 
become a flood to destroy all life.

[Genesis 9:14-15 (NIV)](# "ref")
[© James Wheeler, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0](http://www.souvenirpixels.com/photo-blog/double-rainbow "caption")

>>>
+ never again by **water**, but by ...

---

By the same word 
the **present** heavens and earth

are reserved for **fire**, 
being kept for the **day of judgment** 
and destruction of the ungodly.

[2 Peter 3:7 (NIV)](# "ref")
[NASA](https://unsplash.com/photos/NuE8Nu3otjo "caption")

>>>
+ in Noah's time, kept eating + drinking
+ right up until day Noah entered ark

---

# What is my **attitude** toward **Creation** and the **Flood**?

>>>
+ Myth? Allegory? Moral fable?
+ Historical reality that warns us of the real future judgment

---

## 2Pet3: Wake Up!

1. Don't assume Continuity [(v3-4)](# "ref")
2. Remember Creation + Flood [(v5-7)](# "ref")
3. **God's patience is Charity** [(v8-9)](# "ref")
4. A Cataclysm is Imminent [(v10)](# "ref")
5. Anticipate Christ's Coming [(v11-12)](# "ref")

---

But do not **forget** this one thing, dear friends: 
With the Lord a **day** is like a **thousand years**, 
and a thousand years are like a day.

[2 Peter 3:8 (NIV)](# "ref")
[ESO. Spiral galaxy NGC1232](https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso9845d/ "caption")

---

The Lord is not **slow** in keeping his promise, 
as some understand slowness.

Instead he is **patient** with you, 
not wanting anyone to **perish**, 
but everyone to come to **repentance**.

[2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ God remembers flood like yesterday
+ *slow*: delay, dull, inactive
+ not **procrastination** but **patience**
+ v15 count **patience** of Lord as **salvation**

---

I take **no pleasure** in the death of the wicked, 
but rather that they 
**turn** from their ways and **live**.

**Turn!** Turn from your evil ways! 
Why will you **die**, people of Israel?

[Ezekiel 33:11 (NIV)](# "ref")
[© 2010 @bigbirdz, CC-BY 2.0](https://www.flickr.com/photos/bigbirdz/5024081279 "caption")

>>>
+ Ezekiel as **watchman**:
+ if **warn**, they die for **own** sins
+ if **don't** warn, they die for own sins
  + but **blood** on your head

---

# If it is only God's **patience** to the **not-yet-repentant** that **holds back** the judgment, how does that change how I **see** them?

---

## 2Pet3: Wake Up!

1. Don't assume Continuity [(v3-4)](# "ref")
2. Remember Creation + Flood [(v5-7)](# "ref")
3. God's patience is Charity [(v8-9)](# "ref")
4. **A Cataclysm is Imminent** [(v10)](# "ref")
5. Anticipate Christ's Coming [(v11-12)](# "ref")

---

But the day of the Lord will come like a **thief**.

The **heavens** will disappear with a **roar**; 
the **elements** will be destroyed by **fire**,

and the earth and everything **done** in it 
will be **laid bare**.

[2 Peter 3:10 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Ryan Hutton](https://unsplash.com/photos/Jztmx9yqjBw "caption")

>>>
+ elements: syllable, letter, 1, earth/wind/fire/water

---

... the **elements** will be destroyed by **fire** ...

[2 Peter 3:10 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Lisa Runnels](https://pixabay.com/en/boy-walking-teddy-bear-child-walk-447701/ "caption")

>>>
+ JJ toys will burn
+ so this world **doesn't matter**?

---

... and the earth and everything **done** in it 
will be **laid bare**.

[2 Peter 3:10 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Wilmer Edson](https://www.pexels.com/photo/light-road-dark-sun-16013/ "caption")

>>>
+ **hidden** things revealed

---

# What am I **holding onto** which will be **burned** with the elements?

---

## 2Pet3: Wake Up!

1. Don't assume Continuity [(v3-4)](# "ref")
2. Remember Creation + Flood [(v5-7)](# "ref")
3. God's patience is Charity [(v8-9)](# "ref")
4. A Cataclysm is Imminent [(v10)](# "ref")
5. **Anticipate Christ's Coming** [(v11-12)](# "ref")

---

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, 
what **kind of people** ought you to be?

You ought to live **holy** and **godly** lives 
as you **look forward** to the day of God 
and **speed** its coming.

[2 Peter 3:11-12 (NIV)](# "ref")
[Ben White](https://unsplash.com/photos/qYanN54gIrI "caption")

>>>
+ look forward: welcome, anticipate, think forward
  + tension from **hope** + **fear**
+ Rev: fearful **judgment** + joyful **redemption**
+ **holy**: set apart, dedicated, not mixed
+ godly: **reverent**, pious
  + actions in **response** to God's holiness
+ v14 be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace

---

And will not God bring about 
**justice** for his **chosen ones**, 
who cry out to him day and night? 
Will he keep **putting them off**?

[Luke 18:7 (NIV) (p.1/2)](# "ref")

>>>
+ persistent widow

---

I tell you, he will see that 
they get **justice**, and **quickly**.

However, when the **Son of Man** comes, 
will he find **faith** on the earth?

[Luke 18:8 (NIV) (p.2/2)](# "ref")

---

# Do my **lifestyle** and **reverence** welcome Christ's return?

---