September 19, 2014
JUST SAY NO TO LAZY FAITH -- BE KINGDOM PEOPLE!
2 Peter 3
Lisa Doolittle
Central Truth
Be rooted in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Key Verse | 2 Peter 3:17–18
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18)
2 Peter 3
The Day of the Lord Will Come
1 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, 1 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies 2 3:10 Or elements; also verse 12 will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 3 3:10 Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Final Words
14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Dive Deeper | 2 Peter 3
In being a ghost writer, I found that in each of my projects there were words important in defining the purpose of those books. While studying this letter in the Message, there were some words or terms that stood out: undistracted attention, remember, peace, patience, serve, and wait. Also attached to those are a few phrases: do not forget, look forward to, and live holy lives.
When writing a letter, the author always has a definitive purpose. At first glance, this letter reminds readers of the Second Coming of Christ. At second glance, the letter reveals to the readers that God will faithfully keep every promise. Another read-through offers opportunities for the recipients. These are opportunities to remember God's faithfulness, opportunities to practice patience and waiting, and opportunities to serve.
The term undistracted attention is such a bull's-eye for me. Even though an individual may seem to be attentively focused, the person's attention may be divided. For example, I may be sitting across the table and smiling, seemingly listening to someone speak, but not actually wholly focused on the person's words. Instead, I might be making lists in my head of things I need to do once our meeting is finished. Such divided attention steals the opportunity to fully benefit from the meeting.
Undistracted, single-focused, laser-precision, un-thwarted, pinpoint-targeting-to-the-center-of-a-bulls-eye attention -- this is the kind of attention God has called His people to have in the days ahead. As we wait patiently, serve others in peaceable ways, and remember His promises, we are called to live holy lives in purity while being awake and aware on all fronts. We are to live in boldness as kingdom people.
These are big, in-your-face words. There is no timidity in these words. God is returning (2 Peter 3:10-11); He is waiting for His people to change their hearts and lives (2 Peter 3:9); and there will be judgment (2 Peter 3:7); but for those who believe, we are saved (2 Peter 3:13)!
So, in that freedom and knowledge, we can't help but share the message and live our lives "out loud!"
Discussion Questions
1. Do you look forward to Christ's return?
2. Do your actions and words match your belief about His returning?
3. If you are patiently waiting on the Lord, how are you spending your time?
4. Who are you reaching out to to share this urgent good news?