Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church

Church School 10:00 a.m.

Come to me, all you weary and burden and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28


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Sunday School Lesson © 2009 RightlyDivided.net All Rights Reserved Study notes for May 26, 2013 .This lesson is an outreach ministry of West Lenoir Baptist Church, Lenoir, North Carolina.
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May 26, 2013 - PDF International Sunday School Lesson Study Notes - Listen - The latest "Weekly Lesson's" audio file is not uploaded till Thurs. or Fri. Lesson Text: 2 Peter 3:3-15a Lesson Title: The Hope of His Coming Introduction The return of Christ is no mere fairy tale, no "happily ever after" ending drawn from an imaginative mind. Rather, it is the fulfillment of an unconditional promise of Christ given to His church over two thousand years ago when He said, "I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3). The return of Christ is the blessed hope of the church (Titus 2:11-14), a time of resurrection and reunion with departed loved ones (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), and a time of judgment for the enemies of the cross (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2). It has been said that people often need to be reminded than informed. And that is what Peter does in 2 Peter 3. "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 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" (2 Peter 3:1-2). After a direct and powerful rebuke in 2 Peter 2, the apostle now turns to words of encouragement and hope. His words are not based on sentiment but Scripture. Peter is absolutely committed to the truth of Scripture both Old and New Testaments. If you want to have a legitimate hope it must be based upon the word of God, both Old and New Testaments. Although Peter's readers had truly been converted it is important to remember they had been taught all their life that Messiah would come as a political and military ruler and establish His kingdom on earth. In spite of Christ's death and resurrection His promised return was a challenge for these persecuted believers especially in light of the existing Roman government and the religious skeptics. How were these young Christians to handle all the challenges and questions concerning Christ's return? Peter's words answers their questions and calms their fears. The Scoffers and His Coming (2 Peter 3:1-7) Verse 3-4 "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 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." "Knowing this first" or "to start," Peter wants his readers to know that "scoffers shall come in the last days." A "scoffer" is someone who "mocks." It is the fundamental desire of unsaved people, religious or otherwise, to attack the integrity of the word of God (2 Peter 1:10). Their "scoffing" and "mocking" is rooted in "their own lusts." "Lust" is their "passion." It's what "scoffers" live for. Fulfilling their "passions." "Scoffers" are consumed with "their own lust." As far as they are concerned, they are the final authority on any subject (Isaiah 28:15). Absolutes do exist in the world but not in the mind of the "scoffer." The "last days" refers to the period of time since Christ came the first time. It refers to the New Testament age (Hebrews 1:2). We are living in "the last days." It means the entire time from the first coming to the Second Coming. All throughout the time period after Christ's first coming "scoffers" have said, "Where is the promise of his coming?" Here is one of the identifiable marks of a "scoffer." They love to flaunt their presumed intellectualism. They want to sound more knowledgeable than those who believe the Bible. The question raised by the "scoffers" concerns their "fathers" or loved ones who have "fallen asleep" or died. They make the point that nothing has changed. In other words, life and death come, time rolls on and nothing is different. They go all the way back to the time of "creation" itself and challenge God's Word. By making this statement, they accuse God and Christ of lying. In our day the "scoffers" might say, "We heard preachers preaching the return of Christ in the 1970's and 1980's and 1990's and He didn't come. We heard the warning of the year 2000 and nothing happened." Remember, these "scoffers" think they are the final authority on everything so they are not afraid to challenge God's Word or the promises of Christ concerning His return. "Scoffers," the media is filled with them. "Scoffers," the world-wide web is saturated with them. 'Scoffers," the educational world and political world produces them by the millions! "Scoffers," God's Word will judge them (Romans 1:18). Verse 5-6 "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: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished" Peter takes his readers back to the third day of creation where God raised the land from the all-encompassing hold of the waters (Genesis 1:9-10). That is where God gave the oceans, seas, and waters boundaries. Storms come and the tide comes in and out every day but the waters are kept within those boundaries. Once, God Almighty overrode those boundaries and caused "the world that then was" to be "overflowed with water." It was the event we know as "the flood" in the days of Noah (Genesis 6-7). Day after day, month after month, and year after the year the waters were kept within their boundaries until God destroyed the earth in judgment. Just like our world today, Peter's says people are "willingly...ignorant" of this fact. The world-wide flood happened. And so will the return of Christ. People who "scoff" today "willingly" reject both historical and scriptural truth. The result of that rejection and "ignorance" is that they will "perish." Verse 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." God has promised never to judge this earth again with water (Genesis 9:11-15). But He will judge the earth again with "fire." The present "heavens and the earth" which you and I see and live in, are "kept in store, reserved" for the coming judgment of God. In other words, the "earth" upon which we live and the "heavens" that are above us are being held by God as "fuel for the fire" when He rains "judgment and perdition" upon "ungodly men." God is poised and ready to give the signal for judgment just as He did in the days of Noah. This concept totally defies comprehension by those "scoffers" who hold the idea that "...all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:4). The Schedule and His Coming (2 Peter 3:8-9) Verse 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." In spite of the fact that man should never question the word of God and the promise of His coming, why has the Lord not already returned? At this point Peter begins to talk about the reason for the delay in the Lord's return. There was no reason for believers then or now to be "ignorant" of what is taking place in God's schedule for His return. Note the contrast between the "willful ignorance" of the "scoffers" in verse 5 and the ability of the "beloved" believers to be knowledgeable. First, there is the matter of time. Peter quotes from Psalm 90:4, "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." Peter wants his readers to look at this from God's point of view. For those still living on earth it may seem like a long time but from God's perspective "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." If "scoffers" and sinful men think it has been a long time between the promise and the fulfillment of Christ's second coming, then that is their problem, not God's! It has been over 2,000 years since the promise was given but the promise will be fulfilled. Verse 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." "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness..." is a reminder that God does not renege on His promises. While sinful men often break their promises and are impatient and either ahead or behind schedule in keeping their promises, God is not. And that brings us to our second reason why the Lord has not already returned. It is the matter of the Lord's patience. "Longsuffering" is a word that means "God has a large capacity for holding back anger before sending judgment" (Exodus 34:6; Joel 2:13). "Us-ward" is a reference to Peter, his present readers, and all who will come to Christ in saving faith. The Lord's "longsuffering" is vital because God is "not willing that any should perish." His "longsuffering" leaves the door of opportunity open for those who have never been saved to trust Christ as their Savior before He returns. These gracious words should not cause a sinner to delay coming to Christ in "repentance" for unbelief, but rather realizing God's mercy and immediately call upon the Lord for salvation. Note: Saul of Tarsus is a wonderful example of God's "longsuffering." As Saul consented to the death of Christians God stood patiently by and withheld His judgment and Saul then repented of unbelief and was gloriously saved! The third reason why the Lord has not yet returned relates to His heart's desire. "Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" speaks of God's desire and God's heart for every sinner to be saved. This verse should not be interpreted as a guarantee that "all" or everyone is going to ultimately be saved. Those who accepted Christ's offer of salvation will be eternally saved and those who reject Christ's offer of salvation will "perish." The word "perish" means "utterly destroyed" and refers to the sinner's eternity in torment and hell (Revelation 21:8). While God is merciful, gracious and longsuffering, sinful man must not presume upon God's grace (Genesis 6:3; Jeremiah 8:20; 2 Corinthians 6:2). The Sequence of His Coming (2 Peter 3:10-13) Verse 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." This verse picks up where 2 Peter 3:7 left off, coming back to the fact that "the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat" and "the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." When these events happen the age of grace as we know it today will have ended with the rapture of the saints by Christ. The Tribulation, Great Tribulation, Judgment Seat of Christ, Great White Throne Judgment, and all the end time events will have taken place. The long awaited day of deliverance from sin upon this earth will be realized. Creation is fully and finally out from under the curse of sin (Romans 8:18-22). This whole period of time is called "the day of the Lord." It is a phrase used throughout the Bible signifying the divine interventions of God in human history bringing His judgment. What is described in 2 Peter 3:10 is God's final lash of judgment. The "elements" or the components from which the "earth" is made will one day in the future "melt with fervent heat," not from man's destruction of the planet but from the hand of Almighty God. And while the "scoffers" suggest that God's promise is slow in coming, Peter says the end will come so quickly it will be like "a thief in the night." It will come unexpectedly and without warning. The passing away of the "heavens" which refers to the "visible physical universe" will be with "great noise." It suggests the overwhelming crackling sound like fire upon steel as it pops and cracks from the heat. The "noise" from God's judgment will be deafening, unlike anything man has ever heard. God's power and judgment will consume everything in the material and physical universe. Peter's words remove all doubts as to the judgment and destruction that is to come upon this earth after Christ's return. Verse 11-12 "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 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?" "Seeing then" means "since all this is known to you as believers," it "ought" to have an effect on the way you live now. In the face of such overwhelming destruction of the material world, what should the attitude and actions be of the Christian? "Manner" means "sort or quality." "Conversation" means "lifestyle, conduct or behavior." "Godliness" means "reverence or respect." Peter is challenging believers to devote themselves to holy conduct and godliness while waiting for the climatic event to come. The world is headed for destruction but Christians are to remain faithful in both life and witness. "Look" expresses an attitude of expectancy, an outlook on life that watchfully waits for the Lord's arrival. Peter's use of the words "hasting unto" only strengthens his thoughts of the believer's expectancy and hope in the face of coming destruction. Verse 13 "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." "Nevertheless" means "in spite of what is coming." "We" is believers. Sinners may deny what Peter has just written about the future of the world, but Christians should look forward to them with hope and joy. We can do so because all that is coming is "according to his promise." While sinners have no hope without Christ the believer is looking "for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." With these words Peter takes us away from the scenes of destruction and misery of a sinful world inside the gates of the heavenly city where all things are "new." Both the Old and New Testaments speak of this day (Isaiah 65:17; John 14:2-3). Man's attempt to describe this "new heavens" and "new earth" are feeble at best. Jesus' own teaching on His coming kingdom still staggers the mind of the child of God as it did His disciples when they heard Him teach it. John the Apostle gave us bits and pieces of information throughout the Book of Revelation (Revelation 21:1, 22-23 22:1-3) and yet it still overwhelms the human mind. One thing is for sure and that is the "new heavens" and the "new earth" will be a place "wherein dwelleth righteousness." As inadequate as we are today to live as righteously as we should, we do look forward to a new day of "righteousness." "Dwelleth" means "settled down, be at home, take up residence." In God's "new heaven" and on God's "new earth" "righteousness" will be a permanent resident! The Significance in His Coming (2 Peter 3:14-15a) Verse 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." "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things" stresses a note of significance. Since the believer is looking for "new heavens" and a "new earth," Peter exhorts us to "be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless." Since believers have a "new heaven" and a "new earth" to look forward too, we should be living our very best desiring that when we are "found of him" our lives will be that of "peace" no "spots" and "blameless." It means that when Christ comes He will find us in His "peace" of confidence and hope, no "spots" or blemishes in our Christian character, and "blameless" in our Christian reputation. This indeed is important as we await our Lord's return. Verse 15 "And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation." This verse is really a summation of Peter's entire discourse in this passage. He wants his readers to "account" or interpret the "longsuffering" of the Lord for what it is: "salvation." Christians should regard God's patience with joy, knowing that He is daily saving sinners until the family of God is complete. Conclusion Waiting is something that not many of us enjoy. In this day of instant everything a delay of any measure is usually not acceptable. Our Lord calls upon us to wait for His return. And we are to do so with confidence in the character of God to fulfill His promise. We must not yield to the questions and cries of the skeptics and the scoffers. We must never doubt God's ability to do what He said He would do. Christians are nearer home today than ever before. While we wait let us remember that God is showing His longsuffering and sinners are coming to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Don't let the seeming delay cause you to doubt His Word. "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Hebrews 10:37). Amen   top of page