Lesson 40
Second Peter
Warning against dangers
facing the Church
Chapter 3
The Certainty of the
Believers Hope – The Return of Christ
Observations:
1. Our MA, our motivation in life should be
focused on Eternity.
- this logically follows
orienting to what is permanent over what is temporal vs:11
2. This is true even though the
- Peter exhorts this when for him it was at least
3000 years
3. For believers to
eagerly expect and earnestly desiring to become a reality demands knowledge and
its application.
- both characteristics
eagerly expecting and earnestly desiring result from application of known truth
about TTC.
4. Without doctrine mankind
fears the destruction of the heavens and the earth, Luke 21:26.
- context
is the end of the Tribulation and the severe judgments and mankind being
ignorant of truth, therefore without hope and confidence they faint in fear of
the destruction
5. Having a frame of
reference based on doctrine we can make the same application as the patriarchs,
Heb 11:13.
6. We are to eagerly expect
and desire our eternal relationship with God.
- doing so indicates no
doubts in our minds related to the promises of God dealing with the future
7. When we are being tested
by contaminants of the kosmos (things of the world) we need to ask ourselves
the questions: ‘is this decision I’m about to make taking me off course or am I
in the viewpoint, operational will of God?
Can I do whatever (fill in the blank) as unto the Lord? am I compromising
known doctrine?
But according to His promise we are looking for
new heavens and a new earth,
Next
is the basis of our hope! according to
(kata) His promise we are looking for
- the point of new here
kaino,j is new in respect to quality, fresh
The new heavens and earth,
new in quality, free from any curse, will surely be beautiful beyond the
wildest expectation of man.
in
which righteousness dwells.
- It
will be the home of righteousness because the Righteous One will be there (Jer.
23:5-7; 33:16; Dan.
Observations:
1. There are several additional passages,
declaring the transitory nature of the universe and its destruction. Psa. 102:25,26 which
is quoted 1:10-12; Mark 13:31; Matt.
24:35; Isa. 51:6
2. There are also
some additional passages declaring the fact of the new heavens and earth being created. Isa 65:17; 66:22;
3. The millennium
is the
- personal rule and reign of
Jesus Christ, maximum teaching of truth BD.
- Satan and his operatives are incarcerated during the Millenium
- man still possesses an old sin
nature therefore negative volition will exist with rejection of doctrine and
righteousness
- culminating in revolt at the end of the Millennium when
Satan is loosed
4. It is the day
of God which is the epitome of righteousness:
- everyone will be in a resurrection body therefore no sin
natures
- So total righteousness exists everything will operate
and exist according to the standard of righteousness.
5. To be occupied
with Jesus Christ involves the recognition of the importance of f2 righteousness, experiential righteousness and
its relationship to eternity.
- through our experiential righteousness we produce
divine good which will be rewarded at JSC which has impact as we rule and reign
with Him in the Millennium as well as Eternity.
6. The advancing
believer with a solid frame of reference of truth will look forward with eager
anticipation to what’s coming, the
Therefore, beloved, since you look for these
things,
What are the these
things in the flow of the context?
#1. the last days conditions, the rise of F/T’s and scoffers
#2.
Day of the Lord
#3. the new heavens and new earth
#4. the day of God (eternity)
Next we find the response Peter expects of the believers.
be
diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
So far
in 2 Peter we’ve seen this diligence emphasized several times.
- in 1:5
- in
- in
Now in this verse Peter
exhorts us because of the knowledge of things to come to be diligent or make
every effort to be found by Him
exhibiting certain characteristics.
This discovering by Christ will be at His coming, at the
rapture.
#1. in peace evn
eivrh,nh| this does not refer to positional
peace or being reconciled to God which is a fact from the moment we believe in
Christ but this is referring to peace in our lives as believers that is being
adjusted to the POG in all areas of our life
- you have a relaxed mental attitude, a peace of
mind from the application of doctrine in
all areas of life
- this comes from a maximum utilization of the DOA’s
in time
#2. spotless a;spiloj without stain or spot
what believers are to be in contrast to the false teachers as noted in
2:13
- How are we as believers spotless or without stain? To be in fellowship having no un-confessed
sin, the Holy Spirit empowering and the sin nature
being isolated.
#3. blameless avmw,mhtoj blameless or uncontaminated; without
justifiable cause for reproach.
Phil.
We are to reflect distinctive
character traits as advancing believers; (growing maturity means advancing in
truth; both in
knowledge and application)
- "blameless and innocent" Does this mean
sinless?? NO! Only Christ fits that!
- innocent refers to the motivation of the believer being free
from the dross of human viewpoint, the opinions of man.
- while blameless emphasizes the overt conduct not being in
direct, willful violation of the imperatives of the WOG.
Absolute sinless perfection is not
in view, not the issue but rather not having the kind of behavior, lifestyle
which consistently and flagrantly contradicts the WOG.
so that you may prove yourselves to
be blameless and innocent,
-
"children of God above reproach"
a;mwmoj no obvious
flaws to disfigure or distract from our witness, to be w/o blemish,
- This
expresses the stage of spiritual growth, where BD and the empowering of the H/S
dominates the believer's life; not the sin nature.
Where
are we now? Where do we live now?
"...in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation..."
Back to
2 Pet 3:14
Therefore,
beloved, since your are eagerly expecting these things, Be diligent to
be found by Him in peace, unstained and uncontaminated.
Summary Observations:
1. We will have confidence and assurance today since we
have a knowledge of the Word including the TTC which
motivates our eagerly anticipating the fulfillment!
2. Peter challenges us to be diligent to be
experientially righteous in f2.
- this is only possible with a F/O/R of DVPT and a willingness
to live it out
3. Diligence is something that only you can accomplish
for yourselves.
4. The ultimate goal of our diligence is to be found by
Jesus Christ at His return:
a. to have peace of mind
through consistent use of DVPT.
b. to be without un-confessed
personal sin.
c. to not be contaminated by
the distractions of the kosmos which includes being influenced by family,
friends who are unbelievers and negative to BD since they are operating from a
totally different frame of reference.