2 Peter 3.8-13

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and t a thousand years as one day. 9 u The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise v as some count slowness, but w is patient toward you, 1 x not wishing that any should perish, but y that all should reach repentance. 10 But z the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then a the heavens will pass away with a roar, and b the heavenly bodies 1 will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 2 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, c what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 d waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and e the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for f new heavens and a new earth g in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3:8-13

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8 Ἓν δὲ τοῦτο μὴ λανθανέτω ὑμᾶς, ἀγαπητοί, ὅτι μία ἡμέρα παρὰ κυρίῳ ὡς χίλια ἔτη καὶ χίλια ἔτη ὡς ἡμέρα μία. 9 οὐ βραδύνει κύριος τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, ὥς τινες βραδύτητα ἡγοῦνται, ἀλλὰ μακροθυμεῖ εἰς ὑμᾶς, μὴ βουλόμενός τινας ἀπολέσθαι ἀλλὰ πάντας εἰς μετάνοιαν χωρῆσαι. 10 Ἥξει δὲ ἡμέρα κυρίου ὡς κλέπτης, ἐν ᾗ οἱ οὐρανοὶ ῥοιζηδὸν παρελεύσονται στοιχεῖα δὲ καυσούμενα λυθήσεται καὶ γῆ καὶ τὰ ἐν αὐτῇ ἔργα οὐχ εὑρεθήσεται. 11 Τούτων οὕτως πάντων λυομένων ποταποὺς δεῖ ὑπάρχειν [ὑμᾶς] ἐν ἁγίαις ἀναστροφαῖς καὶ εὐσεβείαις, 12 προσδοκῶντας καὶ σπεύδοντας τὴν παρουσίαν τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμέρας διʼ ἣν οὐρανοὶ πυρούμενοι λυθήσονται καὶ στοιχεῖα καυσούμενα τήκεται. 13 καινοὺς δὲ οὐρανοὺς καὶ γῆν καινὴν κατὰ τὸ ἐπάγγελμα αὐτοῦ προσδοκῶμεν, ἐν οἷς δικαιοσύνη κατοικεῖ.

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Sermon outline

Jesus' return seems slow, because he is so patient Intro : Being broken into and robbed. You didn't know when it would happen, or you'd have been ready. But when it happened, it immediately changed everything. Is Jesus late? Has he forgotten? Did the early church really think he would be back any day now? To continue learning the lessons from the past is the best way to prepare for tomorrow. 1. He's not slow, he's patient (v8-9) v8 a thousand years, one day. Does this justify old earth creationism? Theistic evolution? Psalm 90.4 He's not like us in slowness; his slowness is a holy slowness. From the Lord's perspective, there is no slowness! v9 all to 'receive' or 'make room for' repentance Not wishing that any should perish? Why then do some perish? His patience: Romans 2.4; 1 Peter 3.20 The key is to remember WHY the Lord has not yet returned; patience. This should not be academic! Either spur us to courageous evangelism. Or to comfort and strengthening. 2. The day of the Lord will come like a thief (v10) cf Luke 17.20-37 People were obviously doubting Jesus would ever return. But cf Matthew 24.42-44, where Jesus tells a parable about imminence, and Matthew 25, a parable getting them ready for a long wait. v10 like a thief. What we mean by imminence. v10 not so much dissolved as destroyed, released, loosened, untied, also v12 v10 'and the earth and the works done on it will not be found' heavenly bodies, or 'elements'? Earth, air, fire, water; sun, moon, stars; atomic particles? Or, elemental forces of evil? cf Galatians 4.3 , 9 ; Colossians 2.8 , 20 ) 3. Be a holy people as we wait for the glorious promise (v11-13) v11 how to live in the end times? Holiness and godliness. Waiting and hastening (desire earnestly). the coming of the day of God; which the apostles saw with their own eyes (cf 1.16 -18) The prophets and apostles are a gift from Jesus to us, so that we can keep hearing directly from him. [ Turkey fallacy] new heavens and new earth, in which righteousness dwells. What do we actually mean? cf Isaiah 65 . v13 this is our hope. Is it calibrated? God's glory . His incredible patience and mercy. His faithfulness to his promises. The wonderful gift of the new creation. FCF . We can't wait! [cf child maturity illustration] H1. Mock, doubt, leave. H2. Become profoundly discouraged and disillusioned. Functionally disbelieve the return of Jesus coming like a thief. Mockery of God's word? We need a renewed confidence that the Lord will keep his return. Seeing the agenda behind the mockery helps - a desire to justify or legitimise sinful behaviours or patterns. Person of Jesus . He shows the patience of the Father exactly. He, his very person, is the faithfulness and steadfast love of God. He comes calling, repent and believe the good news of the Kingdom! He tells the truth. He is the one who is to return. Work of Jesus . He died for people who grew weary of his promise. He dies as the only faithful one, the true Son of God. His death shows the destruction of creation to come: the sky goes dark, the rocks break open. He suffered the day of the Lord upon himself, for his people, so that his people need never fear the day of the Lord, only anticipate it with joy and gladness. Union with Jesus . Since Jesus suffered the Day on my behalf, I await his return with eager joy and longing, and no longer fear. The works I do on earth in this age I do in him and for his glory, knowing that they will not be wasted or come to nothing. Invitation . Come and repent! Come and bow to the true King. Confrontation . Stop living for this life, as if it is all there is. Stop ignoring the King! He is coming, unexpectedly. Consolation . The weary ones, keep waiting and watching. We are closer now than ever. Wrap-up : Do you look at the Word of God and see an empty promise? Or, see a wonderful patience? Being broken into and robbed. You didn't know when it would happen, or you'd have been ready. But when it happened, it immediately changed everything. Is Jesus late? Has he forgotten? Not at all. His slowness shows his extraordinary patience.

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