2 PETER 3:9, 15

[By Ron Halbrook]

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Introduction:

1. Life & salvation depend on God’s patience 2 Pet. 3:9, 15

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.

15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation;

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Introduction:

1. Life & salvation depend on God’s patience 2 Pet. 3:9, 15

2. God’s patience reflects His strong desire to save us—Calvinism false

3. The more we understand God’s patience, the more we want to love & serve Him!

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I. 2 Pet. 3 Great Chapter on God’s Patience

A. Vv. 1-2 Remember God’s Word

B. Vv. 3-10 Know the Certainty of God’s Judgment

C. Vv. 11-18 Be Prepared for the Day of Judgment

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I. 2 Pet. 3 Great Chapter on God’s Patience

A. Vv. 1-2 Remember God’s Word

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2 Peter 3:1-2

1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 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:

Old & New Testaments Inspired: “Prophets” & “Apostles”

Remember Inspired Word:Restoration Plea!

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I. 2 Pet. 3 Great Chapter on God’s Patience

B. Vv. 3-10 Know the Certainty of God’s Judgment

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2 Peter 3:3-10

3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 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.

Scoff at Judgment: Pursue Sinful Lusts, Ease Conscience

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2 Peter 3:3-10

5 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: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 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.

Willful Ignorance: God Created

God Judged

God Will Judge

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2 Peter 3:3-10

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. 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.Time Not a Limit to God

His Patience Delays Judgmentas He Seeks Our Salvation

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2 Peter 3:3-10

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.Judgment Day:

Certain, Time Unknown, Total Destruction

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I. 2 Pet. 3 Great Chapter on God’s Patience

B. Vv. 3-10 Know the Certainty of God’s Judgment

Why Man Recoils at Idea of Judgment

We & loved ones have sinned

Hell is horrible & horrifying

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B. Vv. 3-10 Know the Certainty of Judgment

Modern Theories Deny Eternal HellJehovah’s Witnesses: heavens & earth in vs. 10 mean wicked world gov’t (earth purified)

God created heavens & earth at beginning of creation, earth standing in & out of water (vv. 4-5)

Heavens & earth covered by water in flood (vs. 6)

God upholds heaven & earth now (vs. 7)

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B. Vv. 3-10 Know the Certainty of Judgment

Modern Theories Deny Eternal HellMax King, The Spirit of Prophecy (p. 131): heavens & earth in vs. 10 mean old Jewish system to end in A.D. 70

God created heavens & earth at beginning of creation, earth standing in & out of water (vv. 4-5)

Heavens & earth covered by water in flood (vs. 6)

God upholds heaven & earth now (vs. 7)

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I. 2 Pet. 3 Great Chapter on God’s Patience

C. Vv. 11-18 Be Prepared for the Day of Judgment

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2 Peter 3:11-18

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 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? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.Live Holy & Godly

God’s Home Our Home (1 Pet. 1:4)

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2 Peter 3:11-18

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. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Peace with God if Pure Life

Trust God’s Patience

Paul Wrote Inspired Scripture

Peter & Paul: Same Doctrine

False Teachers Twist Bible, Deceive

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2 Peter 3:11-18

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.Beware Lest We Fall

Spiritual Growth Makes Us Stedfast

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II. God Patient & the World in Rebellion

A. God Sustains the World Until Judgment, While Scoffers Trample His Patience (Vv. 3-7)

Mock sin, Bible, Christ, his church

Willingly ignorant: do not want to know

Deny God His place in the world & in life

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A. God Sustains the World Until Judgment, While Scoffers Trample His Patience

Children endangered by rampant immorality

Physical & sexual abuseFetal alcohol syndrome: “even small levels of alcohol consumption can harm a fetus” (Houston Chronicle, 4-7-95: A15)Homosexuals adopt childrenNewborns infected with AIDS virus1.5 million abortions per yearBabies exposed to illegal drugs in womb

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“Crack babies frequently have trouble keeping down their food. Given to spasms,trembling and muscular rigidity, they resist cuddling by arching their backs…. In pediatric intensive units around the country, they fill the night air with their inconsolable ‘cat cries,’ a distinctive high-pitched whine that conveys who knows what inexpressible misery.” (“Nobody’s Children,” Time, 11-9-89:91-92)

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A. God Sustains the World Until Judgment, While Scoffers Trample His Patience

Children endangered by rampant immorality Princeton University's Bioethics Professor Peter Singer (1999- ):

Atheist, evolutionistJustify abortion, infanticide, & euthanasia of disabled infants: "Killing a defective infant is not morally equivalent to killing a person. Sometimes it is not wrong at all" (Practical Ethics, pp. 175-217)Justify bestiality or zoophilia

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III. God Patient While Gospel Is Preached

A. Wants All to Repent, Be Saved (Vs. 9)

God patiently opens doors, we must preach!

B. Patience Followed by Judgment: As in Noah’s Time

Preach, build 120 years (2 Pet. 2:5; 1 Pet. 3:18-21)

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1 Peter 3:18-21

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

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1 Peter 3:18-21

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

“this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also” (NIV)

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IV. God Patient While Christians Grow

A. Grow Stronger, Overcome Satan (2 Pet. 3:17-18)

B. Give “All Diligence” to Grow in Christian Character (2 Pet. 1:5-11)

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2 Peter 1:5-11

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

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2 Peter 1:5-11

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

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IV. God Patient While Christians Grow

C. Great Security in God’s Character & Patience (2 Pet. 3:9; 2:9; 1 Jn. 1:7)

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2 Peter 3:9

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.

2 Peter 2:9

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

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1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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V. God Patient with Us: Learn Patience toward Each Other

A. Mutual Patience Working Together in the Church (Eph. 4:1-3)

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Ephesians 4:1-3

1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

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V. God Patient with Us: Learn Patience toward Each Other

B. Patient with Each Other in All Relationships (Eph. 4:30-32)

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Ephesians 4:30-32

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

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Invitation:

1. Life & salvation depend on God’s patience 2 Pet. 3:9, 15

2. God’s patience reflects His strong desire to save us

3. The more we understand God’s patience, the more we want to love & serve Him!

Ja. 5:16 Erring saint can be restored 1 Pet. 3:21 Alien sinner can be saved