The Day Of The Lord 8-18-24 PM
I. Peter tells us of its destructive nature (2 Peter 3:10).
A. This great day will come upon us without notice and destroy everything in our existence.
B. Notice that the heavens will pass away.
1. The heavens refers to the atmosphere and universe.
2. The passing of it will be extremely loud.
C. The elements shall melt with fervent heat.
1. Elements refers to the basic particles of matter that make up all the larger things of life.
2. Fire will be used to destroy all things.
D. This fire will destroy the earth and all things on it.
1. There have been terrible fires that destroyed large parts of great cities (Chicago, Rome).
2. There was some things left in each of these.
3. Everything that man has built, created, placed before God is going to be destroyed.
E. We might ask how God is going to do this.
1. I have no earthly idea.
2. Guy N. Woods wrote, “The manner in which the Lord will accomplish this is not stated, and it is idle to speculate.”
3. We really have no idea.
4. However, if He can create the earth, He can destroy it as well.
F. When the Lord returns it will in no way be secretive.
1. There will be a great noise.
2. There will be complete destruction.
II. Peter tells us to live a dedicated life in view of His return (2 Peter 3:11).
A. Peter asks a tremendous question: How should you live in view of the return of Jesus?
B. What manner of person should you be?
1. One who is caught up in lies of false teachers?
2. One who gives in to the sins of the world?
C. It is interesting to note that manner of persons could also be translated “of what country.”
1. We must remember our citizenship is in heaven.
2. They needed to remember they were pilgrims from another country.
D. For a faithful Christtian this is an easy question to answer.
E. He tells us to live holy lives.
1. Peter has already reminded them to be holy as God is holy in the previous letter (1 Peter 1:15-16).
2. He’s already revealed to them how live that holy life in the entirety of the first letter.
3. Remember he started out this chapter to keep in memory what has been taught to them.
F. Because the Lord is returning we should be godly.
1. We have the responsibility to be like God as much as we can.
2. We need to love the things He loves and hate the things He hates.
III. Peter tells us to desire the Lord’s return (2 Peter 3:12).
A. Notice that he wrote looking for and hasting.
1. The ASV says earnestly desiring this day.
2. John prayed Even so come Lord Jesus.
B. Because of all the things we have to put up with in this life, we should have a great desire for the Lord’s return.
C. Looking for carries the idea of looking forward to His return.
D. Hasting means having a deep longing for something, in this case, the return of Jesus.
E. Do we want the Lord to come in our lifetime?
1. Is it something we want more than anything?
2. Most of us probably want Him and death to stay away as long as possible.
3. However, the opposite ought to be the case.
F. In view of the Lord’s return we ought to greatly desire it and long for it.
I. Peter tells us of a new dwelling place (2 Peter 3:13).
A. God that cannot lie promised us heaven.
B. A new heavens and a new earth is a metaphor for the dwelling place for the righteous when this world is destroyed.
C. The word new indicates something that is fresh in place of something that is worn out.
D. This will be the place in which the righteous dwell.
1. Righteousness is a quality of God and His people.
2. Therefore, this has to refer to heaven.
E. We don’t know where it will be located, its nature or characteristics.
F. All we know is that God promised it and He does not lie.
G. All we do know is that it will not be this earth because it is going to be destroyed.