23-0910p Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(1:10) Tonight, I’ll be in 2 Peter 3, mainly beginning with verse 10, (1:19) that it says, but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, (1:25) in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, (1:31) and the elements will melt with fervent heat. (1:36) Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (1:42) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, (1:48) what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (1:58) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, (2:05) because of which the heavens will be dissolved, (2:09) then on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (2:18) What manner of persons ought we be as reading this (2:28) and realizing that judgment is coming? (2:34) We don’t know exactly when, but it will be coming.

(2:48) Now, let’s back up. (2:52) You know, sometimes we need to be reminded of certain things that we have learned. (3:05) We tend to forget.

(3:14) I know there are times when I could be, for instance, (3:23) if I had a mind to go look for a certain item, (3:32) back in one of the rooms. (3:36) I’ve got a mind here, but I could get halfway down the aisle (3:42) and I’m wondering, where am I going? (3:45) What am I heading that way for? (3:50) You know, that fast we forget. (3:54) But there are some things that we need to remember, (4:00) that we need to be mindful of.

(4:02) And he is speaking of the things that were spoken before by the holy prophets (4:13) and of the commandment of us, the apostles, of the Lord and Savior. (4:25) Because we need to constantly look into the Word (4:30) and keep a reminder of what is going on (4:37) and the Word, what the Word says, as we know. (4:48) And he said, knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last day, (4:57) walking according to their own lusts, and say, (5:04) where is the promise of his coming? (5:08) They asked this and they said, everything continues as it did from the beginning.

(5:22) And they don’t stop to think about what happens. (5:30) They willfully forget what the scriptures say (5:36) about the promise of his coming. (5:46) And they think that the longer it takes for God to come as he promised, (6:02) that, you know, he’s forgotten.

(6:09) And what happens is they willfully forget. (6:16) They willfully forget. (6:21) You know, it is amazing.

(6:24) You can present the Word to people. (6:30) Show them what the Word says. (6:35) And there are these people that are so set in their minds, (6:45) just as I’ve been, that I will listen to a brother in Virginia, Martinsville, (6:54) by the name of Johnny Robertson and his son Caleb now.

(7:03) You know, his son Caleb, in his lesson just the other day, (7:13) he said, we put these scriptures time and time again. (7:18) We show from the scriptures what it says. (7:24) Yet, you just don’t accept it.

(7:31) I mean, he asked, he said, why do you fight it? (7:34) I mean, they present the Word, (7:40) and these people just want to have things their own way. (7:50) They have a mind of their own. (7:55) But here are these scoffers, though.

(7:59) There are these scoffers that they don’t really believe the Word. (8:07) They don’t believe in the promise of God. (8:14) So they ask, where is the promise of His coming? (8:20) All things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.

(8:28) And Peter says, for this they willfully forget, (8:33) that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, (8:41) and the earth standing out of water and in the water, (8:46) by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. (8:57) So he says that, and that was because God was bringing judgment upon the people. (9:08) We have those people that were called sons of God.

(9:17) These are men in the flesh, sons of God. (9:22) So the daughters of men, these were in the flesh, these were in the flesh. (9:30) And God decreed because of the evil that existed, (9:37) because man’s heart was only evil from his youth on up.

(9:43) And therefore he found Noah, he found grace in Noah, (9:56) because Noah was righteous, and Noah was a man that believed in God. (10:07) And so God told him to build an ark, (10:13) because he was going to bring a flood upon the earth, (10:20) and that he would destroy all flesh. (10:29) People want to make the sons of God spirits.

(10:34) Spirits cannot cohabit with flesh and blood. (10:40) So certainly sons of God could be the spirits which we would call angels, (10:55) but yet he said he would destroy all flesh. (11:05) Now Noah could save himself and his family if he would build an ark, (11:12) and he told him to build an ark, because he was going to destroy the world.

(11:20) He was going to get rid of all flesh that was upon the face of the earth. (11:28) And said that the world, (11:38) by which the world that then existed perished, (11:43) may be flooded with water. (11:47) But the heavens and the earth, which are now preserved by the same word, (11:54) are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

(12:05) So this earth will be destroyed again, but it will be destroyed by fire. (12:14) We need to keep in mind that he brought judgment upon the world then with water. (12:26) But he said never again will I destroy the earth with water.

(12:34) And he put the rainbow in the sky as a reminder that the promise that he gave to Noah (12:50) that the earth would not be destroyed by water, (12:54) but it will be destroyed by fire. (13:01) As we find in 2 Thessalonians, (13:10) the apostle Paul was writing to the Thessalonians, (13:15) and he was talking to them, (13:19) and in 2 Thessalonians 1, we’re going to begin with verse 7, or make it verse 6. (13:37) Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you (13:46) and to give you who are troubled rest with us, (13:51) when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, (14:00) taking vengeance on those who do not know God (14:03) and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (14:13) Somebody may question that.

(14:15) Well, what about the persons that are in a remote region and they don’t hear the gospel? (14:28) Well, you know what? (14:29) The same thing that is against us who do not obey the gospel (14:39) is the same thing that will have them, and that’s sin. (14:45) They sin. We can sin.

(14:49) And if we don’t do something about it, then the anger of God will be upon us. (14:57) But that is what the Word says. (15:01) And there was someone that was in a discussion, (15:09) very surprised to hear about those who do not obey the gospel.

(15:16) He never heard of obeying the gospel. (15:21) It’s saying obey the gospel. (15:26) And it’s right here if he would have read the Word.

(15:32) And just like I say, there are people that try to argue this, (15:37) but they don’t have their Bible open. (15:41) They try to tell you something from memory, (15:46) and sometimes they misquote what they’re saying. (15:51) They misstate it.

(15:53) If they had the Bible, they would get it straight. (15:58) But here we are. (15:59) The heavens and the earth, which are preserved by the same Word, (16:05) are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

(16:15) So these ungodly men have something terrible to look for (16:23) as long as they won’t turn away from what they are doing. (16:32) But he says, (16:33) But beloved, do not forget this one thing, (16:38) that with the day, but with the Lord, (16:42) one day is as a thousand years, (16:45) and a thousand years as one day. (16:50) Now he doesn’t really say that one day is the same as a thousand years (17:00) or a thousand years is the same as one day.

(17:05) But he says, (17:06) But the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, (17:11) and a thousand years as one day, (17:13) meaning God isn’t controlled by time as we are. (17:21) We have a certain time to be at work. (17:25) We have a certain time to meet (17:28) and a certain hour to go with that time, (17:37) but when that time is up, (17:38) it’s time to close out whatever we are doing.

(17:46) And then he says, (17:47) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, (17:52) as some count slackness, (17:55) not as long-suffering toward us, (17:59) not really that any should perish, (18:02) but that all should come to repentance. (18:06) And all the longer that that day of the Lord, (18:14) the longer that it stays, (18:19) gives people a chance to repent of the evil that they do, (18:29) to come to the Lord. (18:33) And he is not willing that any should perish, (18:40) but that all should come to repentance.

(18:47) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, (18:53) in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, (18:59) and the elements will melt with fervent heat. (19:04) Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (19:11) So stay clear that the heavens, (19:17) that’s the planets and the stars, the moon, (19:24) these will pass away with a great noise, (19:29) and the elements will melt with fervent heat.

(19:34) Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (19:41) You know, we had one preacher here (19:46) that was in this particular passage. (19:51) Reading this particular passage straight from the Word, (20:01) and one of the people commented (20:07) that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

(20:14) He was arguing against saying, (20:18) no it’s not, but it’s there in the Word. (20:22) Why argue with it? It’s right there. (20:27) In other words, we don’t know when it’s going to be, (20:35) but we need to be prepared for it when it does come.

(20:40) And he says that the heavens will pass away with a great noise, (20:46) and the elements will melt with fervent heat. (20:51) Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. (20:55) Now there are some that contend that this earth will abide forever.

(21:04) Now they’ll go where it says that the earth abides forever, (21:10) and I don’t really have that scripture right at this time, (21:18) but yet when it says here that it will be burned up, (21:27) there’s not going to be anything left. (21:32) And they will argue that there will be a renovation of whatever remains, (21:43) but if it’s burned up, it’s burned up. (21:49) Then it says, therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, (21:56) what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, (22:04) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, (22:12) because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, (22:18) and the elements will melt with fervent heat? (22:24) I don’t know how you would take a melted substance that has melted, (22:37) how you would work that to recreate whatever it was, (22:47) whether it was a candle or some other object, (22:54) but yet he said it will melt with fervent heat.

(23:03) Now this is in particular, verse 11, is what I want to concentrate a little bit on. (23:16) So, since all these things will be dissolved, it’s going to come to an end, (23:26) what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? (23:33) In 1 Peter 1, in verse 15 and then 16, (23:52) Peter tells the people that he’s writing to, (24:01) but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (24:11) because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy. (24:19) Now that’s what God told the children of Israel, (24:25) that they were to be holy as he was holy, and he wanted them to be holy.

(24:36) God is separate, he is righteous, (24:40) he wanted these people, the children of Israel, to be holy. (24:51) He said, For I am holy. (24:54) And so, in our conduct then, it should be holy conduct and godliness, (25:07) and looking for the coming of the day of God.

(25:14) Whatever it is, we ought to be ready for it. (25:18) And he says, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. (25:25) We need to look for it, we need to be watchful.

(25:32) Then he says, Nevertheless, we according to his promise, (25:40) look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. (25:50) They may take this to mean that God is going to make this earth and the heavens new again, (26:01) but that’s not what this says. (26:03) We look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

(26:13) And the one place that I know, it is in heaven. (26:19) That will be the place where righteousness is and where no sin will enter in. (26:29) He says, Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, (26:35) be diligent to be found by him in peace, without spot and blameless, (26:44) and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.

(26:52) As also our beloved brother Paul, according to his wisdom, (26:58) given to him, has written to you. (27:03) So we ought to look forward to these things. (27:10) We need to be diligent and found by him in peace, without spot and blameless, (27:23) and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.

(27:29) Yes, God is longsuffering. (27:34) He is looking at the situation of the world, the evil that abounds, (27:44) and the hatred that some display toward God, (27:53) and being haters of God, and against Jesus, and hating Jesus. (28:05) And then we may feel the brunt of that in a way of persecution, (28:12) but as Jesus told his disciples, he said, (28:19) The world will hate you because it hates me.

(28:26) And so Jesus went through terrible things, (28:33) and God’s longsuffering toward us shows that he really isn’t willing (28:44) that any should purge, but that all should come to repentance. (28:50) And the sad thing is, not all will come to repentance. (29:01) He speaks of, he said, (29:06) Our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you.

(29:14) As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, (29:22) in which some things hard to understand, (29:27) which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, (29:35) as they do also the rest of the scriptures. (29:42) So Peter here is putting Paul’s writings right in the line with the scriptures, (29:55) the holy scriptures that we have. (29:59) And he said that they do also the rest of the scriptures, (30:07) and how they twist and want to twist what the Bible says.

(30:13) You can read plainly what it says, (30:20) and I’ll take the things that are said and twist them around. (30:30) And he said, You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, (30:35) beware, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, (30:43) being led away with the error of wicked, (30:49) but grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (30:56) To him be the glory, both now and forever.

Amen. (31:02) I want you to look at this. (31:04) There are some that contend that there is a certain number that God has (31:13) that will be the elect.

(31:20) And there are those that he has chosen to be those who are condemned. (31:29) But you know, this doesn’t agree with that, (31:38) because it says, Beloved, since you know this beforehand, (31:45) beware, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness. (31:53) We can be steadfast.

(31:54) We can at one time be really on fire, (32:01) as some in the brotherhood has been. (32:06) But they turn away, and they fall away from the truth, (32:12) and they’re being led away with the error of the wicked. (32:19) And certainly in the 11th chapter of Romans, (32:25) where he speaks of being grafted onto the olive tree, (32:33) the wild olive branches by nature, (32:41) he grafts onto the natural olive tree.

(32:48) Paul gives a warning. (32:52) He says, Don’t be boasting, because he grafted you in. (33:01) And at the same time, because he cut Israel off because of their unrighteousness.

(33:13) Because you see, God can, by the same token, graft them back in. (33:26) And we need to be careful, because we can also be cut off as they were cut off. (33:38) They can be grafted back in too, because if they would turn, (33:44) and you see, he grafted us into that olive tree, (33:55) but he can also cut us off if we need to be worried.

(34:02) So this is what we need to have the reminder of. (34:06) And then he says, To grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (34:15) To him be the glory both now and forever.

(34:21) And what I like, when I am watching Johnny Robertson and his son Caleb, (34:31) they have a way that they put the scriptures up in the video, (34:41) where you can see on the video where he’s reading from. (34:48) And you can see it as he’s reading. (34:52) We can see exactly that he has taken what he’s reading from the Word.

(35:01) And I don’t know, they got some people that are rough. (35:09) They just don’t want to accept what’s here. (35:16) But as Caleb, Johnny’s son said, asked, Why do you fight it? (35:24) You know, there’s going to be one day when they are going to face God, that day of judgment.

(35:36) And they’re not going to want to hear, apart from me, you workers of iniquity. (35:44) I never knew you. (35:47) That is, we don’t get in line.

(35:54) You know, that is what he will say. (36:00) But for those that remain true, he will say, Well done, good and faithful servant. (36:09) Enter into the joys of life.

(36:12) So that’s the reason that we ought to be the kind of person or the manner of persons (36:19) that we conduct ourselves in holiness and godliness. (36:29) If there is anybody that is subject to the gospel in any way, (36:35) we urge you to come while we stand and while we sing.