August 3rd 2025 2 PETER 3 v 1-9
Christ's Second Coming, is a main stay to Spiritual Conquest.
The Coming of Jesus in Glory was Previously talked about to the Readers.
V 1. This second epistle. Most naturally taken as a reference to I Peter. In which I stir up your pure minds. by a reminder I wake up your pure minds.
The word pure, probably means "sun-judged," as a vase which, when held up to the sun, reveals no hidden flaws.
As such flaws were often concealed by skilful patching with wax, the word is elsewhere (Phil 1: 10) translated by the "sincere" (Lat., sine cera, "without wax").
Some take the word to refer instead, to a sifting, as of grain.
V 2. The holy prophets . . . us the apostles. Peter claims a continuity and an agreement with the witness of the OT Scriptures, the principal confirmation for genuine Christian preaching in the apostolic age, and also with the witness of his fellow apostles.
This incidental and unaffected claim to apostleship as though the writer realized that it was well known to all his readers.
The Second Corning was a subject greatly relished by the apostles.
It underlies the exhortation and encouragement of his first letter ( I Pet 1 v 5,7,10-13; ch 4 v 7,13; ch 5 v 1,4).
He knew that his readers were familiar with this truth.
The Second Coming was an Object of Scepticism. Some did not believe it.
V 3. There shall come . . . scoffers ..
V 4 Where is the promise of his coming?
It may be questioned whether this is a further reference to the false teachers of chapter 2, or simply a statement that the delay in Christ's return would cause many to abandon and even to scorn the Church's glorious hope.
Even today people are getting tired of waiting for the Lord to come
V 5,6. Willingly ... ignorant. this escapes the notice of them willing.
A case of judicial blindness.
They did not want the thing to be true.
By the word of God. ….Here Peter goes back to the dependability and stability of God's word as demonstrated in creation., it consisted in (or by) the word of God.
Through Gods word other things happened, the flood water covered the world that then was and all perished. Only 8 were saved plus the animals in the Ark
God's judging word, like his creative word, was final.
V 7. The heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store.
God's promise of fiery judgment upon sinners and upon the world is to be received respectfully.
The apocryphal writings prior to the Christian era went into considerable detail about these matters.
Our Lord while on earth, spoke of a fiery destiny for the sinner (e.g., Lk 16:24).
8,9. One day . . . with the Lord. Peter now comes to the point at which he is aiming, namely, that the delay in Christ's return, talked about by the sceptics, is no proper basis for doubt as to His coming.
This has already been hinted at in his reference to the Noahic flood.
It, too, was a long time coming, and its plausibility was quite belittled by the people of those days; but it came, exactly as God had said it would.
This is Peter's third reference to Noah (I Pet 3:20; II Pet 2:5),
Peter's comment on the equivalence between one day and a thousand years with God is a beautiful statement of God's eternity, his superiority to time-space limitations (cf. Ps 90:4).
And it is exciting to think how such a concept contracts the period of waiting for his return. We quickly get to the end of our years of this pilgrimage.
But then, once "with the Lord" and freed from time-space limitations, it is but a day or two figured even from apostolic times until his kingdom comes with all its joys.
That all should come to repentance.
God's waiting is redemptive in its purpose; His basic will is that all might turn from their sin unto Him.
News from the Church New dates
6th August..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
13th August…. Lullaby Lane soft play Coffee Morning
20th August…. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
if you just want to talk well that’s OK too
27th August….. Church Coffee Morning
ANSWERS TO 27th July QUESTIONS
1) Father and Son 2) Sisters 3) Husband and Wife 4) Son and Mother5) Grandson and Grandmother
6) Brothers 7) Father and Son 8) Brothers 9) Mary 10) Dorcus 11) Sapphira 12) Anna
13) Pilates wife 14) Elisabeth 15) Martha 16) Lydia
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is Women in the New Testament
1 Timothy’s grandmother?
2 Servant girl who forgot to open the door for Peter?
3 She and her husband Aquilla taught Apollos?
4 John the Baptists mother?
5 Herodias’s daughter?
6 She was the first to see Jesus after the resurrection?
7 She was Peters relative healed of a fever ?
8 Ananias wife?
9 Timothy’s mother?
10 Jesus brough her son back to life?
11 Her daughter danced for King Herod?
12 Paul commends her to the Romans?
13 John Marks mother ?
14 Peter raised her from the dead?
15 Felix’s wife?
16 Jesus asked her for water to drink?
Ephesians 5 v 1 and 2
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
God Bless