OUR HOME OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

2 Peter 3:1-18
Key verse 13

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."

At this conference, we have heard Jesus' clear prayer topic for his disciples, "Your kingdom come¡¦" Through this passage, we can learn that his kingdom is coming, and how to be ready for that day!

I. Wholesome thinking (1-9)

Look at verse 1. "Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking." St. Peter wrote two letters to the early Christian church. The first concerned external persecutions. The second letter concerned the bad influence of false teachers. In the face of such trials, we don't need just head knowledge about what to do. We need wholesome thinking that enables us to put our faith into practice.

What is wholesome thinking? Look at verse 2. "I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles." Wholesome thinking begins with meditation on the word of God in the Bible. The word of God has power to cleanse our hearts and minds. Psalm 119:9 says, "How can a young man keep his heart pure? By living according to your word." The word of God also sets us free from sinful fixed ideas. Jesus says in John 8:31-32, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

After Jesus' crucifixion, some of his disciples were leaving Jerusalem to hide from the Jewish authorities. They had heard Jesus predict his suffering, death and resurrection. They knew the Scriptures concerning the suffering of the Son of Man. But they had a fixed idea that they would enjoy ease and glory in Jesus' earthly messianic kingdom. So, their faces were downcast as they trudged along. The resurrected Jesus rebuked them in Luke 24:25-26, "How foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" The disciples had hardened their heart not to listen to the Bible's teachings that suffering comes before glory. Later, however, they confessed, "But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed" (1 Pe 4:13). Jesus' disciples were so happy when they accepted Bible truth ahead of their fixed ideas.

Look at verse 3. "First of all, you must understand that in the last days, scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." Here, "in the last days" refers to the time between the Risen Jesus' ascension into heaven and his return as King and Judge. But there are many who scoff at the idea of judgment. They do so in order to follow their own evil desires.

Look at verse 4. "They will say, 'Where is this "coming" he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.'" As Peter indicates, these scoffers are living under the power of death. So they scoff, saying, "Nothing is going to change¡¦so why should I? Don't bother me with your Bible study!" Look at verses 5-7. "But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." The crucial mistake of the ungodly is to forget that everything depends on the power of God's word. God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God said, "his days will be a hundred and twenty years," and the flood came to destroy all men. Jesus said, "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!" (Lk 12:49-50). Jesus' baptism was his death on the cross for the sin of the world. But God raised Jesus to life and made him both Lord and Christ. He will come again to bring fire on the earth. Scoffers only deceive themselves and others by deliberately forgetting this. We must remind them of God's truth that this world is reserved for fire.

It is not easy to live in a world with the ungodly and with scoffers. So, from time to time, God's people become impatient, wondering when God's judgment will come. Look at verses 8 and 9. "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Of course, we want justice and truth to prevail. But we must remember God's heart to save the lost, like that of the father for the prodigal son. Because of his compassion, he is not willing that even one person perish, but waits for everyone to come to repentance. God waited and watched his one and only Son Jesus Christ die for the sin of the world. God will wait for the completion of his world salvation work. God's people must understand God's heart and work to bring everyone to repentance.

II. The day of the Lord (10-13)

First, the day of destruction (10). Let's read verse 10 together. "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." The day of the Lord comes unexpectedly, like a thief. No one knows when he will come. But we know he is coming. This world and everything in it is bracing itself for that day, when the Lord comes like a thief.

When Jesus comes again, the world as it is will be destroyed. Until Jesus came, Satan was the unchallenged ruler of all men through the power of sin and death. But when Jesus prayed from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34a), the foundation of Satan's kingdom cracked. And when Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, Satan's power over men was crushed. Now, Satan's kingdom is crumbling even as the kingdom of God is ever growing (Da. 2:44-45). When Jesus comes again, the spiritual and physical worlds will be completely overhauled. The beautiful heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Nothing will remain as it is – nothing. As strong as our attachments to the world might be, they cannot withstand the second coming of Jesus.

Like the Samaritan woman, so many young girls are ready to worship the man they think will make them happy. Their hope is in a home sweet home. But Jesus said, "When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." (Mk. 12:25). Like Zacchaeus, so many young men forsake their noble dreams in order to make money and buy all the Play Station 2 equipment they could want. Their hope is in worldly wealth. But Jesus said, "I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings" (Lk. 16:9). While we live in the world, we enjoy God's blessings of love and wealth, don't we? But we must remember that this world is destined for destruction. Before 9/11, no one imagined that such huge buildings and so many lives could be completely destroyed in less than an hour. To hope in something that is perishing is to have a dead hope. We suffer most of all because of dead hopes in the world. Today, let's make a decision to exchange all our dead hopes for a living hope in the kingdom of God.

Second, our home of righteousness (11-13). Look at verses 11-13. "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." Peter emphasizes that, at Jesus' second coming, the destruction of this world will extend even to the basic elements of life and matter. The destruction of this world, however, prepares the way for all things to be made new. In this world, we are limited by time and space. But on the day of God, every limitation will be overcome. When Jesus comes, there will be no more curse. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes. There will no more death or mourning or crying or pain. He will dwell with us in peace, and he himself will be our light and our righteousness. God has promised us a place of rest and glory, which will be revealed on that day. It will be our home of righteousness.

Who will be welcomed into the home of righteousness? Look again at verse 11. "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives." Only those who have lived holy and godly lives will be counted worthy of God's heavenly kingdom. We know it is God's grace that has saved us and called us out of darkness and into his wonderful light (1 Pe 2:9). We know it is by faith in Jesus' name that sinners like us could become God's children. It is God's truth, however, that the children of God must train themselves in God's holiness as they look forward to the day of Jesus' return (1 Jn 3:3).

There was a young Jew who had been captured by Babylonian invaders in the first year of king Nebuchadnezzar's reign. He was to be brought up as one of the court intellectuals to help Nebuchadnezzar achieve world domination. His name was Daniel. Daniel and his friends had no choice but to serve Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel, however, made a decision not to eat the food and drink the wine from the king's table. He resolved to eat only vegetables and drink only water. It was not Jewish legalism or some crazy Atkins diet. Daniel wanted to overcome the situation and give his heart first to God. Daniel believed that God had put him into Nebuchadnezzar's service for his good purpose. Indeed, God blessed Daniel and used him to lead such a proud and able sheep like Nebuchadnezzar to repentance (Da. 4). He also used Daniel to plant the hope of God's heavenly kingdom in the hearts of his people. Anyone who takes hold of this hope, overcoming all situations, will be trained thoroughly in the holiness of God so that he can enter the home of righteousness. Daniel 11:33 says, "Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time."

At Jesus' trial before the Sanhedrin, the high priest challenged him in pious indignation, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus answered in Mark 14:61-62, "I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Our Lord Jesus was tried as a criminal in our place. It was the greatest injustice ever in human history. Nevertheless, Jesus was full of hope because he knew he would come again to establish the home of righteousness. Therefore, Jesus carried his rugged cross of mission to the very end. Jesus had told his disciples on the night of his arrest, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart, for I have overcome the world" (Jn. 16:33b). Our living hope in the home of righteousness is our power source for overcoming the world. With faith in the home of righteousness, we can take heart and work to pioneer all Muslim and communist nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ!

III. Grow in Jesus' grace (14-18)

Look at verse 14. "So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." We have a great hope in Christ Jesus and in his return. We must make every effort to be ready for that day. Jim Elliot was a missionary to the Aucas Indians in Ecuador. He and his four missionary colleagues were slaughtered by the Aucas in their first face-to-face meeting. When the Aucas came to kill his friends, Jim Elliot was reported to have reached for his gun, and then stopped. Of course, he wanted to save the lives of his friends and his own life, too. But with a great effort, he determined to be faithful to his calling as a missionary and not kill his sheep. Later, his wife Elisabeth told a reporter who asked why God had let him die, "You don't understand, sir. God saved him from disobedience." Elisabeth Elliot carried on with the mission to the Aucas, and, by God's grace, helped convert to Christ the very Indians who had killed her husband. Actually, Jim Elliot didn't do much as a missionary. But his struggle to be faithful to his missionary calling is exemplary. We too have a great hope that through our struggle to obey Jesus' world mission command, we might be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

In verses 15 and 16, Peter exhorts us to study God's word carefully, especially Paul's letters concerning the grace of God. Look at verses 17 and 18. "Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever! Amen." In order not to fall into error, we must keep growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Those who are growing in the grace of Christ know God's heart to save sinners. Those who are growing in the grace of Christ really enjoy serving God's sheep. Those who are growing in the grace of Christ have the peace of God that enables them to bear present sufferings for the sake of future glory.

The second coming of Jesus means the end of this world. But in keeping with his promise, we can look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. In the home of righteousness, our hearts will be healed from all sorrow. In the home of righteousness, we will be set free from all weakness and disease. In the home of righteousness, we will enjoy together with Jesus the fruits of our struggle to grow in his holiness. May God bless us all to meet again in the home of righteousness!

Let's read together our key verse, 13. "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."