Standing on the Promises - A Study of 2 Peter Lesson 6 - Standing As The Day Draws Near
Recap: Peter warned that there are people who promise freedom while being enslaved by desire. He continues to show us the danger of following that kind of lead.
2 Peter 2:20-22 Indeed, if, after escaping the defiling things of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and controlled by them again, they are worse off than they were at first. 21 In fact, it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command passed on to them. 22 They demonstrate the truth of the proverb: “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and a washed sow returns to wallowing in the mud.
1. If someone escapes the defiling things of the world through the knowledge of Jesus; how could they possibly get entangled in them again?
2. Better not to have known the way of righteousness? How could that possibly be? Why is it worse to be entangled and controlled by sin after knowing about Jesus, rather than before?
3. When is it the right time to say to someone, “You are turning back from the holy command passed on to you.”?
4. “When is it the right time to say to someone, “You’re acting like a dog returning to its own vomit. You’re like a pig rolling around in filth.”?
2 Peter 3:1-7 Dear friends, this is now the second letter that I have written to you. I wrote both of them to stir up your sincere mind with a reminder 2 for you to remember the words spoken earlier by the holy prophets and the command of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. First, know this: In the last days scoffers will come with their mocking, following their own lusts. 4 They will say, “Where is this promised coming of his? For from the time that our fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have from the beginning of the creation.” 5 You see, what they are intentionally forgetting is that the heavens came into existence long ago by the word of God and that the earth came together out of the water and between the waters. 6 Through these waters the former world perished, when it was flooded with water. 7 And now, by that same word, the heavens and earth have been stored up for fire, since they are being kept until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly.
5. When is your “sincere mind” stirred up? 6. “In the last days.” When are “the last days”? How would we know whether we are in “the last days” or not? 7. What motivates people to scoff at and mock the Word of God? 8. Does anyone actually say anything like this: “Where is this coming of Jesus? Everything has been going on since it has since the beginning of our world’s existence.”? If so, where do you observe this kind of thinking? 9. Do people actually intentionally forget that the universe came into existence by the Word of God? If so, where do you notice this kind of thinking? 10. Why would someone want to deliberately forget that a worldwide flood happened? 11. Fire is a useful energetic force. When is fire helpful and beneficial? When does fire become destructive and dangerous? 12. The word of God can send enough water to flood the whole world. The word of God can send a kind of fire which can destroy the universe. How is God’s Word so powerful? 2 Peter 3:8-9 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. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 13. Some point to verse 8 as one reason to say, “the 6 days of creation could have been 6 time periods of thousands of years each.” Respond. 14. How is a day like a thousand years to God?
15. How are a thousand years like a day to God? 16. What difference does it make if God is slow or patient? 17. On a scale of 1-10, how hard is it to “not want anyone to perish”? Have you ever desired that someone perish? 18. So how does God manage to not desire anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance?