1. February 28, 2016 Seek the Lord with us!

2. II Peter 3: 10-18 Home of Righteousness (vs.13)

6. II Peter 3: 10-18 Home of Righteousness (vs.13)

7. Examine: The believers to whom Peter writes have, in his view, two interrelated problems: they doubt the coming of Christ and they are drawn to immoral living. Peter wants to remind (1:12) those believers who “have obtained a faith of equal standing” (1:1) of what they have been given by belief. The focus and core of their belief is the righteousness of God and Christ.
Conviction about God’s righteousness grants everything that is needed for believers to share in God’s righteousness. In fact, believers can expect to “become partakers of the divine nature” (1:4). They can expect to become like God and have life and godliness (1:3). The premise upon which this letter is based is the righteousness of God and Christ is stronger than sin and wickedness. Further sin and wickedness unlike God, will end.

8. Peter is also writing to counter some false teachers who were denying that Jesus is coming again to judge the world. They denied the truth because they wanted to pursue their greedy, sensual lifestyle. They were drawing away some naïve professing Christians with their message of “freedom,” which was really leading people into slavery to sin (2:19).
Peter does not talk about the Lord’s return to satisfy our curiosity but rather to motivate us toward Godly living. Peter’s message is simple: Since Christ will return in frightening judgment, we must live in holiness in the light of that day.

9. Explain: Despite the letter’s chilling references to the punishment in store for the wicked (2:4-6), Peter’s focus is not on the negative but on the positive. The good news is the righteousness of God and Christ will one day be all there is. One day there will be no evil. One day there will only be the divine nature. The divine nature has many aspects to it, but all of these are aspects of love (1:4-7). One day there will only be love and a home for believers wherein righteousness dwells.

10. Experience: Life during this time of waiting for the end is to be lived in light of the good future and the home God has prepared for us who choose to believe in Him and wait for His coming. Since what is coming is a world cleansed of sin, “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwell” (3:13), now is a time for believers to live what will be. Earlier in the letter, Peter gives a prescription for how to live for the future:
“make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with sisterly and brotherly kindness, and such kindness with love.” (1:5-7)

11. 1) Since Christ will return in judgment, we should be Holy people (3:11). “HOLY” conduct, means conduct that is distinct from this evil world. I’m not talking about being weird! If we’re weird, it should be because we live in obedience to God’s Word. We hold to the values that the Bible teaches us to live by. We live in light of eternity, not for all of the junk that’s going to burn. We value people and treasure Christ above all else.
“Godliness” has the root idea of reverence and awe towards God. It is the attitude which gives God the place he ought to occupy in life, in thought and devotion.

12. 2) Since Christ will return in judgment, we should be looking for and hastening that coming day (3:12). Three times in three verses (12, 13, 14) Peter uses the verb, “looking for.” We with eager expectation each day look for the coming of Christ, when all of His promises to us will be fulfilled. Peter may mean that as we live godly lives and proclaim the gospel to the lost, we have a part in speeding up the Lord’s return.
3) According to God’s promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells (3:13).
Paul Pointed out in (Rom. 8:20-22), the present creation has been subjected to the fall on account of man’s sin. But God has promised to bring something much better when Christ returns.

13. Isaiah 65:17-25, refers to the new heaven and earth as a place where people will see and experience the new according to God’s promise. Christians will experience “new heavens and a new earth”. A new place to exist in the presence of God with all the benefits of His presence. This new creation will not be like this creation with all its corruption, failure, pain and problems. This cosmos will evaporate and a new realm will be put in its place.
The word “dwell” means permanently dwell. It carries the idea of to live at home. God permanently dwells at home there. Each Christian will live in the eternal state and will be completely at home with God. “Righteousness” dwells there because God dwells there. The new heaven and earth will be characterized by righteousness that corresponds with who God is.

14. Point: We can relax completely in this new situation
Point: We can relax completely in this new situation. Think about it, no candidates' arguing over things of this world that effect us each day, no hostility, jealousy, hunger, pain, illness, loss etc.… Christians have a wonderful future. God made this promise to us. We are headed for home. Would you like to go along as well?