Section 11 – 2 Peter 3:1-7
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. 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.
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (NIV)
Questions
● (v 1) How many letters has Peter written to these believers? What was Peter’s purpose in writing these two letters? What is wholesome thinking? How can the Bible guide our thinking?
● (v 2) What does Peter want these believers to recall?
● (vs 3-4) What important message does Peter want to communicate to these believers? What is meant by the “last days”? What two things will scoffers do? What do they mock that believers hold as true?
● (vs 5-6) What two things do these scoffers “deliberately forget”? By whose “word” did these two events take place? What does this “deliberate forgetting” about these two events tell us about these scoffers?
● (v 7) What are our present heaven and earth reserved for? What is the purpose of the fire? At whose “word” will this happen?
● Reading, studying, meditating on, and discussing with others the Word of God promotes “wholesome thinking” in our lives. How might you add more “wholesome thinking” to your life?
● What is something from our passage or study you are challenged to ponder further this week?________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________
Suggested Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for providing Peter’s two letters that serve as reminders to stimulate me to wholesome thinking. I desire to be wholesome in my thoughts. You know and love me and understand my need for reminders. I want to recall the words of the prophets in the Old Testament and your commands given through your apostles. Lord Jesus, I understand that scoffers will come and question truths taught in your word. I believe you will come again one day and righteously judge this world by fire. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.
Passages for reference:
Isaiah 66:15-16
15 See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For with fire and with his sword the Lord will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the Lord.
Malachi 4:1-3
1 “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3 Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty. (NIV)
Matthew 24 and 25