The Deception of Culture!
Mockers are coming!
Last week we started looing at event that will take place prior to the Second coming of Christ!
2 Peter 3:17
17b. beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked
Damon’s Translation:
You lost interest in where you once stood firm and passively yielded and wondered into the customs and culture around you. As a result, you begin twisting the truth to fit your lifestyle and walked away from what you might have been and your life ended in ruin!
James 1:23, 24
23 For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. NLT
Today we are going to pick up at the Beginning of 2 Peter 3
2 Peter 3:1-13
3 My dear friends, this is now the second time I've written to you, both letters reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention. 2 Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed on by your apostles.
3 First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings, 4 they'll mock, "So what's happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything's going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing's changed."
5 They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God's word. 6 Then God's word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. 7 The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.
8 Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. 9 God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.
10 But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.
11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? 12 Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day — 13 but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness. (The Message)
Know: What must be known, not to be shocked or taken off guard
• The point is not to bring fear, rather to prepare those living at the end of the age, that there are going to be things that take place that we need to be aware of.
• Paul uses similar statements, “this Know also”
3 First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings,
Last days: final, the extreme, most remote, spoken of place and time.
• Dispensation of Grace, Church Age, etc
• Eschaton depicts the last port the ship will enter
Mockers (scoffers): to play like a child
Luke 23:11-12
11 Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. NLT
• To cover their conviction they will, mock those that believe in the coming of Christ!
• They will do this to create an illusion they can live with!
Feelings (Lust): passion, uncontrolled desire, longing, lust.
• Passions are not bad, but trying to fulfill passion in a unbiblical way is wrong!
• There is a God given answers to every passion we have!
Col 3:5-11
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. NLT
1 Thess 4:3-8
3 God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. NLT
Rom 1:21-27
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. NLT
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. NKJV
Isa 5:20-21
20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. 21 What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. NLT
Damon Translation:
You must know, so you will not be taken off guard, at the extreme end of the church age, people will be dominated by their feelings and uncontrolled passion, living in an illusion they can live with. They will act like children, ridiculing you for standing for the truth!
2 Peter 3:4-11
4 they'll mock, "So what's happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything's going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing's changed."
5 They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God's word. 6 Then God's word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. 7 The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.
8 Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. 9 God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.
10 But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment. 11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?
Damon’s Translation:
You must know, so you will not be taken off guard, at the extreme end of the church age, people will be dominated by their feelings and uncontrolled passion, living in an illusion they can live with. They will act like children, ridiculing you for standing for the truth! Beware less you lose interest in standing firm and passively yield and wondered into the customs and culture around you. As a result, you begin twisting the truth to fit your lifestyle and walk away from what you might have been, and your life ended in ruin!
11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?
1. Learn the truth of God’s Word so you will have a firm foundation!
2. Do not live a passive life, know your purpose and walk in it!
3. Recognize when people ridicule you for standing for the truth, they are the ones living in an illusion!
4. Always allow the Holy Spirit to show you where you may be twisting the truth in your life!
5. Keep in mind the day of God’s Judgment is coming like a thief in the night!
2 Peter 3:17
17b. beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked
Damon’s Translation:
You lost interest in where you once stood firm and passively yielded and wondered into the customs and culture around you. As a result, you begin twisting the truth to fit your lifestyle and walked away from what you might have been and your life ended in ruin!
James 1:23, 24
23 For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. NLT
Today we are going to pick up at the Beginning of 2 Peter 3
2 Peter 3:1-13
3 My dear friends, this is now the second time I've written to you, both letters reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention. 2 Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed on by your apostles.
3 First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings, 4 they'll mock, "So what's happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything's going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing's changed."
5 They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God's word. 6 Then God's word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. 7 The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.
8 Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. 9 God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.
10 But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.
11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? 12 Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day — 13 but we'll hardly notice. We'll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness. (The Message)
Know: What must be known, not to be shocked or taken off guard
• The point is not to bring fear, rather to prepare those living at the end of the age, that there are going to be things that take place that we need to be aware of.
• Paul uses similar statements, “this Know also”
3 First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their puny feelings,
Last days: final, the extreme, most remote, spoken of place and time.
• Dispensation of Grace, Church Age, etc
• Eschaton depicts the last port the ship will enter
Mockers (scoffers): to play like a child
Luke 23:11-12
11 Then Herod and his soldiers began mocking and ridiculing Jesus. Finally, they put a royal robe on him and sent him back to Pilate. NLT
• To cover their conviction they will, mock those that believe in the coming of Christ!
• They will do this to create an illusion they can live with!
Feelings (Lust): passion, uncontrolled desire, longing, lust.
• Passions are not bad, but trying to fulfill passion in a unbiblical way is wrong!
• There is a God given answers to every passion we have!
Col 3:5-11
5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. NLT
1 Thess 4:3-8
3 God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. NLT
Rom 1:21-27
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. NLT
1 John 2:15-17
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. NKJV
Isa 5:20-21
20 What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. 21 What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. NLT
Damon Translation:
You must know, so you will not be taken off guard, at the extreme end of the church age, people will be dominated by their feelings and uncontrolled passion, living in an illusion they can live with. They will act like children, ridiculing you for standing for the truth!
2 Peter 3:4-11
4 they'll mock, "So what's happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything's going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing's changed."
5 They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God's word. 6 Then God's word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. 7 The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.
8 Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. 9 God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change.
10 But when the Day of God's Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a huge conflagration, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment. 11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?
Damon’s Translation:
You must know, so you will not be taken off guard, at the extreme end of the church age, people will be dominated by their feelings and uncontrolled passion, living in an illusion they can live with. They will act like children, ridiculing you for standing for the truth! Beware less you lose interest in standing firm and passively yield and wondered into the customs and culture around you. As a result, you begin twisting the truth to fit your lifestyle and walk away from what you might have been, and your life ended in ruin!
11 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?
1. Learn the truth of God’s Word so you will have a firm foundation!
2. Do not live a passive life, know your purpose and walk in it!
3. Recognize when people ridicule you for standing for the truth, they are the ones living in an illusion!
4. Always allow the Holy Spirit to show you where you may be twisting the truth in your life!
5. Keep in mind the day of God’s Judgment is coming like a thief in the night!