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2 Peter 3:1-6 Inductive Bible Study Notes, Cross References, Outline, and Discussion Questions
The “Steady State” Fallacy
Chapter 3:1-6
2 Pe 3:1-6
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."
5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
Key Words
· Water 3
· Their 3
· Come 2
· Mockers 2
empaiktees
a mocker, a scoffer - playing like children
· Reminder/remember 2
·
Titles
The Mockers Mentality
Signs of the Times
The “Steady State” Fallacy
A stable condition that does not change over time or in which change in one direction is continually balanced by change in another.
Restirring
Outline
I. Reminder 1-2
A. Stirring them up
B. Consider words of prophets and apostles
II. Warning 3-6
Cross References, Questions, Observations
1. This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
Php 3:1
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.
2 Ti 1:6
6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2 Pe 1:13-15
13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder,
14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.
Col 3:16
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
1 Th 5:11
11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.
2 Co 9:2
2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
1) We cool down and we forget. So, we need to be stirred up occasionally and we also need reminders.
2. that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
Lk 1:70
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old —
Lk 24:27
27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Lk 24:44
44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."
Ac 3:18
18 "But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
Ac 10:43
43 "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."
1 Pe 1:10-12
10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,
11 seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look.
2 Pe 1:21
21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
2 Pe 3:15-16
15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,
16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
1 Jn 4:6
6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
Jude 17
17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
a) Why are we so prone to forget?
b) What’s the best reminder for you?
1) The apostles were Jesus’ spokesmen. Their message had the same authority as if Jesus had spoken it Himself.
3. Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
1 Ti 4:1
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,
2 Ti 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
2 Ti 3:1-5
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Pr 1:22
22 "How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge?
Pr 3:34
34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
Pr 14:6
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none, But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
2 Pe 2:10
10 and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,
Jude 16-18
16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.
17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
18 that they were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts."
Pr 26:4-5
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.
5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves, That he not be wise in his own eyes.
Lk 23:9
9 And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing.
a) When are the last days?
b) Will the occurrence of these mockers increase as we get closer to the rapture?
c) What is God’s attitude towards mockers?
d) How should we relate to mockers?
e) What is the relationship between mocking and lust?
f) Give some examples of mockers today.
1)
4. and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation."
Ge 19:14
14 Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, and said, "Up, get out of this place, for the LORD will destroy the city." But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting.
Ecc 1:9
9 That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.
Ecc 8:11
11 Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.
Isa 5:18-19
18 Woe to those who drag iniquity with the cords of falsehood, And sin as if with cart ropes;
19 Who say, "Let Him make speed, let Him hasten His work, that we may see it; And let the purpose of the Holy One of Israel draw near And come to pass, that we may know it!"
Jer 17:15
15 Look, they keep saying to me, "Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come now!"
Eze 12:25-28
25 "For I the LORD will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it," declares the Lord GOD.'"
26 Furthermore, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
27 "Son of man, behold, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies of times far off.'
28 "Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,"'" declares the Lord GOD.
Mal 2:17
17 You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "How have we wearied Him?" In that you say, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delights in them," or, " Where is the God of justice?"
Mt 24:48
48 "But if that evil slave says in his heart, 'My master is not coming for a long time,'
Lk 12:45-46
45 "But if that slave says in his heart, 'My master will be a long time in coming,' and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk;
46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in
Mk 13:19
19 "For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will.
a) What is the difference between a skeptic and a mocker?
1) This is the central argument of evolutionists.
2) People still want signs to “prove” God’s promises. God requires simple faith.
5. For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
Pr 17:16
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?
Jn 3:19-20
19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
Ro 1:28
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
2 Th 2:10-12
10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,
12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.
Ge 1:6
6 Then God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."
Ge 1:9
9 Then God said, " Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.
Ge 1:11
11 Then God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them"; and it was so.
Ge 1:14
14 Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years;
Ge 1:20
20 Then God said, "Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens."
Ge 1:24
24 Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind"; and it was so.
Ge 1:26
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Ps 33:6
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
Heb 11:3
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
a) What are some obvious evidences that escape the notice of mockers?
1)
6. through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.
Ge 7:10-12
10 It came about after the seven days, that the water of the flood came upon the earth.
11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened.
12 The rain fell upon the earth for forty days and forty nights.
Mt 24:38-39
38 "For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Lk 17:27
27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
a) Why do many people reject the concept of a worldwide flood?
1)
Key Verse
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
Central Teaching
Application - Make Your Own!
Don’t give mockers credibility by giving them a serious answer that they are not really looking for.
Study on 2 Peter Chapter by Chapter
| 2 Peter 1:1-9 | 2 Peter 1:10-15 | 2 Peter 1:16-21 | 2 Peter 2:1-11 |
| 2 Peter 2:12-16 | 2 Peter 2:17-22 | 2 Peter 3:1-6 | 2 Peter 3:7-13 |
| 2 Peter 3:14-18 |