Sunday School Lesson
May 26
Lesson 13
Patient Hope
Devotional Reading: John 14:1-7
Background Scripture: 2 Peter 3
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15a And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Key Verse
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each student will be able to:
1. Describe the argument of the scoffers and how Peter answers them.
2. Explain how the promise of Christ’s return should inspire faithful patience in believers.
3. Write a letter to encourage a hypothetical young believer who is discouraged about the apparent hopelessness of winning the lost or about the apparent delay in Christ’s return.
Lesson Outline
Introduction
A. Distance and Perspective
B. Lesson Background
I. Scoffers’ Perspective (2 Peter 3:3, 4)
A. What They Do (v. 3)
Skepticism, Proper and Improper
B. What They Say (v. 4)
II. History’s Perspective (2 Peter 3:5-7)
A. Destroyed by Water (vv. 5, 6)
B. Destroyed by Fire (v. 7)
III. God’s Perspective (2 Peter 3:8, 9)
A. His Timetable (v. 8)
B. His Patience (v. 9)
IV. Believers’ Perspective (2 Peter 3:10-15a, 18)
A. Future Event (vv. 10-13)
B. Present Response (vv. 14, 15a, 18)
Two Kingdoms
Conclusion
A. Patient Endurance
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
Introduction
A. Distance and Perspective
Judging distance is a tricky business. It is often a matter of perspective. For example, mountain peaks may appear to be very close together if viewed from a distance. But if we fly over the mountains in an airplane, we may see that they are, in fact, widely separated.
The passing of time can also be a matter of perspective. When we are young, time seems to drag on forever. Just a few weeks in school feels like an eternity. But as more time passes, the more quickly it seems to pass. Adults commonly ask themselves “Where did the time go?” as they think back across decades.
So how does time appear from God’s perspective? That question underlies today’s study.
B. Lesson Background
Today’s lesson brings us again to 2 Peter, the great apostle’s letter of final instructions before his impending death (see the Lesson Background to Lesson 11). By the time of the letter’s writing, a generation had passed since the resurrection of Jesus. The faith had spread widely. Churches had been established all over the eastern part of the Roman Empire, and the Christian movement had become controversial. Christianity was the object of curiosity, ridicule, and even persecution.
At the heart of the controversy was the declaration that Jesus, who had been crucified by the Romans, had not only risen from the dead but now reigned as king at God’s right hand. He would one day return to establish His rule fully and finally. That belief challenged the way that many Jewish people understood how God would send the promised king, whom they expected to appear as a military and political ruler. It challenged the Roman Empire’s claim to absolute authority, as a man crucified by the Romans as a criminal was declared to be king.
The idea that Jesus would return to establish His rule fully, ending this present age and ushering in a new Heaven and earth, disturbed the widely held notion that the world would continue forever. The promise of Christ’s return was challenged on another front as well. Years had passed since Jesus’ death and resurrection. Why had He not returned, as His followers said He would? His people appeared to be forgotten, abandoned, or—worst of all—mistaken and misled. What were the believers of the latter half of the first century AD to make of this difficult issue? Today’s lesson confronts this problem head-on.
I. Scoffers’ Perspective
A. What They Do (v. 3)
3. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.
Peter’s warning focuses on activity in the last days (compare Jude 18). While that may sound to us as if such a period of time still lies in the future, the context shows that Peter understands the problem he is describing to be present already. From the perspective of the New Testament, the last days began with the appearance of Jesus, especially with His death and resurrection (compare Hebrews 1:2). Jesus inaugurated the last days when He came as the fulfillment of God’s end-time promises.
Because the last days represent the climax of God’s saving activity, they also represent the climax of opposition to God’s plan (compare 1 John 2:18). So in the last days the faithful can expect to experience intense opposition to their faith, as the forces of the enemy try to frustrate God’s program.
That is Peter’s implication here: the last-days battle is going on already. The opposition is led by people who are driven by their own selfish desires instead of devotion to God. They ridicule and mock sacred ideas, hoping to discredit them so that they can remain free to do as they wish.
How to Say It
Habakkuk Huh-back-kuk.
Noah No-uh.
patriarchs pay-tree-arks.
Thessalonians Thess-uh-lo-nee-unz (th as in thin).
Skepticism, Proper and Improper
It seems that scoffers have always been with us. Almost every technological innovation has been met with skepticism at first. When John Ericsson first proposed the ironclad Monitor during America’s Civil War, many said it would not even float, much less be a useful warship. When the Wright brothers built their first airplane, many said it would never get off the ground. The list is endless.
Scoffers find it hard to accept anything that is not within their own experience. When I was a youngster in the 1950s, we spent Saturday mornings watching space travel with Buck Rogers on TV. We knew it was all science fiction—with a big emphasis on the fiction part. Little did we know that we eventually would put a man on the moon. No reasonable person scoffs about this now.
But it’s not always wrong to be a skeptic. Jesus teaches us to be skeptical of various claims concerning His return (Mark 13:32; Luke 17:22-24). William Miller predicted Jesus’ return for 1843; Charles Taze Russell predicted it for 1914; Edgar Whisenant wrote a pamphlet, “88 Reasons Why the Rapture Could Be in 1988”; Harold Camping predicted it twice for 2011. Skepticism of these predictions turned out to be well founded! Even so, we are confident that Christ will come again because that is what He promised.—J. B. N.
B. What They Say (v. 4)
4. And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Here we clearly see that Peter is addressing a situation that is already present in his own time. A generation has passed since Jesus arose and the gospel went forth. Christians have proclaimed repeatedly Jesus’ coming as being near. But 30-plus years seems a long time, enough for skeptics to call into question the church’s belief in Jesus’ return.
The sarcastic rhetoric of the skeptics is captured here. “Today is just like every other day since the beginning of time,” they say. “The ancient patriarchs, long dead, would see nothing different today from then. There is no change so far, so we should expect no change in the future.”
From the impatient perspective of selfish humanity, three decades seems to be more than enough time to show that the promise of Christ’s return is empty. Yet in holding this perspective, the skeptics are ignoring certain evidence, as we see next.
What Do You Think?
How do you respond to unbelievers who laugh at the false predictions of Christ’s return?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Person-to-person responses
Responses in a group setting
II. History’s Perspective
A. Destroyed by Water (vv. 5, 6)
5. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water.
Peter will not allow the mockery of the scoffers to stand. When they affirm that “all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (v. 4), they should realize that the very fact of creation is itself a witness to change.
The earth standing out of the water echoes the description of God’s action in Genesis 1:6-10. This demonstration of God’s power begins to make Peter’s case. Since the world exists because God called it into existence, then God has the power to call it out of existence as well. Since the world began in this way, it is not at all reasonable to assume that it will go on forever. Its continued existence is subject to the will of its Creator.
What Do You Think?
What challenges you most in keeping a historical perspective? How do you overcome this?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
“The tyranny of the urgent”
“History is more or less bunk” (Henry Ford)
A focus on “what works”
Other
6. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.
The account of the great flood in Genesis 6-8 is the illustration ready at hand that shows God’s power to destroy what He created (compare 2 Peter 2:5). God can and will do with His creation what He chooses to do. This should give pause to anyone who mocks the idea of Christ’s return. This is also an additional challenge to the skeptics’ claim that “all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.”
B. Destroyed by Fire (v. 7)
7. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Having looked back in biblical history, Peter now looks toward what we might call “future history.” God preserves the world presently for the judgment that He will bring in the future. That one will not be with flood waters, but with fire. That event will mean God’s guilty verdict (judgment) and ruin (perdition) on all those who, like the scoffers of Peter’s day, reject Him to follow their own selfish desires.
III. God’s Perspective
A. His Timetable (v. 8)
8. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The perspective now shifts from past and future history to the throne room of the eternal God. God’s existence is not bound by time as is ours. Because He exists without beginning or ending, the passing of time is to God not the problem that it is for us. “Soon” on God’s calendar is not a matter of days, but of great epochs.
The scoffers have failed to reckon with this reality. God’s timetable may be very different from our own. What seems like forever to us is insignificant to the God who has existed forever (compare Psalm 90:4).
The failure to grasp this perspective betrays human self-centeredness. We tend to judge everything by our own experience. In a human lifetime, 30 years is a long time. From God’s perspective, though, it is not. The same is true for 2,000 years or for any finite number of years we may imagine.
What Do You Think?
How has your perspective on time changed through the years? How has this affected the way you face various issues?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Regarding financial issues
Regarding possessions
Regarding priorities
Regarding relationships
Regarding health concerns
Other
B. His Patience (v. 9)
9. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Granted that the passing of time is different from God’s perspective, the scoffer could still ask why God bothers to delay the return of Christ at all. Certainly, God may not find the time significant, but why bother at all to leave a period of time between Christ’s resurrection and the establishment of His full reign? Why not begin the final judgment immediately, if indeed there is to be such a thing?
Peter’s reply to such an objection is vital to our understanding of God’s dealings with the world. It expresses the implication of God’s essential nature. God is just; therefore, He must bring judgment on evil. But God is also merciful, wanting to forgive those who have committed evil. So in His mercy, God withholds judgment while He invites rebellious humans to accept His offer of forgiveness and be reconciled to Him. Without a delay between Christ’s resurrection and His return, no such opportunity would exist.
So, says Peter, God has in no way been late or neglectful in fulfilling His promises. In fact, He is faithfully fulfilling His promise to save by allowing sinful humans time to hear His gracious offer in the gospel and come to Jesus in repentance. This is an expression of God’s patience as He pursues His profound desire to bring all people to repentance and reconciliation, if only they are willing (compare 1 Timothy 2:4).
From God’s perspective, this is no delay at all (compare Habakkuk 2:3). He is working out His plan to bring as many people as possible into an eternal relationship with Him. From the beginning, God has advanced His plan by which His enemies can become His friends. The seeming postponement of Christ’s return is another step in that plan, allowing more rebellious humans to accept His terms of mercy.
IV. Believers’ Perspective
A. Future Event (vv. 10-13)
10a. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;
The perspective now shifts to what faithful believers know about Christ’s return and how they will be affected. The Lord’s return as a thief in the night echoes Jesus’ own words in Matthew 24:42-44 and Luke 12:39, 40 (compare 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 4 [Lesson 8]; Revelation 16:15). For those who reject the gospel and do not expect Christ’s return, His coming will be a disastrous surprise.
The outcome will be different for believers. We expect Christ’s return, and we will welcome Him when He arrives. For the scoffer, He returns with judgment; for the believer, He returns with blessing.
10b. In the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The description now shifts to the fate of the universe as a whole: it shall melt with fervent heat. The world that the scoffer takes to be eternally unchanging, the place where the scoffer puts confidence and hope, will be destroyed. This includes the works that are therein—the things people have made, which they count as sources of security and power. Every pretension of humanity will come to nothing when Christ returns. For those who do not know Him as Savior, His coming means the destruction of what they think will save them.
11. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?
For the believer, the knowledge that Christ will one day destroy this present existence has transformative power. We realize that there is no basis for security in the things of this present age. Relying on power or status on the world’s terms is foolish because the world has no staying power.
Instead, what matters is holy conversation and godliness. The word conversation means not just speech, but all kinds of proper interaction with others. A life of godliness speaks to proper devotion to the true, eternal God. Our confident hope for the future demands that we live with an eternal perspective every day.
12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Unlike the scoffer, the Christian lives in expectation of Christ’s return. The expression looking for implies “watching expectantly.” We can compare this with children who look out the window waiting for a parent to arrive home after work.
The phrase hasting unto the coming of the day of God is difficult. Taken literally, it could mean that we somehow are able to “speed up” the timetable of Christ’s return. Taken figuratively, the phrase carries the idea of “waiting eagerly” for that return. Such waiting is not passive, but involves applying energy and enthusiasm to obeying the Lord in anticipation of His return. As we do, we sit lightly on the things of this present age, knowing that such things are marked for destruction.
Visual for Lesson 13. Pose the question on this visual when your study reaches verse 13. Allow a time of sharing of responses.
13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
The Christian’s perspective is to be defined by Christ’s promises. Thus importance is placed not on the world that is passing away, but on the one to come.
The description that Peter provides is important, and we ought to pay careful attention to the language. First, we must remember that the combination “heavens and earth” is based on Old Testament usage, as in Genesis 1:1. As such, “heavens and earth” refers to the entirety of God’s creation.
This causes us to realize that what Peter describes is not the destruction only of the earth so that the heavens remain. Rather, what is in view is the replacement of this present realm with a new one, new heavens and a new earth.
The new heavens and earth will be characterized by righteousness. In this new sphere, God’s will shall be done perfectly. This is the promise of the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22), renewed here and in the closing chapters of the New Testament (Revelation 21:1).
B. Present Response (vv. 14, 15a, 18)
14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
If our destination is a righteous world, the way we live in the present should reflect that destination. Considering the scope of Christ’s return, our duty in the present is clear. We are like servants whose master is away: we want to be found doing His work when He returns (Luke 12:35-40).
As servants of Christ, we therefore pursue what He taught, namely true purity that exists inside and out, being spotless and blameless even where only the Lord himself can see—in our minds and hearts. Likewise, we pursue peaceful, positive relationships with others, just as Christ commanded. Servants with this kind of life will be commended by their master at His return.
What Do You Think?
If you knew there was a 50/50 chance of Christ returning tomorrow, how would you change your approach to godliness today?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Dealing with unrepentant sin
Asking forgiveness from others
Extending forgiveness to others
Other
Two Kingdoms
An influential doctrine of Martin Luther (1483-1546) was his teaching of the two kingdoms. We live in a world governed by earthly authorities, authorities that God instituted (Romans 13:1, 2). At the same time, we live in a kingdom not of this world, a kingdom governed directly by God. The tricky part is to live responsibly in both at the same time so that we do not disregard one in favor of a total emphasis on the other.
Living in both kingdoms means we are to be heavenly minded (Colossians 3:1, 2) while also being salt and light in this world (Matthew 5:13-16). Peter was certainly aware of the fleeting nature of earthly existence. But this did not cause him to treat our earthly existence lightly; we see quite the opposite attitude as he encouraged his readers to live “in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
The two kingdoms need not be in conflict, but a Christian certainly needs to know which one is the higher calling. We demonstrate that awareness in the way we live.—J. B. N.
15a. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.
In the meantime, we may become impatient for the Lord’s return. When life is difficult, we will long for Christ to return and put an end to the evil that we suffer. But if we understand the perspective that Peter shares, we will view the wait for Christ’s return as God views it: an expression of God’s patience. He waits for more people to return to Him. So we wait along with God himself, with our focus being what His focus is: bringing others to reconciliation with Him.
18. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
After a brief discussion regarding how the apostle Paul also affirms these truths (vv. 15b-17, not in today’s text), Peter turns to a closing word of encouragement. Knowing that Christ will indeed return compels that we continue in the gifts we have received from Him. We grow in grace as we respond consistently to God’s unmerited gift of salvation. We grow... in the knowledge as we put into practice what we have learned through the gospel. By these means Christ is glorified.
What Do You Think?
Where do you need to grow most in Christ as you await His return? How will you do so?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
Growth in grace (John 1:14-17; 2 Corinthians 1:12; Ephesians 4:7; Hebrews 13:9; James 4:6; etc.)
Growth in knowledge (Romans 1:28; Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 1:10; etc.)
Conclusion
A. Patient Endurance
How do we respond to the reality of Christ’s expected return? We may be reluctant to desire His return when we feel comfortable; we may be anxious for His return when we are suffering. Whatever our circumstances, we need to recognize how important to our faith is the promise of His return to save and to judge. Remembering this promise will strengthen the patient endurance we need to stand firm and grow in our faith in a hostile world.
B. Prayer
Father, may Your Son return quickly! But if He tarries, we know it is so that more may be saved. Make us the agents of that reconciliation as You give us the strength to wait. In Jesus’ name, amen.
C. Thought to Remember
“Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me” (Revelation 22:12).
June 2
Lesson 1
Worship and Respond
Devotional Reading: Joshua 24:14-24
Background Scripture: Isaiah 6
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Key Verse
One cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.—Isaiah 6:3
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each student will be able to:
1. List the key details of Isaiah’s call to become a prophet of the Lord.
2. Explain the connection between Isaiah’s vision and his response to God’s call, “Who will go?”
3. Make a commitment to be faithful in worship and faithful in service through the summer months.
Lesson Outline
Introduction
A. Remember Who’s in Control
B. Lesson Background
I. Splendor Displayed (Isaiah 6:1-4)
A. Seeing the Lord (vv. 1, 2)
A Faded Palace
B. Hearing the Seraphims (vv. 3, 4)
II. Sin Cleansed (Isaiah 6:5-7)
A. Isaiah’s Remorse (v. 5)
B. Seraphim’s Remedy (vv. 6, 7)
III. Service Offered (Isaiah 6:8)
A. The Lord’s Question (v. 8a)
Who Will Trust?
B. Isaiah’s Response (v. 8b)
Conclusion
A. From Service to Service
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
—Standard Lesson Commentary 2012-2013 (KJV)
Standard Publishing Group, LLC. Used with permission. More resources for families are available at Standardpub.com.
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