PODCAST
Overtime
December 9th, 2012
2 Peter 3:1-18
This day is a gift.
A gift from God.
The Christ who came as a baby on that first Christmas will come again as Judge.
But the critics were saying, “Where is he? You said he was coming, but the world just goes on the way it always has. Maybe he’s not coming at all!”
The author of 2 Peter joins Paul in declaring that Jesus the Judge has not returned because God wants to give people like you and me more time to repent. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (3:9b). When the “Day of the Lord” comes, it will be too late.
The world is ripe for judgment, but a loving God declares a sort of overtime period. More time to repent. That is the gift of today. A new day in which we can confess, turn to God, grow, learn, serve, or make things right.
In light of God’s delay in judgment, the Scripture lesson coaches us to live holy, godly, blamelessly at peace with God.
That tells us how to behave today.
Author: Wesley Tracy
Tags: Christmas, Jesus, Salvation
December 9th, 2012 at 9:36 pm
“But the critics were saying, “Where is he?”
We need to be able to explain that same question today.
As Christians we have crossed over to eternal life without having to go through the “Day of Judgment.” We are being judged now according to Hebrews 4:12; and, that is the reason for our desire to obtain “Holy Living thru Christ”.
In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, the scripture rebukes, corrects, and trains us in righteousness (of which Jesus is our example). Thus, the Word of God is getting us ready to be lifted up whereas we do not have to go through “the judgment” (1 Corinthians 11:32) with the world.
December 9th, 2012 at 9:43 pm
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17