Foundations of Faith: The Judgment of God 1

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved. And the earth and the works that are done on it. will be exposed. That's Second Peter three ten, and the key text for today's message.

A verse like this might seem terrifying. But it isn't if you have been reconciled with God. It isn't if you are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. It isn't if God has In this message Pastor Rich walks through what God's Word tells us about the coming return of Jesus. in this message titled The Judgment of God.

Let's listen in. The day of the Lord will come like a thief. and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved. and the earth, and the works that are done on it will be exposed. That's Second Peter three ten, and the key text for today's message.

A verse like this might seem terrifying But it isn't if you've been reconciled with God. It isn't if you are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus. It isn't if God has adopted you as His child. In this message titled The Judgment of God, Pastor Rich walks through what God's Word tells us about the coming return of Jesus. Let's listen in.

But the heavens existed long ago. and the earth was formed out of the water, and through water by the word of God and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exists. are stored up for fire. being kept until the day of judgment.

and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved. that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow as some count slowness. but is patient toward you.

not wishing that any should perish. but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass. away with a roar. And the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, What sort of people? ought you to be. in lives of holiness and godliness. waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God. because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved.

and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn. But according to his promise, We are waiting for new heavens and a new earth. in which righteousness dwells. Father, We look toward that day. Where you will send your son.

It is a fearful thing. to know that this day this world will one day stand in judgment of its unrighteous works. Father, we Rest. Holy. and completely and the righteousness of your Son, Jesus Christ.

as our only Salvation. From this coming judgment. And we look forward to his return because then On this earth righteousness will dwell. and peace will reign forever.

So come, Lord Jesus. Amen. Thank you, Adam.

Okay. I think he read my notes. with that prayer. Actually, we just read the same scripture together. That's our text for today.

Actually, it's just one verse for today: 2 Peter 3, verse 10. 2 Peter 3.10. In this letter the overall title of which is Live as People Who Remember. The Lord calls us to remember. We are constantly, constantly called to, brought back to remembering who God is and what He has done.

And based on that, who we are. And a right understanding of that and what awaits us.

Now in chapter 2 Peter lets us know that there are and will be and have been and are and will be. False teachers. Teachers who claim to be presenting truth, but they are false. How do we know their faults? One particular way you know their faults.

Their focus is on self-indulgence. In their false teaching, they will lead you to self-indulgence. But their primary focus is their own self-indulgence. They get rich off of you. by listening to them and following them.

That's a primary way we know that there are false teachers. But the false teachers today are not just men who stand In lecture halls, or sometimes even pulpits. We carry them with us in our pockets, don't we? There's a lot of information out there. Influencers Who are telling us this is how you ought to be.

Ultimately All that false teaching comes down to focusing on what you deserve. and how you ought to demand what You deserve all the and the affirmation that Ought to be you. Be true to you. Because you are ultimately the highest standard. You determine what truth is.

All that is false. It is a lie. And what we are going to be talking about today makes that abundantly clear. And it will be made absolutely clear and finally clear. when that day comes.

Speaking of that day, the series that we're in now is called Expanded Horizons: away from the lies of the false teachers. The lies of the false teachers lead you to focus on self. But God's revelation leads us to expanded horizons. And today we're looking at the judgment of God. We looked at the revelation of God.

We've looked at the character of God. Today we're looking at the judgment of God.

Next week we'll be looking at the kingdom of God. The judgment of God. Verse 10. Look at chapter 3, verse. 10 with me, the day of the Lord will come.

like a thief. And then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be. exposed. That is a frightful verse. It is a true verse.

It is the Word of God. It is inspired by the Holy Spirit. We need to take this seriously. Where will I be when this becomes reality, when this comes true? The day of the Lord, what is the day of the Lord?

It is spoken of by. Prophets in the Old Testament, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Joel, Amos, Zephaniah, they all mention the day of the Lord. Paul mentions it in 1 Thessalonians, and then Peter talks about it here in Chapter three. The day of the Lord, here's the definition: when God manifests His sovereign authority. In retribution and restoration.

This definition makes it clear this one thing: God is the point to our existence, He is the creator. He's the creator, he is the designer, he defines purpose. He defines why you even are. Which means in the end it is before him that you and I will stand. Full stop.

So what does that mean, right? When God manifests His sovereign authority and retribution.

Now it's speaking of Prophets in the Old Testament, let's consider what Daniel wrote. Remember prophet Daniel, right? He Uh it was about probably about the Fifth century BC, sixth or fifth century BC, Daniel chapter seven, verses thirteen and fourteen. with the clouds of heaven There came one like the Son of Man, and he came to the ancient of days. And he was presented before him, and to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples and nations and languages should serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Here's a fact of history. I'm going to give you a real, real quick history lesson right now. You ready for this? Kingdoms come and Kingdoms go.

Not this one. And the question is, will you be a part of that kingdom? Kingdoms come and kingdoms go. Why? Because they are established and governed by flawed people.

Right. Except this one. This one will have a king of righteousness. He will judge and rule in righteousness. Acts chapter 17, I've spoken of this before, Acts chapter 17.

Paul is speaking, the Apostle Paul is speaking to philosophers. And he's introducing to them the God who created. And who overlooked for a season, he overlooked. The sins of mankind, and he says, But now he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed. And how do we know who this man is?

Of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. There's only one person that can be. And that's how we know who it is.

So, listen, the day is coming. It's clear all the way through the Old Testament, it's clear in the New Testament. The day is coming, the day of the Lord is coming. We need to be living in preparation for that day. The clock is ticking.

Toward that day, the clock is ticking towards the accounting that is coming.

Now what we're going to learn from it today in chapter 3 verse 10. A couple things about it, a few things about it. First of all, it will be sudden and unexpected. It will be sudden and unexpected. In other words, it's going to take humanity by surprise.

Now there are those of us who are already members, citizens of that kingdom. Who are looking for that day and preparing for that day, and it ought not take us by surprise. Jesus warned us plenty about it. And he told us to keep watch for it. But why will it take humanity by surprise?

Well, largely because God is ignored. God is ignored, as in the days of Noah, Jesus said. What were they doing in the days of Noah? That was a day of global judgment. And what were they doing?

Eating, drinking, living in marriage, life was going on. And there was no acknowledgment of God. Zero. apart from Noah and his family. Thanks for joining us here at Delight in Grace.

You've been listening to Rich Powell, the lead pastor at Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. The Delight in Grace mission is to help you know that God designed you to realize your highest good and your deepest satisfaction in Him. the one who is infinitely good. We hope you'll join us again on weekdays at 10 a.m.