Sharing the happiness of God, part 9; Cosmic #2; John 15:11

Title: Sharing the happiness of God, part 9; John 15:11.

 

Cosmic Two: the hatred complex - fighting God.

 

Room #1: Negative volition. At three places: God consciousness, gospel hearing, post-salvation NVTD.

 

Cosmological argument: The intuitive credence that every effect must have a cause and so there must be a First Cause. Ex nihilo, nihil fit—out of nothing, nothing can arise—is an axiom which has been recognized by philosophers of all the ages.

 

2 Peter 3:1 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 Peter 3:2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.

 

2 Peter 3:3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,

 

2 Peter 3:4 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."

 

 

2 Peter 3:5 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 [was formed is not in the original] out of water and by water,

Corrected translation:

 

 “For concerning this, they willfully desire to keep on ignoring that the heavens existed from ancient times formed and held together by the word of God, and the earth out from water and by means of water”

 

They willfully ignore the reality of the angelic flood and the destruction of judgment upon the angels that will eventually fall upon the human race.

 

The sentence continues in verse 6:

 

2 Peter 3:6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water.

 

Ignorance of reality and the truth behind everything becomes a tremendous impediment to the believer’s happiness.

 

2 Cor 2:11

in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

 

2 Peter 3:7 But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

 

This occurs at the end of the Millennium, at the end of human history.

 

2 Peter 3:8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved [believers, don’t be willfully ignorant as are the mockers], that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

 

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance [change of mind].

 

 “repentance” - meta,noia[metanoia] = a change in thinking. This word has no emotional connotation whatsoever!

 

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

 

The term “day of the Lord” is not a term which applies to a twenty-four hour period, but rather the whole program of events, including the tribulation, the second advent program, and the entire millennial age. Here we have a reference to the end of that program found in between the end of Rev 20 and the beginning of Rev 21.

 

And so, here comes the challenge to you and me. Yes, the cosmological argument applies to believers as well.

 

2 Peter 3:11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

 

 “holy conduct” = experiential sanctificationresiding in the sphere of love as opposed to C1 or C2.

“godliness” = executing the spiritual life.

 

2 Peter 3:12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!

 

2 Peter 3:13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

 

New heavens and earth are a definite effect which cause is the work of Christ. Why look for life in cosmos which will be completely destroyed?

 

2 Peter 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,

 

 

peace = spiritual prosperity

spotless = without permanent stain marks from cosmic living

blameless = spiritual maturity

 

Since we believers will also be evaluated and the day of the Lord includes the Rapture, the day of our evaluation, we certainly want to be found to be excited for that day and not in momentary shame.

 

2 Peter 3:15 and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you,

 

2 Peter 3:16 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 [grace and mystery doctrine], as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

 

2 Peter 3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness [by accepting false doctrine or becoming apathetic towards true doctrine],

 

2 Peter 3:18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.