Introduction

Reflect on how promises have the power to change behaviour. For example, if you are promised a salary/payment in exchange for some work, it will motivate you to do the work on offer (depending on the promised payment, of course). If you are promised that someone important will come to visit you in your home at a certain time and date, it will encourage you to prepare and get things ready.

The promises of God’s future kingdom likewise have the power to change us. Knowing that there is a life with Christ waiting for all those who trust in him can help us to exercise self-control and pursue godliness. Some people, however, want us to move away from these promises because they do not want to make any sacrifices. They claim that godliness is a recipe for being miserable and cannot understand why anyone would deny themselves for the sake of Christ. They do not believe in God’s promises and therefore they do not want to live in the light of them.

Peter, however, does not want us to think like this. Therefore he reminds us that God is faithful, that his promises are beautiful, and that we can look to history for confirmation that there will truly be a day of judgment.

Christ is Lord and Saviour; God is faithful to his promise

• Explain how the titles of Christ contain two wonderful promises.

• Explain why we can trust these promises, how the presence of the heretics actually confirms that God is faithful.

• Explain how God’s actions in the past are further proof that he is faithful to his promises and that he will intervene in this world.

• Consider why the heretics teach and think differently. They want to justify their evil desires.

• The presence of the heretics and God’s actions in the flood demonstrate that he is faithful to his promises and we are right to trust him.

A day of judgment for the ungodly

• Explain how the flood relates to the future judgment promised by God.

• Explain what it means for the world to be reserved for fire. Who will be judged when Christ returns?

• Explain why Christians have nothing to fear since we know Christ is Lord and Saviour.

• Apply: if we know that Christ is coming and that we belong to him, let us pursue godly living in the present. Consider how God’s promises can change us.

Conclusion          

We are not fools for trusting in what God teaches us in his Word. He has demonstrated his faithfulness in the past and so we can be sure that he will do as he has promised in the future. Christ will most certainly return in glory, just as surely as the flood was sent in the past. In light of this reality, let us not be deceived by those who claim there is no judgment and thus we can live as we please. Let us instead have our hearts and minds changed so that we will pursue godly living as we wait for the return of our Lord.