Look For New Heavens and Earth

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: II Peter 3:13,14
Psalters: 255, 94, 206, 30
  1. What is promised.
    1. “New heavens and a new earth.”
      1. God promised a wonderful creation when Jesus comes again: Isa. 65:17; I Cor. 2:9; Mt. 19:28; Rom. 8:17-23; Rev. 21
      2. The old world will be changed and made “new,” in the sense of renewing or reviving, bringing to greater life.
      3. The idea is that the creation remains heaven and earth, but its glory and richness of life are so much more.
      4. The refining fire will purge the present creation of all the effects of sin: no more curse.
    2. “Wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
      1. The only dwellers of the new creation are those god declared to be righteous merely of grace in Christ.
      2. There will be no unrighteous there, nor will the righteous do any more unrighteousness.
      3. “Righteousness” means that we are justified and that we will be dwelling with God (Rev. 21:3).
      4. Everything will be peace and fullness of joy.
  2. This new creation we are to anticipate: “look for” (13,14).
    1. This refers to the attitude of believers.
      1. Our attention is on the new creation; we will not be consumed with fear about the persecution under anti-christ.
      2. We are even anxious for that day, praying it will come quickly.
    2. This attitude will reveal itself in our being “diligent that we may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
      1. This is the consciousness of having peace because God reconciled us to Himself.
      2. There is an exerting of oneself, an endeavoring, to answer our natural fears with a quietness.
      3. The fruit of our justification is forgiveness of sin and peace with God.