The Day Of The Lord (Sermon Blog)
Series Recap: In this final message of our Simon Says series, Pastor Steve closed out 2 Peter by looking at 2 Peter 3 and Peter’s sobering teaching on “the Day of the Lord.” It’s a heavy topic—judgment, fire, the end of the world as we know it—but Peter doesn’t bring it up to scare believers. He brings it up to wake us up to holy, hope-filled living right now. 1130podcast
1. Remember What God Has Said
Peter begins chapter 3 by reminding believers why he’s writing in the first place:
“I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.” — 2 Peter 3:1
In a noisy world full of opinions, hot takes, and “weapons of mass distraction” (as Pastor Steve quoted from his friend Ron), Peter calls us back to clear, healthy, biblical thinking. 1130podcast
A. Scoffers and Cynics
Peter says that in the last days:
Scoffers will come, following their own desires.
They will mock the idea of Jesus’ return:
“Where is this ‘coming’ He promised?”
They will assume that because life keeps going as usual, God is either not real or not involved.
Pastor Steve pointed out that it’s easy in our time—overloaded with news, social media, and misinformation—to slide from healthy doubt into cynicism and scoffing.
B. God Has Acted Before
Peter reminds his readers that God has already intervened in dramatic ways:
Creation – God spoke the world into existence.
The Flood – When every inclination of human hearts was evil, God judged the world in Noah’s day.
Sodom and Gomorrah – God dealt with the deep moral decay of entire cities.
Just as people once ignored clear warnings (like Jeremiah warning Israel about exile), Peter says: Don’t ignore God’s warnings now. The Day of the Lord is not a myth; it’s a promise.
2. Recognize God’s Patience, Not His Absence
If Jesus hasn’t come back yet, is God slow? Is He distant? Peter answers with a strong “no”:
“With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” — 2 Peter 3:8
God doesn’t do time the way we do. We say, “It’s been 2,000 years—are we there yet?” but God stands outside of time.
A. Why Is God Waiting?
Peter tells us plainly:
“He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” — 2 Peter 3:9
God’s “delay” is actually mercy. He is:
Waiting for people to repent, not just feel bad.
Giving time for hearts to turn around—a true 180, not a quick emotional moment.
Extending the opportunity for people to come to Him before judgment comes.
Pastor Steve reminded us that repentance is more than:
“I cried,”
“I felt guilty,”
“I’ll try harder next time.”
Repentance is:
Turning away from a lifestyle of sin.
Moving in a new direction, even if it’s one step at a time.
B. God’s Timing Is Always Perfect
From Scripture, Pastor Steve showed that God’s timing may feel late to us, but it’s always right on time:
Moses – 40 years in Pharaoh’s court + 40 years in the desert before leading Israel out of Egypt.
Jesus’ birth – “When the set time had fully come, God sent His Son” (Galatians 4:4).
The Day of the Lord – At some point, the last person will repent, and God will say, “Now.”
God is not stalling. He is saving.
3. The Day of the Lord Will Actually Happen
Peter doesn’t speak in vague ideas. He’s direct:
“The Day of the Lord will come like a thief.” — 2 Peter 3:10
It will be:
Unexpected – like a break-in you didn’t see coming.
Loud – Peter describes a “terrible noise,” like an unimaginably intense roar.
Final – the present heavens and earth will be burned up, making way for something new.
Pastor Steve noted that some people try to explain this as nuclear war, but Scripture is clear: God doesn’t need our help to end history. When He moves, He moves as God.
A. For Believers: The Blessed Hope
For followers of Jesus, the Day of the Lord isn’t just about judgment—it’s also about hope:
“The blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:13)
Jesus said, “Keep watch,” because we don’t know the day (Matthew 24:42).
Paul said the day will come “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
Whether you’re pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, or “pan-trib” (it’ll all pan out in the end!), the key is this:
The Lord is coming back. Be ready.
4. How Should We Live Until Then? Holy and Hopeful
Peter’s big question is deeply practical:
“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?” — 2 Peter 3:11
A. Look Forward with Hope
Peter tells believers to:
Look forward to a new heaven and new earth.
Anticipate “a world filled with God’s righteousness” — no more evil, injustice, or brokenness. 1130podcast
This isn’t escapism; it’s confidence that God will make all things right.
B. Live Set-Apart Lives
While we wait, Peter calls us to:
Live holy and godly lives.
Make every effort to be peaceful, pure, and blameless in God’s sight.
Guard against being carried away by false teaching or twisted views of grace.
Pastor Steve explained that “holy” doesn’t mean weird or self-righteous—it means:
Set apart for God’s purposes
Different values than the surrounding culture
A different “playbook”:
Not the American dream
Not our favorite political party
But the Bible
He also shared how many pastors are grieving the way believers often lead with politics instead of faith—even breaking relationships and leaving churches over it. In heaven, every tribe, language, and people will worship together; politics won’t matter. Our first allegiance is to Jesus.
5. Wake Up, Church
To close, Pastor Steve shared lyrics from Keith Green’s song “Asleep in the Light,” a blunt wake-up call to believers who are spiritually numb while people around them don’t know Christ.
The message was clear:
The world is “sleeping in the dark.”
The danger is that the church can be “asleep in the light.”
We have been fed, loved, and saved—now we’re called to live for the cause of Christ, not just for our own comfort.
Peter and Paul both died for this cause around AD 67.
The question for us is:
Will we live for the cause they died for?
Living in Light of the Day of the Lord
As we wait for Jesus’ return, this passage calls us to:
Remember what God has said.
Recognize God’s patience as mercy.
Believe that the Day of the Lord will really come.
Live holy, hopeful, mission-focused lives right now.
We don’t know when Jesus will return—but we know He will. Our job is to be ready and to help others be ready too.
This Sunday, Pastor Steve will start our new series, “Christmas Stories.”
Join us at Pacific Life Church as we move from Peter’s urgent call to holy living into the hope-filled story of Jesus’ arrival—God stepping into history to save us.