Aug 23, 2026 · 45 min · 8 segments
In this message, Pastor Cam Stephens explores 2 Peter 3:1–9, where the Apostle Peter addresses those who doubt or dismiss the promised return of Jesus Christ. Peter reminds believers that Christ’s…
Cam StephensHost
Well, this is the behavior that we see in these false teachers who are questioning the apostles' teaching that Christ will return.
They believe that there will be no second coming of Christ, and therefore there will be no final judgment, which means that we can give ourselves over to sin and sensuality with no consequence.
However, these gotcha questions that they think will make their case, as with Wayne in the movie, only give Peter the opportunity to answer their objections and prove that Christ will in fact return.
Peter shows in our text today that the apostles' teaching stands up to the scrutiny of these false teachers' charges.
And so this morning, let's walk through three questions, both stated outright and implied, that arise from the false teachers' accusations.
And let's see how Peter answers them, giving his readers in the first century, as well as ourselves, confidence that what the apostles have taught is true and that Christ will indeed come again.
Now, before we get to the questions, I want to quickly address the preamble in the text before the questions arise, starting with verse 1.
Now, this is not the emphasis of the passage, but it's important for us to notice that Peter reminds his readers of their relationship.
By calling them beloved, he's setting himself apart from the false teachers, telling them that he has their best interest in mind.
When he pushes back against the message of unrestrained freedom and the pursuit of sensual desire, he's not trying to be mean, right? He's trying to protect them by reminding them that Christ will return to judge the world.
For Peter, he's not simply trying to win an argument against these false teachers.
And he's doing this, penning this urgent letter for the very same reasons that he has written before in his first letter and prior to that when he established these very churches because he loves them.
He sees them as his beloved children in the faith and his warnings are presented as a parent warns their child out of care and concern.
Well, this is the behavior that we see in these false teachers who are questioning the apostles' teaching that Christ will return.
They believe that there will be no second coming of Christ, and therefore there will be no final judgment, which means that we can give ourselves over to sin and sensuality with no consequence.
However, these gotcha questions that they think will make their case, as with Wayne in the movie, only give Peter the opportunity to answer their objections and prove that Christ will in fact return.
Peter shows in our text today that the apostles' teaching stands up to the scrutiny of these false teachers' charges.
And so this morning, let's walk through three questions, both stated outright and implied, that arise from the false teachers' accusations.
And let's see how Peter answers them, giving his readers in the first century, as well as ourselves, confidence that what the apostles have taught is true and that Christ will indeed come again.
Now, before we get to the questions, I want to quickly address the preamble in the text before the questions arise, starting with verse 1.
Now, this is not the emphasis of the passage, but it's important for us to notice that Peter reminds his readers of their relationship.
By calling them beloved, he's setting himself apart from the false teachers, telling them that he has their best interest in mind.
When he pushes back against the message of unrestrained freedom and the pursuit of sensual desire, he's not trying to be mean, right? He's trying to protect them by reminding them that Christ will return to judge the world.
For Peter, he's not simply trying to win an argument against these false teachers.
And he's doing this, penning this urgent letter for the very same reasons that he has written before in his first letter and prior to that when he established these very churches because he loves them.
He sees them as his beloved children in the faith and his warnings are presented as a parent warns their child out of care and concern.
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