2 Peter 3:15

Introduction:

1. People tend to isolate one or more of God’s attributes to the exclusion of or even in conflict with other of His attributes: love vs. wrath, mercy vs. justice, etc.

2. The full picture of His attributes shows them working in harness, not conflicting.

3. The gravity of the situation should prompt immediate action followed by immense gratitude in the child of God.

Discussion:

I. Declarations of God’s Patience

A. Skeptics treat God as if He is hot tempered and ready to pounce.

B. Though God will execute judgment (Romans 2:5-11; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 2 Peter 3:10-12), He does not do so hastily (Exodus 34:6; Psalms 86:15; 1 Timothy 1:16; 2 Peter 3:9).

II. Examples of God’s Patience

A. A few biblical examples are sufficient to highlight God’s patience.

1. It seems He gave the people in Noah’s days 120 yrs. to repent (Genesis 6:3; 1 Peter 3:20; 2 Peter 2:5).

2. He gave the Canaanites/Amorites ca. 400 yrs. (Genesis 15:13-16).

3. He gave Israel/Judah ca. 900 yrs. before captivity (Judge-Chronicle)

4. He gave the remnant ca. 400 years awaiting the Messiah (Ezra-John)

5. He continues to give all humanity time to this day (2 Peter 3:9).

III. The Impact of God’s Patience

A. This patience should give us hope and assurance (2 Peter 3:15).

B. However, we must not treat His patience as license to sin, or we store up wrath for ourselves on the day of judgment (Romans 2:1-4a, 5; 6:1; Jude 4).

C. Rather, His patience is supposed to produce repentance in us as we recognize the gracious gift it is in permitting us to escape judgment (Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:11-14).

Conclusion:

1. God’s attributes should never be set at odds against one another.

2. He is just, but He is not hasty to render that judgment.

3. He is patient, but he is not to be trifled with.

4. A proper response leads to repentance producing steady hope (Hebrews 6:17-20).