Remember: The message of Scripture has always been to call sinners to repentance and reconciliation with God. This aim of God has been consistent throughout the Bible, whether it is preached in the Old Testament or the New.[1] The day of the Lord is coming, so repent. As a faithful servant of God, Peter calls us to remember this resounding call of Scripture: The day of the Lord is near, the day of judgment and of salvation; repent and be ready for the Lord; and beware of the false teaching of the scoffers and the antinomians.[2]

The Second Coming: Peter reminds us that there will always be scoffers who mock the word of God. They were there in the times past, and they were there in the days of Christ, and they have been present ever since. To them, the return of Christ is laughable, and the God of wrath is no more believable than the boogeyman. God will never judge sin, so they presume. They hold to the foolish uniformitarian notion that things have always been and will be as they are now. They spurn the word of God that reveals God has judged in the past and that God will judge in the future.[3] Amid the many ordinary days, one extraordinary day of judgment is coming. God is the God of truth, His words are truth, and His promises always come to pass.[4] God will judge all who reject the gospel of Christ and heed not the call to faith and repentance.[5] The world may mock the promises of God, but we stand firm in the truth (1 Tim. 3:15).

[1] Cf. Jere. 7:22-25; 2 Chron. 36:15-16; Neh. 9:9-30; Matt. 21:28-43; Rom. 2:1-8; Rev. 14:6-7.

[2] Cf. Deut. 29:19; Ps. 10:4-6, 11, 13; 74:18, 22; Isaiah 5:19. Cf. also Matt. 7:23; Gal. 6:7-8; 1 John 3:7-10; Jude 4.

[3] Cf. Ps. 96:13; 98:9; Matt. 3:12; 16:27; 24:21; Acts 17:31; Rom. 2:16; Eph. 5:6; Col. 3:6; 1 Thess. 1:10; 5:2-3; Heb. 12:25-26; Rev. 20:11-15; 22:12-15.

[4] Cf. 2 Sam. 7:28; Ps. 12:6; 19:7-9; John 1:14; 14:6; 16:7; 17:17; 18:37; Eph. 4:21; Heb. 6:18; Tit. 1:2.

[5] Cf. Matt. 4:17; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; 17:30; 26:20; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 2:5, 16; 3:3, 19.