Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

A brief exposition of 2Peter 3 (part 1: v1-4)


May 12 at 2:01 AM ·

A brief exposition of 2Peter 3 (part 1: v1-4)

#Reminder_of_70AD
#Context_Context_Context

1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.


1. Who is Peter writing to?
- "... to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia..." 1Pet 1:1
- These were Jewish believers.
- The date: a few years before 70AD.
(We Gentiles need to put ourselves into their shoes to appreciate the subject.)

2. What is Peter's purpose in writing to them?
- "... to stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance..."
- Especially "... that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour."

3. What's the particular subject of chapter 3? 
- What particular subject did Peter want to remind them? What specific words spoken of before by the holy prophets did Peter want to bring to their remembrance?
- The particular subject is the promised and prophesied event in 70AD, the final and complete ending of the old theocratic Israel.
- Luk 21:28 "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." The fiery destruction of Israel is redemption to the Jewish believers from those bent on opposing Christ and His followers.
- This epochal and world-shattering event is prophesied by the holy prophets; taught by the Lord Jesus Christ to His Apostles, and they faithfully taught the same to the Jews.

4. What is the chief thing to beware of this particular subject?
- "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts."
- The last days refer to the last days of the old covenant represented by earthly theocratic Israel, the 40-years when the old and the new covenant overlapped.
- The scoffers are Jews who dismiss, mock, ridicule the prophecies and warnings on the final destruction of Israel, the doing away of the old, and the establishment of the new.
- Isa 65:17 "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." The former refers to "the old heavens and old earth", a term describing the Jewish universe! The context of Isaiah 65 is the new covenant, without the old.
- Why do the scoffers deserve attention? Their scoffing is pernicious and can undermind the faith of the believing Jews.

5. What are they scoffing at?
- "...Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
- They were scoffing at the Lord's promise of coming to destroy that wicked and devil-possessed nation that demanded the death of their Messiah.

6. Who are the fathers?
- The fathers refer to the founding fathers of the nation of Israel; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.


Their argument: look, since the beginning of the creation of Israel and the passing away of the founding fathers, all things concerning Israel have continued to this day! The God of Israel has faithfully preserved us through thick and thin, what makes you think that our beloved Israel will ever be completely destroyed! Hogwash!

Apostle Peter charged the scoffers as being willfully ignorant and refuted their puerile argument with three biblical arguments.

Feel free to ask any questions concerning what has been written above.

TOO MANY make 2Peter 3 to speak of the eternal state of blessedness ushered in at the second coming of Christ... being misled by the soundbytes of "the new heavens and a new earth."

Read part  on 2Pet 3:5-9 here: 
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2020/05/a-brief-exposition-of-2pet-3-part-2-v5-9.html

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Bill Taylor
Amen!

Reggie Lee
I love the fact that u mentioned 40 years!!! The number 40 in scripture can be viewed as a time of probation.

Sing F Lau
Reggie Lee,
Hebrews 9:10 KJV — Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

40-year to transition from the old to the new; how incredibly long-suffering. But oh, how God's patience can so easily be misconstrued by His unbelieving children.

Reggie Lee
Sing F Lau- Right! The unbelieving child of God fell with the wicked, for they did not heed the warnings nor did they recognize the signs that Jesus gave for clues to flee to the mountains...

Reggie Lee
You da man! Sing F Lau!!

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