2 Peter 3:14
The sermon emphasizes the importance of being diligent in our walk with Christ, being found in his righteousness, and experiencing peace with God and one another in order to be fit for the new heavens and new earth.
John Gill emphasizes the importance of being diligent in our faith as we await the coming of Christ and the establishment of the new heavens and new earth. He explains that believers must strive to be found in Christ, clothed in His righteousness, and living in peace, both with God and one another. Gill reassures that those who are reconciled to God through Christ will not face judgment with fear but with joy and satisfaction. He highlights that while sanctification is imperfect, believers are ultimately presented as faultless before God through Christ's sacrifice. The sermon encourages believers to focus on their spiritual state and relationships as they anticipate eternal glory.
Text
Ver. 14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing ye look for these things,.... For the burning of the heavens and the earth, for the coming of Christ, and for the new heavens and new earth,
be diligent that ye may be found of him; Christ, or autw, "in him", as in Php 3:9; for such as are in Christ will have an undoubted right to the new heavens and the new earth, and will certainly dwell in them, because they will be found not in their own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ: or "before him", as the Arabic version renders it; before him the Judge of all, at whose tribunal they must stand; but being clothed with his righteousness, and so without spot and blemish, they will not be ashamed before him: or "by him"; Christ first finds his in redemption, and next in the effectual calling, and last of all at his coming, when all the elect will be looked up, gathered in, and presented first to himself, and then to his Father, complete and perfect, not one wanting: and thus to be found in him, and before him, and by him, should be the concern of all that look for the glorious things here spoken of, and particularly that they be found in the following situation and circumstances: in peace; interested in that peace Christ has made by the blood of his cross; for such as are reconciled to God by his death, shall be saved by his life, and live with him in the new heavens and new earth, and for ever in the ultimate glory; and in enjoying that peace of conscience which he himself gives, and which flows from his blood, righteousness, and atonement; so that the day of his coming by death, or at judgment, will not be terrifying to them, but they will look for these things with great delight and satisfaction: or
in peace one with another; for peace makers and keepers are called the children of God, and so heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; or in happiness and glory, expressed by peace, which is the end of the righteous man, which he enters into at death, and will rest in to all eternity:
without spot and blemish; no man is so in himself, sanctification is imperfect, and many are the slips and falls of the saints, though their desire is to be harmless and inoffensive, and to give no just occasion for blame or scandal; but the saints are so in Christ Jesus, being washed in his blood, and clothed with his righteousness, and will be found so by him when he comes again, when he will present them to himself a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, and also before the presence of his Father's glory, as faultless, with exceeding joy; and so will they be fit and meet to be the inhabitants of the new heavens and new earth, and reign with him therein, and be with him to all eternity.
Sermon Outline
- I. Looking for the Coming of Christ
- A. The expectation of the heavens and earth being burned
- B. The expectation of the new heavens and new earth
- C. The expectation of Christ's coming
- II. Diligence in Being Found of Him
- A. Being diligent in our walk with Christ
- B. Being found in Christ's righteousness
- C. Being without spot and blemish
- III. Peace and Reconciliation
- A. Peace with God through Christ's blood
- B. Peace with one another
- C. Happiness and glory in the new heavens and new earth
Key Quotes
“For such as are in Christ will have an undoubted right to the new heavens and the new earth, and will certainly dwell in them, because they will be found not in their own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ.” — John Gill
“Being clothed with his righteousness, and so without spot and blemish, they will not be ashamed before him:” — John Gill
“and thus to be found in him, and before him, and by him, should be the concern of all that look for the glorious things here spoken of” — John Gill
Application Points
- We should strive to live a holy life, clothed with the righteousness of Christ, in order to be fit for the new heavens and new earth.
- We should seek to experience peace with God through Christ's blood and peace with one another through living in harmony and loving one another.
- We should be diligent in our walk with Christ, being faithful to our faith and seeking to live a life that honors him.