Peter opens 2 Peter 3 with two pastoral aims: to stir up the sincere minds of his readers and to call them back to the truth they already know. False teachers in his day were mocking the promise of Christ's return — dismissing it as myth and pointing to the silence of the centuries as proof it would never happen. Peter's answer? Remember what has been promised.

In this expository message, Pastor Jim Osman walks through 2 Peter 3:1–4, showing that Peter's first move against the mockers is not an argument — it is a reminder. He reminds his readers of the prophetic testimony of the Old Testament and the apostolic testimony of Jesus and the New Testament writers: Christ is coming back in power, in glory, and in judgment. This promised return is not a footnote — it is referenced in every New Testament book but two, across 300 passages in 260 chapters.

Osman also lays out the full outline of chapter 3, setting up a multi-week series: the doubters' derisions (vv. 1–4), the dismantling of their denials (vv. 5–10), and the duties of the disciples in light of Christ's return (vv. 11–18).

The return of Christ is comfort for the believer and a sober warning for the unbeliever. Don't let the passage of time dull your expectation. He promised. He does not lie. He is coming.