The central message of this sermon is that God's judgment on the world is inevitable, imminent, and will come in a catastrophic and absolute manner, just like the flood in the past. Peter reminds his readers of what they already know from Scripture, both Old and New Testament, and confronts those who deny or downplay the coming judgment. He exposes the flaw in their thinking by pointing out that God's delays are not due to ignorance or oversight, but rather a deliberate choice to give people time to repent. The sermon advances the belief that God is a sovereign judge who will ultimately bring justice and redemption to his creation, and that those who belong to Christ can look forward to a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells. The takeaway the teacher wants the listener to understand is that they should live in light of this certain judgment, seeking holiness and godliness, and not be blinded by the present state of the world.