Doctrinal Understanding

"And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you" (2 Peter 3:15). The Lord's delay in returning to take us home, isn't slackness as some might think. Peter already pointed out: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

The Lord's return is delayed, giving ample time for all who will to repent and be saved. We should rejoice in God's patience, His "longsuffering" (v. 15a), knowing that new believers are being added every day until His family is complete. Even Paul wrote of this (v. 15b), perhaps a reference to Romans, which was a circular letter that went to all the various churches. Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"

In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus illustrates God's longsuffering toward sinners. It is the story of a rebellious son who left his family for a life of immorality. For a long time, he wasted his opportunity to serve his father, spending his inheritance on lavish living. When broke and homeless, he came to his senses, repented of his sinful lifestyle, and returned home. But to his surprise, his father didn't reject him or disown him. He didn't even receive him with reluctance! His father embraced him with love and compassion! That father is a picture of God, who responds to sinners who have repented with mercy and grace. All heaven rejoices when even one sinner repents and comes to saving faith in Christ, as pictured by the feast the father gave in honor of his son.

"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures" (2 Peter 3:16). Peter here notes three things: (1) Peter's readers are apparently familiar with all of Paul's writings (v. 16a); (2) as with "the rest of the Scriptures" (v. 16c), "untaught and unstable people," namely, the false teachers, "twist" Paul's letters, trying to make them say whatever it is they want them to say, "to their own destruction" (v. 16b); and (3) Paul's writings are referred to authoritatively as part of "the Scriptures" (v. 16c), or the inspired Word of God!

"You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked" (v. 17). Having been warned of these things by Peter, be alert, be on guard, and do not fall prey to false teachers and their deceptive lies. Rather, maintain "your own steadfastness" in Christ. Stay firm in Christ. Hold to the course of living a life worthy of Christ, a life of personal holiness. Amen.

Internal Holiness

"Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace" (2 Peter 3:14a). "Looking forward to these things" (v. 14a)—the day of God, the new heavens and the new earth, the eternal state, and the eternal kingdom—we are to live in a way that reflects our eternal perspective.

That means to "be diligent to be found by Him in peace" (v. 14a). "To be found" (v. 14a) reminds us that we cannot hide from Christ when He returns. He will leave no stone unturned. He will overlook nothing. "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God" (1 Cor. 4:5). If He finds you at peace with God when He returns, you will indeed receive praise from God.

"Peace" here is the peace that comes from true saving faith in the Lord. It is a peace that eliminates all worry and fear, because you know for certain that your sins are forgiven, and you know for certain that Christ indwells your heart through your personal faith in Him. "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:11-13).

In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul said, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." No matter how terrible things become as that final day of destruction approaches, all who know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior will experience peace in Him, knowing that they will soon be in His eternal presence and enjoying His eternal kingdom.

False teachers are those who have "spots and blemishes" (2 Peter 2:13b). We, on the other hand, are to be "without spot and blameless" (2 Peter 3:14b). "Without spot" (v. 14b) can refer to Christian character, the kind of people we really are; and "blameless" (v. 14b) refers to Christian reputation, the kind of righteous and highly moral people we are known to be.

Unfortunately, there are some in the church who are neither without spot or blameless. There are some who appear blameless, but privately their lives are anything but spotless. Despite being a part of the church, they live sinful lifestyles, and they may or may not be truly Christian; they may or may not be born again. They are like modern-day Pharisees. They put on a good front, while hiding their unrepentant sin. They fail to develop a heart of righteousness.

I pray that does not describe any of you. We are exhorted by Peter to be above reproach. We are encouraged to be men and women of integrity, characterized by the highest level of personal holiness—"without spot and blameless" (v. 14b).

When you live a life of personal holiness, others see you and your life is a testimony to the power of Christ. It is a life others want. When they see you, they are drawn to Christ and are brought to a point of turning to Christ for their salvation.

The hope of leading others to Christ, along with the promise of Christ's return, gives us all the reason we need for living a life of personal holiness in Christ. It is all the reason we need to practice the disciplines of the faith—Bible study, prayer, worship, fellowship with one another, Christian service, and outreach—and to live your life in Christ and for Christ. Internal, personal holiness is what we as Christians strive for. Amen.

Eternal Perspective

"Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God" (1 Peter 3:12a), indicates an eager anticipation on the part of believers, not a sense of worry or fear. Paul told Titus that believers will be joyfully "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13).

"Looking for" (v. 12a) reflects an attitude of expectation. "Hastening" (v. 12a) strengthens that idea. Rather than fearing the earth's destruction, we long for the Second Coming of Christ and pray His return is soon. Come quickly Lord Jesus!

"The coming" (v. 12a), the familiar Greek word parousia, literally means "the presence" (MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Peter & Jude, [Moody Publishers: Chicago, 2005], 129). It refers to the personal, physical return of Jesus Christ.

"The day of God" (v. 12a) and "the day of the Lord" (v. 10a), are not the same event. "The day of God" (v. 12a) refers to the eternal state when God will have vanquished all His enemies. "The day of the Lord" (v. 10a) refers to the final, horrifying events of the last judgment of unbelievers. John's vision in Revelation 10:9-10, where he ate the little book and found it sweet to taste but bitter to swallow, illustrates the dual feelings Christians have concerning these two events. The little book represents the coming judgment—sweet to believers because of "the day of God," but bitter because of the "day of the Lord."

"Because of which" (v. 12b) indicates that certain things must occur before the arrival of "the day of God" (v. 12a). Namely, the destruction of the universe: "the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat" (v. 12b). Judgment will fall on unsuspecting, unrepentant sinners, but great blessing will follow for the believer.

Following "the day of the Lord" (v. 10a) and the destruction of the universe (vs. 10b, 12b), comes "the day of God" (v. 12a) with a "new heavens and a new earth" (v. 13b), "according to His promise" (v. 13a). God will create an entirely new universe!

"New" (v. 13b) means "new in quality," "different," or "unlike anything previously known" (Ibid, 130). The new heavens and the new earth will be more than just new in time or chronology; they will also be new in character—a realm "in which righteousness dwells" (v. 13b). "Dwells" means "to settle down and be at home," or "take up permanent, comfortable residence" (Ibid). The new heavens and the new earth will be filled with righteousness.

John described the wonder of it all: "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away…' But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (Rev. 21:1-4, 22-27).

Always live your life expecting the Lord to return at any time.  Always live your life in light of your eternal destiny. Always live your life in righteousness, patterned after the life of Christ. That is what it means to have an eternal perspective. Amen.

Living Worthy of Christ

The text before us today begins, "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness" (2 Peter 3:11). This refers to the verses right before this. Verse 7 says, "But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." And verse 10 says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up."

The Savior is returning to judge ungodly men and destroy this world by fire. There will be a new heaven and a new earth, where we, God's people, will spend eternity with Jesus. In light of this, Peter asks, "What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?" (v. 11b). A good question. Just how does this truth affect your life?

Oh, to be more like Christ! We must be ready for His return. Always waiting. Always watching. Always getting better prepared by becoming more like Him. Walking daily with Jesus and being like Him "in holy conduct and godliness" (v. 11b), is how you become prepared to meet Him. "Holy conduct" refers to external actions or behavior. "Godliness" refers to internal heart attitudes or reverence.

"What manner of persons ought you to be" (v. 11b), sounds a lot like a question, but it is rhetorical and expects no response. It is an exclamation of astonishment. It translates a Greek word that could be rendered, "how astonishingly excellent you ought to be." Because of the coming judgment, Peter admonished his readers to live in keeping with their Christian hope—allowing their expectation of Christ's imminent return to have an impact on their daily lifestyle.

Living in anticipation of the Second Coming, means living a life worthy of Christ. It means becoming more like Christ every day. It means living an outward life of holy behavior, based on an inward life of Christlike godliness. In this way, you will be ready for His return. Then, wait and watch. Keep an eye on the sky in anticipation of His glorious return. Amen.