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.