2 PETER – Chapter Three

Part Six

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

 

CHAPTER 3 – Be diligent and ready for Christ’s return

 

In the third chapter of 2 Peter we have seen Peter continue to remind followers of Christ to whom he is writing to remember the teaching of the Old Testament prophets as well as the words of Jesus Christ and also the instructions of the Apostles that Jesus had appointed (3:2). He reminds them to remember the promise of Jesus, that He would return one day and that they should always look ahead for this glorious return of their Savior (3:10-13). He also reminds these Christians that as they seek to live godly lives obedient to the scriptures and patiently wait for Christ’s return, that disbelieving mockers would arise to discourage and distract them from their holy calling (3:3). He reminds them that when the scoffers deny such a future for the world that they are to be established in the fact that just as God destroyed the earth through a flood, He will in the future destroy it again with fire (3:5-7). He instructs them that there is a reason for God’s patience in waiting for the judgment of the world and the return of His Son. It is His holy patience and mercy (3:8-9). He encourages them to remain committed to their Savior and Lord and remember that the Lord is faithful to His promises and will deliver them. He also shares that their Savior will come unexpectedly so to always be ready (3:10). He informs them that there will be a new heavens and a new earth where righteousness will dwell. He also instructs them to remember the things the apostle Paul wrote to them and that they should grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in order to be ready for the return of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Peter states that this readiness for the return of Christ is reflected in their being steadfast in the knowledge of the scriptures while they live blameless and spotless lives.

 

After blasting the false teachers and their sinful lifestyle, Peter now begins the last part of his letter to followers of Christ. He shares his reasons for writing this second letter; which is to remind followers of what they already know. Often we need to be reminded of concepts, truths and precepts that we have already been taught. Sometimes we forget the spiritual truths we have learned, but more often we have not put what we do know into practice. This demonstrates our lack of commitment to live the Truth we do know. This letter is Peter’s reminder and encouragement; to both remember and live out the gospel truths.

 

As we continue to travel through this chapter remember what Warren Wiersbe stated; that there are four “beloved” statements in this chapter that summarize what Peter wanted to get across as he brought his second letter to a close.

 

First in verses 1-2 “Beloved…be mindful.”

Secondly in verse 8 “Beloved…be not ignorant.

Thirdly in verse 14 “Beloved…be diligent.

Fourthly in verse 17 “Beloved beware!”

 

We pick up where we left off in chapter 3 with verse 11. Peter has shared how all of creation will be destroyed so that a new Heavens and a new earth can be created. Now Peter shares how these future cataclysmic events should motivate us to be ready for the Lord’s return!

 

“11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!”

 

In chapter 2:5-7 Peter gave examples of how godly men and women were saved from the judgments of God upon the wicked in the past. He gave the example of how Noah and his family were rescued from the great flood judgment upon the world and how Lot and his family was rescued from the great fire judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah.

 

On the Day of Christ, when Christ returns to claim His own, will you be ready to be caught up in the air. Will you be an example such as Noah? He was ready by remaining faithful to God even though, not by his choice, he was surrounded by a wicked generation. He lived holy and devout while preaching repentance to wicked people, all the while building the ark as instructed by God. Will you be an example such as Lot, who was rescued by the mercy of God? Lot had chosen to live and remain living in an evil city and society. While he was committed to God, he tolerated evil around him rather than witness against it. His tolerance for it is evidenced by his willingness to offer his daughters for sinful acts to spare his guests. While committed to God he had failed to live completely obedient to Him. Despite his lack of discretion, God had mercy upon him and his family. Yet, he seemed to still be rather reluctant to leave and had to be led away from the city by angels (Genesis 19).

 

The differences between Noah and Lot are apparent. One was ready and one was not. Each was rescued, but only one was prepared. One was granted a new earth to live upon with his family due to his obedience. The other committed sexual incest with his daughters in a cave. While God forgave Lot; it would have been much more godly and obedient to remain faithful to the Lord before, during and after all of what took place. Such is the encouragement of Peter to these first century Christians as well as us today. Let us not hesitate to read Holy Scripture, let it sink deep within our heart, mind and soul and put it into practice in everyday living. In this way we can be ready for the return of Christ and ever ready to share the gospel as we live the Christian life.

 

Peter is instructing Christians to be ready for the Lord’s return by living godly obedient lives based on the love of God. While many theologians believe that the “rapture” of the church (the ascension of Christians to Heaven to meet Jesus Christ) occurs before the Tribulation, what if they are wrong? While most Christians believe that they will not face the Day of the Lord (God) at the end of the Tribulation, what if they are wrong? I personally believe that Christians will be caught up in the air on the Day of Christ when Jesus Christ returns in the air and we will not have to endure the Tribulation, but what if I am wrong? Whatever the case, I want to be ready for Christ’s return one way or the other. I want to be able to answer Peter’s question in verse 11; “what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?” I want to be able to answer it with a positive conviction, “I have been faithful to God, His Son and His Spirit as well as His Word!”

 

As we look to the heavens for the soon to come return of Christ and the events of the heavens being destroyed by burning destruction, as well as the very atomic elements of creation being melted with intense heat, what kind of people ought we to be?

 

Peter in verse 12 uses a different word for melt than he used in verse 10. It is the Greek word “tekomai,” a word that actually means “wasting away,” or “liquefying.” Could this possibly imply the effects of the radiation released from the explosion of the universe much like the after affects of a detonation of an atomic bomb?

 

Next Peter moves to a more positive tone as he describes briefly the new Heavens and the new Earth.

 

“13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

 

After Peter’s descriptive warnings of how the earth and the heavens are to be destroyed and his encouragement to be ready, he gives a godly encouragement of what our future as followers of Christ will be. God has promised a future of a “new heavens and a new earth” but not only that. In this new creation righteousness will dwell. All the evil and sin, the demonic influences and corruption will not exist; only God’s righteousness. This challenges us to continue to walk according to the Holy Scriptures and to keep in step with the Holy Spirit and Peter in the next verse does just that.

 

“14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15a and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation;”

 

Peter instructs us here in verse 14 that since we “look for these things” to take place; we are to be diligent in our faith as we live it out obediently and in love. The Greek word for “diligent” is “spoudizo,” which means “to hasten to do something” or “to exert oneself.”

 

2 Peter tells us that we can expect for God to fulfill three of His precious promises.

 

First, for His Son to return to the earth to claim His own (Christians).

Secondly, that Christ will judge all men; living and dead.

Thirdly, that He will create a new Heavens and Earth.

 

In verse 14 Peter tells us that since we are looking and expecting for these things to take place; what should be doing while we wait? He states that we should be diligently seeking to be found “in PEACE.” This means inwardly with us; outwardly with other Christians as well as non-believers and also at peace with our Heavenly Father. At the White Throne judgment if we are to stand triumphant, it will mean we will be found to be “in peace.” Peace is the absence of discord. Peace is being at harmony with oneself and with the Lord as well.

 

Peter also challenges us to be “SPOTLESS” in our spiritual walk with the Holy Spirit. This means without any mark of stain and free from all defilement before God. “Spotless” describes a life that is without disease in a spiritual sense. It means that we have lived obedient to Christ and when we sin, and we will, we recognize this failure and immediately confess and repent. We keep short accounts. None of us are perfect, but as we seek to stay close to the Lord in our spiritual walk, as we keep in step with the Spirit and live according to God’s Word, we can claim the blood of Christ over our lives because we have committed ourselves to Him. It has been said that 1 John 1:9 is the Christian’s bar of soap for sin in their lives, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

Peter also instructs us in this verse to be “BLAMELESS.” Blameless means “not open to criticism, disapproval, reproach or adverse criticism.” Blameless relates to the quality of our spiritual condition, both in thought and action. Because we rely upon Christ’s payment for our sins and seek to walk in a manner worthy of our Heavenly Father’s calling Romans 8 1-2 states, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” What a HUGE burden is lifted from us when we realize that ALL the sin we have committed and will commit has been forgiven by God because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. We can continue to experience God’s grace, mercy and love in our lives as long as we keep short accounts with our Heavenly Father. Failure to do so, causes us to distance ourselves from God, dishonor the Lord Jesus Christ and quench the Spirit of God who lives within us.

 

Peter mentions in the first part of verse 15 that as we regard or comprehend the patience that Jesus Christ has in prolonging the time of His return, we should count this as salvation. What does Peter mean by this statement? It means that we should consider the Lord’s patience for His return to earth as delaying His judgment. This delay of judgment is a precious gift of time to get our lives in order and grow closer to Jesus our Lord and Savior. This delay is also time for us to share the gospel with those who have not accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord. The patience of God to delay His Son’s return is salvation for us in the sense that it allows more time for us to grow spiritually. It gives us additional time to deal with sinful issues in our lives. It grants us opportunities to minister and witness to others. It also means, as I mentioned earlier in this commentary, more opportunity for others to come to faith in Christ, to receive salvation. While we are very anxious to leave this evil, sin-filled world, we must attempt to see His delay in returning as mercy for those who presently are condemned because they have not received Him as their Savior. It also is mercy for us as well, for each day He delays, we are able to grow in Christ, walk closer with the Holy Spirit and minister to others. It gives us more time to prepare in this life, for the eternal life we will live in Heaven.

 

“15b just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

 

In the last part of verse 15 Peter shares that these same truths he is sharing were also shared by Paul in his letters. Peter recognizes that these concepts, doctrines and truths are often hard to understand, but they are true non-the-less. He also mentions that since these godly truths are hard to understand and spiritually appraised; the people who are “untaught” in such matters or “unstable” in their lives distort the concepts and doctrines of the Lord. The only thing such people are consistent in, is that they distort all of scripture and have no discernment as to how to discern truth from error. Several verses speak of how those who are blinded by their own sin and rejection of the gospel are blinded to the truths of God (John 12:36b-43, 2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 1 John 2:7-11).

 

In the next few verses Peter gives first a warning and then an encouragement.

 

Peter has shared that we are to be diligent in our Christian walk (2 Peter 3:14) and in verse 17 he instructs us to be on our guard and to be steadfast.

 

“17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness,”

 

Peter’s warning here is to his “beloved” fellow Christians and also to us today; since we know the truth of God’s Word and all Jesus and the Apostles have taught, we should be on our guard. This means ever aware, cautious and perceptive in recognizing evil and any false teaching. The reason for such caution is so that we will not be captured by false truth and the spurious beliefs taught by men and women who lack any godly principles or foundation. If we do allow ourselves to be grabbed by such false teachers we will fall from the spiritual maturity we have gained up to that point. We will stumble in our steadfast, faithful and godly lifestyle. We may also possibly end up wandering from our faith as well as wondering about our faith. We may lose our footing in how we walk in the Spirit and begin to question not only who we are in Christ, but also who God is Himself. Jude also talks about this situation arising from the influence of false teachers;

   

Jude 20-23

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting; 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.”

 

Let me summarize the encouragements that Peter shares in chapter 3 for living in the last days.

 

He tells us to be DILIGENT (2 Peter 3:14).

He tells us to be CONFIDENT (2 Peter 3:15).

He tells us to be ON GUARD (2 Peter 3:17).

He tells us to be FRUITFUL (2 Peter 3:18).

 

But as we seek to follow his advice we must also add three more pieces of advice.

 

First, we should seek to keep short accounts with the Lord. Another way to say this would be, clean up those areas of your life that you know need cleaning up. Everyone has areas in their lives that need some further sanctification, areas that are not as pure as they should be. Pray for the Holy Spirit to show these areas to you so that you can address them and be ready for the return of your Savior and Lord.

 

Secondly, foster and cultivate a balanced expectation of the Lord’s return. Too often we get caught up in the day to day business of life and let the imminent return of Christ fade into the background. Instead of falling into being lackadaisical attitude about His return, seek to keep it at the forefront of your life. Such excitement will give you a better attitude towards dealing with the storms and trials of life. It will also keep you spiritually on your toes in your living holy and acceptable in God’s eyes.

 

Thirdly, knowing that Christ could return at any moment, will instill in you a necessity of sharing the gospel with others. God has not just given us a spiritual mandate of living like Christ and keeping in step with the Holy Spirit. He has given us a command to witness to others about our faith and disciple those who make a commitment to Him. God has given the ministry of witnessing to us. He will supply the spiritual power to do this through the influence of the Holy Spirit. He has supplied His Word to guide us in how and what to share. All that we need to do is be willing to be a vessel that He can use to bring others into His Kingdom.

 

In the last verse of chapter 3 Peter now gives a gracious encouragement and doxology.

 

“18a but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

 

Peter instructs Christians in the first century and us in the 21st century, to grow in GRACE and KNOWLEDGE of our LORD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. We GROW in GRACE as we become more mature in our understanding of what grace is, how magnificent and merciful it is for us to be in an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who lives within us. Even though we were sinners and under God’s judgment, as followers of Christ we are now forgiven of all our sins; past, present and future. But we continue to be a work in progress and we still continue to sin at times. We grow in grace as we continue to confess our sins and keep short accounts with our Heavenly Father.

 

God’s grace towards us makes it possible for us to be loving towards others because of the love and forgiveness God has shown us. As God’s grace continues to flow into our lives, it produces compassion and mercy which we express towards others. His grace transforms our self-centered and selfish motives into a godly selfless attitude and behavior in our relationships with friends, family, co-workers and even strangers we meet. God’s grace helps us continue to believe and accept the Word of God and apply it to our lives. In addition, the grace of God produces vulnerability in our lives, not only to God, but also with other Christians. Lack of vulnerability places a wall between us and God, as well as between us and other Christians.

 

It is also true that just as God’s grace pours upon our past, present and future, so the knowledge of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross affects our past, present and future. Jesus Christ saved us from all our past sins when we accepted Him as our Savior. He saves us from sins we commit daily as we confess them each day (1 John 1:8-9), and He will save us from the sins we commit in the future up till the day we die, or are taken to Heaven upon His return to earth. The knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ keeps us strong and confident in our faith. It sustains us in times of doubt as we go back and reconsider the great truths of scripture concerning our salvation. The knowledge of our Lord and Savior also produces discernment and discrimination as we attempt to make decisions in life and respond to temptations and trials. It gives us a standard to live by and a reliable path to walk. The knowledge of Jesus Christ; who He was and is, what He did and continues to do, assists us in questioning and critiquing the lies and untruths that flood our world from the mouths of liars, false teachers and those who are influenced by demonic forces. Such godly knowledge of our Lord and Savior fosters a strong godly stability within our heart, mind and soul, which is much needed in our day and age. I would strongly encourage you, as Peter does, to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!”

 

Notice how Peter describes Jesus Christ in this portion of scripture; as Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ is our Lord because we have committed our entire lives to Him. We are “bond-slaves” to Him because He owns us now. He is our Savior because He died for our sins and has removed God’s judgment from our lives. We must grasp this two-fold title of Jesus Christ. We are bound to Him as a “bond-slave” and also as our savior.

 

Peter’s doxology of this letter is short, but magnificently beautiful.

 

“18b To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

 

Peter gives God all the glory; including in the present moment, until the day eternity, which is in essence forever and ever. AMEN!!!

 

I would like to end this commentary with the doxology from the book of Jude which is magnificent as well.

 

Jude 24-25

“24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”