2 Peter 3

Highlight:

2 Peter 3:11–12a; 14-15a (ESV) 

¹¹ Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, ¹² waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God. . .¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. ¹⁵ And count the patience of our Lord as salvation . . . 

Explain:

2 Peter 3:1-10: Peter tells them that this is the second letter he has written to remind them of what the prophets foretold about Christ and what the Apostles commanded. He reminds them further that doubters will come taunting them by asking why Jesus has not yet returned. These skeptics deliberately forget that the same God who created the world and destroyed it with a flood will one day destroy this wicked world and all the wicked living in it with fire. God is not slow about keeping His promise of judgment; His clock is just different. With Him, a thousand years is like a day and a day like a thousand years. He wants people to have plenty of time to repent, but that day of judgment will come and everything will disappear in fire. 11-16: Since judgment is coming and we have the promise of a new heaven and earth, we should live holy and godly lives. While we are waiting, let us live peaceful, pure, and blameless lives. Remember that God’s patience is offering more time for people to be saved. The Apostle Paul writes of these things—sometimes in ways difficult to understand. People sometimes take his writing to mean something he never intended. This perversion will result in their destruction. 17-18: You know all this already, so just be on your guard so that false teachers do not deceive you and cause you to lose your security in Christ. Rather, grow in grace and constantly get to know Jesus better. All glory to Him forever!

Apply:

In the highlighted verses, Peter details our response to the truth of Christ’s return. We are to live lives of 

Holiness: That is completely committed to and at the disposal of God.

Godliness: That is imitating the portrait of God painted for us in Scripture

Patience: That is being willing to wait for the coming of Christ.

Anticipation: We are to “hasten” the coming. I can think of two things here. One is a heart-felt desire for Christ to come back; the other is being willing to share the gospel in order to hasten Christ’s return.

Peace: The idea is that we are to be at peace with others as much as is possible for us.

Decisive Perspective: We make the conscious decision to see the waiting as an opportunity for witness. We count the “patience” of our Lord as (an opportunity for) salvation.

Respond:

I will seek to remember these values throughout my day today.