Thoughts on 2 Peter – Part 3
2PET 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2PET 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
Peter writes to Christians and tells them to be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets as well as the commandment of the apostles. The words that were spoken before by the prophets is a reference to the Old Testament. Peter is not only referring to the books that we call the Minor or Major Prophets. This is evident because the example that Peter uses in the next verses is of the flood in Genesis. He then compares the judgment of the flood to the fiery judgment to come.
Peter is telling Christians here not to ignore the Old Testament. There is much for us to learn from all of God’s Word. The Old Testament is rich in types and allegories. And many times we see New Testament truth lived out in the lives of the people in the Old Testament. The Old Testament does have application for us today.
You need to be studying all of God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation.
Peter says in verse 2 be mindful of the words that were spoken by the prophets and by the apostles and by Jesus. They all 3 said the same thing. And the first thing Peter wants them to remember that they all said there is coming the end times.
2PET 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2PET 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
In the Bible the phrase the last days refers to what many call the Church age. The last days cover from the time Jesus returned to Heaven until the time He comes back. We have been in the period of the last days for about 2,000 years.
And one of the characteristics of the last days is that there will be scoffers who instead of walking in the ways of God they walk after their own lusts. That is important. It shows were their hearts are and that they really do not want an answer to their question.
The scoffers will say where is the promise of his coming? There have been scoffers saying that when Peter wrote this and there are still scoffers saying that today. And one of the things the scoffers say is all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.
Peter says in this they are willingly ignorant. They do not want to understand. That is what is at the root of their problem. Why? Because they are walking after their own lusts and they know that if they turn to God that they will have to give up their lusts. And they want no part of that.
2PET 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2PET 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2PET 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Things have not continued the same since the creation. God did bring worldwide judgment with the flood. And they are willingly ignorant of the fact that judgment is coming again. This time it will be by fire and not water.
The next obvious question is what Peter covers next. Since Jesus said He is coming back in the last days and since we have been in the last days for the entire church age, then why the delay in Jesus coming back.
Peter answers the question with 2 things. First time does not mean the same thing to the Lord as it does us.
2PET 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
This verse has been misused by many. Mainly by people who are desperate to try to fit the crazy fairy tale of unscientific evolution into the creation account in Genesis. They will use verse 8 to try to prove that the 24 hours days in creation week are actually long periods of time. That is an abuse of scripture. The context in Genesis is literal 24 hour periods.
And the context here is not to define the days in Genesis. The context is simply that God in not in a hurry. God is not under any time constraints or time pressure. We are creatures of time. What I mean by that is we live inside of time. God lives outside of time. The Bible teaches us that after the 1,000 year reign and after the Great White Throne judgment that God will create a new Heaven and a New Earth and that time will be no more. God is in no way dependent upon time.
And then comes the big reason for the delay.
2PET 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Why the delay? Why the longsuffering and patience? It is not because God is not keeping His promise to come back! He promised to come back and He wants to come back. But God loves souls more!
The delay is so that men have a chance to repent. The delay is so that more souls will spend an Eternity with God and not an Eternity in the lake of fire.
God’s will is that all men would come to repentance and get saved. God did not die for a select few. He paid for the sins of the whole world. God loves everyone and He died for everyone.
And His perfect will is that all get saved. However if it is forced it is not real. It would just be a sham. Every person has the opportunity to choose for themselves and turn from sin, repent and call upon God to save them with a repentant heart.
One of the attributes of God is that He is all knowing. He knows the beginning and the ending. Prophecy proves this. God has perfect foreknowledge of all things and this includes who will accept Him and who will not.
When the last soul gets saved in the church age, then Jesus will come back and we will meet Him in the clouds. Then the tribulation starts on the Earth. And if you have went thru the series of lessons on Revelation then you know that many people will be saved during the Tribulation and they will be killed for their faith.
2PET 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The context of these verses is the judgment of God. One day God will judge this wicked world with fervent heat. He has promised to never again send judgment by water, but He has reserved a judgment by fire for one day. It will come without notice. Men will never be able to set a date for it. If anyone does, mark it down, they are a false teacher. This old sin stained earth will melt and all the works that sinful man has built will be burned up. Sin and all its traces will be done away with and we will have new heavens and a new earth. It will be a place where righteousness will dwell and not sin.
2PET 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
God will one day fix all the problems and get rid of all the sin. Amen. Everything will be much better then. So why not now? Why wait? The answer is in verse 11, “but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” He delays because He is not willing that any should perish. He delays so that souls can get saved. He loves souls and is longsuffering so that they have every opportunity to get born again. He will not bring judgment until the last soul is saved. Of course God knows who that last soul is and exactly when the last one gets saved. And until then He is longsuffering and withholds His fiery judgment.
2PET 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
The verses right before tell us how this planet will burn with fervent heat. All your stuff, the things you work so hard for, your car, your home, it will all be melted. Seeing that is true, then what manner of person ought you to be?
We all have things of the world. The question is are you living for them, or are you keeping your heart on the things of God and living for Him? Only the things of God are eternal. So which one should be more important in your life? Verse 11 brings up some good questions to spend some time thinking about and how we line up.
2PET 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2PET 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
We have His promise that this old wicked world will be burned up, and we look for a new heavens and a new earth. Sin stains the one we live on now. That will be no more! The new one will not be sin stained. Righteousness will dwell there.
2PET 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
The facts presented in these verses should have an effect upon how we live. We know He is coming back. We know that He hates sin and will burn this sin stain earth up one day. Therefore, we are to be diligent that He finds us in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Christians are to strive to live godly lives.
2PET 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2PET 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Some people it says wrest with the Scriptures. They don’t understand them, they fight with them, and are confused by them. This is a sign of someone who is not saved. The Bible is a closed book to them. And if they do not get saved they will end up in hell one day.
2PET 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
It is also possible that someone who is saved and knows the scriptures can be led into the errors of false teachers. It is possible to be saved, and once saved you cannot lose your salvation, but you can get lazy, or off track, or backslide. It is possible to fall from your stedfastness.
We should want to avoid that. And Peter closes with how you do that.
2PET 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
You keep humble and understand that you need to continue to grow your entire Christian life. You need to rely upon God’s grace and His strength and His help. You need to keep learning more about your Lord Jesus. And you need to give all the glory to Him.