Summing it all up
-12-
Before we sum up the two letters of the Apostle Peter, we will look at the last five verses of Second Peter:
3:14 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, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
“Where is the promise of His coming?” the scoffers were asking. Unbelievers ridicule our belief that the Lord Jesus will return. But I think even some of us may think, I know He is coming back, but why is it taking so long? And we normally only would think something like that at times when life is not so good. During times of severe persecution, in particular.
Peter had no idea that the second coming would not take place for a couple of thousand years. But he does imply that it may not happen soon. He said, in fact, that it will happen in the Lord’s own time, and that days and years with God are much different than our days and years.
We talked in the previous chapter about the Day of the Lord coming suddenly like a thief. And that the Day of the Lord would continue for a thousand of our years.
So Peter says, during the time of expectantly waiting for Him to come back, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
In a very real sense, that is the whole reason that Peter has written these two letters. We will not ever be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace unless we are diligent.
To help us with our diligence, he gives us practical advice in 2 Peter 1. He said that we must ‘add to our faith’. Salvation is not the ‘end’ or the ‘acquisition’. It is the beginning of a new life. As Peter says, do everything you can to live as spotlessly as possible.
But we know very well … living a perfect life is impossible. So we will get spots. How can they be removed?
The apostle John gave this advice. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
But this seems a bit ‘mechanical’. John mentioned something earlier that makes it totally ‘relational’.
He said, 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
As we ‘walk with the Lord’ our failures and stumbles will seem more obvious to us. But so will His encouragement, and the sense that He quickly reaches down as we stumble and grasps us by our arm and steadies us. It will seem so ‘natural’ to say, ‘Thank you! Sorry.’ And for Him to say, ‘It’s OK.’
So it is our aim to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
We recognize that the ‘wait’ for His return reveals His patient, long-suffering, and caring desire for more people to come to salvation as he points out in verse 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation,
Next he reminds his readers that Paul has also written about this. just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him.
So let's take a look at what Paul says about God's patience.
1Ti 2:3-4 In the sight of God our saviour this is undoubtedly the right way to pray; for His purpose is that all men should be saved and come to know the truth.
Paul has just encouraged us to continue praying for people, including the leaders of the country in which we live. And what are we praying for? We are praying that more people will come to Christ. God wants all people saved, even politicians.
So that is what ‘the patience of the Lord’ is all about in Peter's words.
But Peter also mentions something about Paul’s words being misunderstood. “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”
It is hard to know exactly what scriptures that Peter had in mind when he said this. But what is really good to see, are his words ‘as they do the other Scriptures’. This is support for our belief that the whole Bible is the inspired word of God. Peter here is acknowledging that Paul’s words are scripture. ‘Holy men of God writing as they were moved by the Holy Spirit’.
Paul made salvation very clear in his letter to the Romans. However Romans would not have been written at the time Peter is writing. One wonders if it might be Paul’s teaching on grace that was being twisted? Or could it be some of his writings concerning the second coming? We just don’t know. But praise God we have the inerrant scripture ...now totally complete. What a blessing. This is something the early church did not have for quite a while into their history.
Then Peter gives a reason for being cautious in matters of ‘strange’ interpretations. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
Peter’s term, Lawless people gives us a bit of a clue in regards to who some of the ‘scripture twisting’ people were. You can also read about them in Jude’s epistle. Apparently there were those preaching Paul’s gospel of 'salvation is by grace' as meaning, Once saved, always saved … and because salvation has nothing to do with good works, there is nothing you can do to lose it … so, live it up! Do whatever you want! You will still be saved.
Peter disagrees with these ‘libertarians’. He seems to indicate that this doctrine may be appealing to many of us, and is easy to get caught up in. He says, I have warned you. It is possible for you to lose your own stability.
To me, this sounds like Peter is talking about salvation. Peter encourages us to make our calling and election sure. So maybe Peter is saying, If this libertarian freedom gospel is so appealing to you … maybe you have never been saved to begin with.
As Peter signs off he reminds us that the Christian should never stop growing. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
And then his final words’, To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Summing up
As we have examined Peter’s letters, we began by reviewing a little of Peter’s background. He was one of the inner circle … Peter, James and John. We noted that he was bold, impulsive, caring and totally devoted to following Christ. We talked about his commitment to follow Christ to death, if necessary, and then we noted his giving in to fear and betraying the one he loved. We also noted the manner in which Jesus reinstated him and recommissioned him as an apostle.
First and Second Peter were letters of encouragement to the believers who had scattered from Israel into Asia due to the persecution from the Jews.
These Christians would be facing great difficulties. Some would have packed up and escaped with some belongings, whatever they could carry with them. Others may have waited too long, having to leave with no preparation at all.
Resettling, finding accommodation and employment would be the first challenge. Finding a church could also have been difficult. Churches met in homes in those days … and they certainly did not advertise their existence publicly. So finding a house church might have been difficult.
Peter covered a lot of ground as he wrote to these scattered believers. These two letters would become a ‘how-to ’manual for them. And they have become that for us as well. How to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace, in a new and possibly hostile environment.
He has answered questions that some of us were not even asking, such as;
-How should Christians relate to authorities?
-Would God allow his children to suffer?
-Is God able to protect us from suffering? What if he doesn’t?
-How is it an honor to share in Christ’s sufferings?
Peter has explained that if we expect to ‘stand’ in these difficult days, it is necessary to continually ‘add to our faith’. He gave us a list of things to add in Second Peter the first chapter.
Into what do we place our greatest confidence? Experiences? Testimonies of others? Revelations from God? No, Peter says that the most sure word of Prophecy is the inspired Word of God. It will be your defense against false teachers. The Day of the Lord is coming and He is not late.
The scoffers have made fun of our belief that Jesus will return to take us home. Years have passed, they say, with no sign of his return. That is not true, but still we wonder, How long Lord?
Jesus said that the gospel would be preached into all the world, and only then would the end come. We have learned from Peter’s words, that the long-suffering patience of God is the reason He has not returned already. The Gospel still needs to be preached into the corners of the earth.
Is the ‘day and the hour’ set in stone, or is it ‘movable’ by our word of testimony to the lost? Let’s look at these sobering verses again.
3:11 ¶ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons 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 dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Looking for … His coming. Hastening His coming. The Day is ‘movable’. Share your testimony of how you came to Christ with your ‘unsaved’ friends. Steer conversations into discussions that ‘uncertain and frightening times’ will all be over when we see Jesus. Contribute generously and regularly to organizations that are most effective in broadcasting God’s word and message to the ‘un-reached’ areas of the world.
God does not want any to perish and end up in hell. He wants His family to grow.
Peter says that there will be a grand reunion one day. 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
So here is our challenge: 3:18 … grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I trust that this study is encouraging you to keep on growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
3:14 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, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
“Where is the promise of His coming?” the scoffers were asking. Unbelievers ridicule our belief that the Lord Jesus will return. But I think even some of us may think, I know He is coming back, but why is it taking so long? And we normally only would think something like that at times when life is not so good. During times of severe persecution, in particular.
Peter had no idea that the second coming would not take place for a couple of thousand years. But he does imply that it may not happen soon. He said, in fact, that it will happen in the Lord’s own time, and that days and years with God are much different than our days and years.
We talked in the previous chapter about the Day of the Lord coming suddenly like a thief. And that the Day of the Lord would continue for a thousand of our years.
So Peter says, during the time of expectantly waiting for Him to come back, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
In a very real sense, that is the whole reason that Peter has written these two letters. We will not ever be found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace unless we are diligent.
To help us with our diligence, he gives us practical advice in 2 Peter 1. He said that we must ‘add to our faith’. Salvation is not the ‘end’ or the ‘acquisition’. It is the beginning of a new life. As Peter says, do everything you can to live as spotlessly as possible.
But we know very well … living a perfect life is impossible. So we will get spots. How can they be removed?
The apostle John gave this advice. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9
But this seems a bit ‘mechanical’. John mentioned something earlier that makes it totally ‘relational’.
He said, 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
As we ‘walk with the Lord’ our failures and stumbles will seem more obvious to us. But so will His encouragement, and the sense that He quickly reaches down as we stumble and grasps us by our arm and steadies us. It will seem so ‘natural’ to say, ‘Thank you! Sorry.’ And for Him to say, ‘It’s OK.’
So it is our aim to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
We recognize that the ‘wait’ for His return reveals His patient, long-suffering, and caring desire for more people to come to salvation as he points out in verse 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation,
Next he reminds his readers that Paul has also written about this. just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him.
So let's take a look at what Paul says about God's patience.
1Ti 2:3-4 In the sight of God our saviour this is undoubtedly the right way to pray; for His purpose is that all men should be saved and come to know the truth.
Paul has just encouraged us to continue praying for people, including the leaders of the country in which we live. And what are we praying for? We are praying that more people will come to Christ. God wants all people saved, even politicians.
So that is what ‘the patience of the Lord’ is all about in Peter's words.
But Peter also mentions something about Paul’s words being misunderstood. “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”
It is hard to know exactly what scriptures that Peter had in mind when he said this. But what is really good to see, are his words ‘as they do the other Scriptures’. This is support for our belief that the whole Bible is the inspired word of God. Peter here is acknowledging that Paul’s words are scripture. ‘Holy men of God writing as they were moved by the Holy Spirit’.
Paul made salvation very clear in his letter to the Romans. However Romans would not have been written at the time Peter is writing. One wonders if it might be Paul’s teaching on grace that was being twisted? Or could it be some of his writings concerning the second coming? We just don’t know. But praise God we have the inerrant scripture ...now totally complete. What a blessing. This is something the early church did not have for quite a while into their history.
Then Peter gives a reason for being cautious in matters of ‘strange’ interpretations. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
Peter’s term, Lawless people gives us a bit of a clue in regards to who some of the ‘scripture twisting’ people were. You can also read about them in Jude’s epistle. Apparently there were those preaching Paul’s gospel of 'salvation is by grace' as meaning, Once saved, always saved … and because salvation has nothing to do with good works, there is nothing you can do to lose it … so, live it up! Do whatever you want! You will still be saved.
Peter disagrees with these ‘libertarians’. He seems to indicate that this doctrine may be appealing to many of us, and is easy to get caught up in. He says, I have warned you. It is possible for you to lose your own stability.
To me, this sounds like Peter is talking about salvation. Peter encourages us to make our calling and election sure. So maybe Peter is saying, If this libertarian freedom gospel is so appealing to you … maybe you have never been saved to begin with.
As Peter signs off he reminds us that the Christian should never stop growing. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
And then his final words’, To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Summing up
As we have examined Peter’s letters, we began by reviewing a little of Peter’s background. He was one of the inner circle … Peter, James and John. We noted that he was bold, impulsive, caring and totally devoted to following Christ. We talked about his commitment to follow Christ to death, if necessary, and then we noted his giving in to fear and betraying the one he loved. We also noted the manner in which Jesus reinstated him and recommissioned him as an apostle.
First and Second Peter were letters of encouragement to the believers who had scattered from Israel into Asia due to the persecution from the Jews.
These Christians would be facing great difficulties. Some would have packed up and escaped with some belongings, whatever they could carry with them. Others may have waited too long, having to leave with no preparation at all.
Resettling, finding accommodation and employment would be the first challenge. Finding a church could also have been difficult. Churches met in homes in those days … and they certainly did not advertise their existence publicly. So finding a house church might have been difficult.
Peter covered a lot of ground as he wrote to these scattered believers. These two letters would become a ‘how-to ’manual for them. And they have become that for us as well. How to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace, in a new and possibly hostile environment.
He has answered questions that some of us were not even asking, such as;
-How should Christians relate to authorities?
-Would God allow his children to suffer?
-Is God able to protect us from suffering? What if he doesn’t?
-How is it an honor to share in Christ’s sufferings?
Peter has explained that if we expect to ‘stand’ in these difficult days, it is necessary to continually ‘add to our faith’. He gave us a list of things to add in Second Peter the first chapter.
Into what do we place our greatest confidence? Experiences? Testimonies of others? Revelations from God? No, Peter says that the most sure word of Prophecy is the inspired Word of God. It will be your defense against false teachers. The Day of the Lord is coming and He is not late.
The scoffers have made fun of our belief that Jesus will return to take us home. Years have passed, they say, with no sign of his return. That is not true, but still we wonder, How long Lord?
Jesus said that the gospel would be preached into all the world, and only then would the end come. We have learned from Peter’s words, that the long-suffering patience of God is the reason He has not returned already. The Gospel still needs to be preached into the corners of the earth.
Is the ‘day and the hour’ set in stone, or is it ‘movable’ by our word of testimony to the lost? Let’s look at these sobering verses again.
3:11 ¶ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons 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 dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Looking for … His coming. Hastening His coming. The Day is ‘movable’. Share your testimony of how you came to Christ with your ‘unsaved’ friends. Steer conversations into discussions that ‘uncertain and frightening times’ will all be over when we see Jesus. Contribute generously and regularly to organizations that are most effective in broadcasting God’s word and message to the ‘un-reached’ areas of the world.
God does not want any to perish and end up in hell. He wants His family to grow.
Peter says that there will be a grand reunion one day. 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
So here is our challenge: 3:18 … grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I trust that this study is encouraging you to keep on growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior.
To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.