Chapter 3
-This second letter, as it concludes, it much like the first
letter in Peter’s estimation in that it is designed to stir up the believers’
minds by sincere reminders as to the prophetic utterances listed in Scripture
by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:1-2). He lists the prophets
as well as the apostles as having this Divine authority into the revelation of
God’s Word. First of all, he warns of the scoffing spirit that will be prevalent
in the last days that scorn any thought that God is coming in judgment and that
things will be different in the world. They will claim that all is going as it
has since the creation and that the promise is null and void by God as to His
coming. They overlook the fact that God has already judged the earth for sin
once with the deluge of water in the flood and has reserved the next judgment
for the destruction of the ungodly by fire (2 Peter 3:3-7). *Application* There
will be a denial of the truth pertaining to God’s wrath and punishment upon
those who reject Him as we see clearly in this passage. This is an easy point
to argue in our present modern and tolerant age. No one wants to acknowledge that
there is a Higher Power that is objective and concrete. Most deny any way that
the Supreme Being would ever come for judgment and fire, even though His Word
is being fulfilled prophetically every day. The culture has denied the
existence of God and His coming by their actions in not being willing to repent
and turn to Him in the distresses of our current time. They rationalize
everything and try to construct a society without sin by legislation rather
than Godly transformation. This will never work. God will have to come back and
set things straight by His Word and Power. Acknowledgment of God’s redemption through
Jesus Christ is the only cure for what ails the human condition.
-Peter maintains persistence in remembering that the Lord is
patient and never slow in fulfilling His promises. One day is as a thousand
years and a thousand years as a day. In other words, time is of no essence to
the Sovereign. He is desiring that everyone turn to Him in repentance so that
none perish (2 Peter 3:8-9). *Application* Here we see the patience and
impartiality of our Lord. We can also implicitly see His love for us in these
verses. We should always thank Him for delaying His judgments on us. He gives
everyone time who still need His forgiveness so that possibly His mercy might
be extended to all. Receive the goodness of the Lord; He is waiting for you.
-“But, the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then
the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned
up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be
exposed (2 Peter 3:10).” Because of this irrefutable fact, what kind of people
should we be in holiness and godliness (2 Peter 3:11)? *Application* This is
the question Peter asks us and it is worth reflecting on. We should wait for
and hasten (quicken, speed up) the coming of the day of the God in all hope,
joy, faith, and love. We have the blessed assurance of a new heavens and a new
earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). We are to be diligent to be
found by Him without spot or blemish and at peace being patient at all times
and in all ways as we wait for His glory (2 Peter 3:14-15). We are not to be
carried away with the error of lawless people and lose our stability being
twisted with illogical human rationale that the ignorant and unstable distort
to their own destruction. These misinterpret and misuse Scripture for their own
selfish desires and benefit (2 Peter 3:16-17). Instead, we are to grow in the
grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
-One more important point is made here in this chapter.
Peter ascribes apostolic authority to Paul in his writing for Scriptural
authenticity (2 Peter 3:15-16). While in a sense he wasn’t an eyewitness with
the disciples (he was in his Damascus vision if we want to apply that), he is
given apostolic authority by Peter, which is a very important piece of
information here in this letter. This is important because Paul wrote over half
of the New Testament Scriptures, which we subscribe to. We can also concur that
some of the things Paul writes are hard to understand unless illuminated by the
Holy Spirit to enlighten the meaning of these Divine texts. Therefore, Peter
has made some important theological and canonical points here in this short
letter pertaining to Scripture, or God’s Word (2 Peter 1:20-21; 3:1-2, 15-16).
Verses to Memorize: 2
Peter 3:8-9
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