Though the return of Christ to judge the earth may seem slow in coming, the Apostle Peter assures us in his second letter that it will indeed occur. Christ’s return is delayed so that mankind has the opportunity to repent. At Christ’s coming the world will be destroyed and according to God’s promise the followers of Jesus will be given a new earth which will be the home of righteousness. In view of this in chapter 3, verse 14 Peter writes, “Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight.”
If the new earth which God has promised will be the home of righteousness, then it follows that the people who live there must be righteous also. Peter says that it is the responsibility of Jesus’ followers to “be diligent… without blemish and blameless” [NIV, “make every effort to found spotless and blameless.”] This is a reminder of what he had already said in chapter 1. There he pointed out that it is Christ’s intention that we participate in the divine nature. The goal of every Christian should be to become as like God as possible. But following Christ means more than merely doing right things. It is also a relationship. This is why Peter says that we should be “at peace with him” (NIV). Scripture says, “You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him,” (Colossians 1:21-22) Have we made peace with God?
But there are many people who do not want to live righteous lives. Some people use the delay in Christ’s coming to judge the earth as an excuse to sin. Others take a passage out of the Bible and try to twist it so that it contradicts another part and use this as an excuse to do what they want. Peter answers this kind of thinking in verses 15 and 16. He writes, “Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”
There are several things we can learn from this:
1) The reason for God’s patience is so that we may be saved. We should not abuse it by using it as an excuse to sin more.
2) The letters of the Apostle Paul are actually part of Scripture. They are God’s word revealed and spoken through the Apostle. If we reject his writings, we are turning away from God’s word.
3) All Scripture is consistent. One verse or passage will never contradict another. The holy words written down by the Apostle Peter will always agree with the holy words written by the Apostle John and both will agree with the holy words written down by the Apostle Paul. The words of the New Testament agree with the words revealed through the prophets of the Old Testament. If one chooses to reject one part, then he has rejected all. There are some who say that a later revelation abrogates an earlier one. But this is not true. God will never contradict Himself. For example Jesus said, “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.” (Matthew 5:17-18)
4) Not everything in Scripture is easy to understand. But that does not give us an excuse to distort or misuse it. Instead, we should obey what we do understand and then ask God to increase our understanding. As it is written, “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)
5) It is the ignorant and unstable who distort the Scriptures. At times the teaching of certain people who distort the Scripture may appear very attractive. But do we wish to follow someone who in reality is unstable and ignorant? In contrast to this Jesus said, “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)
6) Those who distort God’s word bring destruction on themselves. Jesus continued his parable by saying, “Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:26-27)
Peter concludes his letter by returning to the same themes by which he opened it. He writes, “You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:17-18)
Peter wrote in chapter 1, verse 15 , “Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure.” In writing this letter Peter has fulfilled his purpose. Now it is the duty of every follower of Christ to take Peter’s warnings to heart and be on guard against those who teach error.
In chapter 1, verse 12 Peter had told his readers that they “are established”, and here he says that they are “steadfast” [NIV, “secure”]. Concerning his followers Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-30) But while the position of the follower of Christ is secure, and no one can ever take someone away from Christ against their will, Peter reminds us that it is possible to fall if we choose to follow error. This is why Peter has placed so much stress on the importance of growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” As he said in chapter 1, verse 10, “…For if you do these things, you will never stumble.” Each one of us needs to ask himself, “Am I growing in my knowledge of Christ?” “Am I following error, or am I being obedient to God’s word?” Those who faithfully serve Christ may be sure that they will be welcomed into His eternal kingdom, just as Peter has said.