2 Peter 3:1-4
Peter wrote the second letter to remind the Christian of some things they sometimes forget. This is Peter saying, "Hey, don't forget!" Don't forget what God said through the prophets and by the law and by the apostles of the Lord. For us these words were gathered into the bible by the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we can hold it in our hands and never forget. These folks didn't have that. We have God's reminder of all things at our fingertips. Yet, we're not always good at even remembering to read it.
We all are very good at forgetting things we should remember, especially when there is something to distract us. And the world offers us many appealing distractions to help us drift away. Most of those distractions don't have any redeeming value.
Peter already mentioned back in chapter one the value of remembering. And he said he would do so until he left this world. In remembering Peter wants to stir up their pure minds. The reference to 'pure minds' shows that Peter believes he is talking to the real converted Christian who haven't been turned away by these false teachers. Remember last chapter we said the false teachers stirred the sinful nature. They worked to appeal to the fallen nature in man. They stirred up the covetous nature so that it overcame the contentment found in the Lord. The false teachers stirred up the profane. Peter said he wanted to stir up the pure minds.
Peter obviously felt this message he had was very important to pass along. The false teachers were teaching that there was no second coming. In doing so, they identified themselves as being in disagreement with the prophets and the apostles and even with Jesus himself, all of which spoke of the second coming of Jesus. Peter wanted these Christians to remember what's already been established. They had no business listening to anyone that was in disagreement with the law, the prophets and the apostles. The false teachers then and now both claimed to have some new revelation, some new understanding of God's word. These people are scoffers and they will be prevalent in the last days.
2 Peter 3:5
To willfully forget is to purposely ignore and disregard a truth. They will say, Where is the promise of His coming? This is in essence saying, where is your God? The world just keeps going and nothing really changes. All things continue as they did from the beginning of creation. That was their argument for teaching Jesus wasn't coming back or that there was no judgment, saying "it hasn't happened yet!" They had to deny the Lordship of Jesus over their life; they had to forget what's been said; they had to embrace a lie, all to put forth their lies and hold onto their sin.
Listen to how Paul describes the same thing in Romans 1, verse 18:
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (they willfully forget)19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Men suppressed the truth in righteousness. God's word is manifest to men. He speaks through his creation. He speaks through the created. And His attributes are clearly seen. Yet men suppress the truth and willfully deny the truth. This is like sticking your fingers in your ears and saying I can't hear you, I can't hear you. But, God says, man is without excuse.
2 Peter 3:5-6
The scoffers willfully forget that the world hasn't always been this way. It was very different in the beginning and by God's word the world came into existence. The scoffers have to forget that by God's word a flood came and wiped out everything but what God protected.
2 Peter 3:7
By God's word, Judgment will come again on this world, regardless of what any scoffer says. To think that the world will go on tomorrow because it's never changed in the past is just wrong. The only reason the world goes on today is because God's word has preserved the world and all in it. The same word that called the world into existence; and the same word that judged the world with the flood; is the same word that now preserves the world, holding it in perfect balance until another day of Judgment comes. And when that judgment comes, Peter said, it will come by fire. With each day of preservation, we are reminded of the reservation. This world and all things of this world have a reservation with the Day of Judgment. This is a divine appointment when God's wrath will be unleashed on all sin that has not been paid for.
2 Peter 3:8
God is beyond time. He created time. The false teachers looked at the many years as proof that there was no second coming. Many years to man is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Peter said, in God's perspective, it's as if a few days have passed since the creation. This is just Peter's way of helping us understand that God exists in the past, the present and the future equally. He isn't marking time waiting to see how things turn out. He knows the end.
2 Peter 3:9
God is sovereign and He is patient. Don't mistake His patience for an unfulfilled promise. His promises aren't slack. He doesn't want anyone to perish. Aren't you glad he waited for you? He may be waiting for the person sitting next to you or someone in your family or a friend. God doesn't want anyone to perish in that time of judgment. That's a loving God. We should have that same heart. That should drive us to share the message while we still have time.
2 Peter 3:10
The thief comes in the night, without warning. He comes when you don't expect and without announcement. The day of the Lord will come that same way. The result of this coming will be a total transformation of heaven and earth. The heavens will pass away. And the elements of the earth will melt with fervent heat. The earth and the works of the earth will be burned up. Imagine the false teacher's moment of clarity when they realize they've made a huge mistake. Imagine the sickening disappointment of those who followed the teachings of these men. Those who forgot., those who weren't diligent, those who didn't give earnest heed and drifted away, along with everyone else that trusted in anything other than Jesus Christ all will suffer through the judgment that will come upon this earth. And they will be separated from God for eternity.
Knowing this to be true, what manner of person ought we to be? What should our conduct be determined by? The word 'manner' grabs my attention. It is the same word John uses in 1 John 3:1 to ask, "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children of God." This manner of love is amazing and moves us to a like manner.
2 Peter 3:11-13
Because we know what an awful day that will be for anyone that has been fooled and deceived and for anyone not in Christ, what manner of person ought we be? All will be laid bare on that day. There will be no doubt; no one will be able to deny what is happening, and there will be no hiding. Peter asked, what manner of person ought you be? What would be an appropriate manner for us?
Spurgeon said:
"The king is coming; he is coming to his throne, and to his judgment. Now a man does not go up to a king's door, and there talk treason; and men do not sit in a king's audience-chamber when they expect him every moment to enter, and there speak ill of him. The King is on his way, and almost here; you are at his door; he is at yours. What manner of people ought ye to be? How can ye sin against One who is so close at hand?"
2 Corinthians 2
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.
What a terrible day that will be for the nonbeliever. What an awesome day that will be for the believer. For one, death leading to death; to the other, life leading to life.
2 Peter 3:14
Peter's drawing a conclusion; wrapping it all up, because this day is coming, because we know this, there is something we must do. Peter answers his own question, what manner of person ought you to be? We ought to be looking forward, living life expectantly, leaning into the Lord; we are to be diligent to be found in Peace. To be in Peace is to be living your life in Christ. It's knowing your sins are forgiven. Its the assurance that your salvation is secure in the Lord. It's knowing the Lord will return in spite of what the false teachers say.
We should have this peace and be spotless and blameless. It's in Christ alone we can be found spotless and blameless. Being spotless and blameless will set you apart from the false teachers. Peter said in chapter 2 the false teachers were spots and blemishes carousing in their own deceptions. But God's people are to be found in peace, spotless and without blemish.
These are high and holy instructions. They speak to that eternal part of us of growing in grace and Christian maturity; as opposed to this junk the false teachers offer. They offer a false hope that can never deliver; wells without water, tempest without a storm. All they speak, their words, their ways and their low view of God will burn away.
2 Peter 3:15-16
Peter said Paul wrote of this same thing. They were in agreement in saying this longsuffering is a good thing. It is salvation to those whom God is calling. The false teachers had made God's longsuffering something bad as if God had forgotten about us. They were skilled at taking what other men wrote and said and twisting and contorting the words to give them new meaning. Peter said some of what Paul wrote about is hard to understand.
These false teachers took it and twisted it just like they did the rest of scripture. And they do so to their own demise, Peter said, to their own destruction. We must all be careful to not let others distort the message. When they steal the word, they steal your hope.
Note: Peter is validating Paul's writings. He calls Paul beloved. He's in agreement with Him, in spite of the fact that some taught they were always at odds. Peter considers Paul's writing inspired and scripture.
2 Peter 3:17-18
In Peter's final conclusion, he tells these folks that since they know of this scripture twisting, they should be on guard. It is the steadfastness of the Christian from which flows the desire to hear the teachings from scripture. Anytime we are sitting before a teacher there is a chance of being exposed to false teaching. Don't let a bad teacher rob you of the word and thereby rob you of your hope and security. We must always be on guard. We should be Bereans (Acts 17:11) and make sure we are using God's word as the measuring stick. And the key is to always be growing in grace and knowledge of the Lord. If you aren't pressing on, the tide of this world will move you. You will begin to drift.
I want to end this study by reading some scriptures we would do well to remember. Matthew 24:23-24; Matthew 24:36-44; Revelation 6:12-17
Who is able to stand? Peter said, you know what has been said and what has been done by the Lord. Therefore, what kind of person ought you to be? What port is your ship anchored in. Give more earnest heed, lest you drift away. The currents of our culture are pull hard to separate men and women of God from their faith. And it is not our faith that makes us immovable but the one in whom we have faith. He is God. He is Lord. He is our Rock. He is salvation. He is the word that we hold to, no matter what. And if we do, we will not be robbed. We will not drift away. We will answer Peter's call and be diligent.
© 2012 Doug Ford
Updated & revised 2020
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