Lesson 17

Peter's Parting Words

2 Peter 3:11-18

The purpose of prophecy is not to produce speculation but to produce motivation. Thus, having spoken prophetically about the return of Christ, Peter concludes his second letter with practical instructions that all of us must heed.

Be careful about biblical prophecy. We all seem to have a fascination with the future and some Christians become so engrossed in prophecy (marking their Bibles, filling up their notebooks, drawing their charts) and yet not living their lives to the glory of God. In fact, saints battle each other more over prophetic interpretation than any other subject.

All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ is coming again. They may differ in their understand of when certain events will occur, but they all agree that Christ is coming as He promised. I think some people would like to serve on the Second Coming Planning Committee! Better to be on the Second Coming Welcome Committee! I am not saying that you should stop studying prophecy nor that one prophetic view is as good as the next. But what I am saying is that the promise of Christ's return ought to make a difference in our lives.

In the last 8 verses of II Peter, we are told three specific things to do because Jesus is coming again. Let's read it together and identify what Peter is calling us to.

Your Godliness, 3:11-14.

Verses 11-13 remind us of what we "look" for in the future. (Looking, v. 12; look, v. 13, 14). This word expresses the eagerness and anticipation that we have for these things. We are awaiting "the coming day of God," v. 12. That day will mean the complete destruction of the present on earth. They will all melt and be dissolved by fire and heat. "Heaven and earth shall pass away." They will be replaced (v. 13) with "new heavens and a new earth." Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away - wherein will dwell righteousness.

Our eager anticipation, should affect our personal conduct. Verse 11 makes mention of the kind of "persons we ought to be" - "holy conversation, godliness ... (v. 14) in peace, without spot, blameless." All of these words are reminders, calls, to godly living, to pure lives. Knowing that Jesus is coming again in our minds should lead us to "loving His appearing" (II Timothy 4:8) which, in turn, should lead us to holy living.

Why pursue holiness? Because Jesus is coming again and we don't want to be ashamed, we don't want to lose rewards that He has for faithful service. Why pursue holiness? Because Jesus is coming again, and our witness to unsaved family and friends is important and urgent.

But Peter says that such a godly lifestyle requires of Christians "diligence." Verse 14 says "be diligent." This is one of Peter's favorite words. 1:10 - be diligent to make sure you are a Christian; 1:5 - be diligent to add character to your faith; 3:14 - be diligent to live holy lives.

Your (Guard) Of Steadfastness, 3:15-17.

Verses 15 and 16 say a lot. It's easy to get lost in these two verses. The phrase "that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation" takes us back to verse 9, where Peter explained why the Lord delayed fulfilling His promise.

Peter values the ministry of Paul. They were contemporaries and some have suggested that they were competitors. But Peter himself refers to Paul as his beloved brother to whom God had granted wisdom.

Peter verifies Paul's letters as being "other scriptures." Even in the first century, Christians recognized that the apostles' writings were inspired by God.

But Peter's focus here is not really on Paul. His attention in verses 15-16 are on those who have difficulty understanding God's word, who wrestle with it because they are unlearned and unstable. By it's own admission, there are things in the Bible that are not easily understood. How does one come to understand them? 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The Holy Spirit is required for understanding. You must possess the Spirit which means you must have received Christ as your Savior and Lord.

The verse goes on to say, by implication, that you must give yourself to learn and that there needs to be a measure of stability in your life spiritually. It is the unlearned and the unstable who wrestle with these things to their own destruction, says Peter.

In verse 17, Peter's focus shifts from "them" to "you." It is a warning to you who know these things. Beware, says Peter. Beware of being led away with the error of the wicked. Christians can be lead away from the truth and into error.

And while a Christian cannot lose his salvation, he cannot fall from grace, he can definitely, according to verse 17 "fall from steadfastness." Carefully guard your steadfastness, says Peter in II Peter. In I Peter, he said to be "steadfast in the faith." Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord, says Paul in I Corinthians 15:58. Daniel 6 says that God is steadfast forever. Hebrews 2 says that the angels are steadfast. We are to be steadfast, too. Don't fall from your steadfastness. Keep on going. Don't give up. Don't give in. Don't give out. Be steadfast. What a witness this is to family and friends. It is the accumulated witness of a lifetime of service to Christ.

Your Growth, 3:18

The last command, actually the last word to come from the inspired pen of Peter, commands us to spiritual growth. Verse 18 - But (that is, in contrast to falling from your own steadfastness) grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Peter identifies to specific areas in which spiritual growth should occur. First, we must grow in grace. This has to do with Christian character. To grow in grace means to become more like Jesus. It is increasing obedience and decreasing sins.

Finally, we are to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. How do we get to know Christ better? Through our knowledge and understanding of His Word and through our communion with Him in prayer. "Grow in grace and in ... knowledge." We need both. Knowledge without grace can be a terrible weapon; grace without knowledge can be very shallow. But when we combine grace and knowledge, we have a marvelous tool for building our lives.

So the Christian's knowledge that Jesus is coming again is a motivation to godliness, to steadfastness and to growth. This requires diligence. It demands discipline and priorities. Nobody casually drifts into spiritual growth and stability, but anybody can drift out of dedication and growth.

What is the result of this kind of life? Glory to God! And that's how Peter concludes his epistle. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. It glorifies Jesus Christ when we keep ourselves separated from sin and error. it glorifies Jesus Christ when we grow in grace and knowledge.

It seems to me that II Peter has a real urgency in its message. Get busy! The false teachers certainly are. Life is short. Jesus is coming again.