2 Peter 3

1-13 The Promise of the Lord’s Coming

• Peter’s purpose: to encourage them to remember the words of the prophets and the apostles.
• First – understand that scoffers will ask, “Where is this Lord who promised to come again?”
• They forget the power of God’s word.
  • By it the world was made
  • By it the world was destroyed in the flood
  • By it the present earth and heavens will be destroyed by fire.
• Time means nothing to God, who is patiently waiting for all to come to repentance.
• When he does come again, it will be as unexpected as a thief in the night.
• Then the heavens and earth’s elements will be destroyed.
• In light of that, what kind of people ought you to be, as you wait for this to happen…
• …knowing we wait for new heavens and a new earth, “where righteousness is at home.” I like this NRSV rendering of what other versions merely translate as “dwells.” Heaven is not just a place where righteousness is, but where it’s comfortable. The righteousness that comes from God is certainly not comfortable in our present world.

14-18 Final Exhortation and Doxology

• While you are waiting,
  • Strive to be at peace, without spot or blemish
  • Regard the Lord’s patience as salvation. We might tend to slack off, because we perceive no urgency in the Lord’s coming again. Peter tells us, though, that we should instead look at the time we have as an opportunity to take advantage of his salvation – both ours and that of others, maybe?
• Our “beloved brother” Paul has written similar things to you.
• Some things in his letters are hard to understand, allowing some to twist his words – like they twist other scriptures.
• I have warned you not to be carried away and lose your own stability.
• But grow in grace and the knowledge of our Savior.
• To him be glory forever.