Explore the Bible: May 25

Be Encouraged • 2 Peter 3:8-18

By Arthur Story 

Peter concludes his second letter to believers with a summation of his desire for believers to have a true understanding and recollection of Scripture, along with an awareness of what to expect from scoffers who question and distort Scripture (2 Peter 3:1-7). These final reminders are important because waiting without understanding can become frustrating and even discouraging. This is especially true when those who oppose you are questioning and ridiculing your beliefs. In 2 Peter 3:8-18, Peter provides three reminders to believers.  

Christ’s Certain Return (2 Peter 3:8-10)

The first reminder is that Christ’s return is guaranteed: Jesus is coming back!  In considering this truth, we need to remember that God is different from us. He is infinite and we are finite. He is all knowing and all powerful; we are not. He is everywhere, while we are confined to a specific location due to our physical bodies.  And, as Peter highlights here, God is outside of time (verses 8-9), while we exist inside of temporal limitations (Psalm 90:4; 102:24-27). This is essential for us to remember, otherwise we can slip into a flawed understanding of God’s patience and the delayed return of Jesus (verses 9-10).  

Scoffers, and those who remain uninformed, like to question God’s delay in fixing what even they recognize as evil in our world. As believers, we need to remember that God has a perfect plan.  God has not forgotten His promises, He hasn’t gotten distracted, and He isn’t running late. He is working His perfect plan (Habakkuk 2:3). What seems like a long time to us is nothing to Him because He is God and He exists outside of the limitations of time that we are so focused upon. He is waiting for all who will repent to repent and turn to Jesus. That is why Jesus has not returned. As our texts points out, when Jesus returns everything will change (verses 10-11). This world and the works on it will cease to exist, the opportunity for repentance will no longer exist, and judgment will come.

Holy Living (2 Peter 3:11-14)

The second reminder is that how we live should be impacted by our understanding of God’s proclamation of the ultimate fate of this world (Ephesians 5:15-17). We live in a world of people who are obsessed with the things of this world. As a result, we are continually exposed to a worldview that gives a perspective of life that is limited to what we currently experience each day. As believers, we must guard our minds and continually commit to living with a view of eternity, rather than with the world’s limited perspective (Romans 12:1-2).  

Since this world will be dissolved (verses 10, 12, CSB), we should live differently than those among whom we live. We should be “holy” in our “conduct” (verse 11, CSB). Our actions and daily behaviors should reflect who we are in Christ and align with Scripture (Ephesians 4:1; 2 Peter 3:14). Our lives should also be characterized by “godliness” (verse 11, CSB). This means that our thoughts and attitudes should also be a reflection of Jesus and align with Scripture (Philippians 4:8). In addition, we should live fearlessly with a longing for Jesus to return and for God’s plan to be fulfilled (verses 12-14).  

Stand Firm (2 Peter 3:15-18)

The final reminder is that we are called to remain in our “stable position” as followers of Christ (verse 17, CSB). Peter is speaking here of a steadfast or firmly established mindset. The world we live in is filled with opinions and ideas that are not based in truth. As a result, people buy into a set of beliefs one day only to find out later that their beliefs are incorrect. I remember as child listening to the news with my dad and hearing about how we were headed toward the next ice age. Today, we’re told that we may drown as sea levels rise due to the melting of polar ice caps or the earth may become uninhabitable due to rising temperatures as a result of global warming.  

Peter reminds us that we need to be on guard so that we are not led astray. We need to be on guard because the Scriptures contain some teachings and prophecies that are hard to understand (verse 16).  If we don’t stay focused, there is the potential for someone who doesn’t understand the truth of Scripture to distort it and confuse us and others with their manipulation of Scripture (verse 16). Those who are apart from Christ don’t live by the absolute truth in Scripture and therefore what they profess to know and believe often changes. As Peter states, this is a recipe for “their own destruction” (verse 16, CSB). Sadly, it may also lead others to the same destruction.  

As you study the Scriptures this week, take comfort in the truth we possess, remain diligent in your spiritual growth, look with great anticipation for the certain return of Jesus, and tell people of their need for God’s forgiveness in Christ alone.

Story is a member of First Ridgeland Church, Ridgeland.