TMS Proverbs 3:9-10 Give First Fruits, Get Filled
Pr 3:9 “Honor the LORD with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.”
Observations: 3:9-10 This is a great passage on giving God our best, to experience His best. If our giving honors God, He will honor us. Giving Him the first fruits means that He gets His “cut” of your increase (profit) first. In OT times, one gave the first fruits to God not just as a sign of His ownership, but also in faith that He would provide the rest to meet your needs. The author indicates that God will not just meet your needs, but do so abundantly (cf Philippians 4:19). This first fruits principle can also apply to your use of time. Give God the first portion of your life each day, and see how He provides during the rest of the day. Don't make Him “Lord of Your Leftovers” as the Israelites did in Malachi. See comments in the original post and in the series on Faithfulness with our Giving to God in the back of the TOYL book on Truthbase.net.
Application: Honor God with what You give Him, and see how He will honor you.
Prayer: God, thanks that I can always trust You to protect and prosper me when I am rightly related to YOU, acknowledging Your right to first place in my life. Amen.
2 Peter 1-3 This epistle is packed full of practical exhortations and truth of which many are ignorant, and false teachers avoid (since it exposes their false thinking and lifestyles). Those who wish to be richly rewarded in the coming Kingdom of Righteousness, would do well to read and heed, very diligently (just like Peter commands). If they do they will receive a rich reward as they share in the very nature of God. Those who don't will remain tangled in their sin, and wish they had paid attention when Christ returns.
2 Peter 1 Partake of the Divine Nature
1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in/by the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and virtue/excellence; 4 by/dia which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through/dia these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by/en lust.
5 Yes, and for this very cause giving/contributing all diligence, supply to/in your faith virtue/moral excellence; and to virtue/moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control patience/endurance; and to patience/endurance godliness; 7 and to godliness brotherly affection; and to brotherly affection, love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not barren nor unfruitful in/eis the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. 11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
12 Therefore I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them, and are established in the present truth. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you; 14 knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure.
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 We heard this voice come out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.
19 We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. 21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.
Observations: 1:1-2 Peter writes to believers who have the same faith he does (an important point to keep in mind), which is faith in the righteousness of God. He desires that his readers have grace and peace multiplied to them, which is a clear indication that these are covenantal blessings, not static items given in the past (cf 3:18 – grow in grace). The means by which grace and peace are multiplied is in the experiential knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus (see comments on Titus 1 for how gnosis-knowledge differs from epignosis-experiential knowledge).
1:3-4 The reason grace is multiplied (as a covenantal blessing or reward) by incorporating the knowledge of God into our lives is because His divine power/authority has granted or bestowed on us all things that pertain to life (abundant life, dominion in the Age to come), but only through the knowledge (epignosis) of Him, who has called us to share in His glory and virtue (moral excellence). By His authority, He has also granted to us great promises, through which we can be be partakers of the divine nature (share in His glory), after having escaped the corruption/decay that is in the world via lust/desire. In other words, if we incorporate God's revelation into our lives, we will share in His glory/nature, and be free from the decay to which all temporal creatures are subject. Note that if in His promises we have all we need, then two ideas follow: we don't need anything else, be it additional revelation or a different doctrine; and there is no excuse for not sharing in God's glory, except our failure to know and apply (epignosis) His promises.
1:5-8 For the purpose of experiencing the blessing of sharing in His glory outlined above, Peter gives an outline of the steps believers must take to reach this goal. To their faith in the righteousness of God, believers are commanded (imperative mood) to give (literally “contribute” as “give along side”) all diligence/haste to sequentially add to their faith a list of character traits. The word for “add” is used of outfitting a chorus with all the supplies needed for a production. So we need to put a lot of effort into building upon our faith, so that it is ready for prime time (the return of Christ and Judgment Day).
The first item to add is:
- Virtue (arete – the Greek word for virtue or excellence, considered the highest quality for the attainment of happiness). The English translation “virtue” isn't bad, but “moral excellence” captures the sense of applying what we know to be right in the moral realm so that we are not deficient; only then can we build to the next level:
- Knowledge (gnosis) this isn't the word for experiential knowledge enjoined above, but probably relates more to knowing or having insight into God's will, on the more subjective level. If we're not obeying the objective revealed will, we will not be able to discern the subjective aspects of God's will (John 7:17);
- Self-control (“power under control”) is used of controlling one's passions and desires so that we do what God wants rather than what we want. See the sermon on Self-control on Truthbase.net for how to develop the power to exhibit or inhibit an impulse.
- Patience (“remain under”) is better translated “endurance,” the strength to continue to carry a load or remain under a burden when everything temporal within you wants to quit;
- Godliness (knowing and doing what the gods require) was used of the pagan priests who learned what the gods wanted, and carried it out “religiously.” Paul was an apostle for the purpose of developing this trait in believers (see comments on Titus 1);
- Brotherly kindness (philadelphia) is the fond affection that believers share as brothers and sisters in the family of God. It's difficult to have such affection for “black sheep” or selfish and self-centered unsanctified believers, hence the need for having the previous traits;
- Love (agape) this is the crowning jewel of Christlike character, the loyal sacrifice of ourselves for the benefit of another. It is parallel to the OT hesed.
If believers put the effort into putting these qualities into their lives, to the extent that they own them and abound, they will be neither barren lazy/unproductive nor unfruitful in the epignosis of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, which is how one gets to share in the divine glory and nature.
1:9-11 The believer who has failed to incorporate these qualities into their lives, and has only their naked faith come judgment day, will not go into the lake of fire, but will not be clothed with glory (see 2Cor 4-5 post). They will be barren and unfruitful, and fail to realize the purpose for which Christ saved/justified them. Peter says they are blind (the work of Satan, blinding people to the light of the glory -2Cor 4:4), and short-sighted (seeing only the temporal things in front of them. The pairing of blind and short-sighted emphasized the lack of ability to see the glory God wants them to have). Not only is their vision and behavior bad, so is their memory. They have forgotten (literally ”taken hold of ignorance” which highlights the willful rejection of truth) the purging from their sins to live a new life. Instead of being barren and unfruitful, believers should give diligence (as instructed in verse 5) to make their call to glory, and election (select or choice) certain or steadfast. This is not about making sure they have believed that Jesus died for their sins, because election is not about forgiveness, and it is clear they already have faith. Nor is it about doing good works to prove they have faith and are saved/forgiven (a common, but totally ignorant and demonic deception. For those of you who have been following DTB from the beginning, we've yet to see a verse that supports this false teaching which is tantamount to faith in our works, rather than faith in the work of God). But it's about justified believers doing the will of God so they can receive the blessing of God (glorification), and not miss it. If believers “do” the things Peter instructs, they will never stumble (so as to miss their reward, cf Rm 11:11). Instead of stumbling, they will have a rich entrance into the eternal Kingdom of their Lord and Savior, Jesus the Messiah. Note that the kingdom is viewed as yet future, and this book is written at the end of Peter's life (1:14). There are differing degrees of entrance and reward. Those who have all their works burned up in Gehenna (1Cor 3:15) will be saved/justified, but miss the glorification of faithful believers.
1:12-18 Peter (or any Bible teacher) would be negligent if they failed to keep the promise of reward and possibility of missing it in the forefront of the thinking of those to whom they minister. The Lord Jesus revealed to Peter that he would shortly depart from this world, putting away the earthly tent to take up residence in his heavenly mansion. So Peter wants to make sure that believers will be able to remember what he had told, and is now writing to them. In relating the power and coming of the Lord, he didn't tell them legends or fables, but was an eyewitness to the glory of the Messiah. On the Mount of Transfiguration (Mt 17:1-13) Peter saw and heard the fulfillment of Jesus' promise in Matthew 16:28 that some of His disciples would not die until they saw the Son of Man coming in His kingdom. Peter here states that he was an eyewitness to the coming glory. He elaborates that he heard the Father gave Jesus honor and glory. Having experienced the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter affirms the certainty of the prophecies of the Messianic Kingdom, so that believers can be more careful to obey for glory. The message of glory is like a light shining in a dark place (world), giving guidance, until the Day of the Lord dawns, and the morning star (glory of Christ - Revelations 2:28; 22:16) arises in their hearts (they become partakers of the divine nature).
Peter reminds his readers that no prophecy is a matter of making things mean whatever you want them to mean, but there was an intended meaning as the Holy Spirit guided the prophets so they said what He wanted them to say. This is a cornerstone of Biblical revelation and inspiration (cf 2 Timothy 3:16).
Application: God has given us great promises of partaking of His nature and glory, which we can receive by diligently learning and applying the truth. That's the only way we'll experience the blessing He has in store for us in the future Kingdom of the Messiah.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thanks for graciously saving me, and for the incredible promises of being able to share in Your very nature; may I spend my days on earth experiencing You in my daily life, so I can spend my eternity reveling in Your delights. Amen.
2 Peter 2 False Teachers Deny Lordship
2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Lord/Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. 2 Many will follow their destructive ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.
3 In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber. 4 For if God didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly;
7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented in his righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless deeds): 9 the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous for the day of judgment to be punished.
10 but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority. Presumptuous, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of glory; 11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, don’t bring a railing judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as unreasoning creatures, born natural animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed, 13 receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the daytime, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceit while they feast with you; 14 having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin; enticing unsettled souls; having a heart trained in greed; children of cursing; 15 forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing; 16 but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A mute donkey spoke with a man’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for whom the mists of darkness has been reserved.
18 For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error; 19 promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog turns to his own vomit again," and "the sow that has washed to wallowing in the mire."
Observations: 2:1-2 Just as there were false prophets among the people of Israel in the OT, so there will be false teachers among the Body of believers in the NT era. I've actually heard some say that nothing in chapter 2 applies to believers, in direct denial of the text. Those who distort truth wind up misleading people and doing the devil's work of keeping believers from glorifying God by gaining His glory. In NT times, Peter (and Paul -Acts 20:29) warned of teachers who would surreptitiously bring in teachings that would destroy believer's hope of reward, even denying the Lord who bought them. This is not denying Christ's existence, nor His death on their behalf. The thing that is being denied is the Lordship of Christ over their lives. The world for Lord is better translated “Master” (despotas – from which we get the English “despot” and is usually used of a Master's total ownership rights over a slave – see Synonyms in the OLB under Strong's #1203). There are those today who falsely teach we're free to do whatever we want because we're all under grace (cx Gal 5:13 and Rom 6 comments). There are others who teach that God has done it all, and we don't have to do anything (let go and let God) in contrast to what Peter taught in the previous chapter. There are a host of other false approaches to living the Christ-following, glory-gaining life, which at their root have a denial of God's ownership of us, and His will for our life. Notice the denial (which is sometimes translated “refuse”) is of the Master (who owns us). It's not a denial of the fact that He purchased us with His blood, but of His Lordship. Since He owns us, we should serve Him, seeking His will not our own, and be careful to add to our faith the things which result in glorification.
1Corinthians 6:20 “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.”
However, it is easier to follow teaching that accords with our unsanctified desires, but results in destruction rather than glorification, and loss of reward rather than sharing in the divine nature. Many follow the self-indulgent teaching of the false teacher and rather than living lives that result in God being glorified (1Pt 2:12) they selfishly live resulting in the truth being blasphemed (spoken against).
2:3-9 The false teachers will tell people what they want to hear (2Tim 4:3) for the sake of profit. Their judgment is sure. False teachers are redeemed believers (people who denied Jesus existed, or died for sins, wouldn't have been allowed in NT churches since that was the entrance prerequisite; sadly, it's a different story today). Those who think otherwise, are reading both their theology and modern context into the NT text and times. Peter is now going to give a number of reasons for why He says the judgment of false teachers is certain, so that his readers would be sure to avoid their teaching and share their fate.
God didn't spare sinning angels (who were better and brighter) so He won't spare these lesser lights. The angels were cast into Tartarus (used only here in the NT, a place in Greek thought reserved for the wicked dead) where they await judgment, which is different from where they are now. Peter doesn't say the false teachers go there (although it wouldn't be a bad idea) but that the teachers will be judged as certainly as the fallen angels are.
The second illustration of certain judgment is the flood on Noah's generation (see comments on 1Pt 3). Note that Noah is called a preacher of righteousness, through whom the Spirit of Christ preached to that generation.
Sodom and Gomorrah are next on the list of those experiencing catastrophic (katastrophe) judgment. All they had built was reduced to ashes (cf 1Cor 3:15). They serve as an example to those that would live in a ungodly manner (not those who haven't accepted Christ).
On the other hand, speaking of Sodom brought to mind Lot, Abraham's nephew, who is called righteous more than once (knowing and doing what is right in God's sight) and was distressed daily by the lustful life of his neighbors (maybe he should have considered moving). But the Lord knows how to deliver the righteous out of trials, and just like He delivered Lot, he can keep the unrighteous for the Day of Judgment to be punished (literally “cut off” or dwarfed).
2:10-17 Chief among those who will be punished are those who walk after the flesh (rather than the Spirit, a distinct possibility for believers -Rom 8:1-4; Gal 5:16). These folks get no pleasure from pleasing God, so they seek it in self-indulgence and pride. They are arrogant, self-willed, and clueless to the fact that they will be judged for every unprofitable word they speak (as Jesus promised in Mt 12:36). They even speak against glories (the word is literally “glory” and some translate it as “dignitaries” missing the argument of chapter one, and 1Peter, of self-denial for glory). Even angels, greater in power and might, are more circumspect in their speech. The false teachers live for the here and now, not the glories of God.
The false teachers are not controlled by Spirit, and live like the animals (natural rather than spiritual and unreasoning -alogos), headed for destruction (or the stew pot). The false teachers speak boldly about things they don't understand. They will receive the wages of unrighteousness as payback, rather than the recompense of reward. They attend the Christian feast (Lord's Supper???) not as holy saints, but as blemished sinners, enticing others to follow in their sin. They have forsaken the right way, which means they once knew it (2:21), and were on it. This is parallel to Israel forsaking the way of the Lord to do their own thing and thus forfeit their reward/blessing in the Promised Land. Like Balaam, a prophet of God, they loved the wages of wrongdoing and were on their way to being rebuked for their disobedience (not lack of faith or forgiveness). The false teachers are wells that produce no live giving water. They are like clouds driven into the darkness.
2:18-23 By appealing to the unsanctified desires of those who are just escaping the defilement of the flesh, the false teachers keep them ensnared. They promise the untaught liberty and freedom, but the teachers themselves don't live in victory nor freedom. A person is the slave of whatever masters him (the sanctification argument of Paul in Romans 6). This truism applies to both the false teachers and their pupils, but Peter probably has the untaught in view, since the section began with those “just escaping” in verse 18, and he spent the earlier part of the chapter on the false teachers. If, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the experiential knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (that pretty much makes them as born-again as one gets), they are again entangled in it (since they were out of it) and overcome (literally two verbs: “become” and “inferior or conquered”) by sin, the last state of “defeated defilement” is worse than the first state of defilement. It would be better for them not to have known the way of the righteousness God requires for blessing, than to have known it and turned form the holy commandment (not gracious gift of salvation by faith) delivered to them to obey.
Those with a cranial capacity the size of a French pea (as in Veggie Tales), can't understand that this is not talking about sins being covered by the gracious provision of the blood of Christ's atoning sacrifice received by faith, but rather the diligent obedience God demands of His redeemed people for entrance into the promised blessings. Maybe they missed that righteousness for reward differs from the righteousness of redemption imputed on the basis of Christ's death and their faith. Or that faith and obedience are not the same word. Those who think so have to conclude that forgiveness from the penalty of sin is on the basis of obedient works rather than faith. Or maybe they missed the whole parallel between redeemed Israel failing to get the promised blessing and disobedient redeemed NT believers missing their reward which Paul talked about in 1Corinthians 10. In any event they are missing the truth (and the glory) like the false teachers and their pupils did. It could not be better to never have known the way escape from the lake of fire, than to have known it and turned from it (thus suffering eternal torment in the lake of fire). However, it would be better to have not known the commandment of God given them to obey (for then they would receive less discipline) than to have known it and ignored it (for those would receive greater discipline). For those who don't think bad things happen to bad believers, see comment on French peas above).
2:18-23 By appealing to the unsanctified desires of those who are just escaping the defilement of the flesh, the false teachers keep them ensnared. They promise the untaught liberty and freedom, but the teachers themselves don't live in victory nor freedom. A person is the slave of whatever masters him (the sanctification argument of Paul in Romans 6). This truism applies to both the false teachers and their pupils, but Peter probably has the untaught in view, since the section began with those “just escaping” in verse 18, and he spent the earlier part of the chapter on the false teachers. If, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the experiential knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (that pretty much makes them as born-again as one gets), they are again entangled in it (since they were out of it) and overcome (literally two verbs: “become” and “inferior or conquered”) by sin, the last state of “defeated defilement” is worse than the first state of defilement. It would be better for them not to have known the way of the righteousness God requires for blessing, than to have known it and turned form the holy commandment (not gracious gift of salvation by faith) delivered to them to obey.
Those with a cranial capacity the size of a French pea (as in Veggie Tales), can't understand that this is not talking about sins being covered by the gracious provision of the blood of Christ's atoning sacrifice received by faith, but rather the diligent obedience God demands of His redeemed people for entrance into the promised blessings. Maybe they missed that righteousness for reward differs from the righteousness of redemption imputed on the basis of Christ's death and their faith. Or that faith and obedience are not the same word. Those who think so have to conclude that forgiveness from the penalty of sin is on the basis of obedient works rather than faith. Or maybe they missed the whole parallel between redeemed Israel failing to get the promised blessing and disobedient redeemed NT believers missing their reward which Paul talked about in 1Corinthians 10. In any event they are missing the truth (and the glory) like the false teachers and their pupils did. It could not be better to never have known the way escape from the lake of fire, than to have known it and turned from it (thus suffering eternal torment in the lake of fire). However, it would be better to have not known the commandment of God given them to obey (for then they would receive less discipline) than to have known it and ignored it (for those would receive greater discipline). For those who don't think bad things happen to bad believers, see comment on French peas above).Luke 12:47 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Peter says that those who go back to the way they were (see warning passages in Hebrews; I'll avoid the temptation to insert the entire NT to prove this point...just read DTB) will be like a dog going back to what it once removed from it's system, or a pig that was washed, wallowing in the filth from which it was cleansed. Such defilement does not get a rich entrance into the Kingdom of glory, but disqualifies for priestly service in the coming Kingdom.
Application: False teachers and their followers take the self-gratifying path that leads to destruction (Mt 7), rather than the self-denying path that leads to life.
Prayer: God, I pray that Your Holy Spirit would convict the arrogant and ignorant who ignore Your truth to teach what tickles the ears; and that they would repent of living for their temporal pleasure, so they can reap Your glory and You will receive greater glory. Amen.
2 Peter 3 It's All Gonna Melt
3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 5 For this they wilfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of God; 6 by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 7 But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
8 But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight.
15 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; 16 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. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Observations: 3:1-2 Peter says that both of his letters are designed to remind them of the lifestyle commands of the OT prophets and NT apostles, so they would obey them, and receive praise glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus the Messiah (1Pt 1:7). The theme is glorification/reward by faithful obedience, not justification/forgiveness by faith.
3:3-8 Scoffers who walk/live for their lusts/desires rather than for God's will/desire deny not only His Lordship/Mastery over them, but also His second coming to reward the faithful. Just because He didn't return in their day, doesn't mean He won't return. His coming is based upon His word, as is our world. Peter gives a few illustrations (same modus operandi as the previous chapter) to prove his point. Creation is by the word of God, as was the flood of Noah's day. By the same word, the current world exists, and is appointed to future destruction. That destruction will come in God's impeccable timing. Since God is outside of time, He doesn't view it as we do. A thousand years is as a day, and a day as a thousand years. Some see in this “day” terminology a reference to the days of creation, others to the Millennial kingdom, and they both might be right.
3:9-10 The Lord is not slow concerning His promised coming, but is patient, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Plugging Strong's #622 into a concordance will reveal that “perish” is used most frequently (overwhelmingly actually) of losing reward or punishing unprofitable, disobedient servants. In its 92 occurrences, one would be hard pressed to find a reference to unbelievers being tossed into the lake of fire (happy hunting, check out the context of each on DTB if in doubt). God gives the disobedient time to repent because His plan to glorify Himself is by sharing His glory with them, but He has sovereignly decreed that blessings will only accompany obedience, just like discipline will accompany disobedience. When He returns, it will be suddenly and result in loss (like a thief who takes your stuff) for those who lived for the temporal, since everything temporal will be dissolved.
3:11-14 Drawing his conclusion, Peter asks a rhetorical question. Since everything is going to be destroyed, how should we then live? He does not make an appeal to accept Jesus as one's sin-bearer, but rather advocates holy living and godliness, and an eager zeal for the Day of the Lord, not for the pyrotechnics, but for the promised glory. According to His promise, faithful believers look for a new heavens and a new earth (the current one is cursed -Gen 3), where righteousness dwells (that will be a nice change). That would also be another piece of evidence that, since righteousness isn't dwelling here now, this isn't the Messiah's Kingdom (Kingdom of Righteousness ruled over by the King of Righteousness).
Those who look for such things are diligent (same word as 1:10, 15) to be found by Him in peace (cf 1Pt 3:11), holiness, without blemish, and blameless in His sight (as a result of adding the items in chapter 1 to our faith, not just making sure we believed that Jesus died for our sins).
3:15-18 Believers should regard the patient “delay” of the Lord as an opportunity to repent (salvation), as Paul wrote about. Peter here equates Paul's writings with the other Scriptures, furthering the case for NT inspiration. He notes, as most Bible students have, that Paul writes some things that are hard to understand (he should read some of what John wrote!). Peter notes that the French pea people and those not steadfast (only used elsewhere in 2:14), twist and torture (literally) to fit meanings and theologies never intended by the text, author, nor the Holy Spirit. Those who distort the text (rather than obey it) do so to their own destruction.
Peter now says the readers have foreknowledge (same word) indicating that they know what's going to happen (according to the promise of God) ahead of its actual occurrence, so they can be on their guard. They need to watch that they don't get carried away by the error of the wicked (a distinct possibility) nor fall from their own steadfastness (also a possibility, otherwise why watch?). Instead of going down the tubes with those who don't adhere to the truth, believers should grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord, Savior, and Messiah, since that is how they will realize the hope for which they were saved, sharing in Jesus' glory when He returns to rule. Note that grace is not static, but has past justifying, present sanctifying, and future glorifying aspects, the latter two are meant here. See Survey of Glory on Truthbase.net if you've never studied the use of grace in the NT. Peter ends with an ascription of praise to our coming King.
Application: Are you holy and blameless as you anticipate the destruction of everything you can touch and see and the reception of glory that never fades?
Prayer: God, thanks for your patience with me when I am slow to learn; please help me know and embrace truth, so I can life the kind of life which pleases You, and which You are pleased to bless. Thanks again. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God wants us to share in His nature and glory, and has given us all we need to get there, biding upon our faith the characteristics that enable us to lead Christlike lives.
Build-a-Jesus: Jesus is the coming King who owns us, and whom we should totally serve.
Us in a nutshell: Believers must be diligent to grow in grace, and build upon their faith as God commanded if they wish to reap reward rather than discipline when Christ returns.
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