2 Peter 3

Greetings once again,

I think this is the shortest book I have done so far in my Chapter Memory Study. The 3rd chapter of 2 Peter deals with two major themes; The day of the Lord's judgment and the patience of the Lord toward the people of the earth.

The memory passage is:
2 Peter 3:9-11
9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,
14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

The outline theme is based on the 'T' of peT (but I cheated a bit to make it work); The Day of the Lord, The Patience of Our Lord.

In the first section concerning the Day of the Lord, Peter begins with the reminder that he is writing this as a reminder. We discussed in Chapter 1 how he took the time to remind his readers even of the most basic things so that they would not fall prey to false teaching. Here he reminds them of the predictions concerning the end times as spoken by God through the prophets and the apostles. And as you remember and hold to these promises, there will be scoffers who mock and oppose you. Like the false teachers, they have rejected the basic truths of the Word of God and dismiss the power of God. But 'the same word' that created the heavens and the earth will one day destroy it and all who live in sin.

Peter then quotes Ps 90:4 to remind us that God is not restricted in time as we are; He exists outside the limitations of time and is not stuck in it. And while some try to pin a literal 1000 year timetable to this statement, it appears to me that Peter is using a poetic Old Testament image to illustrate the mystery and majesty of God and His workings.

The next three verses (part of the memory passage) offer comforting, challenging, and sobering thoughts. First, the Lord is not slow (or lazy) in fulfilling His promise. Actually, we should be comforted that He is being patient with the world so that more people can come to repentance. The day of judgment will come like a thief, at a time that only God knows, and then humans will have to give an account. The old heavens and earth will pass away, and the works done on earth will be exposed. For those who have accepted the sacrifice of Christ and are faithfully following Him, our service and action for His kingdom will be judged and rewarded. For those who rejected Christ, their sin will be judged and their punishment fulfilled.

Given this fact, how should that change how we live? What sort of people should the children of God be? Peter clearly states that we should live lives of holiness and godliness. Part of that is patience (yet readiness) for His coming; which somehow has a part in hastening His return. This phrase is highly debated, but I am content to say conclude that I must live a life of holy, godly apprenticeship to Jesus which somehow will hasten His return even as I wait on Him. The 'Day of God' is different than the 'Day of the Lord' mentioned earlier. The Day of God refers to God's complete and final triumph after Christ's return and the final judgment. And after the earth and heavens are dissolved, there will be a new heaven and new earth in which we will dwell.

Just as Peter began his letter with the phrase 'make every effort', he concludes the letter with similar language; 'be diligent'. We are to keep working in order to be found by Him with out spot (as He was, the spotless sacrifice) or blemish (as the OT animal sacrifices were) and at peace (the peace of Christ ruling in our hearts, Col 3:15). And don't lose heart because Jesus hasn't come back yet. Consider it divine patience that keeps the door open for others to come to saving faith in Him.

Peter then refers to Paul and his writings. Peter writes that Paul also wrote about these things, and that false teachers also have (and will) twist them according to their own ways of thinking. But then Peter makes a tremendous equivalence; he equates the writings of Paul with the rest of the Scriptures. Even at that time, the inspiration of Paul's writing was evident to Peter and the believing world at the time. Astounding.

A final warning reminds us to take care not to be swayed by erroneous false teaching. Allowing that into our lives affects our stability in Christ. The prescription? 'Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ'.

How does this affect my worship?
God's creation (it's beauty, majesty, awesomeness) is the subject of many songs. But I guess I often sing them with some beautiful mountaintop or picturesque landscape in mind. I don't often dwell on the destruction of this 'picturesque' world as something equally beautiful, majestic or awesome. But the same Word, the same Power that created all of this will also bring it to destruction. And while that doesn't seem like a great inspiration for song, it is motivation for worship. He made it, He will destroy it, and He will make a new one. And that's where we will dwell with Him forever. Hallelujah!

How does this affect my discipleship?
Again, I'm thinking here in terms of disciple-making. I must always be on the watch for false teaching in my disciple-making. Not only in what I teach, but in what disciples are being fed apart from me. What books they read, what they hear (and repeat to me) from TV, or what the latest spirituality is. The only way I know how to keep them (and me) from becoming unstable, is the truth of the Gospel; over and over. Even the basics still need to be repeated and renewed in order to solidify our foundation in Him. That goes for the discipler and the disciple.

To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity,

Ethan