“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction” (3:14-16).

Imagine the case of a man who has been cast upon a dreary inhospitable, deserted island. He knows the “mayday” message was heard, the coordinates of his location  were  understood, and that soon a vessel will come and bear him away.

He paces its barren and deserted sands, looks at the overcast sky, and anxiously awaits the arrival of the rescue ship which will carry him to a land of light and life.

Such is much like the Christian saint. He is an exile far from his home. His sentiments are correctly stated in the emotionally charged statements of Paul, “For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven; . . . indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, . . .” (2 Corinthians 5:2, 4).

Peter expressed this sentiment when he exhorted his readers to be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God” (3:12).

The believer knows that the rescue vessel is prepared and the convoy is ready which will bear him away from a barren wilderness to a happy land flowing with milk and honey. But the rescue seems so far away! It seems we are stuck waiting to be rescued.

The anxiety of waiting is well known. Each of us  has  yearned  for  some  important  event  to arrive, and the waiting has seemed endless. Each passing day adds to the anxiety of the delay. Delays are irritating and depressing.

The gloomy periods of waiting spawned the Army’s ridiculous motto, “Hurry up and wait!”

Peter’s present words are written to brethren who, like us, were stuck waiting for the second coming. They were impatient and restless.

The thought that the second coming would never take place had pricked the minds of several (3:4). Peter turns to this delay and deals with it so his brethren could accept the delay and act properly during it.

The Bible is quite frank in stating that a delay would exist between the ascension of Christ and His second coming. Even with the large number of Bible texts advising us about the delay, it is still easy to join with those in Peter’s time and ask, “Why is the delay so long?”

The gracious Father in heaven never wants His children to be left in a quandary of faith.

He provided the readers of Peter’s second letter an answer to this nagging question. The delay is now in progress; we are stuck waiting. Peter reveals what we should do while we are stuck waiting in 2 Peter 3:14-16.

REMEMBER TO . . . DO YOUR UTMOST TO BE PREPARED (3:14)

Peter’s words stress preparation in two broad areas. Preparation with God. First, there must be preparation with God—“peace” (3:14). Although some see this peace being applied to all relationships shared in the church (to God, self, and others), the context seems to limit it only to one’s relationship with God.

Those who await the second coming of Christ must be sure they have made proper peace with God.   A peaceful relationship with God results only when one has been justified through Christ’s sacrifice.  It is impossible for one to have peace with God until this process has been completed. In 1:2-4, Peter referred to this reconciliation and peace with God.

He remarked that believers had become partakers of the divine nature “having escaped the corruption that is in the world.”

When we realize that we are terminal people living  on  a  terminal  earth  (3:10),  we  should quickly sue for peace with God. How do you stand in regard to having secured “peace” with the Almighty God?

Preparation for Life

Second, there must be preparation in life—“spotless and blameless” (3:14). The words found here are the exact opposite of those found in 2:13 describing the people wedded to the ungodliness of this world: “They are stains and blemishes.”

To help you understand the interesting use found here, consider the words in the original Greek. “Spot” is translated from the word  spiloi,  while “spotless” comes from the Greek word aspilos. The word “blemish” is from momoi, while “blameless” is derived from amometos.

Peter urges believers to live  exactly  opposite  from  those  in  the  world. Believers are to be free from the vices which stain and blot the soul (cf. Revelation 3:4). Basically, this point addresses the morality of daily living. Believers are to make sure they live as their Lord did.

Christ lived each day “unblemished and spotless” (1 Peter 1:19). When believers discipline their lives, they will live in the same way and be prepared for the Lord’s return (1 John 3:3).

This encouragement is timely for God’s children today. How easy it is to become engrossed in this world and forget about the world that is to come!

Peter tries to warn us about being blinded by the anxieties and cares of this world. He urges us to “be diligent.” The term literally means to strive earnestly, zealously for an objective.

One of the newer translations renders this phrase as “make every effort.” We must have enthusiasm as we wait for the Lord to return. A halfhearted response will never do.

This response of Peter to the anxious cries of his brethren who longed for the second coming needs to be understood today. Use this time to prepare yourself for the Lord’s return.

Prepare first, by establishing a peaceful relationship between yourself and God. Prepare, second, by living a life of moral uprightness. Prepare by being diligent.

As one old saint faced the end of his days, he reflected on these timely words of Peter. His remarks are impressive: “There is nothing more certain than death; nothing more uncertain than the time of dying. I will, therefore, be prepared for that at all times, which may come at any time, and must come at one time or another. I shall not hasten my death by being ready, but sweeten it. It makes me not die the sooner, but the better.”

While you are stuck waiting for Christ to come back, use every minute to make sure you are ready.

REMEMBER TO . . . KEEP YOUR MIND FOCUSED ON THE PURPOSE OF DELAY (3:15a)

Peter asks his readers to remember a point that he has already forcefully made. The delay in Christ’s return exists so that all who so desire may be saved (cf. 3:9). You could paraphrase the point like this, “And remember why He is waiting. He is giving us time to get His message of salvation to others.” Instead of viewing the de- lay as a broken promise by God, we are urged to see it as evidence of His great patience to provide all men with peace.

The godless may scoff at the delay because they fail to understand its benevolent purpose. They fail to realize that during the delay God is holding the door of salvation open as long as possible. But when the Bridegroom comes for His bride, the door of hope will be slammed shut never to be reopened. All who wait until the last minute to be saved will face the same catastrophe as the foolish virgins. They returned after buying additional oil for their lamps only to find “the door was shut” and their pleas for the door to be reopened fell upon deaf ears (cf. Matthew 25:1-13).

Christians have a pressing duty to realize that they are bound by the delay in Christ’s return to reach others by teaching them the gospel. During the delay, it is wrong for God’s saints to imagine that they have no duty or obligation to the lost. Christ spoke of His mission: “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to accomplish His work.” His mission was to come to earth to save lost men (John 3:16). But He urged the same mission upon His disciples: Do you not say, “There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest”? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.  Already he who reaps is receiving wages, and is gathering fruit for life eternal; . . . (John 4:35, 36).

Since the Lord is delaying His return so lost souls can be saved, do you see your personal duty to help seek and save lost souls? The time is short. We must act quickly in seizing opportunities to fulfill our obligations.

The following story illustrates the plight of present-day evangelistic zeal in the church. When a little boy was lost in the woods, an alarm was sounded. The whole community responded: Fishermen abandoned their boats, merchants closed and left their shops, farmers forsook their plows and fields, and housewives left their washing and ironing. Everyone turned out to hunt for the little fellow. Feverish haste was evident because during the night harm might come to him.

With their tireless searching, the frightened child was found. As a result of the rescue, joy was felt by all. Today that little boy is grown. He is lost again, but no one seems to care. His mom and dad are too busy making a living.

The church is too busy and seems not to care. No alarm is sounded. Yet a far worse fate looms ahead for him now—he is lost in sin and no one seems to care enough to do anything about it. Be diligent in using the delay to save the souls of those who are lost.

REMEMBER TO . . . HANDLE THE SCRIPTURES IN THE RIGHT WAY (3:15b, 16)

The delay in Christ’s return has been adequately explained (cf. 3:8-13). Even with that clear explanation, some will refuse to accept it.

The emphasis in this point is upon doctrinal steadfastness. We must be sure to handle rightly God’s Word (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15). Peter says that some unethical teachers “distort” the Scriptures. This term refers to the action of a windless wrench, an instrument of torture, or the “rack.”

Peter uses it here to portray the distortion, straining, and twisting that false teachers use on truth. They will twist and torture the truth so that it appears to uphold their error. Those who participate in such acts will face destruction (3:16b).

God expects us to act with responsibility when we interpret His Book. We must be consistent with all other biblical texts. We must not change fundamental doctrines.

During the in-between stage while we are waiting for Christ’s return, God has given us the Bible to guide us. Let us be honest in its doctrine and truthful in its application to our lives. To do otherwise brings a grim harvest on the judgment day! How deadly delay can be when it comes to obeying God’s commands to be saved. Do not wait! When you to do until He comes?”

These pressing questions are clearly answered by Peter. We are indeed stuck  waiting  for  Jesus  Christ  to  return.  But being stuck does not mean we should be doing nothing. Peter tells us, “Be diligent!”

Two Approaches to the Bible (2 Peter 3:14, 16)

1. The Right Approach. “Be diligent” (3:14). This leads to peace, spotlessness, and blamelessness

2. 2. The Wrong “Distort” the Scriptures to suit our prejudices (3:16). This leads to destruction

CONCLUSION

The Lord has delayed His return so our delay in rendering obedience to His will may cease. Peter’s thoughts could not be stated in clearer terms. Procrastination on our part will only lead to tragedy. Let us be careful and not hesitate or prolong our delay in obeying His command understand this point.

Peter believes the Scriptures play a vital role in the life of the Christian (see 1 Peter 1:22–2:3; 2:8; 3:1; 2 Peter 1:3-4, 12-21; 2:21; 3:1-7, 14-18). And he does not cease challenging us to turn our attention to the Scriptures.

Even while Peter points us to the Word, he warns that some will seek to turn us from the truths of the Scriptures by perverting the teaching of Scripture. He does not look for prophets to arise, apparently because prophets are no longer necessary. After all, God has spoken fully and finally in Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3; 2:1-4).

But he does warn us false teachers will arise. They may not claim to reveal new truth from God on the level of Scripture, but they will seek to distort the Scriptures, twisting them to teach something vastly different from the intended meaning of the Bible.

In these closing verses of his second epistle, Peter draws our attention one final time to the Scriptures and the crucial role they play in our lives. He wants us to know that Paul’s letters are part of the inspired Word of God and that Paul is not one of the false teachers, although some distort his words to mean something far from what he intended.

If Paul is blamed for teaching error, Peter wants his readers to know Paul is not the one at fault. Paul’s teaching is in agreement with the revelation God gave through the Old Testament prophets, with the teaching of our Lord, and with the writings of the other apostles.

We sometimes hear someone say, “Your interpretation of Scripture is but one of many interpretations.” If we want to convince someone our interpretation of the Scriptures is correct, they might respond that the Bible is capable of meaning whatever one wants it to mean. This, of course, could be said of any writing.

We must not wrongly conclude that men’s failure to interpret Scripture accurately proves God did not clearly reveal Himself and His message to men in the Bible. Neither is it true that the meaning of Scripture is so obscure it is virtually impossible to discern. There is one correct interpretation of Scripture, and the rest is often the result of Scripture twisting, whether intentional or not.

Our purpose in this concluding lesson of 2 Peter is to note the characteristics of Scripture twisters so we may be alert to their presence among us. Further, we will identify the most common ways men twist the meaning of Scripture to help us avoid those errors in our study and interpretation of the Bible. In this way, we will be able to sharpen our interpretive skills and “accurately handle the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

What We Should Know About Scripture Twisters

(1) We should expect Scripture twisters to arise within the church. We can expect to arise from within the church those who will twist the meaning of Scriptures as they interpret, apply, and teach the Bible.

(2) We should also know the most likely areas for error to be introduced. Peter informs us that Scripture twisters deny a coming day of judgment (3:1-4), even though their judgment is sure (2:1, 3, 9, 12, 17). It would seem from 2 Peter 2:1 that Scripture twisters twist the Scriptures concerning the person and the work of Jesus Christ in that they “deny the Master who bought them.” In addition, Scripture twisters undermine the Biblical teaching on holy living (2 Peter 2:2; contrast 3:11, 14). I have seem it happen most often when a group of ‘church leaders’ decide to take a weekend away to study again what scripture teaches about a given subject…and you can usually predict that they will come to a ‘new understanding’ related to the use of instruments, women, and even whether they should serve communion on Saturday night ‘because it might encourage more participation of the young people.”

(3) Those who twist Scripture will twist any or all of the Bible, but they will often base their teachings on an obscure or problematic text. Peter acknowledges that some of Paul’s writings are “difficult to understand” (verse 16). These seem to be the starting point for the truth twisters. They begin with a problematic passage, developing their unorthodox doctrines, and then turn to the clear, emphatic texts, denying what they dogmatically teach.

(4) Those who twist Scripture are described by Peter as “untaught and unstable.” The two terms are introduced by a common article. This seems to indicate these two terms are to be viewed as interrelated.

(5) Scripture twisters have ulterior motives which are far from pure. The teachings of the Scripture twisters is self-serving and often rooted in greed and the desire for monetary gain (Titus 1:11; Jude 11, 16; contrast Acts 20:33; 1 Thessalonians 2:5-6; 1 Timothy 3:3; 6:3-5). For some, their twisted teaching is rooted in the ambition to have a personal following (Acts 20:30). They exploit their victims out of greed (2:3) and not out of a genuine love and concern (see 2 Peter 1:12-15; 1 Thessalonians 2:3-12).

(6) The appeal of Scripture twisters is in providing a pretext for self-indulgence and sin for their followers, as well as themselves. They entice those who are immature and vulnerable…scripture twisters assure men Christians can indulge the flesh (Jude 4) with no consequences.

(7) Those who twist Scripture do so to their own destruction It is little wonder that Scripture twisters deny the second coming of our Lord and the judgment to come. After all, His coming is a day of judgment for them. But Peter’s teaching is clear. Those who distort the truth of God’s Word do so to their own destruction (3:16; see also 2:1, 3, 9-13, 20-22; 3:7).

Sharpening our Sensitivity to Scripture Twisters

Peter’s words are written so Christians will be on their guard, alert to those who twist the Scriptures. He expects the saints not only can, but should, be able to discern those who pervert God’s Word.

Every Christian should be able to recognize those about whom Peter warns us.

We must be like the Bereans, always putting the teaching of others (even those whom we respect) to the test. Does the teaching we receive square with the truths of God’s Word (see Acts 17:11)? Bible teaching must never be a substitute for our own personal study of the Word of God; it is an enhancement to our own study. Good teaching should only encourage and facilitate the personal study of God’s Word, never discourage it.

Second, the best preventative for false teaching by others is to actively pursue godliness and personal spiritual growth. Those who do not know God personally through faith in Jesus Christ are not able to comprehend the truths of God’s Word. Those who know God, and who desire to do His will, will be enabled to understand divine truth.

Levels of Error

Not all errors are alike. Some errors are more dangerous and even more culpable than others. Some errors stem from ignorance. We simply do not know the Scriptures well enough. It may be that we speculate where we should simply acknowledge our ignorance (see Deuteronomy 29:29) and study the Word to determine the truth.

Some errors are errors of personal opinion or belief. For example, Christians may differ over the interpretation of a particular passage, especially a problematic passage. Everyone cannot be right. Perhaps no one is right. So long as we identify our interpretation as our opinion, I do not think we are in trouble. But when we teach our opinion as absolute truth, we are venturing into dangerous waters.

We need to distinguish between our convictions, which we should not impose on others, and the teaching of God’s principles and commands which all are to accept and practice. Paul is very careful to indicate to his readers those matters which are his personal conviction and those which are not.

I believe we should distinguish between those errors we sincerely hold as personal opinion or conviction and those we teach and advocate to others as God’s truth. Once we take on the role of teacher, we assume responsibility not only for ourselves, but for others, which is an awesome thing.

No wonder James admonishes us that not many should become teachers (James 4:1). Those things we teach others as the command of Christ become matters of great importance, and if we err on this level, we err seriously, to our own shipwreck and that of any who follow us in our error.

We should also beware of teaching in such a way us to set aside or undermine what God has given to His people as a clear command. We are told by our Lord to teach believers all that He has commanded us (Matthew 28:18-20), so let us see that the commands of Christ are the curriculum of discipleship. To fail to teach these, or to teach them in error, is very serious business.

Ways We Twist Scripture

(1) We err greatly in our interpretation and application of God’s Word when we subordinate the revelation of God’s truth to our own reason. When God’s command is clear, it does not matter nearly so much that we understand why the command is given as that we obey it. Too many Christians refuse to believe or obey Scripture until it makes sense to them. Some think Christians should understand the “full depth of injury” that others have brought upon them before they forgive them.

Adam and Eve did not understand why God forbade them to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They did not need to know this. In fact, eating of the tree is what would give them this knowledge. All they needed to know was that God had given this command and then to obey it.

More faith is required to obey God when we don’t understand why than to obey when the reasons are glaring us in the face.

(2) We are on very dangerous ground when we seek to “integrate” God’s truth, as revealed in Scripture, with “man’s truth,” as currently understood and taught from outside the Scriptures. “All truth is God’s truth,” we are told. That statement has a dangerous tendency, as currently applied. It tends to put all “truth” on the same level. It suggests that what is currently believed to be “true” through science, for example, is just as surely true as the truths of the Bible. It suggests that such scientific truth is just as certainly true as biblical truth. It suggests that secular “truth,” as currently understood, is just as important and as necessary to apply as God’s truth.

I do not believe this to be true. Only God’s truth—the truth God has revealed in His Word—is true truth, that which we can be assured is truth. Scientific truths continue to change. Biblical truth never changes.

How sad to see Christians rushing back to the Scriptures to reinterpret them because modern science has apparently exposed some new truth which challenges God’s truth as taught in his Word. How sad to hear Christians who are alleged experts in some secular field proclaim these “truths” on the same level as the truth of God’s Word.

The Bible is the only revelation of truth which is inspired, inerrant, and infallible. The Bible reveals every truth essential for life and godliness. It is not God’s truth (as revealed in Scripture), plus other “truth,” which we need to live godly lives; it is God’s truth alone.

Any truth not found in God’s truth is subordinate to God’s truth, and it is secondary to God’s truth, if indeed it is true at all. No wonder Christians are reading so many books beside (and often in place of) the Bible. They think they will find truth which is more necessary and important there. They are wrong. If any book is of great value to the Christian, it will be one which turns our attention and allegiance back to the Book.

(3) We twist the Scriptures when we “strain gnats and swallow camels.” This error was practiced by the scribes and Pharisees. They made much of the little details of the Scriptures, but they missed the main point. They put much emphasis on the specific commands of the Law but failed to grasp the major principles like justice and mercy, matters about which the prophets spoke.

And so it was that in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus interpreted the Law in such a way as to get to the heart of the Law. The Law not only prohibits murder, it requires us to deal with hatred by granting or seeking forgiveness.

The Law not only prohibits immorality, it teaches us to deal with impure thoughts as sin. This is the reason David loved the Law of God and meditated upon it (see Psalm 119).

The Law teaches us the principles of life and reveals to us the character and the heart of God. When we spiritualize the Scriptures, causing them to teach what they do not, we are beginning to twist the Scriptures.

(4) We twist the Scriptures when we take them farther than they were intended to be interpreted or applied. The Judaizers of Paul’s day took the command to be circumcised and imposed it upon the Gentiles, insisting they must do so to be saved (cf. Acts 15:1-2).

(5) We twist the Scriptures when we accommodate our own culture in the interpretation and application of God’s Word. In its most blatant form, we find the Scriptures to be in error or invalid when our cultural values differ from what they teach. And so it is that some have set aside Paul’s teaching on the role women are to play in the church.

Now, many ordain women as ministers and as overseers. We look down upon Paul for being a chauvinist. And in matters which are sensitive, we either play down or remain silent if the Scriptures collide with culture.

And so the sin of homosexuality is no longer called sin and condemned as such. To do so would require that we exercise discipline on those who practice what God condemns.

In order to have large, “successful,” happy churches, we do not hold to the same standards of marriage and divorce our Lord did. To do so would be to alienate and offend some and reduce church roles and budgets.

(6) We twist the Scriptures when we fail to hold seemingly contradictory truths in tension. We like to have our truth in neat little packages, all nicely labeled and easy to keep separated. And so we, like the Pharisees of old, want truth to be one way or the other, but not both:

16 And they sent their disciples to Him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and defer to no one; for You are not partial to any. 17 Tell us therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to give a poll-tax to Caesar, or not?” (Matthew 22:16-17).

They wanted Jesus to tell them they should pay their taxes or they should not. They were trying to press Jesus into saying men should either obey Caesar or obey God. Either way, they could get Jesus in trouble. Jesus told them they should submit to God and to Caesar. They couldn’t have it all one way.

Truths must be held in tension. God is sovereign. Nothing happens that is not a part of His sovereign decree. Yet we have been commanded to do certain things. We are humanly responsible for our decisions and actions. These two truths, the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man, are both true and must be held in tension. Those who would seek to hold one truth and deny the other will distort the Scriptures.

(7) We twist the Scriptures by the misappropriation of truth. Grace is now distorted to sanctify sin. Grace is our excuse for sin, rather than an escape from sin. Sovereignty is an excuse for inactivity and passivity, etc. The Scriptures are twisted to excuse sin rather than expose and eradicate it.

(9) We twist the Scriptures when we selectively deny biblical teachings or commands. Sometimes this is a bold, outright denial of the truth of God’s Word. We do it by setting certain Scriptures aside, not by denying their truth, but by denying their application to us. Some set aside Paul’s teachings (not to mention Peter’s) on the conduct of women by telling us these teachings were for a different time and a different culture.

In His Great Commission, Jesus instructed the church to make disciples by “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20). How many of our Lord’s commandments, as recorded in the Gospels, are taken seriously today, by evangelical, conservative Christians? By you?

Conclusion

Peter knows he is soon to die. Knowing this, he is intent on calling his readers to continually remember and apply the truths of God’s Word. How much nearer we are to the day of our Lord’s return. And how many are those who seek to twist the Scriptures to their destruction and, if possible, ours. Let us be men and women of the Word.

We are individually responsible to discern error and to respond to it biblically.

As the last days approach, let us fix our hope on the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us seek to live holy lives, so that we practice and proclaim the excellencies of God before a godless world. May we be men and women of the Word, encouraged in our study of the Bible by faithful teachers and turning from those who are false.

3:1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking.  In this passage we see clearly displayed the principles of preaching which Peter observed.

(1) He believed in the value of repetition. He knows that it is necessary for a thing to be said over and over again if it is to penetrate the mind.

(2) He believed in the need for reminder. Again and again the New Testament makes it clear that preaching and teaching are so often not the introducing of new truth but the reminding of a man of what he already knows.

(3) He believed in the value of a compliment. The Greek word literally means “sun-judged.” A piece of pottery was “sun-judged” when it was held up to the sunlight in order to see any flaws or cracks. The thinking and intentions of God’s people must be able to stand up under scrutiny and not be led astray by immoral desires (Philippians 4:8–9). It is his intention to rouse their pure mind. By using this phrase Peter appeals to his people as having minds uncontaminated by heresy. It is as if he said to them: “You really are fine people—if you would only remember it.”

3:2 That you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles. (4) He believed in the unity of Scripture. As he saw it there was a pattern in Scripture; and the Bible was a book centered in Christ. The Old Testament foretells Christ; the gospels tell of Jesus the Christ; and the apostles bring the message of that Christ to men.

Because God’s Word is true, we must pay attention to it and take its message seriously. New converts must be taught the Word and established in the doctrines of the faith, for new Christians are the false teacher’s primary targets. But older Christians must also be reminded of the importance of Bible doctrine and, in particular, the doctrines that relate to the return of Christ. Prophetic teaching must not lull us to sleep. Rather, it must awaken us to live godly lives and to seek to win the lost.

3:3 First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts. The “last days” began with Christ’s resurrection and will continue until his return.

The more the false teachers scoff, the more the Christians should be settled in their faith, knowing that this was only further assurance of Christ’s second coming.

3:4 And saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!”  What is their argument? The uniformity of the world. “Nothing cataclysmic has happened in the past,” they argue, “so there is no reason to believe it will happen in the future.” They take the “scientific approach” by examining evidence, applying reason, and drawing a conclusion. The fact that they willfully ignore a good deal of evidence does not seem to disturb them.

The scientific approach works admirably in matters that relate to the material universe, but you cannot take Bible prophecy into a laboratory and treat it as though it were another hypothesis.

For that matter, the so-called “laws of science” are really only educated conclusions based on a limited number of experiments and tests. These laws are generalizations, always subject to change, because no scientist can perform an infinite number of experiments to prove his claim. Nor can he completely control all the factors involved in the experiments and in his own thinking.

3:5–6  They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water. What these scoffers were forgetting in their argument (that the world had remained unchanged since creation) was that God had created the world. The Creation disproves their “all things continue” argument because the creation of the earth was an imposed change on the formless void (Genesis 1:1–2). The very reason the world was continuing on in a stable, predictable pattern was because God, in his grace, had created it that way.

By the word of God the heavens were created (Genesis 1:6–8). By the word of God, an earth was formed out of water and by means of water (referring to the waters being gathered to allow the dry land to appear, Genesis 1:9–10).

However, this stability should not be taken for granted. The false teachers deliberately chose to ignore the fact that God had been involved in the world. For the waters that had parted in order to allow the dry land to appear had returned and covered the entire world—this was God’s judgment.

Peter continued:  By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.  As the creation was an act of God, so was the Flood. World refers to God’s judgment and destruction of the inhabitants of the world, not the world itself.

3:7 But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.  By God’s word, the heavens and the earth were created (3:5); by his word, the earth’s inhabitants were destroyed in judgment (3:6); by the same word God will bring future judgment and destruction. God had intervened before; he will intervene again.

But instead of destruction by water, Peter wrote that the heavens and earth have been reserved for fire. In Noah’s day the earth was judged by water; at the Second Coming it will be judged by fire.

Peter’s point was that destruction would come and the godless (those who have not believed) will not escape.

3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  Not only were they ignorant of what God had done in the past (2 Peter 3:5), but they were also ignorant of what God was like. When you study the works of God, especially in the Old Testament, you can see that He is never in a hurry, but He is never late.

He could have created the entire universe in an instant, yet He preferred to do it over a period of six days. He could have delivered Israel from Egypt in a moment, yet He preferred to invest eighty years in training Moses. For that matter, He could have sent the Savior much sooner, but He waited until “the fullness of the time was come” (Gal. 4:4). While God works in time, He is not limited by time.

To God, a thousand years is as one day, and one day as a thousand years. God can accomplish in one day what it would take others a millennium to accomplish! He waits to work, but once He begins to work, He gets things done!

The question still remained, “Why was the Lord delaying so long?”  Peter offered two reasons in 3:8–9. First of all, the Lord does not count time as people do. He is above and outside of the sphere of time. God sees all of eternity past and eternity future.

3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The second reason for the Lord’s delay concerning His promise (the promise of his return) was not slackness. God was not tardy or late. Unlike people, God does not forget his promises, nor is he late in following through on them. Instead, the Lord is delaying his return because he is longsuffering and compassionate. He wants as many people as will to come to faith in him.

The Christian has three bold reasons for believing in His return: (1) He was once here (John 1:1-17; 1 John 1:1-3); (2) He has promised to return (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10, 11; Revelation 22:12); (3) Jerusalem was destroyed (A.D. 70) and overridden by the Gentiles as Jesus prophesied would take place prior to His return (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21). What Jesus foretold concerning Jerusalem has come to pass and cannot be denied.

Love is the reason that he delays the destruction of the world. God desires all people to be saved. He is not indifferent. God gave people free will. Some will exercise their free will and reject God, but this is not God’s desire.

God is loving, but he also executes perfect justice. His perfect love causes him to be merciful to those who recognize their sin and turn back to him, but he cannot ignore those who willfully sin.

God’s “delay” is actually an indication that He has a plan for this world and that He is working His plan. There should be no question in anybody’s mind whether God wants sinners to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:4 affirms that God “will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” These verses give both the negative and the positive, and together they assure us that God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11). He shows His mercy to all (Rom. 11:32) even though not all will be saved.

 3:10   But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.  The day of the Lord is the day of Christ’s return and of God’s judgment on the earth. Peter explained that no matter how long it might take, the Day of the Lord will come, and it will come unexpectedly. We should live each day as though Christ could return at any moment. Christians must be morally clean and spiritually alert.

The Day of the Lord will be a time of judgment and destruction, for  the heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

This is an extremely skeptical world. We live in extremely skeptical times. We are suspicious of everything. We tend to think that everything is guided by ulterior motives. We tend to believe that true openness and genuine honesty do not exist.

Our skepticism profoundly impacts the way we look at God. We do not place as much emphasis on what God said as on what God did not say. We are devoted to determining what God actually wants. We often attempt to determine God’s true desires by “reading between the lines.”

I sincerely doubt that any of us are capable of imagining the enormous frustration that we inflict on God.

Have you ever considered how easily God could have “given up” on humanity? Have you ever considered how easily God could have decided that one of the worst mistakes He ever made was creating humans with a free will?

If God were human, He would have cut His losses a long time ago. To me the greatest evidences that God is not human are seen in His patience, His forgiveness, and His mercy.

No human, not even the best of the best, can endure as much abuse, misrepresentation, and neglect as does God, and remain patient, forgiving, and merciful.

Important for us to relate more and more with the nature of God…important that we come to know Him as He really is. We begin with a strange text:

Abraham’s Bargain (Genesis 18:16-33). When God’s intentions regarding Sodom and Gomorrah becomes clear, Abraham is concerned because he has family down there. He begins bartering with God…think of his audacity….50…45…40…30…20 …10.

This is the very nature of God! He longs to save! The primary character of this text is not Abraham but God.

The Constant Refrain

(Exodus 34:6) “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…”

God is a holy God and His nature is not to be taken for granted…but His nature is clearly revealed again…He wants to save!

Relate rebellious nature of the children of Israel and see the end result:

(Numbers 14:18) “‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.'”

The law is read before a large group of people and, after standing for hours, they repented of their sins…and remembered God in the past and related it to their present:

(Nehemiah 9:17) “They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them…”

Psalmist complains about the abuse he’s taken in life:

(Psalms 86:15) “But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

(Psalms 103:8-14) “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. {9} He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; {10} he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. {11} For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; {12} as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. {13} As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; {14} for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.”

This statement is like John 3:16 to the Jewish people……it is given as a constant reminder for the Israelites…..(Psalms 145:8) “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”

(Joel 2:13) “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”

(Jonah 4:2) “He prayed to the LORD, “O LORD, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.”

(Nahum 1:3) “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.”

What Patience Is/Is Not

Patience is “slow to anger” and “steadfastness.”

Patience is not: apathy or tolerance. God is holy and He will reckon eventually with the unholiness of man and his willful decisions…of his ignoring the teachings of God. “Whatever” will not be tolerated by God when all is made right on His timetable.

Patience With a Purpose

God’s patience is for the purpose of giving an opportunity to repent. (Romans 2:4) “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”

(2 Peter 3:9-10) “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”

Why has Christ not yet returned to earth? Because God loves man; He does not want any person to perish, not a single person. God is not slack in fulfilling His promise nor is He powerless to return and judge the earth. He has not returned for one reason and one reason only. He wants more and more people to come to repentance.

Very simply, God is slow to give in and to judge and condemn us. God loves and cares for us despite our sin and rebellion, cursing and rejection. This is the very reason He sent Christ to save us. He loves and cares for us; therefore, He is suffering a long time with us.

God wants no person to perish. To perish is a terrible thing. It means to be utterly lost and destroyed. It means to lose eternal life and to be cut off from life forever and ever.

It means to be spiritually destitute, completely empty of all good. It means to suffer the judgment, condemnation, and punishment of separation from God forever and ever. It means to be in a state of suffering forever and ever apart from God.

The point is this: God does not want us perishing; He does not want us cut off and separated from Him. God wants us to spend eternity with Him not apart from Him.

There are in this passage three great truths on which to nourish the mind and rest the heart.

Time is not the same to God as it is to man.  As the Psalmist had it:  “A thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4).

When we think of the world’s hundreds of thousands of years of existence, it is easy to feel dwarfed into insignificance; when we think of the slowness of human progress, it is easy to become discouraged into pessimism.

There is comfort in the thought of a God who has all eternity to work in.  It is only against the background of eternity that things appear in their true proportions and assume their real value.

We can also see from this passage that time is always to be regarded as an opportunity.  As Peter saw it, the years God gave the world were a further opportunity for men to repent and turn to him.  Every day which comes to us is a gift of mercy.  It is an opportunity to develop ourselves; to render some service to our fellow-men; to take one step nearer to God.

Finally, there is another echo of a truth which so often lies in the background of New Testament thought.  God, says Peter, does not wish any to perish.

Ever and again there shines in Scripture the glint of the larger hope.  We are not forbidden to believe that somehow and some time the God who loves the world will bring the whole world to himself.

A Word Straight to You and Me. God hasn’t and will never give up on you and me! It’s easy for us to think God acts toward us the way we act toward each other. We’ve all had people “give up on us” as a result of some disagreement or event. One of the great tragedies is when family “gives up on us.” The message today: God doesn’t give up on us.

Patience. God is often more patient with us than we are with ourselves. We assume that if we fall, we aren’t born again. If we stumble, then we aren’t truly converted. If we have the old desires, then we must not be a new creation.

If you are anxious about this, please remember, “God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again” (Phil. 1:6 ).^[1]

Closing comments

God’s people are to be patient. The psalmist learned to be patient when confronted with the prosperity of the wicked:

Psalm 37:1–3 (ESV) Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! ² For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. ³ Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Psalm 37:9–13 (ESV) For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. ¹⁰ In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. ¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. ¹² The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, ¹³ but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming.

Psalm 37:34–38 (ESV) Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. ³⁵ I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. ³⁶ But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. ³⁷ Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. ³⁸ But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Christian love is patient (1 Cor. 13:4, 7).  Christians need patient endurance in the face of persecution. Perseverance is part of maturity (Jas. 1:2-4). Job’s perseverance is another example for suffering Christians (Jas. 5:11).

^[1] Lucado, M., & Gibbs, T. A. 2001, 1996. God’s inspirational promises . J. Countryman: Nashville, TN