2 Peter 3:11-18

2 Peter 3:11-18

Divine Prognosis

I. The truth of Jesus’ future return must determine who we are today; we must be godly people (Vv. 11-13)

a. Through God’s past actions, His faithfulness to His Word, and His future promises, Peter has refuted the skewed logic of the false teachers who deny Christ’s return, and encourage sinful living. Now Peter turns our focus to today, and describes the type of people we must be in light of the reality of Christ’s return and just judgment. He exhorts us to be people of holy conduct and godliness. The truth of the second coming of Christ must move us to live lives of practical righteousness characterized by holy conduct. To live in holy conduct means to look and live distinctly from the rest of the world. To live in godliness, is to live in reverence of awe of God, so as to consider every aspect of life in relation to who He is and what He calls us to do. We’re not to live this way because of fear, but because we’re “looking for” or “eagerly anticipating” God’s promises to come. The indication of Scripture is that by living obediently, holy, godly, and expectantly for Christ’s return, we’re able to take part in “hastening”, or speeding up His return. This isn’t to say we change God’s mind or hurry Him up, but as we live godly and distinct lives, and share His gospel, we take part in expediting the Lord’s plan and return. We’re “looking for” and “hastening” Christ’s return, because of His promise to make all things new. In that day, God’s intention for His creation will come full circle, all will be restored to His original desire, and we’ll live in perfect righteousness. (Vv. 11-13; Isa. 11:6-9; 34:4; 62:11; 65:17; Matt. 6:10; 24:14; Acts 3:19-24; Rom. 8:18-25; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; 2 Cor. 3:18; Eph. 1:9-10; 1 Pet. 1:12, 15; Rev. 21:1-5; 22:20)

II. The truth of Jesus’ future return must determine who we are today; we must be diligent and urgent people (Vv. 14-16)

a. The certain promise of God’s future new and perfectly righteous creation, must compel us to urgently and diligently pursue practical righteous today. However, diligence never happens accidentally; it is as sense of urgency and focused attention, the act of exerting maximum effort towards reaching a goal. The goal of our diligence must be “to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless”. This is to say that we’re to be continually, urgently, and diligently evaluating our lives for the quiet peace in our consciences which only comes through a thriving relationship with Christ, trusting Him, and putting sin to death through faithful repentance. Then our lives will reflect the fruit of His cleansing, and be a blessing to others as a witness to the joy and peace obtained only through salvation in Christ. We must be diligent to not be swept away by false teaching, diluted by the world, or frustrated and discouraged by what sometimes seems like a lack of success. All the time which passes between Jesus’ first advent and His return, transpires in order to save as many as possible. While we wait, we must diligent and urgent to trust God’s Word as our source of life, strength, light, and grace to urgently live for Him and share His gospel with the world. Unteachable and unstable false teachers will always “distort” Scripture in order to justify their sinful desires and lead others astray. But the truth of Jesus’ return must compel us to live diligently and urgently in Christ to make the most of today through Him. (Vv. 14-16; Ps. 90:1-2, 12; Matt. 5:13-16; 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Rom. 2:4-6; 5:20-6:2; 13:11-12; 1 Cor. 4:5; 15:1-4, 51-57; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 13:5; Gal. 1:11-12; 2:11-14; Eph. 5:15-16; Phil. 2:12-13; Col. 3:1-4; 1 Thess. 2:13; 3:13; 2 Tim. 2:10, 15; 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:5, 10, 15; 2:13; 1 John 3:1-10)

III. The truth of Jesus’ future return must determine who we are today; we must be persevering and growing people (Vv. 17-18)

a. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Knowing the revelation of God’s Word, and the certain, imminent, and final return of Christ, Peter is urgently calling us to be on our guard, because morally corrupt false teachers will never stop hounding others with their erroneous teachings to justify themselves, and offer help for a better life through their own false teaching and truth in order to lure others after them. The type of endurance required to continually persevere in the face of a fallen world and the continual attacks of false teachers, only comes through continually growing stronger in grace and knowledge of Christ. The grace and peace granted to us through Christ aren’t to be maintained, they’re intended to be multiplied through the true relational knowledge of Jesus Christ. The same grace through which Christ save is, is continually necessary to grow us in strength to stand firmly in Him now and forever. It must be fed and exercised through God’s Word and our daily walk with Christ, so that we’re not swept away by the currents of the world and false teaching. (Vv.17-18; 1:2-8; 2 Cor. 2:8-9; 6:1; 9:8; 12:9; 1 Tim. 6:20-21; 2 Tim. 2:1; 3:1-7; 4:1-4; 1 Pet. 4:10)