Live Expecting The Lord’s Return
August 23, 2021
Commentary
What would you like to be doing when Christ returns (v. 14). That is how you should be living every day. While you are waiting, you should make certain that the Lord finds you pure, spotless, and living at peace” (v. 14). We should be living in eager expectation. Don’t forget that the Lord is patient because he wants people to be saved. This is also what our dear friend Paul said when he wrote you with the wisdom that God had given him (v. 15). The longer He delays the more people that can be saved. The result from contradicting and opposing the Scripture, or accusing the apostles of being false teachers had done real destruction.
Peter closes this public, yet personal epistle by encouraging them in a warm and loving style to be on their guard or to protect themselves so that they are not dragged off with the false teachers and fall from their steadfastness (v. 16). Paul talks about these same things in all his letters, but part of what he says is hard to understand. Some ignorant and unsteady people even destroy themselves by twisting what he said. They do the same thing with other Scriptures too. My dear friends, you have been warned ahead of time (v. 17)! So don’t let the errors of evil people lead you down the wrong path and make you lose your balance. Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing (v. 18)! Amen.
Application
Discuss who are false teachers in your community such as Mormons and Jehovah’s witnesses. Talk about some of the things that they teach which are contrary to the Word of God. Share how we can recognize a false teacher.
2 Peter 3:14– 18 (NET)
14 Therefore, dear friends, since you are waiting for these things, strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence. 15 And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom given to him, 16 speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your firm grasp on the truth. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.