2 Peter 3

Let us each ask ourselves this question: If we suddenly learned that Jesus was going to return in one year, would we live our lives any differently? Our answer should be no! If we are at present living our lives according to God’s will, then learning that Jesus will return in a year should make no difference in our behavior (aside from canceling long-range plans). We should be living each day as if the Lord were about to return.

15 As long as God waits patiently, that many more people will have the opportunity to repent and be saved (see verse 9 and comment).

Paul also wrote about Christ’s second coming in many of his letters. In particular, Paul wrote many times that Christians must be holy, patient, and steadfast as they wait for the Lord to come.

16 If Paul’s letters seem to us hard to understand, let us not be discouraged: even Peter found some of what Paul wrote hard to understand. But many people also distort Paul’s meaning. In particular, they distort Paul’s teaching that men are saved through faith and not through works. These ignorant and unstable people say that since we are saved only through faith, we no longer have to do any good works; we can do what we please. In this way, they fall into all kinds of sin.

17 Therefore … be on your guard (see Mark 13:5,22-23). Let no believer fall from [his] secure position (see Hebrews 3:12; 4:1; 10:36-38 and comments).

18 … grow in the GRACE and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In order to obtain grace, we need to have a knowledge of Christ—that is, we need to know Christ (see 2 Peter 1:2 and comment). The Christian religion does not consist in merely being happy or having good feelings. The Christian religion consists in following Christ. Christians do not follow a religion; they follow Christ. Christ Himself is our way. To be a Christian means to know Christ personally and to obey His commands. If we do this, we will certainly grow in grace (see 2 Peter 1:5-8,10-11 and comments).

To him (Christ) be glory both now and forever! It is not only to God we give glory but also to Christ, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father (John 5:23). Christ is our example; Christ is also our goal. And He is coming soon. Therefore, Peter says in verse 17, be on your guard.

¹ Messiah means “anointed one” in the Hebrew language. The equivalent word in the Greek language is “Christ.”

² In 2 Peter 2:21, this command is called the “sacred command.”

³ After the apostles’ teachings had been written down, they could then be passed on to all future generations in the form of the New Testament.

⁴ The last days are the days between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming. Thus we are now living in the “last days” (see 2 Timothy 3:1; Hebrews 1:2).