Finishing up 2 Peter...2 Peter 3:14-18..."The Final Therefores"

 


We have come to the end of these two letters from the Apostle Peter.  He has spoken to us about this salvation provided by God, purchased by Jesus and being polished by the Holy Spirit in our lives.  He has given us extensive instructions on how we are to live these saved lives even in times of persecution.  He has warned us about false teachers coming among the flock of God to draw disciples to themselves.  Finally, Peter tells of the great and glorious 2nd coming of Christ for those who are saved but the judgment to fall upon those who are not.  

Again I am amazed at the transformation in Peter from his demeanor in the Gospels to his admissions in these letters.  He goes from prideful Peter, telling even Jesus what to do, to unpretentious Peter, referring to himself having a hard time understanding Paul's letters.  Peter mentions Paul as his "beloved brother."  One he dearly loves and part of God's family with him and this is assumedly after Paul had called him out about distancing himself from the Gentiles Christians when the Jewish Christians showed up.  It was a necessary rebuke from a brother and Peter grew from it.

"...take care..." (v.17) "...but grow in..." (v.18) Peter has given us the two sides of the coin all through these letters.  Take care not to be carried away by these false teachers and grow in your understanding and realization of God's grace to you through His Son Jesus Christ.  Keep your focus here beloved!  Keep your focus on your Lord, the Master, the One you belong to.  Keep your focus on your Savior, the Redeemer, the One who rescued you.  Keep your focus on your Jesus, the God-man, the One who hung on a tree for you.  Keep your focus on your Christ, the Anointed of God, the One sent from God for you.

A famous preacher once added this string of words to this passage.

As the beloved we live in...

anticipation - v.14 - "...waiting for these..."

pacification - v.14 - "...at peace."

purification - v.14 - "...without spot or blemish..."

evangelization - v.15 - "....the patience of our Lord as salvation."

discrimination - v.17 - "...take care that you are not..."

maturation - v.18 - "But grow in the..."

adoration - v.18 - "To Him be the glory..."

Let me finish these letters with 1 Peter 5:10-11.

And after you have suffered a little while,

the God of all grace,

who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ,

will Himself

restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

To Him be the dominion forever and ever.

Amen.

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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