2 Peter 3
In this chapter Peter says men will assail all the truth of revelation, on the ground that creation has been always what it now appears. This is mere materialism. It is man’s trust in what he can see, rather than trust in God’s Word, which assures us that the Lord Jesus will yet come back to this scene.
(Verses 1-4) “This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” It is always when people want to follow their own lusts that they begin to scoff. It may not be outward and gross lusts, but man wants to be independent, to gratify himself, and therefore he thinks he must get rid of God, get rid of His authority; and he would be glad to get rid of Clod out of the scene altogether if he could.
These scoffers say, The only thing that is durable and abiding is creation. It began far away in remote space; how it came we do not know exactly, but it came, and it goes on, and as for the promise of the coming of the Son of God, it is absurd. “Where is the promise of His coming?” they say scoffingly. Judging by appearances, they say that there is no change since the beginning. This is false. The eye of man may not have detected any change, but the Word of God assures us that there has been.
But if they scoff at the Lord’s coming, they are obliged to let in creation, and if creation comes in there must be the Creator, and who is the Creator? There they are silenced.
(Verses 5- 6) “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water. Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.” There are some of the wise men of this world who tell you that you must not believe in the flood. They will tell you it is impossible, and that to believe that there ever was such a thing as the flood is a great mistake. Ah! says Peter, you like to believe that there was no flood, and I will tell you why? Because, if you admit the flood, you admit the judgment of God upon wickedness, and if you admit the judgment of God upon wickedness once, then it is more than probable He will judge a second time. So men will not have it: their will is in question again. They are willfully ignorant of the solemn fact that the world has once been judged. Emerging as it did by the word of God from the waters, these same waters at His bidding swallowed it up — and all on it, save those in the ark of His providing.
(Verses 7-9) “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” It was God’s own word that called these heavens and this earth into existence as they now are, and by the same word the yet existing heavens and earth are reserved for the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise of returning, but He is long-suffering in grace, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
We understand God’s gracious slowness. There is but one thing God is always slow about; and that is judgment. He never judges till He has warned, and given space for repentance. How swift He is to save! How quick to bring peace to the troubled conscience! He is only slow to judge. He has not come because He wants souls to be saved! His long-suffering is salvation.
He wills that every soul that trusts the blood of His Son should be saved, but He is not willing that any should perish, for He desires that all should come (or go forward) to repentance.
(Verse 10) “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burnt up.” This is coincident with the great white throne, and the heaven and the earth fleeing away, as spoken of in the 20th chapter of the Revelation.
You have the effect of this mighty conflagration given you in Revelation, whereas you have what produces that effect given you by the Apostle Peter here. Man’s infidel thought is, that everything is so stable that it can never be moved. Man says mere materialism is the right thing. Stop, says Peter, the thing that you are resting upon, the eternal continuance of all things, is a delusion, it is all going to be dissolved. Everything on which the hopes of the flesh are founded will disappear forever.
(Verse 11) “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” The very fact of the mistake of the scoffer, and that everything is going to be dissolved, leads the child of God into soberness and a godly walk, seeing what is coming upon the world. The consideration of these solemn facts should lead the children of God to occupy a very distinct place, and maintain complete separation from all evil, as they look for and hasten on the day here spoken of. “Holy conversation” is to mark them.
It is very noticeable how Peter refers constantly to our conversation. In his 1St Epistle he tells us we have been redeemed from “vain conversation” (1 Peter 1:1818Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1 Peter 1:18)), that is, religiousness which has its spring in flesh, and its attempted satisfaction in forms. Then he bids us have our “conversation honest among the Gentiles” (2:12). All is to be above board, and fair in our dealings with men of the world. Thereafter he directs the wives to win their unconverted husbands by “chaste conversation” (3:2). Following on this he enjoins on us all that our “good conversation in Christ” (3:16) should put to shame, and silence all false accusers. Coming now to the 2nd Epistle, he holds up Lot as a warning not to mix with the world, as its “filthy conversation” (2:7) vexed him, and must assuredly act similarly on us. In contrast with this he urges, in the verse under contemplation, that which is to mark the child of God, namely, “holy conversation.”
What an immense mercy the knowledge of Christ confers on the soul! It delivers us from conversation that is “vain” and “filthy,” and begets in the soul that which is “honest,” “chaste,” “good” and “holy.” What a contrast!
Nor is Peter alone in his estimate of careful conversation, and by this word I understand, not only speech, but ways, habits, and manner of life. James tritely says, “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom” (James 3:1818And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (James 3:18)). Paul illustrates in his own history the importance and secret power of all this as he says, “Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)).
(Verses 12-13) “Looking for and hasting unto the coining of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat! Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” The day of the Lord lasts a long time, and this conflagration is at the end of the day of the Lord, but we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, that is, the eternal state.
There are but three passages that allude to the eternal state — 2 Peter 3, Revelation 21, and 1 Corinthians 15. Christ rules as Son of God, and Son of Man, all through the Millennium, but when the Millennium has closed “then cometh the end,” when death itself is destroyed. How does He destroy death? By bringing all the wicked dead to life again, and casting them into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:1414And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (Revelation 20:14)). He then has put every enemy under his feet, and gives up the kingdom to God. Every other king has had his kingdom taken from him by death or by violence; Christ alone gives up His kingdom, after reigning a thousand years. There are three spheres of righteousness; now righteousness suffers; in the Millennium righteousness reigns; in the eternal state righteousness dwells. It has found repose, it dwells where God is for evermore. Now, says Peter, you who are looking for all this in eternity, you must take care to be now without spot and blame, till He comes.
(Verses 15-16) “And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” A beautiful touch is this about Paul’s writings. Peter forgot how Paul had withstood him to the face at Antioch, and been compelled to put him to shame before all. This is what grace can do. Grace is a fine thing, and this is a fine touch of it, as the curtain drops on the Apostle Peter. Every ruffle in his heart that the scene at Antioch may have produced had been stilled forever, and he only loved Paul, and loved him the more deeply, because of his faithfulness.
In connection with Paul’s writings, it may be noticed here that, beside the occasion already referred to at Antioch, he thrice mentions Peter in his First Epistle to the Corinthians. Some at Corinth were saying “And I of Cephas” (1 Cor. 1:1212Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:12)). This sectarian speech I can quite well believe Peter would not approve of. Again, where apostolic right to be supported is spoken of, Paul says, “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas” (1 Cor. 9:55Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? (1 Corinthians 9:5)). From this one would gather that Peter’s wife accompanied him on his missionary tours. The third mention of Peter is that which cites him as a witness of the Lord’s resurrection, “And that he was seen of Cephas” (1 Cor. 15:55And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: (1 Corinthians 15:5)).
(Verse 17) “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.” We are surrounded by these elements, by doubt, and skepticism, and infidelity, and, “Beware,” God says, “lest ye fall.”
(Verse 18) “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Oh, let Christ be the One that is kept before your heart and mind, growing daily in the practical knowledge of what His favor is! The special truth of any dispensation is always the chief point of attack on Satan’s part. Let us remember this, for the devil detected is always the devil defeated. What then can keep our hearts? Christ, and nothing but Christ. Grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, says Peter. They are good and holy words.
The Lord fig in our hearts His own truth, and give us to be watchful and prayerful, lest we fall from that steadfastness which He looks for in His people, but let us grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord and Christ till the day of His return. “To Him be glory, both now and forever Amen.”
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