2 Peter 3:1-10
In the final chapter of Peter’s letter, he is going to return to the point of writing in the first place. Chapter 2 was a bit of a departure from the purpose, and now Peter is going to return to the main point. I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but it almost seems like Peter brought up false teachers, and that sent him off on a tangent about them, and now that he has gotten that out of his system, he can get back on topic.
Of course, it was the Holy Spirit inspiring him as he wrote, and the tangent does serve an important purpose in the purpose of this letter. Peter is writing to stir up the people’s sincere understanding. Other translations say, “sincere mind”, “wholesome thinking”, “pure minds”, and “pure thoughts”, to name a few.
Peter wants the people, including us, to be stirred to action, but to do so with the right understanding and the proper motivation. It is possible to do the right thing for the wrong reasons. Peter is saying that why we do something is just as important as what we do. Let’s see how this plays out.
The thing that Peter is writing by way of reminder to them is to recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through your apostles. What is interesting here is that “command” is singular. This may be a reference to the “one thing” Jesus said was above everything else; “love one another as I have loved you.” It could be a reference to Jesus’ words in Matthew 24-25 where he told the disciples to watch for His second coming and to not be deceived. It might also be a reference to the fact that we must follow all of Jesus’ commands. It is not important to spend time figuring out which is most likely because if Jesus commanded something we are responsible to obey.
Above all Peter warns to be aware of the truth that in the last days scoffers are going to come and follow their own evil desires. There are a few things that need to be defined here. First, scoffers refers to false teachers that Peter spend an entire chapter talking about. Second, the last days is a reference to the time right before the Lord is going to come and set everything right. From Peter and Paul and the rest of the NT writers, the last days began when the Holy Spirit descended upon them at Pentecost.
One of the signs that the last days are upon us is that scoffers, false teachers, those teaching that Jesus is not going to come back, will be present. There is a great irony here. Those who mock or deny the return of Christ are affirming its truth by their own lips.
The other irony of the situation is that no matter how sophisticated or enlightened people think they become, they continue to do the same things their ancestors did. Since the beginning of creation, people have mocked and doubted and rejected God.
In verse 5, Peter points out that this is not by accident. Peter says they deliberately forgot. I have spoken of this before, but it is worth repeating. In the Bible, forgetting is not just a lapse in memory, just as recalling or remembering is not simply cognitive recall. Remembering and forgetting are choices. These people are actively choosing not to believe what God has said is going to happen.
In the next two verses, Peter brings up Noah and the flood for the third time. Three times in two letters, he mentions this event. By way of contrast, the rest of the NT only mentions the flood twice. Once in Hebrews and once when Jesus brings it up in Matt 24/Luke 17. Why does Peter spend so much time talking about the flood?
There are three things Peter is conveying here. First, it speaks of God’s judgement on the wicked. Second, it demonstrates that God is patient and even in the face of judgement He offers salvation. Third, the day of the Lord, or the day of judgement comes like a thief in the night.
Just as in the days of Noah, the people scoffed and mocked and chose not to believe God would send judgement, and God did indeed send judgement. Why would current times, Peter’s or ours, be any different?
In verse 8 we come to one of the most well-known sayings in the Bible. “With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day.” There is no need to take this as a literal saying. Some try to use this verse to justify the earth as being only 6,000 years old, but you have to jump through a lot of hoops to get to that understanding.
The point Peter is making here is that God views time different than do human beings. If we think God is taking a long time to return and bring judgement on our enemies, then the joy of eternity with Him in heaven is going to be even longer. We must not judge events on our human understanding of time, but look at if from God’s perspective.
Here is the beginning of our understanding of what we talked about earlier in regards to doing the right things with the wrong understanding. The Lord does not delay His promise as some understand delay. Why is God delaying judgement?
He doesn’t want any to suffer punishment, but wants everyone to have the opportunity to be saved. The longer he delays, the more opportunity there is for people to come and know Christ. Our job is to share the Gospel with people so God’s will is done.
But pay close attention to what Peter says here. He does not say God is patient with them, but that God is being patient with you. On the one hand, this is a reminder that you are only saved because God was patient with you. On the other hand, God is being patient with us until we get our act together and begin to evangelise the whole world. How we do that, and what our motivation for doing that, matters.
How often do we pray for Jesus to return so our enemies will be dealt with? That is the wrong motivation. We want Jesus to return because then everything will be wonderful. But from God’s point of view, there will be people left out. Yes, it is because of their own choices, but do you think that grieves God any less? God desires for all to know Him.
That is not a universal declaration that all will one day be saved. God knows that many will not, but He delays and waits to give His people time to share the message of salvation with the entire world. The longer He delays, the longer we have to share Jesus.
From that perspective, we should be thanking God for delaying the coming of the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. We don’t know the day, but on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.
There is much debate on what this last phrase means, but the most likely interpretation speaks of divine judgment. What is not debated, however, is that the image is one of finality. Once this happens, there is no second chance.
If those who are called by the name of Jesus are praying for His return so the enemies of God will be destroyed, we are guilty of seeking the right thing for the wrong reasons. We are failing to live out the command of Jesus to “love one another as I have loved you.” Instead, let us have a sincere understanding and recall the words previously spoken by the holy prophets and the command of our Lord and Savior given through the apostles.
Let us not deliberately overlook the word of God as some do, but understand that God has been patient with us, and therefore we must be patient with others. We must desire that all come to repentance.