II Peter 3:10-18
After talking about the end times, Peter asks the question: …what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness…? (v. 11b) End times or not, we can ask ourselves that question, what sort of people are we? How do others – the world – see us? I know that there is a lot of derision directed to evangelicals today that quickly and all too easily gets passed on to the traditional church. We need to counter that perspective. We can’t let ourselves be seen as Bible-thumping people-haters. It’s so easy for our fundamental principles to be seen as judgmental by outsiders. But God is the One who judges! Somehow we need to hold on to our principles, but also exude love in all that we do.
More clarification… And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you… (v. 15a) It’s a confusing verse until you refer back to verse 9 from yesterday: The Lord is … patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. So the patience of which Peter speaks in verse 15 is Jesus’ patience toward all His people, not wanting any to perish. So yes, Jesus’ patience is, in fact, salvation to those for whom He has waited.
Peter’s last written words to us: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. (v. 18) Our growth in His grace (i.e., our continuing, increasing understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for us), plus our increasing knowledge of all that has been passed on to us – both of these working together bring honor and glory to Jesus, who is our Lord and Savior. GLORY!!
Slava Bohu!