Patient Hope

May 26, 2013 Background Scripture: 2 Peter 3 Lesson Passage: 2 Peter 3:3 – 15a, 18 As the Apostle Peter closed out his second letter to the Jewish Christians who were dispersed throughout the Roman Empire, he did several things in striking form. First, Peter clearly indicated that this is his second letter he is writing to the same group. (Certainly, anyone new to the faith subsequent to the first letter being sent would want to have access to it or at least its contents.) Secondly, he acknowledged the Apostle Paul as a beloved brother. This is important since those who study the early church history recorded in the book of Acts as well as Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia would note that Paul had confronted Peter concerning Peter’s hypocritical actions among the Gentile Christians. Without Peter’s note in this letter, it would be easy for some to falsely conclude that the two did not get along as Christian brothers. So Peter did not simply make reference to Paul but he referred to him as a beloved brother. The third thing that Peter did in the closing of this letter is probably more important theologically than anything else in the closing. Peter declared that Paul’s letters should be considered in the same context as the Old Testament writings. He referred to Paul’s letters as scripture. He cautioned them who ignorantly struggled with Paul’s writings by noting that some of Paul’s writings contain divine mysteries that cannot be understood intellectually. Again, it is significant that he referred to Paul’s writings as scripture because at the beginning of this letter he stated that the writers of the Old Testament did not write of their own will but wrote as they were directed by the Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:20 – 21). Peter’s second letter should be considered along with 2 Timothy and Jude. In all of these, there is reference made to the last days before the return of Christ to the earth in bodily form. The readers are both warned and encouraged to live holy lives that are pleasing to God. The challenge for the church in the last days will not come from them on the outside but rather from them on the inside. They will consider their own life experiences to be greater than the prophecies of God. They will limit their own decisions to whatever knowledge they might have gained through personal observations outside of unfulfilled prophecies. They will make fun of them who rely on the word of God for guidance rather than their own human senses. Peter compared them to the wicked generation that lived during the days of Noah. They chose to ignore the warnings God sent them and were totally unprepared when the great flood came and destroyed them. Likewise, there will be some who will be unprepared when the world will be destroyed by fire. The day of destruction will surely come. Peter encouraged believers to patiently hold on to the promises of God. God will fulfill all that He has promised. In spite of the great destruction that is to come, Christians are assured that they will be spared and a new home will be prepared for eternal existence in the presence of God. Knowing these things, Christians should continue to grow in grace. This growth is effected through diligent study of the scriptures and the application of those scriptures in our daily lives. When Christ appears, we will not be ashamed but have unspeakable joy to be found of him living according to his precepts and commands. Robert C. Hudson May 18, 2013