2 Peter 3: Is Jesus Really Coming?

The sun rises and sets every day, but will it go on forever? In the first century, many assumed the answer was "yes." The church expected a real change in the world when Jesus returned, but mockers began to ridicule Christians as if the world would never change. Peter wrote:

2 Peter 3:8–9

"Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change."

The Lord is giving time for metanoia—for having a true change of mind. Am I being patient? Am I giving others space and time to repent?

2 Peter 2: False Teachers

How should we deal with false teachers in the church? My initial reaction might be to suggest a movement inside the church to identify and expel false teachers. However, that could be the wrong approach because it relies on human power. On the other hand, Peter focused on the Lord. He described some of their traits—such as arrogance, blasphemy against glorious beings, greed, and lust—and then he wrote:

2 Peter 2:4–5 (MSG)

"God didn’t let the rebel angels off the hook, but jailed them in hell till Judgment Day. Neither did he let the ancient ungodly world off. He wiped it out with a flood, rescuing only eight people—Noah, the sole voice of righteousness, was one of them."

The Lord sees what is happening; He judges and executes justice. In a way, this chapter reminds me how we ought to respond to evil. The first step is to trust that the Lord is holy and that He punishes evil.

2 Peter 1: Peter's farewell

Peter saw churches  beyond Judea with gentiles and Jews. He is very near his death and he wanted to say something before dying. He wrote:

(NASB) 1 To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust. 

How can one person please the Lord? As Peter is a Jew, he could have written a lot of things about circumcision, Jewish feasts, etc. however, he first establishes that the church has been received faith (trust) in Jesus and Peter prays asking more grace and peace from the Lord. Peter wrote that a godliness life (a life that pleases the Lord) comes from the divine power of the Lord. Jews and gentiles were called to be partakers of the nature of the Lord in a life that survives the corruption of the world.

1 Peter 5: The Servant Leader

Peter warns church leaders about how they should serve the church:

1–3 (MSG) I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.

The primary goal of a leader must be to please God. A leader should care for God's flock like a shepherd who loves the sheep—loving them because he first loves the Lord. I once met a pastor who used his own possessions to support persecuted Christians. He truly helped strangers out of his love for God.

1 Peter 4: The Victorious King

Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah, but he initially thought the Messiah would conquer the Romans and bring all His enemies under His feet. Consequently, Peter was deeply confused when he saw Jesus crucified. It was only after seeing Jesus defeat death that he truly believed in the victorious Messiah—the One who conquers both sin and death. However, as great persecution approached, Peter encouraged believers to view suffering just as Jesus embraced it. He wrote that it is a great privilege to suffer for Christ, because doing so demonstrates our deep connection with Him:

1 Peter 4:14–16 (MSG)

"If you’re abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It’s the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. If they’re on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that’s a different matter. But if it’s because you’re a Christian, don’t give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name!"

1 Peter 3: women believers

 In the first century, many Gentile married women came to believe in Jesus without the support of their husbands. Family life at the time revolved around the paterfamilias. A woman who abandoned the pagan temple because of Jesus would be viewed negatively by her husband and society. Peter could have preached the importance of going to church despite her husband’s opinion, but instead, he wrote:

1 Peter 3:1–4

"The same goes for you wives: Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs. There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition."

This approach is very similar to handing over your possessions to a thief. The gospel values the life of a sinner much higher than he deserves.

1 Peter 2: Gentiles in the Kingdom of Heaven

Peter witnessed the Lord transforming the hearts of the Gentiles. They believed in Jesus as their Messiah to the point of abandoning their normal social lives and turning away from the worship of false gods. They recognized Jesus as their King. Peter wrote to them:

1 So get rid of every kind of evil, every kind of deception, hypocrisy, jealousy, and every kind of slander. 2 Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation. 3 Certainly you have tasted that the Lord is good!

They had tasted that the Lord is good, yet this was only the beginning. Just as a newborn craves milk, Peter urges them to desire the Word of the Lord so they can grow. As a Jew, Peter was amazed by how the Lord was transforming Gentiles. He wrote to confirm that they were truly part of God's kingdom:

9 However, you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people who belong to God. You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not God’s people, but now you are. Once you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.