2Pe 3:2-3 | KingComments | STEP | . After the false and corrupted teachings of wicked people in chapter 2, in this chapter Peter rebukes unbelief that denies the return of the Lord. That denial is based on the opinion that in the visible creation everything remains as it was as from the beginning. In saying this he addresses the true believers and clarifies to them what the meaning of true prophecy is. It is necessary to emphasize that because unbelief manifests itself all the more strongly and scoffs the faith. Therefore he points out again the importance of the written Word ( ). He wrote both of his letters to remind you that a “sincere mind” is the necessary condition to understand God’s Word and to apply that to your life. A sincere mind appears from the attitude which you adopt toward the Scripture. Do you unconditionally agree to it when the Scripture speaks, or do you have objections to it? Without a full subjection of yourself to the Scripture you will not learn to know the truth and you will drown in speculations of people who think to know better than God. . You are to test everything that comes to you by the Scripture. That’s what Peter is referring you to. That alone will give your heart steadfastness. He does not refer to new apostles or elders. Still less he refers to the church as if the church would be able to teach anything and exert authority. He refers to the Word of God that comes to you in the writings both of the Old Testament and of the New Testament. For the content of the Old Testament he reminds us of “the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets”. For the content of the New Testament he reminds us of “the commandment of the Lord and Savior [spoken] by your apostles”. The holy prophets of former times have spoken on behalf of God to get the people back to the obedience of the law and to warn them for God’s punishment if they persevere in their disobedience. Their message fully opposes that of the false teachers of the previous chapter. The commandment, which comes from the Lord and Savior, expresses the will of the Lord that comes to you by the apostles (cf. ). All of that you find in the written Word of God. The big question is: how do you stand toward the authority of the inspired Word. The answer to that question determines whether you are able to resist the opponents of truth or be overcome by them. . It seems that Peter, when he comes back to the theme of true prophecy, is immediately aware of the great resistance of the enemies of God and His Christ. The proclamation of the truth and holding on to God’s Word always stir up resistance. Opponents do not reveal themselves as long as the lie is preached. But as soon as the light of the truth comes shining through, they will appear and let themselves be heard. And mind you that these are no incidents. With the words “knowing this first” Peter emphasizes that you need to seriously consider that such people will manifest themselves more and more “in the last days”. It must be an extra proof to you that the end of all things is near ( ). As soon as you speak about the coming of Christ to execute judgment, they point their finger at their forehead and declare you crazy. They will not listen to you and will ridicule you with their mockery. They express themselves like that because they follow after their own lusts. They want to live on like that. The thought of a coming Christ as a ‘joy killer’ does not fit in there. . To support the validity of their assertion, they point to what they see as the always unchanging course of events “since the fathers fell asleep”. By speaking about ‘the fathers’ you see that you have to do with people who consider themselves as God’s people. Applied to our times, it is about people who find themselves in professing Christianity. It is precisely the Christian theologians who mock with what faith embraces. They know the statements concerning the coming of the Lord, but they ridicule it. They ask where is His coming, which after all is announced so long ago. However, it is not an honest, but a mocking question. They do not believe in it because they are modernists. It does not fit to their perception of the laws of nature. Scientifically, it is absolutely not possible that a dead person becomes alive, goes to heaven and then comes back. They indeed speak about “the beginning of creation”, but it is still the question if they also mean to say that God has created the earth in six days. By that they can just as much mean that God has let the universe exist through evolution. The foolishness of men who refuse to bow their knees to God’s Word, knows no limits. . Peter exposes the hidden cause of this ignorance. There is malevolence involved in this. These people are not willing to be familiar with God’s actions. It is a guilty, deliberate ignorance. They are, as it were, seeking a visible proof with their eyes closed. Foolish as they are, they deliberately distort the truth of how creation began. In their foolishness they try to explain the origin of life by the development of things. Ultimately, a little bit of common sense must lead to the conclusion that creation has been created by Someone outside and not by itself. Nevertheless, man seeks an explanation for the existence of the universe with the exclusion of God. To the faith it is simple. Creation has come into being by an action of God and indeed by His Word ( ). He has spoken and it was done, “for He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” ( ). His Word is His power. By reading Genesis 1 you see that the earth was called by God to appear and then it exists in the midst of the waters. . The same Word of power that created the worlds, called the water to appear to destroy the earth. Those same waters that surrounded the earth, came again over it through the flood. Also then there were mockers. Noah could say all he wanted and warn of the coming flood as an expression of God’s wrath, but also then the people waved away his words. They simply did not believe in the possibility of an intervention of God in judgment and they mocked Noah because of his words. They did that “until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” ( ). That was the end of their laughter. This is also what will happen to those who mockingly respond to the warning that another judgment is coming. Christ will come to judge the world. . Peter even goes further and refers to the definite judgment. He points at the destruction of heaven and earth and the perdition of ungodly men. The former world was flooded by water, the present world will be destroyed by fire. For this definite judgment “the present heavens and the earth … are being reserved”. The doom of the world is not worked by man, although men and their behavior form the cause. The world is preserved by the same mighty Word of God as by which He has created the worlds. He is reserving everything for the day of judgment. When unrighteousness has reached its peak He will execute judgment. Nothing and no one can prevent that. . The day of the judgment comes after the day of the Lord, i.e. the whole period that includes His appearance for judgment and His government during the millennial kingdom of peace. The time for that has not come yet and sometimes it seems that the mockers are right. Then remember that the aspect of ‘time’ does not mean to God what it means to you and me. God surely takes our perception of time into account. He knows the duration of a day. Therefore, for instance, He cuts short the days of the great tribulation that His own will have to suffer ( ). But to God time doesn’t exist. With Him one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. “Do not let this one [fact] escape your notice”, Peter says. If you consider that, it will give you courage to persevere. Look at how God has worked through the ages. He sees the end from the beginning and He works toward it. . The first argument, that it has always been like this and that therefore the promise of His coming cannot be true, has been refuted by referring to the flood. The second argument, that it already had been going on for so long, also has been refuted by referring to the ‘timeless’ God. But that is still one part of the response. The judgment is not only delayed because time does not count for God, but also because He is longsuffering. It is absolutely no “slowness”, as some mockingly claim. Mockers have no idea that God for their sake has not sent the Lord Jesus yet. People mock the love of God, while precisely that love restrains Him from judging them. Look at yourself. I do not know how old you are and for how long you have known the Lord Jesus. But assuming that you’ve known the Lord Jesus for three years already, just consider carefully where you would have been if the Lord Jesus had come four years ago. Aren’t you overwhelmed by the patience of God? He did not want you to perish, but that you would come to repentance. That same patience is what He is showing again and again toward people who would perish if the Lord would come now . Now read 2 Peter 3:1-9 again. Reflection: What all appeals to you in these verses?

‏ 2 Peter 3:2-3

Scoffers Get an Answer

2Pet 3:1. After the false and corrupted teachings of wicked people in chapter 2, in this chapter Peter rebukes unbelief that denies the return of the Lord. That denial is based on the opinion that in the visible creation everything remains as it was as from the beginning. In saying this he addresses the true believers and clarifies to them what the meaning of true prophecy is. It is necessary to emphasize that because unbelief manifests itself all the more strongly and scoffs the faith. Therefore he points out again the importance of the written Word (2Pet 1:20).

He wrote both of his letters to remind you that a “sincere mind” is the necessary condition to understand God’s Word and to apply that to your life. A sincere mind appears from the attitude which you adopt toward the Scripture. Do you unconditionally agree to it when the Scripture speaks, or do you have objections to it? Without a full subjection of yourself to the Scripture you will not learn to know the truth and you will drown in speculations of people who think to know better than God.

2Pet 3:2. You are to test everything that comes to you by the Scripture. That’s what Peter is referring you to. That alone will give your heart steadfastness. He does not refer to new apostles or elders. Still less he refers to the church as if the church would be able to teach anything and exert authority. He refers to the Word of God that comes to you in the writings both of the Old Testament and of the New Testament. For the content of the Old Testament he reminds us of “the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets”. For the content of the New Testament he reminds us of “the commandment of the Lord and Savior [spoken] by your apostles”.

The holy prophets of former times have spoken on behalf of God to get the people back to the obedience of the law and to warn them for God’s punishment if they persevere in their disobedience. Their message fully opposes that of the false teachers of the previous chapter. The commandment, which comes from the Lord and Savior, expresses the will of the Lord that comes to you by the apostles (cf. Mt 28:19c). All of that you find in the written Word of God. The big question is: how do you stand toward the authority of the inspired Word. The answer to that question determines whether you are able to resist the opponents of truth or be overcome by them.

2Pet 3:3. It seems that Peter, when he comes back to the theme of true prophecy, is immediately aware of the great resistance of the enemies of God and His Christ. The proclamation of the truth and holding on to God’s Word always stir up resistance. Opponents do not reveal themselves as long as the lie is preached. But as soon as the light of the truth comes shining through, they will appear and let themselves be heard. And mind you that these are no incidents. With the words “knowing this first” Peter emphasizes that you need to seriously consider that such people will manifest themselves more and more “in the last days”.

It must be an extra proof to you that the end of all things is near (1Pet 4:7). As soon as you speak about the coming of Christ to execute judgment, they point their finger at their forehead and declare you crazy. They will not listen to you and will ridicule you with their mockery. They express themselves like that because they follow after their own lusts. They want to live on like that. The thought of a coming Christ as a ‘joy killer’ does not fit in there.

2Pet 3:4. To support the validity of their assertion, they point to what they see as the always unchanging course of events “since the fathers fell asleep”. By speaking about ‘the fathers’ you see that you have to do with people who consider themselves as God’s people. Applied to our times, it is about people who find themselves in professing Christianity. It is precisely the Christian theologians who mock with what faith embraces. They know the statements concerning the coming of the Lord, but they ridicule it. They ask where is His coming, which after all is announced so long ago.

However, it is not an honest, but a mocking question. They do not believe in it because they are modernists. It does not fit to their perception of the laws of nature. Scientifically, it is absolutely not possible that a dead person becomes alive, goes to heaven and then comes back. They indeed speak about “the beginning of creation”, but it is still the question if they also mean to say that God has created the earth in six days. By that they can just as much mean that God has let the universe exist through evolution. The foolishness of men who refuse to bow their knees to God’s Word, knows no limits.

2Pet 3:5. Peter exposes the hidden cause of this ignorance. There is malevolence involved in this. These people are not willing to be familiar with God’s actions. It is a guilty, deliberate ignorance. They are, as it were, seeking a visible proof with their eyes closed. Foolish as they are, they deliberately distort the truth of how creation began. In their foolishness they try to explain the origin of life by the development of things. Ultimately, a little bit of common sense must lead to the conclusion that creation has been created by Someone outside and not by itself. Nevertheless, man seeks an explanation for the existence of the universe with the exclusion of God.

To the faith it is simple. Creation has come into being by an action of God and indeed by His Word (Heb 11:3). He has spoken and it was done, “for He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast” (Psa 33:9a). His Word is His power. By reading Genesis 1 you see that the earth was called by God to appear and then it exists in the midst of the waters.

2Pet 3:6. The same Word of power that created the worlds, called the water to appear to destroy the earth. Those same waters that surrounded the earth, came again over it through the flood. Also then there were mockers. Noah could say all he wanted and warn of the coming flood as an expression of God’s wrath, but also then the people waved away his words. They simply did not believe in the possibility of an intervention of God in judgment and they mocked Noah because of his words. They did that “until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all” (Lk 17:27). That was the end of their laughter. This is also what will happen to those who mockingly respond to the warning that another judgment is coming. Christ will come to judge the world.

2Pet 3:7. Peter even goes further and refers to the definite judgment. He points at the destruction of heaven and earth and the perdition of ungodly men. The former world was flooded by water, the present world will be destroyed by fire. For this definite judgment “the present heavens and the earth … are being reserved”.

The doom of the world is not worked by man, although men and their behavior form the cause. The world is preserved by the same mighty Word of God as by which He has created the worlds. He is reserving everything for the day of judgment. When unrighteousness has reached its peak He will execute judgment. Nothing and no one can prevent that.

2Pet 3:8. The day of the judgment comes after the day of the Lord, i.e. the whole period that includes His appearance for judgment and His government during the millennial kingdom of peace. The time for that has not come yet and sometimes it seems that the mockers are right. Then remember that the aspect of ‘time’ does not mean to God what it means to you and me. God surely takes our perception of time into account. He knows the duration of a day. Therefore, for instance, He cuts short the days of the great tribulation that His own will have to suffer (Mt 24:22). But to God time doesn’t exist. With Him one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. “Do not let this one [fact] escape your notice”, Peter says. If you consider that, it will give you courage to persevere. Look at how God has worked through the ages. He sees the end from the beginning and He works toward it.

2Pet 3:9. The first argument, that it has always been like this and that therefore the promise of His coming cannot be true, has been refuted by referring to the flood. The second argument, that it already had been going on for so long, also has been refuted by referring to the ‘timeless’ God. But that is still one part of the response. The judgment is not only delayed because time does not count for God, but also because He is longsuffering. It is absolutely no “slowness”, as some mockingly claim. Mockers have no idea that God for their sake has not sent the Lord Jesus yet.

People mock the love of God, while precisely that love restrains Him from judging them. Look at yourself. I do not know how old you are and for how long you have known the Lord Jesus. But assuming that you’ve known the Lord Jesus for three years already, just consider carefully where you would have been if the Lord Jesus had come four years ago. Aren’t you overwhelmed by the patience of God? He did not want you to perish, but that you would come to repentance. That same patience is what He is showing again and again toward people who would perish if the Lord would come now.

Now read 2 Peter 3:1-9 again.

Reflection: What all appeals to you in these verses?