2 Peter 3v1 - 18 (21st January 2011)

You can read the whole passage here.

We have finally come to the end of the letter. As a summary, the leaders' guide states as follows:-

In chapter 1, Peter taught that knowledge of Christ is the remedy against false teachers. In chapter 2, Peter assures his readers that God will deal with false teachers but in the meantime gives important information on how to identify false teachers. Chapter 3 teaches believers to be holy in the light of the climax of all things. When believers understand the purposes of God for the future they will best be able to live for God in the present (Fleming, p. 31).

Chapter 3 talks mainly of the return of Christ. This is something that a lot of people today do not accept/believe. They simply do not want to accept God's word, nor the fact that they will be answerable to a higher being. After all, if Jesus were to return, he is truly God and everyone will have to give an account of their lives to him.

Yet, Peter tells us that the "delay" in Christ's return is another way of God showing his mercy to the unsaved - wanting everyone to be saved (v9).

In the meantime, we are to live "holy and godly lives" (v11). To be holy is to be separated for God's use. Just like how the things used in the temple are "holy" - nothing really inherently special but that they are set apart to be used by God. In the same way, we are to be set apart from the world and live a godly life. Our lives must show that we are the people of God.

We are to "speed the coming of the day of God" - to share the gospel and tell people of the coming of Christ. We were reminded of practicing the 4 "I"s - to identify people, to intercede for them, to invest in their lives and to invite them to the saving knowledge of our saviour!

So while we should want our Lord to return soon, we should also make the most of the time we have here now. Our attitude should like the apostle Paul - "For to me to live is for Christ and to die is gain". As long as we live, we live our lives for Christ - and if we should die, we shall only gain as we will be with him forever.

We ended off thinking if our life and attitude show that we look forward to the return of Christ or not. If we were to meet Christ today, how would we feel?