2 Peter 3:13-18
 
2 Pet 3:13 (KJB)
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
 
Nevertheless - But or now
Look for - Wait for, anticipate, or expect
Dwelleth - Inhabit, reside, or settle down
 
Contrasting the destruction of the earth and universe in the previous verses, Peter now states a big “But” we believers understand the first has to be done away with so the second can be created. So the first heavens and earth will be destroyed but God promises that He is going to create the New Heavens and the New Earth where only the redeemed of the Lord will dwell because we were qualified to live there because of the imputed righteousness of Christ on the believer. There will never be a sinful thing anymore to harass the believer or divide their life. Life will be pure in the New Heavens and the New Earth and we anticipate the creation of them so we can finally be home forever.
 
2 Pet 3:14 (KJB)
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
 
Seeing that ye look - Anticipate or expect
Diligent - Do one’s best, be eager, earnestness, or to do the utmost
Without spot - Without blemish (Moral sense of “pure”)
Blameless - Without blame or fault
 
Since the believer is to look for these things in an expectant mode, we are not to dwell upon them as the focus of our life, but we are to ensure that we are in the faith, that is that we are saved which would mean that our souls would be without blemish and we would be without blame. We must make our Christian walk a continuum and never let our guard down. (Rev 14:5 KJV) And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. The sacrifice of Christ is so complete in purging sin from the believer, there is not even a trace of sin on our tongues. This is why we must examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Sometimes people think they are saved when they are just being religious and this is what must be discerned. I must ask myself honest questions such as, am I in the faith or am I just religious? Being religious sends one to hell, being in the faith sends one to the New Heaven and New Earth.
 
2 Pet 3:15 (KJB)
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
 
Account - Consider
Longsuffering - Forbearance or patience
 
Peter states that these believers should never allow the scoffers to upset them or steer them from the proper path. They must consider that the patience of the Lord is waiting for all the Elect of God to come into the kingdom. It is not something which was going to happen in a few years but several thousand. This is why Peter borrowed from Psalm 90:4 concerning the fact that time is not a factor in Heaven although it is on earth. The Lord’s timing for His return may not coincide with our timing but will happen precisely on the day He has appointed as we saw in Acts 17:31. Peter also mentions Paul in this verse and as we read in Galatians 2:2, Paul had met with Peter. (Gal 2:2 KJV) And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. It is not supposed that Paul had written any epistles to these people but maybe some of them lived in the same region where Peter’s epistle was being circulated. Peter wanted these Christians to know that Paul’s writings were of the same nature as his. Peter considered Paul a dear brother even after Paul chided him.
 
(Gal 2:11-15 KJV) But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. {12} For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. {13} And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. {14} But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? {15} We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,
 
2 Pet 3:16 (KJB)
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
 
Unlearned - Ignorant or untaught
Unstable - Weak or unsupported
Wrest - Twist or pervert
 
Here is a tremendous principle which must be heeded today. When teaching the word of God, it is important that a person knows what they are teaching and not to be abstract or nebulous. There are many today who are self-appointed teachers, both inside and outside the church who have taken passages of Scripture and have completely mutilated them in their interpretations. This is why there is so much unbelief in liberal churches because the leaders are spiritually dead and all they can focus on is good works such as feeding the poor or saving the whales, both of which have nothing to do with the true gospel. While it is nice to feed the poor, it does not get them into the kingdom of God instead they become hungry again in a few hours. When one looks at some of the epistles Paul penned such as Romans, we can understand why Peter states that the unlearned twist the Scriptures but this can happen with any book or passage in the Bible. False teachers will always take the Scriptures and interpret them according to their own predilection, especially if they have created a system of theology which cannot be supported by regular Bible study. So when false teachers begin to pervert the Scriptures, they do it to their own destruction and the destruction of those that follow. People are easily led astray, especially in the arena of religion. It is not hard to gain a following if you tell people what they want to hear. Scriptures which are hard to understand need to be studied very carefully in light of what the rest of the Bible teaches and we are not to isolate passages so they say what we want them to say and this is why Peter warns us that there will be many who will twist the Scriptures to make them say what they want.
 
2 Pet 3:17 (KJB)
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
 
Beware - Guard, defend, or watch over
Error - Seduction, delusion, or deception
Fall - Drop away or lose
Stedfastness - Perseverance (as in the true teachings which were handed down)
 
Now that Peter has given them all the warnings and admonitions throughout his epistle, now warns them that since they know these things beforehand, they are now forearmed with truth. He is telling them to beware, to guard themselves with the truth so they will not be led away with the seductions of the false teachers. These Christians are versed in the true Scriptures (according to what they had available) and it caused them to remain stedfast but if they let their guard down, it would be possible to drop away from the truth. This does not mean loss of salvation but it does mean loss of strength and loss of understanding the truth, ending up with much confusion. False teachers have a tendency to corrupt the meaning of the Scriptures while making it sound good and therein lies the deception. While their interpretations sound plausible, they are really in diametric opposition to the truth and that is what Peter is warning them about.
 
2 Pet 3:18 (KJB)
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
 
Grow - Increase or become greater
 
Peter ends his final epistle with a simple command. Grow is in the imperative mood in the Greek which makes it a command. We are to grow or increase in grace and knowledge of the Lord. This is done by both studying the Scriptures and practical application of the Scriptures in our lives. We grow by experiencing the daily trials and the endurance God gives us to make it through them. We grow by studying the Scriptures and then applying them to daily living, even in dire circumstances, that is when we truly build our faith. As we grow in the Lord Jesus Christ, He becomes nearer and dearer to us. Then Peter ends up with stating that all glory goes to the Lord Jesus Christ, both now and forever, as the Lamb of God.

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