2 Peter 3:1-6

 

2 Pet 3:1 (KJB)
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
 
I stir up - Wake up thoroughly, excite, or arouse
Pure - Unsullied or sincere
Minds - Intellect or understanding
 
Peter now turns to the subject of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter is not basically telling them anything they already do not know but he is attempting to wake them up or arouse them to the truths of the second coming of Christ. Many times we can study the Scriptures and forget to study the great truths that we, as Christians, rejoice in. We may forget to re-study about the second coming of Christ for a long time but here Peter is telling these Christians that he is stirring up their saved minds to refocus on the Lord’s return. This is a great hope that the Christian has because it will be the end of all suffering and persecution for the believers. In our day, when the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is right around the corner, we should be emphasizing it much more than we do. We need to have a balanced study program so we can study new sections of the Bible we have not yet studied while re-studying the parts we learned as new Christians.
 
2 Pet 3:2 (KJB)
That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
 
Mindful - Woo or court
 
Peter uses an interesting word concerning the words of Scripture. Peter is stating that we need to woo or court, as if we were courting a future spouse, the words of the prophets found in the Old Testament and the words of the apostles found in the New Testament. He is speaking specifically of all the prophecies of the coming of the Lord and the return of the Lord. As the Lord was faithful to come the first time, He will be faithful to return the second time according to the Scriptures. We are to treat the Word of God as if we were courting it. This means we are to hold them near and dear and to realize that they are truths which have been fulfilled and which will be fulfilled in a future time. If a man is courting a woman and always doubts her sincerity, then eventually that relationship will dissipate. If we doubt the sincerity of the Scriptures, then eventually we will not trust them for anything, let alone future events but if we trust the Scriptures implicitly, there will be a bond like that of a marriage and trust will come effortlessly.
 
2 Pet 3:3 (KJB)
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
 
Last days - The last of the days of history
Scoffers - Mockers or deceivers
Lusts - Longings or cravings
 
Peter wanted them to know this information first that as we live in the last days, (from the Cross to the last day) there will come many mockers who walk after their own lusts. Their lusts may be for a following or just to try and discredit Christianity. Peter wanted to warn them that scoffers would always be here and that they should not be surprised at their presence. Today we are surrounded by scoffers from Hollywood to the classroom where true Christianity is mocked and degraded, while the false religions of the world are left alone. So we too are to heed Peter’s advice because those days that he is speaking of are upon us.  Each generation has its groups of scoffers.
 
2 Pet 3:4 (KJB)
And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
 
Promise - Proclamation and that which is proclaimed
Continue - Remain or be constant
 
When the second coming of Christ is proclaimed, the scoffers continue to ask where is the fulfillment of the promise that was made about His second coming? They misunderstand one great thing in that since the time of creation there was a worldwide flood. This means they ignore the fact that God intervened in the world at the time of Noah and He will intervene again by ending this world. Just because they see things going on from day to day, they believe that life is perpetual and there will be no end. Just as the ancient world was surprised when God shut the Ark, there will be a horrible surprise when God ends this present world. Read Revelation 6:12-17 which gives detailed information concerning the second coming of Christ in the first parallel vision of Revelation. The scoffers will be seeking death from fear of the Lord Jesus Christ returning to earth.
 
2 Pet 3:5 (KJB)
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
 
Willingly - Purpose to do
Ignorant - Hidden or unaware
Standing - Consisting
 
These scoffers are willingly ignorant of the things which have happened to the world in the past. These people prefer to be ignorant rather than study and see that things did happen since the creation of the world. They would rather close their eyes to the reality that how God formed the earth and the universe just by the word of His power. They failed to see when God formed the earth that it too was standing out of the water especially as the mist would water the earth. Peter has in mind the creation of the earth and how water played a great part in that creation. The same power of God that had formed the earth would also sustain it.
 
2 Pet 3:6 (KJB)
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
 
Overflowed - Inundate or deluge
Perished - Destroyed or ruined
 
God commanded that the earth was to be destroyed with water and the deluge came upon the earth and destroyed all living creatures except those in the ark. This event is one of the most rejected episodes in world history, simply because it is written in the Bible.

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