Reminders from a Postscript

Transcription

1 2 Peter 3:17, 18 Reminders from a Postscript You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (3:17, 18). Think of the most tender relationship you share with friends, children, work associates, or brethren in the Lord s church. Imagine having only one more time to communicate with this one you hold in tender affection. What thoughts would be uppermost in your mind? The closing verses of 2 Peter reveal how the aged fisherman would respond to those questions. He is concluding his second letter to those with whom he shared a close communion and warm affection in life. His love is visible as he used the word beloved in his parting words. Strong love moved Peter to add a few urgent thoughts at the conclusion of this letter. They are much like the postscripts you and I append to letters we send to loved ones. By his own confession, Peter is close to death (1:14). This was probably the last opportunity he would have to exhort those he guided as a shepherd. His exhortations are quite provoking, for they reveal a depth of tenderness toward his brethren and his strong commitment to his God. The closing verses of New Testament epistles are often covered in a hurried fashion. It is improperly assumed that these verses are not intended for the modern reader and not suitable study material. Many have missed practical lessons by failing to study the concluding verses. A concentrated study of the concluding thoughts of 2 Peter, as well as other New Testament books, will result in a joyous discovery of a number of spiritual truths. View 2 Peter 3:17, 18 in light of Peter s final urgings to his beloved brethren. Consider the P.S. reminders of Peter. P.S. PLEASE BE HONEST WITH SCRIPTURE (3:17a) You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men,... (3:17a). Peter begins by reminding his readers of the present danger discussed in verse 16. He had informed them that certain brethren twisted and corrupted the simple teachings of God. These false teachers were influential in the church. By warning them about the danger, they should have been prepared and not deceived by such. The danger of dishonest teachers has long plagued the church. One description of dishonest teachers is found in the writings of Irenaeus of Lion, who wrote to refute Gnostic teachings around A.D Irenaeus charged the Gnostics with handling the Scriptures as a fraud. To illustrate his point, he suggested the following. They are like one who would break up some work of exquisite mosaic, fashioned by a skilled artist, representing the effigy of a king, and then recompose the pieces upon an entirely different plan. In the end the mosaic resembles the vile image of a fox or dog. And hoping that since they can point to the same stones as being the same, be able to persuade the simple that it was still the 1

2 king s image! You can look through the Scriptures and find multiplied examples of those who are like the dishonest teachers in the day of Peter and Irenaeus. They twist and distort the simple truths that Almighty God has given to us. Peter s focus on personal honesty with the Scriptures causes us to consider two particular areas. First, we must be honest as we listen to the teaching of God s truth. Those who preach and teach the Bible have a serious obligation to present the truth in an unerring way (cf. James 3:1). In connection with this point, I like Nehemiah 8:8: And they read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading. Honesty is expected as the truth is presented from the teacher we expect him to have been honest in his study and teaching. But honesty is also expected from those who sit in the audience and listen. We should never be so gullible that we will sit and accept any teaching without checking with the inspired Scriptures. Honesty in listening led Paul to commend his brethren in 1 Thessalonians: 2 And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God,... (1 Thessalonians 2:13). We must be honest with the Scriptures as we listen to them. Even if we are listening to a teacher we love, admire, and hold in our highest esteem, we must compare his teachings with those of the Bible. Especially should this be done when one brings novel ideas and interpretations. Second, we must be honest as we personally apply Scriptures to our private lives. This reminds us of the wonderful attitude of Ezra: For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord, and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel (Ezra 7:1). How honest are you with the Scriptures in your private life? It is easy to be dishonest and refuse to admit that a hard point of Bible teaching really applies to us. It is difficult to admit we have to change some attitude or action. Dishonesty in recognizing the impact of the Scriptures teachings will lead us to become associated with those Paul described in 2 Timothy 4:3, 4: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. Dishonesty in personal application of the Scriptures will lead us to become like those Peter has already discussed in 3:16. Peter has forewarned his readers of the danger of dishonesty with the Bible s teachings. They should now be forearmed and able to combat the danger. P.S. PLEASE GUARD YOUR SPIRITUAL SECURITY (3:17b) Be on your guard lest,... you fall from your own steadfastness (3:17b). Peter could speak from personal experience. He knew all too well how easily one s security could slip away. He had once been carried away with error (cf. Galatians 2:11-13). This personal tragedy in Peter s past helped to spur him to remind his brethren of a similar possibility in their lives if they were not careful. The word beware means to keep on your guard. It is a military term which is often used to describe the seizure of a valuable prize that is placed under the careful guard of a trusted soldier. The soldier had the responsibility to act diligently in guarding his charge. The reason Peter uses this word is clear. The believer has a valuable prize spiritual security. But this prize may be lost if proper guard is not exercised. This possibility is repeatedly stated throughout God s dealings with men in the Old and New Testaments. This is the reason we are encouraged to take heed (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:12; Mark 13:5, 9, 33). This same danger was also on Peter s mind as he closed his first epistle, Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Those who are recaptured by Satan have failed to heed this closing reminder by Peter. The failure of Christians to persevere can be attributed to a number of reasons. Perhaps one of the most prominent is that of immaturity (discussed by Peter in the next point). Those who do not grow and progress are likely to fall away. Mother, said little Nezzie one morning after falling out of bed, I know why I fell out of bed last night. I slept too close to the place I got in. How sad it is to review the membership roll of any congregation and hear comments about

3 those who once attended. He sure was a great help to us. He would do anything he could. She was such a good Bible class teacher. She really cared for her students. You will hear words used such as zealous, strong, dedicated, and steadfast describing members who are no longer faithful to the Lord. Why? I believe those members have simply forgotten this urgent P.S. of Peter s second epistle! Knowing this, we ought to be more diligent in our faith. The words of Peter in this second reminder are urgent; the tense is emphatic: You guard yourself right now! Peter knew that if the believer failed to do this, it would lead to the sacrifice of eternal security a great victory for Satan and a bitter defeat for the Lord. Peter s use of the word fall is clear. Even after one lives the firmest and most devoted life, he can come to this disaster (cf. Galatians 5:4). If we trust in God, we will rest in eternal security (cf. 1 John 1:6-9). This point has already been discussed by Peter (1:10, 11). Let us make sure we are living each day with this thought. For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8). P.S. PLEASE REMEMBER THE URGENCY OF MATURING (3:18a) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (3:18a). The third reminder could provide the greatest assurance for Peter s readers and guarantee their steadfastness. If we mature in faith, we will grow in steadfastness and devotion to spiritual duties. We must press on to maturity in Christ, never being satisfied with remaining where we are. Only the mature believers will be ready for the Lord s return. Years ago, says a lady, I became acquainted with an old peasant in a German village. He was called Gottlieb, signifying the love of God. If ever a heart was filled with love for God and for all of God s creatures, it was his. He possessed one or two apple and pear trees, and used to amuse himself in the summer by picking up the fallen fruit and heaping it in a corner of a shed. Once I came upon him as he was stooping to pick up an apple. Don t you weary, Gottlieb, stooping so often and then lying all by the roadside? No, Miss, he answered, smiling and handing me a handful of ripe apples. I don t weary. I m just waiting. I think I m about ripe now, and I must soon fall to the ground. Then, just think, the Lord will pick me up! Oh, Miss! You are yet young and perhaps just in bloom. Turn well around to the Son of Righteousness that you may ripen sweet for His service. This is the point of Peter s third reminder: Remember to develop a deep maturity for the Lord. Spiritual maturity seems to be found throughout this short book. At the beginning (1:5ff.), Peter urged the development of the graces of Christian faith. Now at the close, he is still urging such. If you concentrate on this emphasis, the following points become clear. The urgency of maturity is understandable. When God s saints are growing, they will resist error (cf. 1 John 3:9). As believers mature, they find it easier to live according to God s principles. The more mature a Christian is, the more like God he becomes. Consider the contrast that is sometimes visible between the mature member of the church and the immature one. The immature member has no joy, victory, or transformation. To him, religion is simply a ceremony performed with ritualistic mechanics. The immature always lives in defeat and is often the source of division, grief, and hinderance to the local church. But the mature member is such a pleasant contrast. The mature are zealous for God and discover the greatest joys and contentments that Christianity can offer. The mature saint is one who quiets the clamor of immaturity and helps unity and harmony reign in the congregation. Surely you are able to see the urgency of maturity. The progress of maturity is never-ending. Peter s command is simply, You must keep on growing. Don t ever stop! It always amazes me to listen to those who have grown up in our instant world. They have convinced themselves that they can become instantly mature without diligent study of the Bible. These are the folks that always wish they were as smart as Brother So-and-So, but will never be. The reason they will never be mature is that they are eating the wrong kind of food. If they want to be strong, they must develop appetites for strong spiritual food. Christians will never reach a plateau where they can learn no more from the Bible. The direction for maturity is twofold. We must grow in grace. This refers to one s favor with 3

4 God. We must develop so that God is pleased with us and we will be able to receive His favors. Knowledge refers to the attainment of Bible facts. We must never be content with the amount of Bible knowledge we have. We must spend serious study time each day with the Scriptures in order to grow in this direction. The failure to mature spiritually is frightening. Our Hebrew brethren were in danger of losing their spiritual security, just as Peter s readers, because of immaturity (cf. Hebrews 5:11 6:8). If one stops maturing he cannot remain in the same spiritual position. He will regress. Facts learned as recently as last Sunday s Bible class will be forgotten unless they are daily repeated. Failure to mature means regression instead of progression in Christianity. Surely we are able to understand why Peter would add a P.S. regarding his brethren s spiritual growth. He knew how critical it was and wanted to impress his readers with its importance as well. 4 P.S. PLEASE GLORIFY GOD (3:18b) To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (3:18b). The concluding sentence is a beautiful benediction. This is the only time it is found in the New Testament. It is a beautiful epitome of Peter s basic objective in life. If we were to paraphrase the sentiment it could read, My greatest desire and sole purpose in all I do and say is to bring glory to my Savior and Lord, both now and in all eternity. Peter s sentiment calls for his readers to contemplate another contrast. The false teachers were spots, blemishes, and embarrassments to Christ and God. But Peter was an instrument by which glory to the majestic deity would arise. Peter urges his readers to follow his pattern. Can you identify with this objective of Peter? Peter s daily habits glorified God? Everything he did pointed to his loving and merciful Father in heaven. Do you see the necessity of living life so that everything you say and do brings glory to God s great name? The first angel in Revelation 14 flew over all the inhabitants of the earth and cried with a loud voice, Fear God and give Him the glory. Such God-fearing behavior will enable men to be prepared for the terrible judgment day (Revelation 14:7). Peter realized this Copyright, 1989, 2005 by Truth for Today ALL RIGHTS RESERVED point and was trying, in these closing words, to impress his readers with its somber truth as well. Imagine at your funeral this one sentence being uttered: lived a life which glorified God. That would be wonderful. Nothing more would really need to be said. As you read the biblical biographies of the saints of God, you read of men and women who deserve such an eulogy. Paul stated it in these concise words, But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Galatians 6:14). Peter urges believers to continue living lives which bring glory to God s name until the day of eternity. No time is available to become involved in habits or practices that do not bring glory to God. In some monasteries, it was the law that the chanting of praises should never be interrupted, and that one choir of monks should relieve another in the holy service. In much the same way, believers should be on guard that they never allow their lives to lapse into silence and not praise Jehovah God. Psalm 146 is a grand hymn of praise to God. If you ever find it difficult to live so that your habits, acts, and attitudes bring glory to God, carefully read this psalm. In fact, it would be an excellent practice for all to read this majestic hymn each morning and be impressed with the need to behave during the day so God will be glorified. This is the final P.S. of the apostle. He wanted the last words to remind them of the necessity of bringing glory to God. CONCLUSION We conclude the second epistle that Peter wrote. We find in this short book the final words of a dear friend, an elder who shared a heavy burden for the souls he was to guide. As Peter s last reminder says, are we glorifying God? Can people look your way and say with admiration, He is a Christian. He is someone whose word is true, whose actions are honest, and whose thoughts are sincere. He is a person who brings glory to God and to the church of Jesus Christ. If you are not bringing glory to God, you are bringing dishonor to Him. Resolve now, My life will bring glory to God! John Kachelman

5 Two Commands That Bring God Glory False Teachers 1. Be on your guard! (3:17). 2. Be growing toward maturity! (3:18). The consequences of these two commands will bring God glory both now and in eternity! What Brings God the Glory? 1. The love-bond among His children (3:17a). 2. The steadfastness of His children against error (3:17b). 3. The steady march to maturity by His believers (3:18a). When these three things are observed, God is glorified, and He will be glorified throughout eternity. Maturity 1. It comes because of knowing basic facts about Christ s return since you know this (3:17a). 2. It causes you to be on guard against apostasy (3:17b). 3. It causes you to choose between truth and error (3:17c). 4. It causes you to develop a well-rounded spiritual life (3:18); you grow in grace and knowledge. 5. It causes you to see the need of maturity so God will receive glory (3:18b). Bold Assurance 1. Assurance is founded upon knowing God s revelations (3:17a). 2. Assurance is strengthened by discerning between error and truth (3:17b). 3. Assurance is developed by spiritual maturity (3:18). 4. Assurance is confirmed when God is glorified in your life (3:18b). Copyright, 1989, 2005 by Truth for Today ALL RIGHTS RESERVED In his closing words, Peter once again mentions the false teachers. They are an awesome threat because of these reasons: 1. They induce believers to forget facts learned before. 2. They take advantage of all who are not on guard. 3. They are so devoted to error that they are driven by it as if carried (3:17). 4. They are lawless, unprincipled, and wicked. 5. They lead one to certain fall. 6. They cannot stand up to maturity (3:18). The Possibility of Apostasy Although some deny it, Peter s words are a strong affirmation of the possibility of apostasy. 1. Why be on guard if apostasy is not possible? 2. Why be concerned about error? 3. Why would Peter say we would fall from steadfastness? 4. Why should we be concerned about spiritual maturity? The only logical answer to all of these questions is that a saved child of God can certainly fall from God s grace and be eternally lost. What Leads to Apostasy? 1. Casual Bible study when we read and fail to remember or apply the Scriptures. 2. Casual living when we are indifferent or unconcerned and fail to be watching and fail to give God the glory. 3. Casual doctrine when we live by just any laws and fail to walk on God s strait path. 4. Casual Christianity when we approach Christianity without a desire to mature and fail to develop true trust and commitment. Thus we do not have to totally forsake God in order to be apostates. We may become apostates by approaching spiritual matters in a casual or an apathetic manner. 5