Living in Light of His Return: Remembering the Prophetic and Apostolic Word (2 Peter 3:2 NKJV)
Have an extra post today. God laid this on my heart earlier today and just felt the need to get it out. So please, if you've already read my first posting today, take the time to read this one also.
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In a world constantly shifting beneath our feet, where headlines scream of uncertainty and cultural currents pull us in every direction, where do we find our anchor? For believers, our steadfast hope is found in the unchanging Word of God. The Apostle Peter, in his second letter, addresses us as "beloved," a tender reminder of God's deep affection for His people. He wasn't introducing new ideas, but stirring up our "pure minds by way of reminder" —a call to awaken our spiritual senses and rekindle our zeal for divine truth.
Our anchor for this vital reminder comes from 2 Peter 3:2 (NKJV): "that you 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 Savior." This verse lays a profound foundation for how we are to understand God's truth and respond to it, especially concerning the glorious return of Christ.
The Unshakeable Foundation: God's Revealed Truth
Peter directs our attention to two pillars of divine revelation: the holy prophets and the apostles.
The Enduring Voice of the Holy Prophets
When Peter speaks of "the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets," he refers to the Old Testament prophets. These were not ordinary men, but "holy men of God" who were "divinely inspired, both enlightened and sanctified by the Holy Ghost." Their words are God-breathed truth, to be "regarded, and retained in memory."
These prophets consistently foretold the coming of the Messiah, not just His first advent, but also His glorious return. Visions like Daniel's of "one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven" or Zechariah's prophecy of the Lord standing on the Mount of Olives [Zechariah 14:4] are woven throughout the Old Testament. For those who uphold biblical inerrancy—the belief that the Bible, in its original manuscripts, is without error —these predictions carry the full weight of divine authority. The consistent message from prophets and apostles reveals a seamless continuity in God’s revelation, underscoring the reliability of His plan across all ages.
The Clear Mandate of the Lord and Savior through His Apostles
Following the prophets, Peter calls us to remember "the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles." This places the New Testament apostles' teachings on the same authoritative level as the ancient prophets. Chosen and commissioned by Christ, their words are not mere human opinions but the very "commandment of the Lord and Savior." This reinforces the "biblicism" central to our faith, where the Bible is the ultimate authority.
The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, consistently reiterated Christ’s Second Coming. From the angels' promise at His ascension—"This same Jesus... will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven" —to Paul's vivid description of the Lord's descent with a shout and trumpet call, followed by the resurrection and rapture of believers these are clear, divine mandates. These apostolic declarations are our "only safeguard against false teachers, doctrines of demons, extra-biblical revelation."
The prophetic foretelling and apostolic commandments are not just for intellectual assent; they demand specific, actionable responses in our daily lives. Apostolic teachings on Christ's return carry direct practical implications: we are to refuse to be deceived by false Christs, avoid preoccupation with this earthly life, resist being captivated by the world, and ensure we are not overtaken by judgment. This moves us from understanding to transformative living.
The Certainty of His Coming: Why We Must Heed the Call
Confronting the Scoffers: God's Patience, Not Delay
Peter warns us about "scoffers" who "will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts," mocking, "Where is the promise of His coming?" Their skepticism often stems from a moral rebellion against God's authority, a desire to live without accountability.
Peter counters this by reminding us of God’s timeless perspective: "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." This isn't a delay; it's God’s "longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." His patience is divine mercy, extending grace for lost souls to turn to Him.
The Inevitable Judgment and New Creation
To underscore God’s certain intervention, Peter draws a parallel to the Noahic Flood. Just as God judged a wicked world with water, He will, with equal certainty, intervene again with fire. The present heavens and earth "are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." This literal, cataclysmic judgment will usher in a new cosmic order: "Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." This is a complete renewal where sin is absent and God’s righteousness reigns.
The certainty of this future judgment and the glorious promise of "new heavens and a new earth" are profound motivators for how we ought to live now. Peter’s question, "Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?" , directly links these future events to our present ethical conduct. Our hope for the future must shape our behavior in the present.
Our Urgent Response: Living as Expectant Believers
In light of these truths, our response must be clear and unwavering.
1. Pursuing Personal Holiness and Godliness
Since everything in this world is temporary, our lives must reflect eternal priorities. We are exhorted to "renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." This is a call to active separation from the world's values and a deliberate pursuit of Christ-like character. "Everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." Genuine hope in Christ’s return is inextricably linked to our commitment to personal sanctification, a deep, inward cleansing and complete devotion to God.
This means examining our daily choices. Peter’s warning about preoccupation with earthly life—eating, drinking, buying, selling, marrying—is not to condemn these activities, but to caution against allowing them to engross us to the point of neglecting our heavenly life. Our daily decisions should be filtered through the lens of eternity.
2. Maintaining Vigilance and Readiness
We must maintain unwavering vigilance and readiness. We are warned against being "deceived by false Christs" and becoming "captivated by the world." When the true Jesus returns, His coming will be unmistakable, visible to all, and accompanied by power and great glory.
Jesus Himself commanded, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." The unpredictability of His return compels us to live each day in a state of preparedness, preventing spiritual complacency. Peter encourages us to be "looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God." his "hastening" means living with eager anticipation and allowing that longing to shape our priorities and actions.
3. Engaging in Zealous Evangelism
A third vital response is zealous evangelism. The proclamation of the gospel to all nations is a divinely ordained sign that will precede Christ’s return. God’s longsuffering is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." This divine patience provides the precious opportunity for salvation, and we are God’s chosen instruments to extend this opportunity. By faithfully sharing the Gospel, we cooperate with God’s redemptive plan, "hastening" the fulfillment of His purposes by bringing more souls to repentance.
We are called to "do the work of an evangelist." This involves concrete, actionable steps for every believer:
- Share salvation stories: Allow others to see themselves in the narrative of redemption.
- Clearly explain how to be saved: Be ready to articulate the simple truth: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved."
- Invite people to trust Jesus immediately: Extend clear invitations to respond to the Gospel.
- Pray for the lost: Intercession for unsaved friends and family is essential.
- Engage in personal evangelism during the week: Share Christ beyond church walls into daily interactions.
The church’s mission is to "bring the gospel to the ends of the earth." This is the collective responsibility of all who bear the name of Christ.
Our Blessed Hope and Final Exhortation
The return of Jesus Christ is not a myth but a certain, literal, visible, and glorious event. It is the "blessed hope" of the Christian. This hope is an active, transforming reality that shapes our entire existence, confirming that history is the unfolding story of God redeeming a people for His glory.
Let us be stirred up, beloved, to remember these profound truths. Let the words of the holy prophets and the commandment of our Lord and Savior through His apostles resonate deeply within our hearts and minds. May our lives be a testament to our fervent anticipation of His glorious appearing, as we live in holy conduct, vigilant watchfulness, and zealous proclamation, all for the glory of our coming King.
Amen.
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