2 Peter 3:13 KJV [13] “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” The opening word, “nevertheless,” is important. It acknowledges everything that has been said leading up to this verse. Peter has revealed a great deal about the last days. However, for the believer, the future is not defined by loss, but by fulfillment. God’s plan does not end in destruction but reveals new heavens and a new earth. Our hope is anchored in the phrase, “according to His promise.” This hope rests entirely on the character of …
“The Day of God”
2 Peter 3:12 KJV [12] “looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” The phrase “looking for” means “to expect.” As believers, we know that the end is coming soon. We know that this world is going to be consumed with fire, and the heavens are going to be dissolved. Peter gives us a vivid and fearful picture of what the end will look like. If I were reading these verses and not saved, then I would not …
“What Manner of Persons”
2 Peter 3:11 KJV [11] “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” The Bible teaches that this world is headed for destruction. The phrase “what manner of persons” goes beyond our behavior and involves our identity. It is not just about what we do occasionally, but who we are every day. Peter has painted a very clear picture that the world is coming to an end, so we need to heed this warning. These truths should instill in us the desire to live …
“A Thief in the Night”
2 Peter 3:10 KJV [10] “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” A thief does not send notice ahead of time. There is no courtesy warning or calendar appointment. The point is not to inspire fear, but to highlight the certainty of unpredictability. Life, as we experience it, often lulls us into a pattern of assuming that tomorrow will …
“The Lord is Not Slack”
2 Peter 3:9 KJV [9] “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” The problem in this verse is not with God, but with human perception. We live in a world of schedules, deadlines, and where people want immediate results. However, God does not work on man’s scale. Our verse says, “as some men count slackness.” These scoffers are measuring God by their own limited understanding. Men are fools to try to measure the God that …