2 Peter 3:18 KJV [18] “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.”      What Peter is saying in this verse is not a suggestion but a calling. Grace is more than the doorway of salvation; it is the atmosphere in which the believer lives. The grace that first forgives us is the same grace that sustains us. It is the same grace that teaches us how to live a godly life. It is also the same grace that develops us as we …

2 Peter 3:17 KJV [17] “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.”      Peter is closing this epistle by encouraging the brethren to remain steadfast. The message was much needed then, and it is still important today. We are seeing many people fall by the wayside in these last days. Many have changed course and left the old-time way. Some people make fun of phrases like “the old-fashioned way” or “old-time religion.” They find reasons to distance themselves from it …

2 Peter 3:16 KJV [16] “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.”      Paul’s writings flooded the world with light. His epistles are rich with doctrine, instruction, correction, and encouragement. They unfold the mysteries of grace, justification, sanctification, and the church. Yet Peter reminds us that these truths are not always easily grasped. Some passages stretch the mind and require spiritual discernment. This should not discourage us, …

2 Peter 3:15 KJV [15] “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;”      George Muller began to pray for a group of five acquaintances. After five years, one of them came to Christ. In ten years, two more of them were saved. He prayed for twenty-five years, and the fourth man was converted. For the fifth, he prayed until his death, and this friend came to Christ a few months afterward. For this latter friend, Muller had prayed almost …

2 Peter 3:14 KJV [14] “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”      Peter is now bringing the believer’s thoughts back down to earth. He uses the word “wherefore,” connecting it directly to the hope described in the previous passage. Hope in the Scriptures is never passive. It always carries with it the idea of strong assurance. We have a hope that is steadfast and sure. We are looking for the blessed hope of our Lord’s return.       These saints were facing difficult …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …