Read 2 Peter 3:11-18.

Introduction⤒🔗

Back in the late 19th century, a certain English family spent their vacation at the seashore. While there, the father received a message urging him to return to London on business. His wife and two little daughters accompanied him to the train station to see him off.

The two little girls loved their father very much and were sorry that he would be away. They said, “Father, tell us when you will come back and we will meet you at the station.”

Their father replied, “I am not sure what day it will be. But it will be on the one o’clock train either Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday or Friday.”

When Tuesday came, the girls put on their prettiest Sunday dresses and went to the station to see if father had arrived. But he did not arrive on Tuesday. On Wednesday they again put on their best dresses and went to the station. But father did not arrive on Wednesday. Neither did he arrive on Thursday.

But when Friday came and the one o’clock train rolled into the station, there was father. And his little daughters were ready to greet him, dressed in their finest clothes. That night their mother remarked to her husband, “I never had such an easy time keeping the girls’ dresses clean! They wanted to be ready for your return.”¹

The knowledge that their father would return and their desire to be ready to greet him had a very practical impact on the lives of those little girls. All the more, the certainty of Christ’s return in glory and the Final Judgment that shall accompany His return should have a very practical impact upon our lives.

In verse eleven, the Apostle Peter asks the question, “In view of Christ’s return, what kind of people ought you to be?” He then proceeds to supply the answer to that question: Because of the certainty of Christ’s return, we must conduct ourselves in a godly manner. In this passage Peter provides us with three guidelines as to how we may conduct our lives in a godly manner as we await Christ’s return.

Conduct Yourself in a Godly Manner, by Anticipating the Coming Day of God←⤒🔗

As a Christian, your attitude should be that of watching for and even striving for the coming of the Day of God. Peter instructs those to whom he is writing: is it necessary for you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹²while you are watching for and striving for the arrival of the Day of God, by which [the] heavens, being inflamed, shall be destroyed and the elements, being burned up, shall be dissolved. (vs. 11-12).

In light of verse 12b, in which Peter informs us that on the Day, “[the] heavens, being inflamed, shall be destroyed and the elements, being burned up, shall be dissolved,” one might ask, “Why should we be looking forward to this day?” The answer is revealed in verse thirteen, namely, the fact that the day of God’s coming will bring the fulfillment of God’s promise; namely, the appearance of the new creation characterized by righteousness: “according to his promise, we are watching for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides.” This great Christian hope can sustain us in hard times; but it is sometimes hard to sustain this hope, (hard to maintain it as the guiding light of our lives), in good times when there are so many things of this present world to distract us. The O.T. covenant nation of Israel was warned of the danger of prosperity and the detrimental effect it could have on their relationship with the LORD their God:

Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commandments, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. ¹²[Be careful] for fear that, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, ¹³and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, ^14athen your heart becomes proud and you forget the LORD your God. Deut. 8:11-14a

What are some biblical incentives to rekindle and stimulate our desire for the day of Christ’s coming?

• First, there is the realization that the fullness of joy is found in the immediate presence of the LORD: “You have made known to me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures for evermore” (Psl. 16:11).
   
• Second, there is the realization that that day will bring the final triumph of the kingdom of God. With regard to that great day the angels declare, “The kingdom of the world has become [the kingdom] of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).
   
• Third, and most importantly, it will be on that great day that the Lord Jesus Christ will be vindicated to the glory of God. It will be on that great day that all of which the Apostle Paul writes of Christ will be realized: “before the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11).

As Christians, we should be actively anticipating the coming of the Day of God. The Greek word, orπευδω, sometimes translated, “eagerly awaiting,” has more of an active rather than a passive sense; it may better be rendered, “striving for the arrival of the Day of God.” How are we to actively strive for the arrival of the day of God? We are to do so mainly by means of prayer. Consider one of the first petitions of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. ¹⁰Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10). Note, too, the response of the church to our Lord’s testimony concerning His return: “He who testifies to these things says, Indeed, I am coming swiftly. Amen; come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20) Think about a time when you were really earnest in prayer, you really wanted and needed God to do something for you. Remember how you prayed at that time. Pray like that again, this time praying like that for the coming of the day of God, and do so consistently, even daily.

Let us be motivated to conduct ourselves in a godly manner, by anticipating the coming day of God. Let us take to heart the warning and counsel our Lord gives with regard to the day of His return:

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. ³⁵ It will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.Lk. 21:34-36

Note: “dissipation” means, “to indulge in pleasure recklessly;” it refers to the extravagant pursuit of pleasure, rather than pursuing and cultivating the spiritual life.

The Christian writer, Harry Blamires, remarks, “A prime mark of the Christian mind is that it cultivates the eternal perspective. That is to say, it looks beyond this life to another one. It is supernaturally orientated, and brings to bear upon earthly considerations the fact of Heaven and the fact of Hell.”²

Conduct Yourself in a Godly Manner, by Giving Diligence to be Found at Peace with God←⤒🔗

Since it is appointed for us to meet God, and on that great day to stand before the Lord of glory, it is imperative that we be at peace with Him. The Scriptures assure the Christian of having peace with God; the Apostle Paul declares, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). At the same time, we are exhorted by the Apostle Peter to “make every effort” to assure that we will “be found at peace with him” (vs. 14).

We have peace with God through our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and that relationship must be kept in good condition. When Peter exhorts us to be “pure and blameless,” he is exhorting us to be diligent to deal with known sin by means of repentance and the grace provided by God, rather than to condone or conceal such sin. By way of illustration, it is like regularly taking your coat to the cleaners, and not allowing the spots and stains to set in the fabric.

To be in a state of peace with God and to maintain that state, it is necessary for us to be honest with God and open with Him. David discovered this and testifies of it:

Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no guile. ³When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long; ⁴for day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. ⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD...and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Psl. 32:2-5

Furthermore, it is also necessary to be on guard against those attitudes and views that “disturb the peace” we have with God. We must avoid entertaining the sinful attitude and outlook that abuses the unique relationship we have with God in Christ and assumes that we can take an unholy advantage of that relationship. Let us bear in mind 1 Peter 1:14-19 as a safeguard against such an abuse:

As obedient children, no longer conform to the passions you formerly had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵But just as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶because it is written, 'Be holy, because I am holy.' ¹⁷And if you call upon the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, live your remaining time [on earth] in fear, ¹⁸knowing that you were redeemed from your futile way of life handed down from your forefathers, not by perishable things, such as silver or gold, ¹⁹but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or defect, [the blood] of Christ.

As Christians, we have been called to be obedient children. We have been called to share in the heavenly Father’s divine nature; His command is, “Be holy, because I am holy.” We must recognize that our heavenly Father is the divine Judge of all the earth, and that He carries out that sacred work without partiality and with perfect justice. All this must cause us as Christians to reverence our heavenly Father with a holy fear and recognize the impossibility of taking unholy advantage of Him without disturbing the peace.

We must avoid entertaining the sinful attitude and outlook that misinterprets the long-suffering of the LORD. We must recognize that the great patience of our Lord “is intended for salvation.” That is to say, His long-suffering patience is intended to show His kindness and mercy and to afford sinners the opportunity of coming to Christ the Savior. Our Lord’s long-suffering must never be misinterpreted as an indication of negligence or indifference on the part of God. In verse fifteen of our present passage (2 Pet. 3:11-18), Peter refers us to the Apostle Paul’s teaching on this subject. One passage in particular that Peter may have had in mind is Romans 2:4-6,

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? ⁵But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself on the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. ⁶God will give to each man according to what he has done.

Let us conduct ourselves in a godly way, by giving diligence to be at peace with God.

The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹²The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy; ¹⁴rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the sinful nature so as to fulfill its lusts. Rom. 13:11b-14

Conduct Yourself in a Godly Manner, by Growing in the Grace and Knowledge of Christ←⤒🔗

All of life is dynamic and changing, life never stands still: neighborhoods, institutions, societies, individuals, are either progressing or regressing, either deteriorating or advancing.

Our Christian life, our relationship with Christ, is also dynamic. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews laments the retrogression that was tragically evident in the lives of those Christians to whom he was writing:

¹¹We have much to say about this [he desires to give these Christians deeper teaching, unfolding to them the great truths of Scripture], but it is hard to explain because you have become dull of hearing. ¹²In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Heb. 5:11-12

The writer to the Hebrews laments the fact that these Christian people have retrogressed in their spiritual life and are thus unable to receive the important teaching he desires to impart to them.

Conversely, 2 Thessalonians 1:3 provides an example of progress in the spiritual life. Writing to the Thessalonians Christians, the Apostle Paul is able say with joy, “We ought always to thank God for you, brethren, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.”

Charge them that are rich in this present world not to be haughty, nor to have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy... 1 Tim. 6:17

The great twentieth-century British preacher, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, remarked, “The only way to avoid falling in the Christian life is to advance. The only way to avoid slipping back is to go forward. There is no such thing as being static in the Christian life.”

Peter gives us an exhortation for positive change, for advancement in our Christian lives (vs. 18). He exhorts us first to “grow in the grace...of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” We are to use God’s grace, (His divine resources for godly living), as a means of getting more grace. By way of illustration: You work your muscles on the exercise machine in order to build more muscle. Likewise, as we employ the grace God has made available to us we increase our capacity to receive more grace, which is to be used for still further spiritual growth.

Such questions as the following may serve as the “measuring stick” by which we may discern spiritual growth: Am I able to do greater things for God, (i.e. I am better able to resist temptation, better able to take a stand for Christ and His righteousness, better able to endure hard times, etc.)? At the same time, am I more conscious that these are the works that God is doing in me? The Apostle Paul testifies to the Corinthians: “I worked harder than all of them; not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Cor.15:10b).

Peter also exhorts us as Christians to “grow in the...knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” We are called to grow in our understanding of Christ: how He works, what we can expect to find Him doing in our lives. We are called to grow in our appreciation for Christ: what He has done for us, what He presently is doing for us, what we are yet to receive from Him. We are called to grow in our love for Christ: He should become more precious to us and ever more important in our lives. We are called to an ever-greater experience of Christ and a deeper relationship with Him.

Let us conduct ourselves in a godly way, by growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

The Word of God not only insists on the certainty of Christ’s return in glory and judgment, but it also insists that the certainty of the Day of God must have a very practical impact on our lives. Because of the certainty of Christ’s return, because of the certainty of the Day of God, let us be sure to conduct ourselves in a godly way.

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. What does the Apostle Peter inform us is the destiny of this present creation? See 2 Pet. 3:10b. Given this fact, how does the Apostle John tell us we should relate to the things of this present world? See 1 Jn. 2:15, 17. Does this mean that as Christians we must abstain from even the legitimate pleasures of this world? Note 1 Tim. 6:17b. Why does John exhort us not to love the world? Note 1 Jn. 2:15b. Who, or what, is your first love, the primary love of your life, the person or thing to whom you give your devotion?

But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day, the heavens will disappear with a loud noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, and the earth together with the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Pet. 3:10

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him... ¹⁷And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 Jn. 2:15, 17

2. Given the destiny divinely-ordained for this present world, how ought we as Christians to live in this world? See 2 Pet. 3:11. Is the manner of life Peter describes an option, or is it a necessity? What is the distinction between “holy conduct” and “godliness”? How are we enabled to comply with the Apostle Peter’s exhortation? See Zech. 4:6,

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people is it necessary for you to be? [It is necessary for you to live] in holy conduct and godliness... 2 Pet. 3:11

Whereas the first term refers to behavior and lifestyle choices, the latter term relates to orientation and purpose. The Christian’s holy conduct is not mere moralism, it is devotion to God by reflecting His character.

This is the word of the LORD... 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.' Zech. 4:6

3. As we live out the Christian life in reliance upon the Holy Spirit, what attitude and desire should be characteristic of us? See 2 Pet. 3:12a. As Christians, what should be our heart’s desire? See Rev. 22:20. How can we cultivate and intensify this desire? In what way can we actively “strive for” the coming of the Day of God? See Matt. 6:9-10,

[It is necessary for you to live] in holy conduct and godliness, ¹²while you are watching for and striving for the arrival of the Day of God... 2 Pet. 3:11b-12

He who bears witness to these things says, 'Yes, indeed, I am coming without delay!' Amen! Come, Lord Jesus! Rev. 22:20

In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.¹⁰Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matt. 6:9-10

4.  For what things does Peter tell us we need to be watching? See 2 Pet. 3:12b-13. In light of both the awesome judgment coming upon this present creation corrupted by sin and the appearance of the new creation characterized by righteousness, what must we be very careful to do? See 2 Pet. 3:14b. Is Peter speaking of sinless perfection; would such even be possible while we are still living in this present body of sin? Or is he referring to the need to avoid retaining and harboring any conduct or attitude that is offensive to God, while progressing toward spiritual maturity? Note 2 Cor. 3:18. Are you holding onto any such sin, or are you relinquishing it to the Holy Spirit?

...while you are watching for and striving for the arrival of the Day of God, by which [the] heavens, being inflamed, shall be destroyed and the elements, being burned up, shall be dissolved. ¹³But, according to his promise, we are watching for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness resides. 2 Pet. 3:12b-13

Wherefore, beloved, since you are watching for these things, make every effort, [by being] pure and faultless, to be found at peace with him. 2 Pet. 3:14

...we all...beholding...the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory...by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Cor. 3:18

5. What is the Apostle Peter’s final exhortation to these Christian people? See 2 Pet. 3:18a. How do we “grow in grace”? How do we increase the muscles of our body? As we apply to our Christian life the grace presently bestowed upon us, will we not increase our capacity to receive more grace for further spiritual development? How can we increase our understanding of and relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Pet. 3:18a