We will review some of what Peter teaches us in his second letter.  We see that God gives us everything we need for salvation and to live in accordance with His will through faith in Christ.  Salvation is God's gift of grace to everyone who will accept it.  We are called to reach out to others with the love of God.  We may hate the actions of sinners, but we are to love them and want them to come accept the salvation of Christ.  We will not do this if we hate them.  We should live at peace in the world, because we are assured of our everlasting relationship with God.  We are changed in our nature, since we are now guided by the Holy Spirit.  Just like Peter, we must always remember the truth that salvation comes from Christ alone.  Peter witnessed the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, and through faith we know this truth as well.  The life of Christ is not a myth or fable but is the truth of God.   We need to acknowledge that scripture, or the Bible, is not just for our own interpretation, but must be interpreted or understood under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  We will never be led to an interpretation that is inconsistent with the teachings of the whole word of God.  We are warned that false teachers will come, as they have throughout the history of the world.  I believe some will be very subtitle, adding little lies to the gospel, and many who were close to salvation will be led astray.   We therefore must know what the word of God, the Bible, really says.  There are many people who would lead others away from the truth of God with promises of material riches or pleasure, but they are no better than animals when they do.  Also, we can be certain of the second coming of Christ.  We are to be at work sharing the gospel until this occurs or we pass from this world.  Christ will return when God says the time is right, and we do not need to spend time speculating on when that will be.

2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 says, 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 reason that Christ has not returned yet is that God is still giving as many people as possible the opportunity to repent and be saved.  If we are praying for Christ to return soon, then we are not exhibiting the same love for the lost that God does.  Verse ten adds, 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.  Peter tells us that the Lord, or Christ, will return like a thief in the night as far as knowing when He will return.  I have said before that some people are convinced that the time is at hand, but we are told by God's word that we will never know the time.  We are simply to be ready and be at work sharing the gospel.  Unlike the birth of Christ, when He returns the world will be burned up.  Everyone, lost or saved, will know.  Verse eleven continues, Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  If we believe that this is going to occur, that God's judgment is certain, then we are asked what manner of people should we be.  We should speak and live by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twelve states, 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?  We should look for the second coming in hope, and if we would hasten the day that it occurs, we must be witnessing daily for Christ.  This should be our concern, and even more so if we believe that the day is close.  We, like God, should hope that none would perish.  Verse thirteen adds, Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.  We are to have faith in God's promise of a new heaven and earth.  This is what we are to look forward to, and it will be a place with no sin or death.  Verse fourteen continues, Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  If we are looking for this new heaven and earth, we must be diligent in our faith in God.  We can only be at peace with God and without spot or blemish by accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  Verse fifteen says, 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;  Peter tells us to count the long suffering of God in delaying the second coming as a time for others to claim the salvation of Christ.  Though some questioned the apostleship of Paul, Peter embraced him as a fellow apostle and said that Paul had been preaching and writing the same thing.  God does not have one truth for one follower of Christ and another truth for another believer.  Verse sixteen adds, 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.  Peter said that some of the things that Paul wrote were hard to understand by those that were unlearned and unstable.  Matthew Henry says this refers to those who have not truly accepted Christ as Savior and Lord, but who still attempt to interpret the gospel.  Verse seventeen continues, 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.  As followers of Christ, we know the truth of God's word, still we must be careful that we don't allow someone to lead us away from this truth.  The way to do that is to allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in all that we do.  Verse eighteen concludes, 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.  We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.  The world cannot teach us these things, but they are a gift from God through faith.  Therefore, we are to give God the glory now and forever.

2 Peter 3:1

2 Peter 3:1 says, This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  Peter said that this was his second letter that he wrote to them, who would be the early believers in Christ.  He said he wanted to stir up their pure minds by way of remembrance.  We need to likewise stir up our pure minds today, remembering what Christ has done for us and keeping God's will foremost in our thoughts.  Verse two adds, That ye 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 Saviour:  Peter wanted those that he was writing to, to remember both those things spoken by the prophets before Christ came and the commandments of the apostles and of their Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  We must learn from both the Old and New Testament.  God does not change from one to the other.  Verse three continues, Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  As this was true in the time of the early Christians, it is even more so today.  There are so many people today who would change what God's word says and call any who believe His word weak minded people who are being deceived.  They mock those who do follow Christ.  Verse four proclaims, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.  Unbelievers in the days of the early church were already asking when Christ was going to return.  They were saying that life was going on as it always had, so why should anyone put faith in the coming return of Christ.  As can be imagined, unbelievers are even more skeptical today, but we as followers of Christ must realize that Christ will return when the time is right.  Verse five adds, For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  Peter reminded those who said that the world had always continued the same of the flood that destroyed nearly everyone in the days of Noah.  There are many people today who deny that the flood really happened or that God's judgment at the return of Christ is really going to happen, but they are wrong in both.  Verse six continues, Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:  God destroyed the world that existed in the time of Noah by water.  It was not some natural disaster, but the judgment of God.  Verse seven states, But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.  God will sustain the world until He sends the second judgment of the world, when it will be destroyed by fire.  This is as certain as the promise to Noah.  I heard some say once that with the creation of nuclear weapons that God now had the capability to carry out this promise, but God Who controls everything in the universe has always had this power.  God has never needed the capability of people to carry out His promises.  Verse eight adds, But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  God's time is not our time.  We may say that it has been over two thousand years since Christ was crucified, but for God, it is no more than two days.  Even that is not totally accurate, since there is no earthly time with God.

2 Peter 2:12

2 Peter 2:12 says, But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;  This is speaking about those who refuse to listen to God's word.  Peter compares them to brute beasts, such as mules or oxen.  Verse thirteen adds, And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;  Peter warns that those who refuse to acknowledge God's word and accept salvation through Christ will be rewarded for their unrighteousness.  God does not send people to hell, but He allows them to go there if they so choose.  Those who deny Christ deceive themselves and feast on, or misuse, those who are followers of Christ.  Verse fourteen continues, Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:  Peter lists some of the ways that the unrighteous act.  They are full of adultery and cannot stop sinning.  They beguile others who are unstable in their souls, or faith.  Some people attempt to live by faith and sight, not being willing to totally commit to Christ, and are easily deceived by those who would lead them to some other way to salvation.  Verse fifteen declares, Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;  There are really only two ways to live.  One is the right way by following Christ in faith, and the other is following the ways of the world.  Some will always choose the way of the world, even claiming to follow another god.  We must choose to follow Christ and call others to do so as well, with both our words and our actions.  Verse sixteen adds, But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.  Peter was referring to when Balaam was told by God not to go speak to the king, but was going anyway, and his ass, or donkey, spoke to him to stop him.  Balaam was a prophet of God who was refusing to listen to God.  We are even dumber than the animals when we refuse to listen to God's word.  Verse seventeen continues, These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  Those who oppose and teach others to oppose God are like wells without water or clouds blown in every direction by the wind.  They cannot offer any real relief or direction to life but are always walking in darkness.  God alone can bring us living water and everlasting light, and He does so through our acceptance of Christ.  Verse eighteen states, For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  Those who deny God would tempt others with empty promises and the allure of the temptation of the flesh.  We who follow Christ can be cleansed from all unrighteousness that the world would tempt us with.  Verse nineteen adds, While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  Even as the lost of the world claim to be free to do whatever they want to without being bound by God's law; they are servants of corruption.  We either serve God or we serve Satan.  If we refuse to follow God, we will always be under the bondage of sin.  Verse twenty continues, For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  I don't believe that this refers to losing one's salvation but refers to those who temporarily follow the teachings of God but never accept Christ as their Savior and Lord.  It is even harder for such a person to then accept Christ.  Verse twenty-one proclaims, For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  Peter tells us it is better to have never heard the gospel than to hear it and turn away from it.  This does not mean that we are not to share the gospel.  Verse twenty-two adds, But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.  Though this may not be a pretty picture, it is an accurate comparison to those who temporarily obey God's word and then turn away from it.  This can refer to those who only accept God's word intellectually for a while without ever accepting Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Still, even if our salvation is secure, we may find ourselves wallowing in the slop of the world if we do not keep God's word in our heart.

2 Peter 2:1

2 Peter 2:1 says, But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  Peter tells us that there were false prophets in the Old Testament and warns that there will be false teachers today who will teach heresies instead of the true gospel.  Some of this will come from individuals, and some from groups who profess to believe Christ while attempting to add other requirements to the gospel.  They will bring upon themselves swift judgment as false teachers when God's judgment comes.  Verse two adds, And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.   Peter tells us that many will follow these false teachers.  This is why it is so important that we know what the Bible really teaches.  God is never going to lead someone to teach anything inconsistent with the Bible.  Verse three continues, And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  These false teachers will appeal to people's coveteous nature.  They will attempt to make the gospel about merchandise, or material things.  Verse four declares, For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;  The angels were in heaven created to serve God, but some began to covet being as powerful as God.  Their evil desires resulted in them being cast out of heaven.  Verse five adds, And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;  In the days of Noah, even as he proclaimed God's coming judgment, people refused to listen, and all but eight people were destroyed by the flood.  Verse six continues, And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;  We are reminded of what happened to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah due to their depravity.  These two cities should serve as an example of what happens when people totally refuse to listen to God's word.  People often want to claim that natural disasters are God's judgment on a group of people or a particular place, but I believe that if it is God's judgment, there will be no doubt.  If God's people are suffering as much as those who deny God, I believe that we can rule out a natural disaster being God's judgment.  Verse seven states, And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:  God spared Lot and his family, though they lived in the wickedness of those that were destroyed.  In order to be spared, they had to respond in obedience to God's call, and Lot's wife is an example of what happens when we refuse to follow God in obedience to His word.  We cannot look back on the things of this world that we are told to leave behind.  Verse eight adds, (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)  I believe this tells us that Lot was vexed by the unrighteousness of those that he lived around.  We today should likewise be vexed by those that we live around who are unrighteous.  If we are to live with them, we must make sure that we bring the gospel to them instead of allowing them to pull us away from the truth of the gospel.  Verse nine continues, The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  God will deliver us from temptation if we rely on the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  God also reserves the day of punishment for those who refuse to accept His salvation provided by Christ.  It may not be in this lifetime, but it is certain.  Verse ten says, But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.   God especially reserves judgment for those who live for the lusts of the flesh and even refuse to obey and even despise the government.  They are presumptuous, self willed and unafraid to speak evil of God's word.  Though we may never see it, their day of judgment is coming.  Verse eleven adds, Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.  The angels are greater in power than human beings, but even they cannot defy God and go unpunished.

2 Peter 1:12

2 Peter 1:12 says, Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.  Peter said that he would continually remind his fellow believers about the truth of the gospel, even though he knew that they knew it.  As followers of Christ, we can never forget that He died for us and we are to live for Him.  We can never allow lies or distortions to come into truth of the gospel.  Verse thirteen adds, Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  Peter said that he felt that as long as he lived that it was his responsibility to keep his fellow believers stirred up in the gospel.  The tabernacle was a reference to Peter's earthly body, which is the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit if we are followers of Christ.  Verse fourteen continues, Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.  Peter knew that he soon would die, just as Jesus Christ had died physically.  We can be certain of one thing, and that is that either in death or the second coming, we will put this old body off.  Verse fifteen states, Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.  Matthew Henry says this refers to why Peter was writing this.  I believe that inspired by God, Peter did not want them to have to rely on oral traditions or memories to remember the truth of God, which is also why we have the Bible to guide us today.  Verse sixteen adds, For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  Peter reminded his fellow believers that the gospel was not just a myth, as many people would make it today.  Peter was an eyewitness to the truth of the gospel, and though we have not seen the death, burial and resurrection of Christ physically, once we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, we know the truth of salvation spiritually.  Verse seventeen continues, For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  Peter was an eyewitness to this proclamation of God at the baptism of Jesus.  Though we may not have been there, if we accept Christ for Who He is, the only way to salvation, then we must accept the truth of the Biblical account of His life.  Verse eighteen says, And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.  Peter was with Jesus at His baptism and at His ascension.  Peter knew the truth of what he was saying, and if we are to be effective witnesses today, we must have our faith grounded in that same truth.  Verse nineteen adds, We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  The coming of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world was not a new concept but had been prophesied by the Old Testament.  We can look back on that truth when we read God's word.  Verse twenty continues, Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  As Peter said then, we cannot just come up with our own interpretation of what the scripture, or the Bible, means.  Our interpretation must always be consistent with the whole scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-one concludes, For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  The prophecies of the Bible, though spoken by men, are the word of God.  We cannot change His word to suit our own purposes, but we must believe all of it as we study it under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

I am going to pause briefly from what we have been looking at to discuss Easter.  We know that the first Easter that the followers of Christ felt defeated, but because of that first Easter, we never have to feel that way again.  Many churches have sun rise services, though for some may conduct them well after sunrise.  This is done to commemorate the women getting to the grave early that first Easter to discover that  the stone was rolled away and Jesus' body was gone.  They were the first to receive the good news that Jesus was not there, but that He had risen from the dead and had no need of the tomb.  We, as followers of Christ, will likewise one day rise from the dead and have no need for a grave or any other burial place. The good news of Easter is that even though sin had sealed us into a life that could only result in death, physically and spiritually, Jesus has broken that seal and set us free if we only put our faith in Him.  The women went and told the disciples, who were huddled in defeat, what they had seen and been told by the angel.  Two of the disciples, Peter and John, went to see what had happened.  We have to assume that the others weren't convinced enough to go look.  Even those who are closest to the word of God will not believe in salvation through Christ until they respond to Him by faith.  Peter and John went eagerly, but the other disciples were still not ready to believe.  This Easter, hopefully we are like Peter and John, ready to believe and understand what the death, burial and resurrection of Christ really means.  We do not need to live as defeated people, but we can live without fear and boldly proclaim that Christ is risen and lives forever, and that we can also claim victory over sin and have everlasting life through our faith in Him.