Second Epistle of Peter
NEW HEAVENS & NEW EARTH
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:13 (KJV)
Here Peter assures us that although fire will someday consume everything in this scene and actually cause the heavens and the earth to melt, yet God will bring about something new. Out of the ruins God almighty will raise up new heavens and a new earth – there will be no more sin, only righteousness will dwell.
"according to His promise"
When Peter says "we, according to his promise" he may have been thinking of the promises in Isaiah (65:17): "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Then again in Isaiah 66:22, "For as the new heavens and new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain." Christians should always thank God for His promises in the Holy Word. We may not understand them fully but we can certainly depend on them. "He is faithful that promised" (Heb. 10:23).
In many respects this world is a marvelous place made by a great designer to be a fit place for all forms of life to dwell. We have exactly the right amount of atmosphere, moisture and heat. As a consequence we have the air, land and water – all teeming with life. In a great measure, sin has ruined the beauty of all this. The one creature, man, whom the Lord placed in dominion over it all, has brought trouble to the whole scene. But praise the Lord that what Satan has ruined, God can fully restore. Christ made an atonement for sin by dying on the cross and though sin abounds today, one day He's coming back to receive His own and God's glory will then super-abound.
Our verse says that in the new heavens and new earth righteousness shall dwell. Our present scene is indwelt by unrighteousness. The whole history of this world has been one of sin, corruption and carnage. Worst of all, it has been a history of enmity and rebellion against the Lord. The righteous have been the target of ridicule and abuse. The only absolutely righteous One who ever lived in this scene was crucified.
Our verse says little concerning this new heaven and new earth; only that in it will dwell righteousness. It should be enough for us to know that God is in control of this new place and whatever He has planned for His children will be far more than deserved. It will be wonderful to be in a place where right will no longer be under the foot of might. All which now blights and mars will be removed. No drunks will stagger around; no rapists will be lurking somewhere; no crime or bloodshed. God will completely silence the moan of a dying creation. "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Rev. 21:4). "And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they that are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:27).
"wherein dwelleth righteousness"
What a great pleasure, serving Him without any struggle. All who are there will be holy in the absolute sense, just as our Lord is holy. What a blessed prospect, like Him and with Him forever more. The saved will have health without any danger of pain; joy without any thought of grief; love without any peril of parting; life without any threat of death; and being with Him forever more. While waiting for Him to come back, may we serve Him with our whole being.
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:14 (KJV)
In the remaining verses of our chapter, Peter makes the final practical application to his readers. He has told them of the judgment of fire which is coming upon this world and also of the new heavens and new earth. Seeing his readers were looking for such things, how were they to conduct themselves? They should be alert, active, zealous in the things of the Lord, so that they would not be ashamed or afraid at His coming. Neither should there be found in them anything unclean or anything for which they could be ashamed.
"beloved"
This whole chapter runs over with Christian affection. Peter calls them "beloved" four times (vv. 1, 8, 14, 17). Then, in our next verse, speaking of Paul, he says "our beloved brother Paul." In spite of severe trials and persecutions, Peter wanted them to know that they were loved by him and also by the Lord. They should also love one another.
"ye look for such things"
What are these things for which Christians are looking? No doubt, Peter is thinking especially of those things mentioned in our chapter, namely the coming of our Lord Jesus for faithful Christians. Then they are looking for the dissolution of this world by fire and lastly, new heavens and a new earth. All faithful and true Christians should be looking for Christ to come momentarily, taking His own to glory. "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Heb. 9:28).
How do we look for Him? Perhaps some look for Him with indifference; some with real dread and some with great joy. However, if we are faithful Christians it cannot be with indifference. If we are His and are walking close to Him, it need not be with dread, but with great joy. These future events hold great promise for the sincere believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you planned to move to Australia or some other distant land, you would seek to learn all you could about the journey and the land itself. We will soon make a journey, either by death or at the coming of the Lord. Wisdom leads us to do all in our power to be prepared for that journey. Let us have a long range vision and not look only on things near at hand. Our life in this scene is but a prelude to the coming of tremendous things. Remember, we are but strangers and pilgrims here and the most important thing for us is living a life for Him and like Him.
"be diligent"
This is the third time in this epistle that Peter urges his readers to diligence. In 1:5 it is to be diligent in developing Christian character; in 1:10 to be diligent in making our calling and election sure. In this verse, with a view of future events, we are exhorted to be diligent in our preparation that He may find us in peace. Diligence speaks of hard, honest, persevering efforts. Certainly, if Christ is worth anything, He is worth a life of diligent service on our part. Christians represent Him in this world and have a great work to do and so little time to do it. Our verse especially urges diligence in connection with meeting our Lord in peace – without spot and blameless. In other words, in order to face Him without shame or fear we should make every effort to live a clean and upright life.
"found of Him"
None can escape standing before the Lord. The unsaved sinner should heed this truth: "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23). A man may get away with a great deal in this world. Most of his sins may be completely hidden, but when he stands before the Lord all will be brought to the light. It is wonderful to find Christ in this life and to be found in Him. Some find Him in a worship service, some on a sick bed or in a closet. Our verse refers to the time when as Christians we will stand before His judgment seat. How will it be with us then? Will we be found in Him in peace? Will we be found spotless and blameless? What the world thought of us will not matter then. Whether we were popular, rich, honored, successful, or esteemed will be of no value, of no importance. The great question then will be, what does He think of us? Let us carefully examine our spiritual state and act accordingly.
"found of Him in peace"
By nature, man is at enmity with God, but our Lord Jesus "made peace through the blood of his cross" (Col. 1:20). Man is the guilty party in this warfare, but the Lord has made a way by which he may be reconciled. Now, when the vilest sinner confesses his guilt asking for pardon and is then born again, he is fully forgiven on the ground of the work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 5:1). As a result of this peace with God and the knowledge that all is well between us and Him, we have the "peace of God" in our hearts. The closer we live to Him and the more we live for Him, the more this peace will abound in our hearts (Col. 3:15). As a result of this peace in our hearts we are sure to be peaceable with our neighbors, too (Rom. 12:18).
Our verse does not speak primarily of peace with God because we are reconciled through Christ or peace in our hearts because of an assurance of this forgiveness, but a peace in our hearts at the time when we meet Christ face to face. Does the thought of His coming trouble us? Will we be fearful or ashamed as we stand before Him? We should not and will not if we are living for Him now as we should. If a bank teller has been perfectly honest and has not been guilty of trickery or embezzlement, he/she will not fear the arrival of a bank examiner. If guilty then there will be and should be fear. In like manner, if we have been good stewards of the manifold grace of God, we will be able to stand before Him without shame or fear at His coming. If we do not live for Him as we should, even though we may call ourselves "Christian", we will be and should be disturbed by His coming.
"without spot and blameless"
It is the Lord’s desire to find us "without spot and blameless" at His coming. "Without spot" speaks of purity of heart and life, while "blameless" speaks of a life of righteousness lived before the world. Of course, as to our standing in Christ, if born again and faithful we are already before God without spot, but the apostle is no doubt thinking of our practical, everyday life. A faithful Christian is already considered as "clean every whit" (John 13:10) in Christ, but as a result of this cleansing a Christian should live a pure life for Him. A true hope in the coming of Christ is sure to have a purifying affect. "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:3).
Not all who call themselves Christian are pure in speech or in behavior. Ephesians 4:30 Paul speaks of "Grieving the Spirit" (Eph. 4:30). Things mentioned before this verse and following it would grieve the Spirit. Paul also says "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth" (Eph. 4:29). If our speech is not pure, we will be ashamed at His coming.
Some are not only impure in speech, but in their actions as well. They are like the false teachers we read of in chapter 2, who were "spots and blemishes" upon the Christians with whom they were in fellowship (2:13). "Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin" (2:14). Let us rather be like our Lord Jesus of whom we read, "as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet. 1:19). Surely, if we love Him we will desire to be like Him. Let us keep close to Him and separate from every form of evil. Sin is such a serious thing that Christ had to die on the cross to make atonement for it, and surely, knowing this we should hate it and be clean, healthy Christians.
"blameless"
In Christ we are blameless in God's sight, yet the devil accuses the brethren before the Lord (Rev. 12:10). And the world accuses the Christians constantly for all things with which they can find the least fault. We should seek to live purely for Christ so that neither man nor demon can bring a righteous charge against us. This means that all our dealings with men of the world must be in absolute honesty and righteousness. Can they depend on our bare word more than on the bond of the unsaved? Would they dare trust us in their homes or give us free access to their vaults? Certainly, if we are longing for a world in which righteousness dwells, we should live a righteous life now.
"blameless in His spirit" (R.V.)
Perhaps Peter is not thinking so much of being blameless in the sight of man or demons as he is of being "blameless in his sight" at His coming (R.V.). We have already noted that in Christ we are seen as blameless. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). Only on this ground could we be taken into God's family. Because of our blameless standing in Christ, we should seek to live a blameless life before Him. Then He will have only things for which He can commend us in that day when we stand at His judgment seat – "That ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:8). One may ask, "Are you trying to teach that we should live without sin before the Lord?" That is exactly what we are trying to teach, but sadly that cannot be expected of anyone on earth. We must all say with the apostle Paul, "Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after," etc. (Phil. 3:12-14).
