Second Epistle of Peter
FINAL EXHORTATIONS
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:17 (KJV)
We now have a warning for Christians. Knowing about those who wrest the Scriptures, they were to be on guard lest some of these false teachers lead them astray also.
"ye know these things before"
The Revised Version has, "Knowing these things before hand, beware." The apostle is forewarning them about these perverters and false teachers so that they might not fall into their traps. The Scriptures are full of red lanterns warning the Lord's people of dangers which lie in their path – "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs, and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before" (Matt. 24:24, 25).
"beware"
Peter would have Christians be on guard, watching carefully, as the original word for "beware" implies. How often we are warned by the word "beware" in the Word of God. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing" (Matt. 7:15). "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision" (Phil. 3:2). "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men" (Col. 2:8). None of us are so advanced or strong that we dare let down their guard. The enemy will be quick to thrust in his darts. A Christian's steadfastness in Christ is a pearl of great price and must be guarded with utmost care.
We all need to beware lest little sins creep into our lives. Each sin is like a little snake which, if not immediately killed, may grow into a giant serpent. The story is told of a naturalist who found a baby python. He nourished it, raised it, and even trained it to do tricks. At the climax of his stage act his giant python would coil about his body and then look into its trainer's face. One day at the end of a performance, the python was wrapped around his body. He told it to recoil, but instead it began squeezing with its powerful muscles. As the curtain went down the audience could hear the man's bones cracking in the vice of this pet serpent. Sin is like that. If played with, it will crush a man spiritually.
"led away"
"Led away" would be better translated "carried away." How quickly and easily some are carried away with a strange doctrine. Let a clever talker come along with a display of oratory and they are gone. "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple"
(Rom. 16:18). Some are like "a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed" (James 1:6). A word to immature Christians: keep out of earshot and stay far away from that which they know to be wrong, lest they be scarred by it. Not only seducers from without will lead astray, but unless we are on guard the flesh within will do the same.
"the error of the wicked"
Error and wickedness usually go together. "Wicked" would be better translated "lawless." The lawless are criminals, so this part of our verse could read, "the error of the criminal." He who leads one astray spiritually is the worst kind of criminal. The word "error" presents the sense of fraud. This means that these criminal men deceive in order that they may defraud their dupes out of material things or perhaps defraud them of salvation. This is just what those wicked men of chapter 2 were doing. It was for gain that they were bringing false doctrines and in it all they were defrauding their followers of everlasting life. Christians so caught up will certainly become useless and unable to lead the lost to Jesus.
"fall"
It is an awful thing to fall. Too many Christians have run well in this Christian race, only to stumble and fall. Thanks be to God when such a one gets up and runs again. Peter had an awful fall when he denied his Lord, but he repented of his sin and then ran better than before. David had an awful fall when he sinned with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband to be killed in battle. He, too, repented and rose to run again. Judas had an awful fall, but he went out and hanged himself. The Scripture says, "He went to his own place."
Many things may cause one to fall from steadfastness in Christ. Afflictions sometimes cause it or personal injury by other Christians. Worry takes others down as will lust of the flesh. Our verse mentions deceitful workers. Underlying it all is unbelief. Wrong thoughts of the Lord are sure to bring wrong actions. True faith in Him will keep us from falling.
How shall we keep from falling? Peter answers this question in 1:5-10. He says in 1:10, "If ye do these things ye shall never fall." The things which he refers to are the virtues listed in 1:5-7. If we add these things to our faith, there is little likelihood of our falling. An additional help to steadfastness is continual prayer. One who is in constant fellowship with the Lord is not likely to fall or be deceived. Real earnest Bible study in true meekness will also assure steadfastness in Christ. Shun sinful associates and keep company with ardent, strong Christians. Seek to be active in Christian service. If you fall asleep in the woods mosquitoes can feast on you, but if you keep busy chopping wood your activity will keep them away. Keep humble and watchful, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12).
"fall from your own steadfastness"
"Stedfastness" here is in contrast with the "unstable" of verse 16. Like a soldier facing danger, Christians should be strong and hold their ground. It will be a struggle to walk close to our Lord – "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Rev. 3:11). "Therefore my beloved brethren; be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58).
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:18 (KJV)
This last verse could be called the text for Peter's whole second epistle. He desired that Christians would advance in the things of the Lord, both in their lives for Christ and in knowledge of Him. His whole epistle is either advice on how to grow or warnings against things which would hinder growth. He winds up his epistle with a doxology of praise and honor to our Lord Jesus Christ.
"grow"
When Peter tells his readers to grow, he presupposes that they have life since dead things cannot grow. To receive this new life from God is of utmost importance. This is imparted to every soul who puts his trust in the Lord Jesus and obeys the Gospel. However, the impartation of this life is only the commencement of the Christian life. After we receive this new life by being born again, we must live it and continue to grow in it. A literal rendering for our word "grow" is, "keep on growing." Some translate it "grow continually."
Whether plant, animal or human, all living things grow. The human body grows from tiny infant to mature man. Why does a seed spring up and grow into a beautiful flower, bush or tree? How is somewhat of a mystery. Why do babies grow into manhood? Why do we reach a certain height and stop growing? We are surrounded by mysteries.
While none of us can cause growth, we can help or hinder it. We feed an infant in order that he/she may grow. We do not cause a seed to grow, but we can plant it in good soil, fertilize and water it. Growth in our spiritual life is similar. We cannot make it grow, but we can help or hinder it. Above all else this new life needs food provided only by the Word of God – "As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Pet. 2:2). Paul says, "I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase" (1 Cor. 3:6). We can plant the good seed in the hearts of men and when it starts to grow we can water it with the Word of God. We can tend it, cultivate and prune it, but only the Lord can make it grow.
Our verse puts the responsibility for growth upon the individual Christian. It especially mentions that a Christian should "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." We should grow roots of humility downward, shoots of love to Christ upward, and branches of usefulness to mankind outward. These branches should be loaded with fruits of the Spirit, to bring joy to the heart of man and God. Day by day we should grow more like our Lord Jesus Christ.
"grow in grace"
Peter says that we should especially "grow in grace." Grace is hard to define. It is generally said to be "unmerited favor," but it often means far more than this. It could be said that grace is love which passes beyond all claims to love, and grace is redeeming love ministering to the unlovely, endowing the unlovely with its own loveliness. To give you some idea of the comprehensiveness of the word, here is what the dictionary gives: "Grace, favor, good-will, divine influence, mercy, pardon, privilege, natural or acquired elegance; beauty; embellishment."
First of all, we are saved by God's grace – "By grace are ye saved through faith" (Eph. 2:8). Only the loving favor of God has brought us salvation. We deserved nothing from Him but judgment. Yet, out of His heart of love He sent His Son to die and now the guiltiest sinner in the world can be saved. When we are born again, i.e., washed in the Blood of Christ, and standing in this grace we are then to grow in it. In other words, we are to manifest this same loving-kindness in our lives. To grow in grace means to grow in meekness, gentleness, patience, goodness, usefulness, etc. It is said of the child Jesus, "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man" (Luke 2:52). Perhaps to grow in grace means just that; to increase "in favour with God and man." Let us note carefully all His lovely character and ask Him to create the same loveliness in us.
If we grow in grace, we will be in no danger of being carried away with errors of the wicked as verse 17 suggests. We will be happy Christians, "Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19). Grace is like oil which keeps the light shining throughout the night. If we grow in grace we will keep shining for Him no matter how the storm may rage around us. To grow in grace certainly means that we will be serving Christians. This will be the way in which we will grow in favor with man and God. Little deeds of kindness to all we contact is an evident token of real growth in grace – "Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister (servant)" (Matt. 20:26).
"grow...in knowledge"
"Knowledge" is a favorite word with Peter, especially in this second epistle. We have it 5 times in the first chapter alone and once in the second chapter. Five of these times he uses it in connection with our Lord Jesus. Some already were boasting of superior knowledge, but Peter is careful to say that only knowledge of Christ is of worth. The literal rendering is "full knowledge." We need to go on to know more and more of our Lord Jesus. It is wonderful to know much of His character, person, and work, but to know Him is more. To know one well we must meet him personally and, better still, live with him. "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" (Phil. 3:8).
At best we will know Him in part in this scene. After spending a lifetime studying God's Holy Word, an old Christian was heard to say, "I feel as if I have investigated a small garden and there is a whole continent still before me." We know only a small part of our world, but there are vast universes entirely unknown. If we know all we can of Christ and His Word while in this world, we still would only know a small part of that which there is to know. Even the great apostle Paul says, "Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known" (1 Cor. 13:12) – how utterly ridiculous for some Christian to talk as though he knows it all.
"our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"
Peter ends his epistle with the all comprehensive name, "our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." This is the third time in this epistle that he uses it (see also 1:11 and 2:20). How dear to his heart our Lord had become. His blessed name was ever in Peter's mind and on his lips. He obeyed Him as Lord, he loved Him as Savior, and he adored Jesus as the greatest of humans, whom he worshipped as the mighty, anointed Son of God.
"to him be glory"
Peter brought glory to the name of the Lord Jesus. He honored the Son even as he did the Father. "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which bath sent him" (John 5:23). "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing" (Rev. 5:12).
"both now and for ever"
This is literally "unto the day of eternity." Almost all the New Testament writers burst forth with similar doxologies of praise to our Lord Jesus, but only here is it put exactly in this way. Not only did Peter want Christ glorified on this earth now, but throughout a long eternity – and it shall be so. Throughout an eternity we will express our thanksgiving and praise to Him, who did so much for us. How wonderful to think that we shall share that glory with Him forever more (1 John 3:2). "Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father: to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (Rev. 1:5, 6).
"amen"
"Amen" – so ends this great doxology and wonderful epistle. May we give unto our Lord Jesus Christ praise, honor, and worship now as well as in eternal glory. So be it, Lord.
