In 2 Peter 2, Peter gave a strong warning to false teachers and those people following false teachings and a life that contradicts with the path of truth. For example, on verse 21 it stated “It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” In 2 Peter 3, Peter brings us back the topic that has previously been discussed on the 2 Peter 1, that God has fulfilled His promises to the people. And we have also talked about the sign of true Christian is the person that holds and believes to God’s promises, in which we will possess power and authority to combat the temptation and will always walk in the path of the truth.
2 Peter 3: 13 & 14 stated that “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” This encourages us to have hopes and God’s promises so that we can live according to God’s will such as to rid of sins, the life of spotless, and the peace that God willing.
In order to experience strength and power for us to be able to live spotless at the inside of peaceful life, there is a condition that we must truly believe that a new heaven and a new earth, especially in the context of God’s second coming, is something that will truly happen. This is yet to happen, but it will happen according to God’s will that we truly believe in. However, the issue is that these false teachers questioning on the truth of a new heaven and a new earth, the promise of the God’s second coming on whether they will be truly happening. Theologically, it is possible that the argument of these false teachers was taught by Hymenaeus and Philetus (as referenced from 2 Timothy 2: 17 & 18 that stated “Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.”) This means that, spiritually, our resurrection has already taken place as Christ has already been resurrected, which also means that Christ has already been spiritually resurrected, not resurrected as a body.
In 2 Peter 1, Peter already disputed these false teachings, and he argued that this body is important and precious, that Christ when He was alive in this world, that the body of Christ was glorified at the top of a mountain as his two disciples witnessed. The body of Christ was glorified at the top of a mountain in transfiguration, not only from His spirit but they also saw it in person that Christ was glorified. This offered a glimpse on what will be happening when Christ comes for the second time. He will come again in His glory as what He promised as a judge for judging the living and the dead.
Peter exposed these wrong teachings by his three arguments. Peter’s first argument was taken from verse 5 to 7 that stated “But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” According to Peter, these false teachers deliberately not wanting to know and not wanting to care that the world was created and its presence depends on the word of God. Today’s world where we live is stable, orderly and predictable because of the word of God that has been realized, especially when there was a flood (as referenced on Genesis 8: 21 & 22). However, the stability, orderly and predictable world became a weapon for those does not believe or for those false teachers. However, for us or the believers, these were the important promises of God that we needed to live in this world and we considered them business as usual. But not only that, as the stability, orderly and predictable world that we can use just like the mockers do and these could become an opportunity for us to commit sin by doing anything we want. We have forgotten that the stability, orderly and predictable world are blessings from God that we have accepted. God will always keep His promises as long as earth is still present, and the never-ending season of sow reap whether in the morning, afternoon or evening, whether in autumn, winter, spring or summer. It will be wrong for us should we considered the stability of the world is something that we can wait and procrastinate for later, or an opportunity for us to commit sin by doing anything that we want. The opportunity that God provided to us for the stability of the orderly world is to keep us continuing to build our lives, and to do what God willing until the day God comes for the second time. May the available opportunity can be used with intent, not like mockers or false teachers who have been seeking for the promises of when Christ will come.
The second argument was reference on verse 8 that stated “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” Peter criticize and expose the false teachings because they considered after 30-40 years that Jesus has not returned, that we cannot believe that He will most likely not coming again. However, Peter answered that not only valid for those who waited 30-40 years, but it is also valid for us at this present time. According to Peter, from God’s perspective that it has not been long since. This means that when God sees time is very different than we see time. The way we see time is also different, that some of us sees time flies so fast that they think it seems like yesterday.
The third argument brings us to think on why Christ has not come to this day. As stated on verse 9 – “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” This verse emphasized that Christ has not come because He is patient toward us. Roman 11 whom Paul wrote, tells us of when Christ will come until sufficient number of nations entered into the kingdom of God. When Christ has not come, this means that the number has not completed yet, also means that there are still tasks and callings that God wants us to do. This is an opportunity for us, that this is a blessing from God, being patient and waiting for us. Therefore, do not waste your time whenever opportunities arise and make use of them as long as God still permits us to do so. As God still provides opportunities for us, come to Him and believe in Him as opportunities may not always available.
May opportunities and time that God still provide that we can use them to repent ourselves from our sins. For those who believed in Him, use these opportunities with diligent and continue following God’s will. Let us struggle together doing God’s will and to live according to God’s will in the times and opportunities that God still provide.
