2 PETER 3
14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. – 2 Peter 3:14-18
2 PETER 3 GROW IN THE GRACE YOU RECEIVED
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
Beloved, live in the grace that you have received in Christ
Don’t allow the world to corrupt your heart and mind
Be patient and steadfast as you wait for Jesus’ coming
You were given assurance when he defeated Satan
By his cross, you received undeserved favor from him
Grow in the grace you got and turn away from all sins.
Peter exhorts the believers to be diligent in their sanctification as they wait for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He stresses on ensuring that they are living according to the wisdom that only comes from the word of God. This is the only way that they can stay without blemish and at peace.
In verse 16, Peter points out that those who do not belong to the Lord will most likely twist Scriptures to their own destruction. The word of God is actually Jesus himself. John 1:1 is the verse that says that Jesus is the Word when John reveals to us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. This shows us that Jesus is infinite and is the one who communicates God’s will to us humans. John 1:14 and Revelation 19:13 are verses that reiterates also that Jesus is the “Word” who became flesh. Paul cautions the believers to watch out for those who will defile the word of God and take care that they are not pulled away from truth by the errors of lawless people. If believers are not watchful, they can lose their stability and fall away since we still struggle with our flesh on a daily basis.
Peter urges the church to grow in the grace that they have received from Christ. By Jesus’ death on the cross, we were given much favor even while we were sinners. He enabled us to be cleansed by his blood and he gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell in every believer so that they will have the ability to walk in the Spirit and live a life for the service of the Lord. With all these blessings and favors given to every true Christian, we are able to defeat the enemy in our daily lives and serve the Lord our God by living under his grace and never on our own strength, understanding or abilities.
REFLECTION
- How is diligence in studying the word a way of growing in the grace that God has given us?
