How Then Shall We Live?
The Day of the Lord creates tension for every human being who lives. Christians are not delivered from this tension when we are set apart unto God. The Apostle Peter wrote to the churches of Asia Minor. His purpose in his second epistle was to address those who were negatively influencing the Christians there.
Peter warned the believers not to become prey to those he called: false prophets (2:1); false teachers (2:1) unrighteous (2:9); unreasoning animals (2:12); ones who live in error (2:18); slaves of corruption (2:19); mockers 3:3); ungodly men (3:7); untaught (3:16) unstable (3:16); unprincipled men (3:17).
Opponents of the Gospel of God are legion. Their machinations are many. Inevitably, they desire to distort sound doctrine. Central to their diabolical duties is to distort the Word of God, either that be calling into question the validity and veracity of the Bible or simply slandering Christ Himself. God has made promises to His chosen people (2 Pet 1:10); and His promises are all “yes” and “amen” in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 1:20).
The promise of the Day of the Lord is found in both Old Testament and New Testament prophecy. It is the promised day of God’s righteous judgment and just wrath against wicked sinners. Peter reveals a few things about that day. Let us first consider them.
First, the day of judgment will come upon the people of the world…suddenly…without warning. It will catch those living in that day by surprise (2 Pet 3:10).
Second, it will be utter destruction by fire. The Lord will burn up the present heavens and the earth with intense heat. Everything will melt (2 Pet 3:10, 12).
The Day of the Lord will be salvation to those effectually called to faith in Christ. Believers in every generation patiently wait for the total ingathering of God’s elect redeemed people. The Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:19); and He will lose none of them (Jn 10:28–29).
Christians have faith in Christ; and we have hope in the promises of what Christ will do in the future. One of those precious promises is the new creation of the new heavens and the new earth (2 Pet 3:13). This is our eternal home, prepared by Jesus, who will return to take His bride, His church home to glory. We who belong to Christ, purchased by His precious blood (Acts 20:28), will always be with the Lord in the day of eternity.
Next, Christians are people expectant of the future. The Apostle Peter joins with the Apostle Paul in encouraging the saints to live in a manner worthy of their calling to be children of God and ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20). The lifestyle of the beloved matters. The children of heaven do not live like hell.
Saints are holy by definition. Holiness is an attribute of God. It is an imperative for God’s people, who will be presented by our Lord Jesus spotless and blameless before the Father. In anticipation of the end things and the eternal things, believers manifest their future in the present.
When believers live godly in Christ Jesus, they suffer in the world because they become identifiable. The world’s opposition and hostility to Christians is a mere extension of its enmity with God and with Christ (Jn 7:7; Rom 1:30). The reprobate only deceives themselves on the wide way leading to their own destruction (2 Pet 3:16–17). Their desire to deceive others is sourced with their father the devil — the father of lies and of liars (Jn 8:44; 2 Cor 4:4).
Mockers are not taught by the Holy Spirit because the world cannot receive the Spirit (Jn 14:17). For this reason, Peter calls them unstable (3:16) because they are tossed like a ship by every wind of doctrine. Therefore, in ignorance, they mock the truth, as it is in Jesus (Eph 4:21). The heart of the scoffer is known to all because what is in the heart is heard from the mouth. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no god” (Ps 14:1; 53:1), and he lives like it. He also loves to teach; therefore, and finally, the Apostle warns God’s beloved to be on guard against doctrinal and practical error (3:17).
How then shall we live? The Christian life is captured in 2 Peter 3:18, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”
Apart from Christ, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). He is the True Vine; and His people are the dead branches grafted into His indestructible life by God the Father (Jn 6:44, 65). The life of God in the soul of man is the indwelling Holy Spirit — the life-giver. He made us alive (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13); and now the life we live is Him living in us (rom 8:9, 11; Gal 2:20).
This life that is eternal, that comes to us by God’s gracious work in us, is fortified by knowledge. In other words, living things must grow or they die. Jesus promised, “You shall never die” (Mt 11:25–26). It is God’s will for His people to grow in the good soil of His providence.
The knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ is the knowledge of the truth (Jn 14:6). Jesus is the Word of truth, revealed to us as light from heaven and life from the dead. The good news is that He who began this good work of giving us light, life, and truth will bring it all to its full and complete end (Phil 1:6). The wisdom and power of God assures us that the Judge is coming (Gen 18:25; Jn 5:22; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 19:11–21). He Himself says, “Behold I am coming quickly” (Rev 22:7, 12, 20). He is on His way; and it is for us to be prepared like a bride on her wedding day.
Fret not, beloved. He gave you the pledge of His love, the token of His commitment to you (2 Cor 1:22, 5:5). It is His will and His work to accomplish what concerns you (Ps 57:2; 138:8; Eph 2:13). Therefore, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, giving thanks in everything, rejoicing…always rejoicing.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
February 16, 2025
2 Peter 3:10–18
