14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Commentary
Vs. 14 Two things that the Apostle Peter says that we as the beloved of God are to do in light of the coming Day of the Lord. And that is to be found by Him in peace, and be without spot and blameless. Now the first that Peter expounds here is that we be diligent (that is that we strive, or make every effort) to be found by the Lord Jesus Christ in peace. First amongst ourselves as believers, (Rom 14:17-19; 1 Cor 14:33; 2 Cor 13:11; Eph 4:3 etc.) and then with those in the world (consider 1 Cor 7:15; Heb 12:14). And so rather than striving with each other over non-essential matters, or with those in world who do not believe. We need to in seeking to defend the Gospel of peace be sure that we ourselves remain people of peace, and not be dragged into needless strife and debate with those forces hostile towards it. For being zealous for a good thing is only as good as one presents it and preserves it. As the Apostle James says "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." James 3:18 Thus in contrast to quarreling amongst ourselves, or with those in the world (consider Prov. 20:3), we should seek to live peaceably with all people, just as the Apostle Paul says: "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." Rom 12:18
Now this does not preclude that we will have to take a public stand for the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, and thus there may be conflicts in our lives for having done so (Matt 10:27-28; 32-33), even with those in our own families (Matt 10:34-39; Luke 12:51-53). But it does preclude that we become the authors of such things, by doing so in a non-Christ like way. For the Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and He came to restore God's peace to believing humanity, and then to all of creation, when the consummation of all things written within the Scriptures takes place.
And so Jesus came and preached peace to you who were far off (i.e. Gentiles) and to you who were near (i.e. Jews), so that He might extend and bring God's peace into us all who believe in Him here and now (see Eph. 2:17). For the Lord Jesus Christ became God's Peace for us, by first suffering Crucifixion death to atone for all our sins and transgressions. And having done so, Jesus rose from the dead, so that He might bring God's Peace into us, by His Spirit, when we believe in Him (John 14:27). Therefore Jesus commands us all who believe in Him to be His peacemakers in this world (Matt 5:9). By both declaring and living out His Gospel's Message of God's peace given freely to all who repent and believe in Him (Rom 10:15). "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Col 1:19-20 Thus by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified for our sins remission and risen from the dead for our justification, God imputes His Righteousness to us and brings us into a peaceful relationship with Himself (Rom 5:1; 2 Cor 5:21). And so having been brought into God's Kingdom by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person we are to be His peaceful messengers and agents of it, to a lost and often hostile world (Matt 5:44-48). That's the first part part of the Apostle Peters exhortation "be diligent to be found by Him in peace." The second part is that we be found by Him without spot and blameless. Now the Apostle Peter is here (to bring across a moral and spiritual truth) harkening back too (at least from our perspective) the Old Covenant ceremonial commandments that required that whatever animal sacrifice was consecrated, and thus to be offered to the Lord, be without blemish. And so just as our new lives are now consecrated to the Lord Jesus Christ for His worship and service, we too are to strive to be without spot and blameless. That is without moral or spiritual defects (i.e. sins and such) or anything else by which someone might make a just charge against us for some unlawful act or deed. Thus not only are we to strive to live in peace with all people, but we are to strive to live Godly lives both amongst our brethren, and in this godless world. Again in Hebrews 12:14 we are commanded: "pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord."
10 For “He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
Vs. 15 "and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you"
The Apostle Peter here emphasis two points; the first is that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, not condemnation (John 3:17), but the salvation of everyone who will repent and believe in Him. Something as Peter points out, the Apostle Paul declares and expounds in his epistles (see Rom 2:4).
Vs. 16 "as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures."
Speaking of these things in his epistles according to the wisdom given him, the Apostle Paul, as Peter alludes to here, is the master of theological discourse in the New Testament. Which makes it all the more ironic that the man appointed by God to be such, had to contend with and defend his works from those who being untaught and unstable twist his words to their own destruction, as they do the rest of the Scriptures. And sadly the same situation today still exists as many a Pastor can testify too having had to defend his sermons from those who have no business critiquing either them or him.
Vs. 17-18 "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."
And so the Apostle Peter warns us beforehand not to listen to, or be drawn into, needless debates and strife with those who seem to be more interested in contending with those inside of the house of faith, then for the faith (Jude 3). Therefore let us all who believe in Jesus be steadfast and hold to the truth of God's Word as the basis of all moral and spiritual truth, and not be led away with the error of the wicked, who inevitable stray from it, and disobey it. Instead let us all who believe grow in the grace and the knowledge of Lord and Savior Jesus. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
Commentary
Vs. 14 Two things that the Apostle Peter says that we as the beloved of God are to do in light of the coming Day of the Lord. And that is to be found by Him in peace, and be without spot and blameless. Now the first that Peter expounds here is that we be diligent (that is that we strive, or make every effort) to be found by the Lord Jesus Christ in peace. First amongst ourselves as believers, (Rom 14:17-19; 1 Cor 14:33; 2 Cor 13:11; Eph 4:3 etc.) and then with those in the world (consider 1 Cor 7:15; Heb 12:14). And so rather than striving with each other over non-essential matters, or with those in world who do not believe. We need to in seeking to defend the Gospel of peace be sure that we ourselves remain people of peace, and not be dragged into needless strife and debate with those forces hostile towards it. For being zealous for a good thing is only as good as one presents it and preserves it. As the Apostle James says "the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." James 3:18 Thus in contrast to quarreling amongst ourselves, or with those in the world (consider Prov. 20:3), we should seek to live peaceably with all people, just as the Apostle Paul says: "If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men." Rom 12:18
Now this does not preclude that we will have to take a public stand for the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom, and thus there may be conflicts in our lives for having done so (Matt 10:27-28; 32-33), even with those in our own families (Matt 10:34-39; Luke 12:51-53). But it does preclude that we become the authors of such things, by doing so in a non-Christ like way. For the Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and He came to restore God's peace to believing humanity, and then to all of creation, when the consummation of all things written within the Scriptures takes place.
And so Jesus came and preached peace to you who were far off (i.e. Gentiles) and to you who were near (i.e. Jews), so that He might extend and bring God's peace into us all who believe in Him here and now (see Eph. 2:17). For the Lord Jesus Christ became God's Peace for us, by first suffering Crucifixion death to atone for all our sins and transgressions. And having done so, Jesus rose from the dead, so that He might bring God's Peace into us, by His Spirit, when we believe in Him (John 14:27). Therefore Jesus commands us all who believe in Him to be His peacemakers in this world (Matt 5:9). By both declaring and living out His Gospel's Message of God's peace given freely to all who repent and believe in Him (Rom 10:15). "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Col 1:19-20 Thus by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified for our sins remission and risen from the dead for our justification, God imputes His Righteousness to us and brings us into a peaceful relationship with Himself (Rom 5:1; 2 Cor 5:21). And so having been brought into God's Kingdom by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person we are to be His peaceful messengers and agents of it, to a lost and often hostile world (Matt 5:44-48). That's the first part part of the Apostle Peters exhortation "be diligent to be found by Him in peace." The second part is that we be found by Him without spot and blameless. Now the Apostle Peter is here (to bring across a moral and spiritual truth) harkening back too (at least from our perspective) the Old Covenant ceremonial commandments that required that whatever animal sacrifice was consecrated, and thus to be offered to the Lord, be without blemish. And so just as our new lives are now consecrated to the Lord Jesus Christ for His worship and service, we too are to strive to be without spot and blameless. That is without moral or spiritual defects (i.e. sins and such) or anything else by which someone might make a just charge against us for some unlawful act or deed. Thus not only are we to strive to live in peace with all people, but we are to strive to live Godly lives both amongst our brethren, and in this godless world. Again in Hebrews 12:14 we are commanded: "pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord."
10 For “He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 1 Peter 3:10-12
The Apostle Peter here emphasis two points; the first is that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, not condemnation (John 3:17), but the salvation of everyone who will repent and believe in Him. Something as Peter points out, the Apostle Paul declares and expounds in his epistles (see Rom 2:4).
Vs. 16 "as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures."
Speaking of these things in his epistles according to the wisdom given him, the Apostle Paul, as Peter alludes to here, is the master of theological discourse in the New Testament. Which makes it all the more ironic that the man appointed by God to be such, had to contend with and defend his works from those who being untaught and unstable twist his words to their own destruction, as they do the rest of the Scriptures. And sadly the same situation today still exists as many a Pastor can testify too having had to defend his sermons from those who have no business critiquing either them or him.
Vs. 17-18 "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."
And so the Apostle Peter warns us beforehand not to listen to, or be drawn into, needless debates and strife with those who seem to be more interested in contending with those inside of the house of faith, then for the faith (Jude 3). Therefore let us all who believe in Jesus be steadfast and hold to the truth of God's Word as the basis of all moral and spiritual truth, and not be led away with the error of the wicked, who inevitable stray from it, and disobey it. Instead let us all who believe grow in the grace and the knowledge of Lord and Savior Jesus. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
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