After a thorough description of the power, justice and sovereignty of God, the Psalmist says:
“Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.” (Psalms 107:43 ESV)
In a similar fashion, 2 Peter states:
“This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,” (2 Peter 3:1 ESV)
Peter then reminds them of the sovereignty of God over time and our future hope. (God has a plan – he is in charge – so we rejoice in his plan, especially when we think we know better.)
Immediately afterward, Peter, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, states:
“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these [the coming of the Lord], be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 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, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters.”
[Peter, writing near the end of his life, notes the importance of Paul’s letters. Paul is also in Rome and is near execution, if not dead already.]
“There are some things in them [Paul’s letters] that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.”
[“other Scriptures” – Peter just affirmed that the early church read Paul’s letters as Scripture “according to the wisdom given him.”]
Fragment of the letter to Romans (Bible Museum, D.C.)
He continues:
“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. 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 ESV
Amen indeed!
Glory to God alone for the gift of the Scriptures to guide us today and help us grow!
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