Then and Now ... 2 Peter 3

First, a little about Peter. Peter was, of course, one of the original disciples - a fisherman. He was very close to Jesus, being with Him at the Transfiguration and in the Garden on the night before the Crucifixion. Second Peter contains his last words for he knew he would soon die. ... In John 21:18 & 19, Jesus told Peter that he would die when he was old and that he would be taken where he did not wish to go. In the event, history tells us, he went to Rome, (at about the same time as Paul) where both were martyred.

2 Peter 1:12-15 was written to remind us of certain truths. Not only does our Heavenly Father teach us new truths, but He must remind us also of the things we already know. My goodness, Peter also seemed to know how WE need reminders - reminders for virtually everything! There he writes: "And so I will always remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are firmly grounded in the truth. I think it only right for me to stir up your memory of these matters as long as I am still alive. For I know that I will soon put off this mortal body, as our Lord Jesus Christ plainly told me. I will do my best, then, to provide a way for you to remember these matters at all times after my death" (2 Pet.1:12-15 GNB). It seems here Peter was aware he did not have long to live and wanted to make this, his last message, as forceful as possible.

So what are "these things" to which Peter refers? It is the "THEN and NOW" of our title. "THEN" referring to things of the future and "NOW" to the present. lt is our objective to remind ourselves, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, of some of these important factors.

The "Day of the Lord" is a very forward-looking series of events comprising: 70^th week of Daniel, our Lord's return, the millennium period, the new heavens and a new earth - all leading to eternity for which there is no end! Peter (in 2 Peter 3 as we have read) gives a grand summary of these events from creation to the new heavens and a new earth.

How was Peter so qualified to write about these important events? Remember He was among Jesus closest trio of disciples: along with James and John. They must have discussed much together such as the Transfiguration when on Mount Hermon, the destruction of Jerusalem which Jesus spoke about on the Mount of Olives and the "how, why and when" of His return. They questioned Jesus almost like in a court of law:

"How will you come?" Answer: = "At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory". (Luke 21:27 NIV)

Next question: = "Who will see Him?" - Answer: = "People will look at Him whom they pierced". (John 19:37 GNB).

Next one: = "What will be seen and heard at this great event?" - "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever" (1 Thess.4:16-17).

Another question: = "Will this be a secret sign to a few?" Jesus answer: = "No! For as lightning that comes from the East is visible even in the West, so will be the coming of the Son of Man". (Matt.24:27 NIV)

"When will these things happen?" The disciples again questioned. Jesus did not give a definitive answer. We cannot give an answer like a date on the calendar but we can give a couple of scripture quotations: "You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night". (1 Thess. 5:2, NIV). Or "... keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour" (Matt.25:13 NIV).

These quotations all feature in our reading from 2 Peter 3.

It follows that Peter, as one of Jesus' closest disciples, remembered practically everything our Saviour told him and was able to present it to us, today, 2 000 years later. The vision Peter presents is glorious! One could liken it to taking a walk early on a summer's day, before the sun has risen. The dew is fresh on the field through which we walk. The silence extreme. We walk slowly uphill and see the top of a mountain ahead. Then the bright light of the rising sun spreading across the horizon, and finally the glimpse of the sun itself eventually becomes so bright that we cannot view it without being dazzled. Thrilling in reality - much better than what we have narrated.

This is the glorious vision we Christians have before us. ...It is "THEN" - future. There are many events that occur from now until the Day of the Lord and its culmination in the creation of a new heaven and new earth. Peter jumps from earth's beginning to its end to place emphasis on a question he poses in the middle of verse 11. Having reminded them of the doctrine of the second coming, Peter asks: "... lf all these things happen ... What kind of people should you be?" (GNB) or to quote King James: "... What manner of persons ought you to be ...?" his refers to the 'NOW' of our text.

How do we answer this question?

Peter provides the first response immediately: "You ought to live holy and godly lives". Why? He has just been describing the temporary nature of this earth - reminding us that it will be dramatically changed during future events! It would be so futile to pursue things that will be destroyed anyway! With these changes in mind, we should prepare ourselves NOW and live in a state of holiness, that means: separated from sin so that we can live our lives in a Godly manner - devoted to worship (as we do in conventions) and service - as we act when we are with others in the "outside" world - able to demonstrate our beliefs by words and actions. This a development of the reminder Peter first uses in 1 Peter 1. "Therefore, with minds alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. ... But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. "(1 Pet.1:13-16 NIV). Quite a graphic call, you will agree, for action on our behaviour! At the time this was written, it meant that the readers should literally gather up their long flowing garments to be ready for action. For us today, it can be taken as "an alarm call".

In verse 14 of chapter 3, Peter continues his reminders by saying: "So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him" (NIV). To be spotless should not be understood literally! Having measles will not affect our character! The meaning here is to be unaffected by any of the sins of this modern world.

"To be blameless" ... well ... Look in Peter's first letter, 1 Peter 1:19 - where the same two Greek words are used in respect of Jesus Christ: "the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect". He was perfect, as we know and is, of course, the pattern we should strive to follow. With these two qualities achieved - spotless and blameless - such a person "will be at peace with Him".

It goes without saying then, that as we anticipate the "new heavens and new earth" , that we should work on our character, manner of life and maturity NOW, to prepare for these, rather than material things which are to be destroyed - THEN.

2 Peter 3 15-16 contain another of Peter's reminders - this time on the development of our 'understanding'. "Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand" . This last phrase is surely not an understatement! Some of Paul's writings are hard to understand. However, the import of this passage is to emphasize the patience of our Lord. Peter is reminding us of what he wrote just a few verses previously - he does seem to realize how poor our memories are sometimes!... 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 gives one explanation of why our Lord has not yet returned. It is a requirement for others, to have adequate time to reflect, repent, give their lives and so achieve their salvation. Let's notice one final thing before we leave this point. Back in verse 12 Peter reminded us that it is possible to speed the return of our Lord Jesus: he wrote: "as you look forward to the Day of God and speed its coming" What does he mean here? That that day may be hastened by God's people as they speed up the accomplishment of His purposes, as we have just seen in verse 9, the sooner that day will dawn.

Prayer can hasten the Day - Our Lord Himself taught us to pray: "...Thy kingdom come..." ... Since we well know that the Day of the Lord, lS coming and since we can speed its coming, let us be diligent to live godly lives including our prayers.

Peter's next reminder regards our understanding of the scriptures. Several times, he reiterates that he was not recording anything new, but teaching what had already been taught by the prophets, our Lord and the Apostles. In verse 16, we have seen Peter place value on Paul's writings. We know Paul's letters contain some things that can be hard to understand, which could make them vulnerable to be used for distorted or false teaching. lt is our responsibility to discern what is true. Both Peter and Paul had personal knowledge of Jesus Christ, one through being an apostle, with Jesus for all His three and half year ministry, the other with the incredible encounter with the Risen Christ on the Damascus Road. We are reminded of a later statement of Peter: "For no prophetic message ever came just from the will of man, but men were under the control of the Holy Spirit as they spoke the message that came from God" (2 Pet.1.21 GNB). Peter is telling us that we need to be REAL Bible Students (which we are, are we not?) - able to discern exactly what is meant, even through the barriers of time, culture and language. Not only do we have to understand what is written, but what it means for us, today, in the 21st century.

This development comes about as we mature, just as wines and wood mature over the years, so our lives mature in Jesus Christ. Christian maturity is a result of understanding - to be careful, for example, of false teachers. Four times in Second Peter, he refers to false teachers. To Peter it must have been important - perhaps he had met some of these on his travels. He certainly heard Jesus' words on the subject - for instance - just one example - when Jesus was alone with His disciples on the Mount of Olives. He said: "... if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah' or, 'There he is', do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time". (Matt.24:23-25 NIV). These words are so striking, we believe, that they would certainly register firmly in Peter's mind and so be reproduced in his letters as we are now seeing. We must all beware of such influences and act accordingly. Never forget Jesus' words: "Get behind me Satan ...". Christ found these words necessary. We use them when wrong thoughts cross our mind. One of the tragic ways Satan works in this present evil world is through false teachers - through newspapers, TV or even conversation! Hence the question from Peter: "...what manner of persons we should be ... ?" Answer: live diligent godly lives!

It seems that so far that the scriptures have been coming solely from the New Testament. While most commands relating to our present conduct are based on the character of our Lord, it is right to remember, as an example, the instruction given by Moses to the Children of Israel. Moses is an antitype of Christ. There being some 25 comparisons - between the two.

For example: Moses was a shepherd and Christ is our Good Shepherd. (Ex.3:1; John 10).

Moses was called to deliver God's people from slavery in Egypt (Ex.3:10). Jesus was called to deliver people from sin. Both Moses and Christ gave God's people the law/covenant. The Old law came through Moses, the New came through Christ. Moses Law was inaugurated by the blood of animals, while the law of Christ was initiated with Jesus Christ's own blood. (Ex.24:8)

Moses brought the Ten Commandments and the entire Law of the Old Testament to the nation of Israel. It served as the guiding principle for Israel as God's chosen nation at that time, to be a light to the world and an example of righteous, holy living. Their goal was the Promised Land and the route and time taken tortuous. It lasted many years. Moses records the instruction he received from God in Deuteronomy 5.31-33 (NIV), "You stay here with me so that I may give you all the commands, decrees and laws you are to teach them to follow, in the land I am giving them to possess. So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper in the land that you will possess". A few verses later Moses reiterates another Commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength". (Deut.6:5) - Words echoed by our Lord himself when asked which of the commandments is the most important. Matthew records Jesus' reply to the teacher of the Law: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment. And the second is like it: 'love your neighbour as you love yourself'. The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments". (Matt.22:37-40), So we find parallels from Moses to Jesus Christ extolling the way we should live ourselves and behave toward others.

The journey of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to the promised land, can in many respects, be likened to our walk through the Christian life. The instructions are given which we endeavour to follow. Difficulties and trials on the way may be legion but there is a glorious future in store when we reach our promised land. Peter, in chapter 3 refers to it and then puts that question as to how we should be NOW. We trust we have demonstrated, from the scriptures, just a few of the many desirable attributes we should have.

A decade or two before Peter's letter, Paul wrote to the Church at Philippi. A passage from Chapter 4, provides a better summary of our discussion than we can possibly make. Paul wrote: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard ... put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you" . (Philippians 4.8-9 NIV).