Theme: As Sent Ones, Disciples take God’s Word Seriously…
and follow it

Your Biblical Identity in Christ

2 Peter 3:8-18

[The Apostle Paul’s] letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever! Amen.
~Apostle Peter, 2 Peter 3:16-18

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 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.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 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. 16 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, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Pondering Point

All teaching in the Bible, whether directly from Jesus or some other person moved by the Holy Spirit, is God’s Word. People who ignore or change this Word of God do so at their own peril. We have been forewarned by the Apostle Peter one who read and wrote, heard and saw the Word of God in action. And – as he himself pointed out to Christians of his day about it, "you would do well to pay attention to it, like a light shining in a dark place until the dawn breaks and the morning star rises in your heart" (2 Peter 1:19).

• In the grace and knowledge of Christ, I am a disciple of Jesus who seeks to grow in my learning and application of God’s Word in my life.