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 ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! 13 But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Final Exhortation and Doxology
14 Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability. 18 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.
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, we are disciples of Jesus who seek to grow in our learning and application of God’s Word in our lives.
Prayer Prompt for the Day
Father God, may Your Word have unparalleled standing and sway in my life. I pray that it enlightens me in all that I am, think, say, and do. Amen.