“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
(A Study in II Peter)
Lesson 8- Be Mindful of the Words:
Chapter Two dealt exclusively with the motivation (origin), damage, and sure judgment of false teachers. Chapter Three brings an awareness of the present distress to the forefront of their consideration. The awareness comes from prophetic warnings and apostolic warnings concerning God's judgment through Christ Jesus; by which was foretold the coming destruction of Jerusalem , the power of the holy people being completely shattered, and the end of daily sacrifice ( Daniel 12:7, 11 ).
We will spend more time with this when we discuss verses 10-13 . However, in order to stay focused on the importance of this present warning and it's application to you and me, keep this one thought very close as we study this chapter, ‘ what God Says, He does! '
So, we ought to be mindful of the words !
Text #1:
2 Peter 3:1-4 “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."
Peter begins this chapter with the recognition that he is writing to the same brethren he addressed his first letter (see: I Peter 1: 1-2 ). He also acknowledges that he had the same purpose in both letters; to address this present distress (to recognize why they were pilgrims and sojourners in a foreign land and why they needed to hold to their hope and the knowledge of Jesus Christ). He would state that they had pure minds, or that he knew that they had a sincere interest in the truth.
Be Mindful of the Words: This simple statement declares to you and me that they had been well advised concerning the reasons for their pilgrimage away from their homeland and why they waited as strangers for the judgments of the Lord.
In lesson 12 of our study of the previous letter, we discussed in detail the first warnings of Peter, the teachings of Jesus, and the thoughts of the prophets concerning this subject and I advise at this point that you review that lesson (use this link: http://www.plvcc.org/IPeter-Lesson12.htm ).
Knowing This First: Although they knew the words of the apostles and the prophets, the events they described have yet to manifest themselves. Peter knew that waiting for that which was spoken of was hard on them, so he uses this present admonishment to do two things! First, to let them know that the events are at hand. Second, to deal with scoffers.
Scoffers: As was described in the previous chapter; there were some among them, motivated by their own lusts that scoffed at the apostolic warnings! “ Were the promise of His coming? ”
Peter dates the coming events as very near (also using the term, “Latter Days” or “Last Days” – knowing that this letter is for their reminder, we know that these last days are during their time!), as some of these scoffers were already at work among them. Their claim is that, “here we are hundreds of miles from home and everything is still the same as when we left!”
The promise of His coming is not describing a final advent or final judgment of all men . It is however, describing the Lord coming in judgment on the disobedient children of Israel . This coming was described in the conversation between Jesus and Peter (recorded in: John 21:20-25 ), where Peter would ask concerning the apostle John and the Lord would answer, note:
John 21:22 “Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come , what is that to you? You follow Me."
We know that John is not alive to this day, so Jesus had to be describing an event within the life of John.
This event was again described by an angel of the Lord to the eleven disciples of Jesus (Judas having committed suicide), while they watched His ascension, note:
Acts 1:11 “who also said, "Men of Galilee , why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven ."
They watched Him ascend into the clouds and this was the like manner in which He would return, in the clouds ! The issue of clouds is more symbolic than literal, in that clouds always describe a movement with power (in prophetic language – an example is recorded in Isaiah 19:1-2 , where Isaiah would record the pending judgment of God on Egypt. This judgment was described as, “God riding on a swift cloud towards Egypt ”).
This symbolic movement with power is described by the apostle John, in describing events that must shortly take place ( Revelation 1:1 ), note:
Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He is coming with clouds , and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.”
Just as Isaiah described God's pending judgment on Egypt , here John records the eminent judgment of the Lord on Israel (the avenging of the apostles and prophets, the theme of the book of revelation, see: 6:10 ; 18:20 ).
This They Willingly Forget: The “they” mentioned here specifically refers to the scoffers and does not include the faithful brethren. However, it is given in order that they not be taken in by these false teachers and doubt planters. From this portion, on to the end of this lesson, Peter is going to describe that which “they” have forgotten. In this description, these faithful brethren as well as you and me are able to know the sureness of God's promises!
Text #2:
2 Peter 3:5-9 “For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
By the Word of God: The same word of God spoken by the apostles and prophets of God concerning the coming events (that they should be mindful of), is the same word of God that created the very earth they lived on ( Genesis 1 ). It is the very word that destroyed the world in the great flood ( Genesis 6-8 ). It is the very same word that holds our existence within the extremely fine balances that keep all things around us in order.
These things, the creation, the great flood, and God's power over nature were things that even the scoffers held as truth. So, with that thought, Peter states that the same earth that is held in the powerful hand of God is the very sign that He will surly reserve sure destruction on those who doubt His word!
Do Not Forget: Since the scoffers make light of the times and seasons of the fulfillment of the word of God, Peter assures these brethren that His time is not measured by the mind of men! This was the same lesson Jesus taught His own disciples when they misunderstood the nature of the kingdom of Christ , note:
Acts 1:6-7 “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel ?" 7 And He said to them, " It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority .”
So, we need not get caught up in the one day to a thousand year example given by Peter, as literal! It is given to describe that God's time is not measured by the mind of man, but that we are to trust His word as sure , regardless of whether things happen as we think they should.
As Some Count Slackness: In the mind of man, we say we are going to do something and we get right after it. If a man says he is going to do something and does not do it right away, others look at him as a slacker (empty in purpose and word).
Here Peter denotes that what men see as slackness of word, is instead the longsuffering of God towards man. This longsuffering is described and measured by the true love of God, in that He holds for as long as possible His sure judgments in hope that any and all will finally heed His word!
Acts 17:30 -31 “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."
In the context of this lesson, verse 9 and this passage from Paul's great sermon in Athens , should have a very insightful purpose to them now! It was then, and it is now that God's true desire is that men repent of their desires that separate them from God and seek redemption through Christ Jesus and His word (the very same word that holds our world in check from the chaos that threatens, by the unique balances that exist in nature).
We can either be counted as the faithful that are mindful of the word, or as scoffers that doubt and undermine the truth!
Remember, “what He Says, He does!” So, we ought to be mindful of the words!
Next: “ The Day of the Lord ”