“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 9- The Day of the Lord:
2 Peter 3:1 “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),”
The last chapter of our study starts with a reminder from Peter, concerning teachings which they had already received from the prophets and the apostles (information that has caused them to relocate, I Peter 1:1 ; and that he spoke of in the first letter he wrote to them, I Peter 4:7 ; 12-13 ; 17 ). All of this information being given by Peter was present tense , or specifically for them ! This helps us to understand that the terms, “end of all things is at hand – I Peter 4:7 ”, and “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” , is not talking about a final advent, but one they would see!
As we studied in our last lesson, scoffers had risen among them and attempted to diminish the words of the Apostles and prophets because God had not acted on their time schedule (I also hope that you had a chance to revisit, I Peter – Lesson 12: http://www.plvcc.org/IPeter-Lesson12.htm ). However, Peter assured them that God is not slack concerning His promises (it is as sure as the creation of the world and the power that keeps it in check).
So, with this sure promise of God at hand, Peter is going to describe this coming event that has caused them to depart Judea and flee to Asia Minor . As we study these four verses, remember that he is writing to Christians of Jewish decent and they know the language of the prophets (the language of national judgment).
Text:
2 Peter 3:10-13 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
The Day of the Lord: This is a term used over and over in the Old Testament scriptures to describe God's intervention in the affairs of men (particularly in the prophets and most often concerning His judgments on the disobedient nations ). For the sake of brevity, I will list a few examples, but keep in mind that the reference is used in abundance!
- Isaiah 13:6-9 – used twice to describe the pending judgment of God on Babylon .
- Ezekiel 30: 1-4 – used to describe the pending judgment of God on Egypt .
- Joel 1:15; 2:1 – used to describe the wrath of God towards the northern kingdom of Israel .
- Malachi 4:1-6 – used as a warning to Israel to be steadfast to the words of the Law and watch for the coming of the one whom would herald the coming of the Messiah. Note that the language of the national judgment being warned against is very similar to that of our text.
In many instances the term is used to mark what God would do or what would happen (“day of punishment – Isaiah 10:3 ”; “day of trouble – Ezekiel 7:7 ”; “day of rebuke – Hosea 1:9 ”; “day of vengeance – Isaiah 63:4 ”; “day of doom – Jeremiah 51:2 ”; “day of darkness – Joel 2:2 ”; and in many cases once the prophet has described a specific judgment this way, he would continue all further references to, “that day”).
Based on this understanding of the term, we can mark that Peter is referring to a national judgment . As we continue in our commentary on the text, we will again see that it was to be in their time!
A Thief in the Night: This statement describes an event that no one is precisely prepared for. A thief does not announce his arrival so that you are prepared and can catch him. In our next lesson we will study the fact that they were to be diligent and watchful, however, Peter denotes that the events of God are not according to man. This is the same thing the Lord Jesus would say concerning the same subject, note:
Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
Matthew 24:44 “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Burned Up: The elements and works of reference here are those described in verse 7 , “judgment and perdition of ungodly men” . The concept of heat or fire used in the language of the prophets is always used in reference to a purifying judgment (one that destroys the non-pure elements and cleanses the righteous through tempering).
Fire and fervent heat are used of nation judgments on Assyria – Isaiah 33:14 ; on Judah– Jeremiah 4:4 . However, it is Ezekiel who described this purification process best as he spoke to those in captivity concerning the judgments of God, note:
Ezekiel 22:20-22 “As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it; so I will gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt you. 21 Yes, I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you shall be melted in its midst. 22 As silver is melted in the midst of a furnace, so shall you be melted in its midst; then you shall know that I, the Lord , have poured out My fury on you.' "
What Manner of Person Ought You Be: With all the teaching they have received concerning this subject and the lesson they are receiving now concerning judgment on the ungodly of their own nation, they should be sober to the fact that they want to avoid this disaster and any further judgment of God (this becomes the lesson to us, be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, and avoid His wrath).
In addition, we again see the explicit instruction to how this day of the Lord should and would influence their service and lives. It was specific to them and not the final advent of the Lord that we look for to this day (as described by Paul – I Thessalonians 4:13 -18 ). However, the premise is the same regardless of which advent is being spoken of. This is where this has great value to you and me. We may also trust that the promises of the Lord are sure and true, and although they do not manifest themselves according to our time schedules, we can count on every promise of God as trustworthy!
Verse 12 simply reiterates that which we have already discussed within verse 10 .
New Heavens and Earth: Keep in mind as you look at this statement in verse 13 , the phrase, “in which righteousness dwells” , this statement becomes the key to understanding the heavens and earth being spoken of here.
These new creations were spoken of before through the prophets, note:
Isaiah 65:17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.”
Isaiah 66:22-23 "For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me," says the Lord , "So shall your descendants and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me ," says the Lord .”
In these quotes from Isaiah the prophet, we see that God has an intention to create or make something new (“I Create; I will make” - In both cases they are future tense). This speaks of a new order or more specifically a new dispensation. This dispensation change was described by the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the Christians at Corinth , note:
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new .”
The Hebrew writer would describe this new dispensation to Christians of Jewish heritage, in an attempt to help them understand that they had come to this new creation as Christians, note:
Hebrews 12:22-24 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
Finally, the Apostle John would describe this new heaven and earth, note:
Revelation 21:1-2 “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband .”
In his letter to the church at Ephesus , Paul described the church as the bride of Christ ( Ephesians 5: 25 -27 ). So, the new heavens and earth described here is our text is the kingdom of Christ (the church), in which righteousness dwells (the key).
So, described within these four verses, is an advent of dispensation change. Judgment is passed on the unrighteous of the previous dispensation and the days of that dispensation are numbered (the pending destruction of Jerusalem ). The righteous now dwell within the kingdom of Christ and by remaining watchful and faithful are storing for themselves an election sure and an entrance into the everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ ( Chapter 1:10-11 ).
Next: “ Seeing You Know These Things Beforehand ”