Articles
Peter 46 - Be
Be
Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 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. (2Peter 3:14-18)
Peter’s closing exhortation of his second letter is, in effect, a synopsis of the content of his two letters (2Peter 3:14-18). He is intentionally requiring us to “call these things to mind.”
Be diligent
This is a favorite appeal of the apostle. This seems a natural approach to things from a man of Peter’s character. The word we translate as “diligence” comes from a word that means, “make haste; urge on.” How fitting a word choice from one who always seemed to be “making haste.” He opened his second letter by using this exhortation three times in the first chapter: “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply …” (2Peter 1:5); “… be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling …” (2Peter 1:10); “I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind” (2Peter 1:15). Of course, he is urging Christians to be putting forth effort, making haste, to live a Godly life, letting nothing interfere with that endeavor. If we are diligent, then we will …
Be found in peace
There are two areas in which Christians should work for peace. Brethren should make sure that they remain in peace with God (Romans 8:6,7; James 4:4). We can be at peace with God through faith in His word (Romans 5:1). Keeping His word is what keeps our relationship right with Him (John 15:14). Then also, brethren should be diligent to be found at peace one with another (Romans 14:19; 1Peter 3:11). We should compromise our feelings, our desires, our rights, and anything else other than the word of God, in order to have peace. We can have peace in Him because He has enabled us to …
Be spotless
Christ’s blood not only cleanses us, but Christ is also our example in spotlessness. Peter reminds us of this: “you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1Peter 1:18-19). So much is said about being without blemish in Scripture. Even sacrifices under the Law given through Moses required spot-free animals (Exodus 29:1; Ezekiel 43:22). The same theme continues in letters to Christians. “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). When we remain spotless, we will be found to …
Be blameless
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life …” (Philippians 2:14-16). This is exactly the kind of person that Jesus requires to be a citizen of His kingdom: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). We continue to be clean when we walk in His light. “If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:7-9). The Adversary does not want us to be blameless, so we must …
Be on our guard
Peter wrote of those who did not guard themselves: “after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. It has happened to them according to the true proverb, ‘A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,’ and, ‘A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire’” (2Peter 2:20-22). We need to listen to Him to guard ourselves: “we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1). If we apply ourselves to His words, then we will …
Be growing
“Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord” (1Peter 1:2-3). “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” (2Peter 3:18).
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