Author: Charlie Garrett

Sunday, 1 March 2020

… as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 2 Peter 3:16

In the previous verse, Peter noted Paul and “the wisdom given to him” by which he wrote to these same people that Peter was writing to. He now says, “as also in all his epistles.” This same wisdom that was conveyed to the Jews through the epistle specifically directed to them (which is certainly the book of Hebrews, as already noted is to be found in all of his epistles. Peter is standing on the surety that Paul’s letters carry the very wisdom of God, and that they convey accurate, reliable truth concerning the gospel, proper doctrine, and contextual reliability.

This is especially important to understand, because Paul had personally challenged Peter concerning faulty doctrine at one point. But this isn’t something that was lightly brushed over, nor was it something found in a non-apostolic writing. Rather, it is something found in one of the very letters Peter is now referring to, Galatians. The entire account of Peter’s departure from the truth is laid out – openly and fully – for any to read. Peter confirms that Paul’s doctrine in this is correct, and that what Peter had done was “to be blamed,” as Paul states in Galatians 2:11.

Understanding this, Peter continues with, “speaking in them of these things.” The substance of the letters which Peter presented is the same substance of the letters of Paul. It is a way of saying that the content of their letters, though unique in style, was in complete harmony concerning content. For example, Peter wrote of the return of Christ, and so did Paul. Peter wrote about the gospel, and so did Paul. Peter wrote about the inspiration of Scripture, and so did Paul. These men were not writing two gospels, or two sets of promises – one to Jew and one to Gentile. Rather, they were writing one message which then fit into the same overall message of the Bible.

Peter then acknowledges concerning Paul’s letters, “in which are some things hard to understand.” Here, Peter uses a word unique in Scripture. It is a compound word from “difficult” and “understanding.” The things Paul wrote about are hard to mentally grasp and process. Capturing their true meaning, and mentally perceiving how what he says then fits into the greater context of the Bible, is a mentally challenging task.

Anyone who has read commentaries on Paul’s letters must acknowledge this is true. For example, the idea of the rapture is debated heavily to this day. Will there be a rapture? When will it occur? What is the sequence of events if it is to occur? Something which is written about by Paul, in only a few verses of his writings, cannot be easily agreed upon. How much more his extremely complicated doctrines! Peter acknowledges that what Paul says must be carefully contemplated. However, he next says, “which untaught and unstable people twist.”

Both words are only found in Peter’s writings. The first is only found here. It signifies “unlearned” or “ignorant.” The second is found in 2 Peter 2:14 and then here. It signifies “not established.” Literally, it is a person who does not have a staff to lean on, and thus he cannot be trusted because he is unsteady.

This statement of Peter, from two thousand years ago, has been proven throughout church history. Further, with the advent of the internet, this has bloomed into a worldwide and daily occurrence. The saying, “everyone is a specialist in the Bible, but almost nobody knows his Bible” is true. People who are both ignorant of the context of the Bible, and those who are completely unstable in their doctrine, make constant claims of spiritual insight into the meaning of various passages, usually completely ripping them out of context.

Unfortunately, these supposed teachers then pass on their uninformed teachings to others who, likewise, don’t search out the context of what is being said. From there, entire denominations bloom into large apostasy fests. Eventually, the Bible itself – when shown to contradict what these heretics teach – is dismissed as secondary to the supposed experiential knowledge of these adherents. Sound doctrine, and a right understanding of what is being conveyed, is subordinated to sensationalism. But such teachers twist the meaning and purpose of Scripture “to their own destruction.”

Bad doctrine is sin. How much more if it is intentional. People twist Paul’s words for profit, for sexual exploitation, for political motives, and on and on. Whatever agenda someone has, even if he dismisses the words of the Bible in every other aspect of his life, will cite Paul’s words out of their intended context in order to justify some unholy stand. But this isn’t unique to Paul’s writings. Peter notes that they do this, “as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”

To such people, Scripture is a means of satisfying earthly desires, lusts, and agendas. It is one large body of “pick and choose” in order to justify the unjustifiable. Context has no meaning, and the intent of what is said is irrelevant. All that matters is that an agenda can be satisfied with the precious word of God.

And that is exactly what Peter says Paul’s letters are. In connecting Paul’s letters to “the rest of the Scriptures,” he is elevating what Paul has written to the full authority of all other Scripture. Thus, what these untaught and unstable people are doing is manipulating the very words of God. No person can do this and go unpunished. This is why James was so careful to say, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”

If sincere teachers of the word will be judged for their incorrect analyses and teachings, how much more severe will be the punishment upon those who purposefully twist God’s word for their own perverse agendas!

The word Peter used above, which is translated as “twist,” is also unique in Scripture. It literally speaks of an instrument of torture. A person would be put on a rack, and his body would be “twisted” or “dislocated.” Imagine how these people tear apart and abuse God’s precious and sacred word. Now imagine how God will punish them for what they have done. Theirs will be a punishment which we cannot even imagine. But it is as certain to come as is the fact that God is holy, and He cherishes and protects His sacred word.

Life application: Paul’s epistles are authoritative for the church – there is no missing this. What Paul writes has the same weight as if Jesus Himself were speaking. This is confirmed in Acts 9:15 –

 “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.”

Jesus said that Paul is His “chosen vessel.” Therefore, what Paul writes is on the same level as all of God’s words breathed out in the pages of the Bible. In his letters, he speaks of the mysteries long hidden by God, but now revealed in Jesus Christ. He provides doctrine for the church which must be taken in proper context and with an understanding of how God is dealing with the world during the church age. Unfortunately, “unstable people” – and also those who haven’t taken time to rightly divide God’s word – twist what is given and confuse those who are seeking the truth.

The lure of profit, fame, and power are strong enticements for the depraved mind. Far too many churches today diminish the authority and power of Paul’s words because they aren’t politically correct, but to reject what He writes is to reject the authority of Jesus Christ who chose Paul to be His messenger.

If your denomination, church, or pastor speaks ill of Paul’s doctrine, or of any part of the word of God, find another place to worship. Such teachings are in no way honoring to the Lord.

Lord God, because the words of the apostles carry the same weight as if You had spoken them directly to us, help us to understand them properly and to follow them obediently. We often find it hard to follow what they intend for us to understand, and we need our spiritual eyes opened. Provide us, Lord, with sound teachers who will properly explain them to us. Amen.

Saturday, 29 February 2020

…and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 2 Peter 3:15

Here Peter reaches back to verse 9 where he stated that the Lord is not slack concerning His promise. Rather, it is His will that all come to repentance. With that in mind, he expands on that thought by saying, “and consider that the longsuffering of the Lord is salvation.” In other words, the “come to repentance,” means “salvation.” The people have a change of mind about the Lord, and they go from actively rejecting Him to seeking Him out.

The word “repentance” simply means, “to change one’s mind or purpose.” Therefore, those who have heard the message of Christ, and who have subsequently rejected it, will hopefully repent (change their mind) about their rejection and turn to Him for salvation. This is the longsuffering of the Lord. He awaits those who are at enmity with Him to have a change of heart.

Scholars debate (unnecessarily) over the issue of who is being spoken of here by the term “Lord.” Is it “God,” or is it “Jesus?” The debate is unnecessary. Jesus is God. The members of the Godhead are united in purpose. It is not as if the Father is impatient, while the Son and the Holy Spirit are patient. All have the same purpose and intent concerning such things.

Peter next says, “as also our beloved brother Paul.” This is speaking of the apostle Paul, the author of the thirteen epistles which bear his name, and which were written to the Gentile churches and/or to individual Gentiles. Of Paul, Peter next says, “according to the wisdom given to him.”

In other words, Paul’s wisdom is that of the inspiration of his words by the Holy Spirit, a process which Peter has already explained in this epistle –

“for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21

Peter is ensuring his audience that what Paul has said is in accord with both what he is writing, and that it is inspired by God. This will be seen further in the next verse. Peter finishes the verse with these words concerning the wisdom that Paul, “has written to you.”

Peter’s audience is “the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” as noted in 1 Peter 1:1. That is confirmed by 2 Peter 3:1 which says, “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle.” However, as was just noted by Peter, Paul had written this Hebrew audience a letter which is inspired by God. This is a sure and reliable note that Paul is the author of the book of Hebrews. Along with many other internal evidences of the epistle, this is certain.

In understanding that Paul is that author, it gives a sure and reliable testimony to the fact that Peter and Paul were in complete agreement concerning both the gospel of Christ, and of the unity of the one gospel to provide salvation for both Jew and Gentile. The only difference is the main audience of their ministry, not the content of the message conveyed.

Though the word Peter uses here, and which is translated as “longsuffering,” is used only once in the epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 6:12), the thought of God’s patience with the Hebrew people is conveyed again and again. It is a principle precept found in the epistle, and Peter conveys that to his reader now.

Life application: Despite having a bit of a controversy early on which is described in Galatians 2, Peter and Paul mended their dispute and moved on. As you can see in this verse, Peter holds Paul in high esteem, calling him a “beloved brother.” He also acknowledges the “wisdom given to him.”

Peter’s words about the “longsuffering of the Lord” permeate Paul’s epistles. It is a point that these men of God faithfully proclaimed, but it is not a point which should lead a person to delay a choice for Christ. There is a time when the age will come to an end. It is a time which is unknown to all but God. For now, Paul’s words of 2 Corinthians should be taken to heart –

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2

God’s goodness and His great patience are manifest in each of us when we finally turn to Him and call on Jesus as Lord. There is a day, however, when this longsuffering will come to an end. This isn’t because God has given up on us, but because we have finally given up on Him to such an extent that no remedy is possible. This, combined with the completion of His temple, built with the living stones which are his people, will bring an end to the current age. This end is the destruction anticipated by Peter in Chapter 3 of this epistle.

Thank You, O God, for Your longsuffering. Were You to mete out what we deserve, we would have been swept away eons ago. But because of Your faithfulness and patience, we are granted life unto salvation through Jesus. Now Lord, grant us the ability to be longsuffering as we patiently explain His work to others who don’t see their own great need. May their eyes be opened to the truth of Jesus and the brevity of life. Amen.

Friday, 28 February 2020

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 2 Peter 3:14

Translations of this verse vary widely, but in the end, they all speak of the condition of the believer before the Lord. Peter begins with “Therefore.” In this, he is referring to the key points which he has already addressed –

1) The Day of the Lord is coming as a thief in the night. Because of this, we should live our lives in holy conduct and godliness; hastening the coming Day of God.

2) This coming time will result in the destruction of the heavens and the earth.

3) Despite the first two points, God has promised a new heavens and earth; one where righteousness dwells.

Because of these things, he asks believers to look “forward to these things.” He does so using the term “beloved.” In this, it is a note of reassurance. God has a plan for His people whom he cares for. Peter’s use of this word is to comfort them in this. Instead of fear and trepidation, there should be eager anticipation. The world is heading for bad times, but the Lord has something prepared for His people, the glory of which will far exceed the temporary times of destruction which are to first come.

He next tells them to “be diligent to be found by Him in peace.” Times of turmoil lie ahead because the Lord will judge the wicked. As Isaiah 57:21 says, “‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked.’” However, because believers are beloved of the Lord, there should not be worry about this coming judgment, but rather peace – knowing that these things must come to pass in order that the world of righteousness can then be ushered in.

With that in mind, Peter finishes his exhortation by noting that believers should be “without spot and blameless.” These words are closely tied to the word he said in his first epistle concerning Christ –

“…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:18, 19

It also is a contrast to what he said of the false teachers in the previous chapter –

“They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you.” 2 Peter 2:13

The idea then is that believers are to emulate that which is good and right as seen in Christ, and to shun that which is perverse and unholy as found in the false teachers. Peter’s thoughts are consistent and beautifully laid out to show the proper and orderly way for his reader to conduct his affairs in this temporary, fallen world.

Life application: As believers who live in a world which is set for destruction, we need to actively work towards calmness, not fretting over that which has already been ordained. God’s plan has been recorded and there isn’t a thing we can do about it. So rather than wringing our hands and losing sleep over what is already determined, we should mentally look forward to this time with peaceful hearts. The promises which come after the Day of the Lord should be our heart’s encouragement.

We are also to emulate Jesus at all times. Just as His work was prefigured in the Old covenant Passover lamb; one without spot and wholly fitting for a sacrifice to God, so should we work towards such a state in our own lives.

Should the Lord come today, would He find you secretly having an affair, cheating on finances, or engaging in morally questionable activities? Or will He find you pursuing righteousness and godliness? The Lord is coming…be about His business so that when He arrives you won’t be ashamed of your deeds.

Glorious and Almighty God! How we long for the day of Your coming and the ushering in of that which is eternal, perfect, and satisfying. Give us the wisdom to seek holiness and right living now so that upon Your return we won’t be found ashamed of our actions. This we pray, knowing that only You can so direct our steps. Amen.

Thursday, 27 February 2020

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

In the Greek, the stress is not on “we,” but on “new.” A direct translation would be, “New, however, heaven and earth new.” And more, the word translated as “new” requires further explanation.

There are two different Greek words translated into English as “new.” The first is kainos. It signifies something new in quality. One might say, “It was not seen like this before.” The second is neos. That signifies new in age. One might say, “This was not seen before.” The difference is that the first existed but has changed, whereas the second is completely different. The first is what is being referred to by Peter. The heavens and the earth are new in the sense of being the same heavens and earth, but they are completely changed.

This is also the same word used in Revelation 21:1 which speaks of “a new heaven and a new earth.” The universe is not being recreated, but rather it is refreshed to a state which did not previously exist. This is the state that Peter speaks of. And he says that it is “according to His promise.”

Peter’s words now are based on the promise of the Lord from the Old Testament. In the book of Isaiah, this state was prophesied about –

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Isaiah 65:17

He also refers to this in Isaiah 66:22. However, it must be noted that the descriptions of Isaiah and Revelation do not match entirely. For example, Isaiah 65 also says –

“No more shall an infant from there live but a few days,
Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days;
For the child shall die one hundred years old,
But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.” Isaiah 65:20

There, Isaiah prophesies of a time when people will live to great ages, but there will be death. However, Revelation goes on to say, “

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 22:3, 4

God slowly and progressively reveals His plan of redemption to man. What Isaiah foresaw was certainly the time of the millennial reign of Christ. What John saw included that time (Revelation 20), but he then goes beyond it to a time of complete renewal.

Peter’s words may (and probably do) only go as far as the millennium as prophesied by Isaiah. This is what Israel had anticipated, and it would be what Peter is speaking of. John’s revelation came later and is the final fulfillment of the plan of the ages. No matter what, the plan of redemption is now laid out in its entirety for us to know what is coming in both the millennium and into the final, eternal state.

Peter’s speaking of this new heaven and new earth, which is based upon his previous words of destruction, only align properly with the change from the current state to that of the millennial reign. There must be a destruction by fire, where things melt in heat (see Zechariah 14:12 and other OT cataclysmic passages to understand this better) in order for that to come about.

Life application: The things we treasure now will be completely burned up. Because of this, we are told time and again in the Bible to not let ourselves become attached to earthly things, nor to let them run our lives. Rather, we live here, use the world while taking care of it, but we should be willing to look beyond what we have now to that which is eternal. And God won’t fail to surprise us!

He promises new heavens and a new earth. And what He has prepared is surely beyond anything we can imagine or hope for. Best of all though, it will be an earth where righteousness dwells. Think on that for a moment… Even the things we cherish most can’t keep us happy. This is because we live in an unrighteous world.

The showy car we spend so much time on is bound to get scratched or dented by a person jealous of what we have. The large house with expensive delights in it is susceptible to robbery, leaving us with a sense of being violated. The whopping bank account we saved diligently for, and which we relied on for our “golden years,” is lost in a moment when some hacker replaces our personal information with his own. Even our unrighteous governments seize what has been earned, taking from the rightful owners and handing it over to those who haven’t worked for it.

The list can go on to everything we have, every person we love, every hope we have stored up for. In the end, this world of unrighteousness will be replaced with a world where contentment reigns, where justice is established, and where peace and joy are the hallmark of our dealings with others.

Best of all though is the prospect of sharing eternity with Jesus – the One who made it all possible. His work destroyed the devil’s work, and it allows us access once again into the paradise lost so long ago. What a great and wonderful Lord!

Yes, Lord Jesus! How wonderfully splendid will be the day when we share in Your eternal kingdom – one established in righteousness and with all the heavenly delights we once had with you at the beginning. May we never become consumed with this temporary and fallen world when that which You have prepared for us is yet future. Amen.

Wednesday, 26 February 2020

… 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? 2 Peter 3:12

There is an appointed time when the heavens and the earth will go through their cataclysmic changes. Peter just noted that because of this, believers should conduct their affairs in holiness and godliness. In this, they will be “looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God.”

First, the term, “day of God,” is unique in Scripture. It is an event usually associated with Jesus – the day of the Lord, for example. However, the term God is used, probably to show that the entire Godhead is uniquely involved in what shall come to pass. This seems evident because of the use of the Greek word Parousia, which signifies actual presence. It is “a technical term with reference to the visit of a king or some other official” (HELPS Word Studies). God’s visitation will be the reason for, and evidenced in, what occurs.

For the believer, the term “looking for” signifies more than just looking around to find something, but looking in eager anticipation. It is a state of expectation that something will come to pass. Believers are to always be eager for the events which have been prophesied. This does not mean that they will be participants in that time of destruction, but that their deliverance will come because the timing of those events has also come. This is seen with the word “hastening.”

The idea here is that what believers do will actually affect the timing of these events. Paul says in Romans 11:25 –

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.” 

There are a set number of Gentiles that will be brought into the redemptive plan of God before the rapture. When that number is met, the current age will come to its close. Obviously, if nobody evangelized anyone for a year, that number would be delayed. If everyone evangelized everyone they knew, and many converts came about each day, the time would be shortened.

A similar thought is found in Acts 3 –

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

Peter knew that when Israel as a nation repented of their crucifixion of Christ, the nation would finally be granted all of the promises which had been made to it. Thus, if the whole nation did so 2000 years ago, the earthly kingdom would have come at that time.

This means that our actions affect the timing of such events. And yet, God already knows what our actions will be, and so the timing has been set and prophesied in advance. Like free will in man, there is a synergistic working out of the timing of redemptive events. Just because God knows what will happen, it does not negate that we must act in order for it come about. Jesus says as much in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Next, Peter says of this coming “Day of God” which we should look for and hasten, “because of which the heavens will be dissolved.” This returns to the thought of verses 10 and 11 which spoke of this event. At first, it sounds contrary to right thinking that anyone would want the heavens to be dissolved. But if we are to “hasten” that day, then it must be a day with a good purpose.

With that understanding, and before that good purpose is explained, Peter continues with the state of those heavens, which is “being on fire.” One can think of the very oxygen of the atmosphere being ignited. Everything will burn as the fuel is brought into the burning, causing it to continue growing and increasing in fervency. This will be so much the case that “the elements will melt with fervent heat.”

It appears that what man has produced through nuclear science is the very thing God will use to bring about the destruction of the earth. Whether God actively or passively brings about an action, it is still ascribed to God. This is true throughout Scripture. A battle may be won by Israel, but it is said that the Lord brought about the victory. There is no reason to doubt that this will be the case in the end times.

In the next verse, Peter will explain why it is, in fact, appropriate for believers to look for this coming day with expectation, and to even hasten its coming.

Life application: The book of 2 Peter has spent a great deal of time speaking of false prophets and destruction. When analyzing it, it is hard to miss the fact that, unlike Jesus’ earthly ministry, there is another side to His expectations.

Jesus came and spoke a gospel of peace to the world. He preached about love and servanthood, and he demonstrated these attributes personally and faithfully. So why do Peter and other apostles write so much about faithlessness and destruction?

The reason is that Jesus’ ministry was an example to us of how we should live and conduct our lives now – following His lead. Additionally, it was intended to show us our own state of moral depravity – what He did we could never do.

Finally, He gave His life to reconcile us to God the Father. All of this was accomplished for our benefit and to give us a choice – to accept Him and be saved from what we deserve. Peter is merely showing us what to avoid, how to avoid it, and also the consequences for not paying heed to Jesus and His work. The “day of God” is coming, and we need to choose now what we will do about Jesus Christ.

Peter’s words about the coming destruction are not some exaggerated speech intended to scare us into loving God. They are intended to show us the consequences of not loving Him. Peter says we should look forward to and hasten this coming day. No one in his right mind would do this, knowing what it will be like, unless he was already securely protected from that day.

The fact of the matter is that God’s justice demands the destruction of the wicked. This is all of us. None of us meet His standards, but in His great mercy, He judged wickedness in His own Son. If we accept the payment rendered at the cross, then we are free. If not, we will meet our Maker in the vast inferno prepared for that horrifying day.

Lord Jesus, what You endured on the cross clearly demonstrates the guilt we as humans bear and the punishment we deserve. Thank You for giving us life through Your death and hope through Your resurrection. We look forward to the day of Your visitation, knowing that through You we are safe from the wrath to come. What a splendid Lord You are! Amen.