EXPLORE THE TEXT
Believers can guard against false teachers by being intentional about growing in their knowledge of the Lord.
15 Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you
according to the wisdom given to him.
16 He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things hard to understand in them.
The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance,
be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stable position.
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.
The teachings of Paul concurred with what Peter was sharing with his audience.
Living a godly life in order to confidently receive the salvation one has in Christ is something both Paul and Peter espoused.
It is a great sign of unity that the apostle to the Gentiles
and the apostle to the Jews were on the same page when it came to salvation and righteous living.
That Peter would call out Paul's teachings in his letter
implies in part that the false teachers were using Paul's letters to their advantage,
distorting them to influence people away from the gospel.
Therefore, Peter's reference to these letters simultaneously affirms Paul
and aligns him with the gospel message and its realities espoused in Peter's letters.
God desired that all people would repent and accept Christ,
The delay in the return of Christ was a compassionate offer to unbelievers.
It was not an unfulfilled promise as the false teachers suggested.
Remind the group that the New Testament books were not complete, and letters were circulating among the churches from the apostles.
Peter returned to an important point he had made in verse 9.
While the false teachers were reviling the apostles and gospel
because Jesus had not yet returned,
he reminded his readers that God's patience
meant more individuals would embrace a personal relationship with Him through Jesus.
Jesus had compared Himself to a good Shepherd whose primary concern was to protect and provide for His sheep
(Matt. 9:36-38; John 10:11-15).
Peter was indicating that God's deliberate approach to justice fulfilled the role.
The Shepherd was still going out to find lost sheep.
Peter admitted that some of the teachings in Paul's letters were hard to grasp.
But, as noted, the communication problem was not related to the sender, but to the receivers.
Paul was clear enough in his explanation of the gospel and its implications for practical Christian living.
In reality, the distortion came from those who Peter called untaught and unstable.
They took delight in twisting his words
and making things more confusing for the people they were trying to deceive.
Peter assured his readers that these false teachers would experience destruction for their sins
Read 2 Peter 3:17-18, and
Because Peter's followers had heard the truth and embraced the truth,
they were responsible to live it out each day in a way that would point others toward the Messiah.
Firmly grounded in the Old Testament and the writings of the apostles,
Peter expected true believers to remain steadfast in their position
and not to follow the teachings of those only trying to justify their own sinfulness.
Peter wrapped up this letter where he began: the grace of God in Christ.
By its very nature, grace is a gift from the Lord (see Eph. 2:8-9).
Yet, it is a gift that we are encouraged to nurture in our lives.
We grow in our knowledge of the Savior, and He receives abundant glory as we point others to Him.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 126 of the Personal Study Guide:
Briefly discuss the questions raised in the Engage activity. Allow volunteers to share responses based on today s verses.
Guide the group to discuss the first set of questions on page 126 of the PSG. Encourage adults to identify one spiritual goal they will pursue in the next few months. Talk about how adults can be a support system for one another.
Close in prayer thanking God for His provision of Scripture to guide and encourage us in our journey toward spiritual maturity. Pray for each group member by name and his or her obedience and faithfulness to God s purpose and plan.
Reinforce the session by reflecting on the challenges of false teachings in the world today. Send the group an email or text thanking them for participating in the study of 1,2 Peter and Jude. Looking ahead to a new Bible book, share your anticipation of studying together once again. Encourage the group to offer an invitation to people they know who are not involved in a Bible study group. Also, be in personal touch with adults on your group list who have not attended recently.
According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. (See 1 John 3:2; Revelation 1:7.)
Press escape press escape
Read the entry for second coming in a Bible dictionary and make notes of your findings. Ask God to give you a fuller understanding of the implications of the second coming for your present life.