READ: 2 Pet. 3:17,18: You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
One last time, Peter addresses the church to admonish them, as beloved of Christ, in opposition to the scoffers. At the same time, he directs this message to us as His beloved. The error of lawless people is all the more dangerous when it involves Christians who twist the gospel.
It can be packaged beautifully with pious words about love and humanity. But it is life-threatening if we follow our own desires and do not allow ourselves to be guided by what God Himself reveals to us in His Word. We can easily be swept away by the claims of others if we do not grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.
How necessary is this admonition to persevere in faith now that so many doubt and contradict it! It applied to the readers of this letter, but how much more necessary is it today!
Moral lawlessness has never been so deep and widespread in the “western world” since the time of the Reformation as it is today. The deception and attraction to conform to the world have never been so intense among Christians, due to the media and the digital world.
Additionally, our knowledge of God’s Word is alarmingly declining because of distractions caused by the use of media. This, in turn, causes a frightening decline in our knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His glorious grace!
Peter also says to us: be on your guard, know what God is doing and what happens when He comes! In our mutual warnings, let us also see the richness of redemption and proclaim praise to the Lord: To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen!
Are we growing in knowledge, or is it decreasing?
Sing: Ps. 86:5,6