348 - Peter’s Follow-Up Letter to the Persecuted Believers
- Gwen Diaz
- Dec 14, 2022
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 8
December 14 - Nº 348 2 Peter 1 – 3
Not long after he sent his first letter to the churches in the northern provinces of Asia Minor, Peter sat down to write a second letter. He knew that the believers there were still being persecuted. In his first letter, Peter had instructed them how they should live during these difficult times. He had urged them to pursue godliness, kindness, and self-control.
But as tough as their external hardships were, Peter had heard about something even more devastating that was going on inside the church. False teachers had infiltrated the leadership and introduced a message filled with sexual sin, arrogance, and greed.
Peter had written that “submission to God” was the proper response to persecution. Now he wrote that “knowledge of the truth” was the proper response to false teaching. He challenged those weary believers to keep growing in their faith by studying God’s Word. Its precious promises would help them become more like Jesus. Rather than being known for indulging their own sinful desires, they should be known for their godliness, self-control, and love for other believers.
Peter then addressed some of the false teachings (or heresies) that were being circulated by the false teachers (known as heretics):
These wicked men claimed that the apostles had made up the story about Jesus’ resurrection. They insisted that he was still dead and that stories of his return were only false promises. Peter refuted this by telling them about the time when he and two other disciples had accompanied Jesus to the top of a mountain. They had watched as his body was transformed. They had seen him being exalted as King.“We were eyewitnesses of his majesty!” Peter exclaimed referring to the event on the Mount of Transfiguration. “He received honor and glory from God the Father. A voice came from the Majestic Glory and declared, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We heard the voice ourselves!” Peter contended (see #245 - September 2) .
These wicked men also taught that there would be no final day of judgment, therefore there was no reason for believers to deny their fleshly desires. But Peter pointed to God’s judgment on the angels in heaven when they rebelled (see #1 - January 1); on the world at the time of the flood (see #6 - January 6); and on Sodom and Gomorrah (see #14 - January 14). "Why would God hesitate to bring judgment again on people who lied about Him and led others astray?" Peter wanted to know.
The false teachers mocked the idea that Jesus would one day return for the believers and ultimately destroy the world as they knew it. But Peter reminded them again of the flood. If God destroyed the world once with water, what would keep Him from doing it again—this time with fire? He pointed out that God is not slow about fulfilling His promise to return. He is patient. He is waiting as long as possible so that as many people as possible will have a chance to be with Him.
There was a sense of urgency as Peter wrote. He realized that his life was almost over. It is possible that he was already in a Roman prison where historians tell us he was later executed. “Don’t fall for these evil lies,” he wrote. “Instead grow in the grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! To him be glory both now and forever.”
Not everyone who claims to be a “Christian” leader is a child of God.
It is important to evaluate what others teach by studying God’s Word. It is the only true source of knowledge about Him.
Is the Bible your ultimate “go-to” source for truth?
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