A study of 2 Peter 3

2Peter3:3"First of all you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4They will say" Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our fathers died everything goes on just as it has since the beginning of creation." There are very few Scriptures that describe the time we live in as well as the one posted above. We live in a time when even our own church leaders deny the power of the Lord at times and even say that Revelations is an analogy. Well if that's what they think they haven't finished the rest of this chapter; and are not being very good Shepard's to the flock that the Lord gave to them. I am not going to retype the whole chapter here but I will be as descriptive as possible. The next few verses of the chapter describes how the scoffers turn their backs on the knowledge that the heavens and the earth was created with the word of the Lord and by this same word the heavens and earth shall parish. Verse 8 states " But do not forget this one thing dear friends: With the lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is as a day. 9 The lord is not slow in keeping his promise' as someone understands slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish' but everyone to come to repentance." So while he may seem slow in coming to us to him its like the world was just formed, so we must be patient and ever vigilant in continuing to look forward. After discussing how the earth and the heavens will be destroyed and made new verse 14 gives us some more advise on thing to watch for and provides hope for the end. 14" So then dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind our Lords patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do other Scriptures, to their own destruction." Here Peter has deftly reminded us to keep an eye on those who teach the word; we need to make sure that our teachers are not only using the Scripture but that they are using them correctly; and trying to putting a new spin on it to make it more sinner friendly. Its not that I don't think of myself as a sinner because I most certainly am; but I don't live a life that is filled with purposeful sin.( the topic of purposeful sin will be covered in a future blog) So now to the end 17" Therefore dear friends since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!Amen" Again he admonishes us to keep a keen awareness of where we are getting our information from and to keep growing in our faith in his saving power and his ultimate return. Don't be afraid to question where your pastor is basing his sermons; I am not suggesting to be confrontational about it but just be sure you are following true Biblical teachings and not the traditions of man and what sounds good to the ear. In the end good Pastors are like real good friends should be and that's someone whose not afraid to tell you the truth even if it may not be what you want to hear. This is important because weather we are still here on earth when that last trumpet blows or we go to sleep before then we will stand in judgement for our lives. Thanks for reading this post I hope I inspired you if you see error in my teaching don't be afraid to let me know I am not above correction. Love your brother in Christ Edward Gollihugh.