Second Peter
In verses 12 through 15 Peter had explained why he was reminding the church in general and her Israelite saints in particular to be diligent in their fight against sin, a fight they must win in order to receive what God has promised. To fail to win that life-long war would disqualify them from receiving their promised inheritance. Nothing has changed. Those who call themselves by the name of the Lord have the same enemy as their spiritual ancestors and must overcome him just as they were required to do.
Verses sixteen through eighteen: In this passage Peter tells the people that he, along with James and John, were with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mat. 17:1-8) where they saw Him, Moses and Elijah in their future born again spirit bodies. Just prior to this episode Jesus had told them that they would soon “see the Kingdom of God.” He later told them that they had not actually seen the kingdom, rather that they had been shown a “vision” (vs 8) of the kingdom. In the vision they had been allowed to see what true saints will look like in the future kingdom. This was later confirmed in 1 John 3:2 where we are told that when Jesus appears at his second coming those worthy of eternal life will be changed so as to become like Him in bodily consistency. Also, the risen saints will know what they look like for they will see Him in His born again body and know that they look exactly as does He. Is anything else worth even thinking about?
In verses 16-18 Peter reminds the people that “we” (the apostles) had told them the truth about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. They could share this truth because they had been with Him throughout His earthly ministry and had seen Him in all His heavenly glory during His transfiguration on the mountain. They had also heard the audible voice of God the Father when He testified that Jesus of Nazareth was His beloved Son in Whom He was well pleased. I pray that He can say that about me. Only those about whom He can make such a statement will enter His kingdom. This fact is brought to light in 1 John 2:6 where we are told that to be Christ’s brethren we must “walk even as He walked.” Jesus backs this up in Revelation 3:21 where He states that only those who “overcome” (sin) as He did will sit with Him on His throne in the kingdom. Few, He tells us in Matthew 7:13,14, will sit follow His example and thereby EARN a seat next to Him (Jam. 2/ 1 Jn. 3) This must be the singular goal each of us must seek. After all, what else is there? Can anything else be considered worthy of our human efforts during our short lifetimes? Fame, fortune, possessions, power, glory, admiration, etc.–all pale into nothingness when compared to what true, God-focused saints have been promised. Paul, having been shown the future, stated that the eyes of man have not seen, nor have man’s ears heard, nor can man’s mind imagine what God has in store for those who love Him enough to obey Him (1 Cor. 2:9). Life itself is not worthy to be mentioned in the same breath with God’s plans for those who love and fear Him. Comparatively speaking, the world in all its glory and power is no more than dung when compared to the glory that awaits the Lord’s obedient servants in the Kingdom of God. See The Kingdom of God. L.J.
Leave a Reply