Day 230 – Tuesday, November 18, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

2 Peter 3

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

God’s Promise is Not Slack

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

⁸ But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

(2 Peter 3:1–9, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter opens this chapter with a powerful statement of God’s faithfulness in spite of detractors and skeptics.
• Although others may doubt His coming, but He is still the Creator and the originator of this world. He can come whenever He wills to do so.
• With the Lord, time is not limiting. Instead, God sees a thousand years as the same as a day. He is not slack. His promises are true and definite. If He said He will come back, He will. However, He will be patience and wait for as many as possible to be saved. He does not desire that anyone die in their sins, but that everyone be saved.

The Day of the Lord

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. ¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 

(2 Peter 3:10–13, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter describes the day of the Lord as unpredictable and sudden.
• When the Lord returns (presumably after the tribulation), the earth will be melted. However, only what has been holy and submitted to the Lord will last. A new heaven and new earth await the righteous.

Be Steadfast

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷ 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; ¹⁸ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 

(2 Peter 3:14–18, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Peter encourages his readers to be found holy, without spot, when the Lord returns. He then alludes to Paul, who taught of the Lord’s long suffering which leads to salvation.
• He then warns the readers not to fall from their steadfast faith in and obedience to the Lord.
• Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. He alone deserves the glory!

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.