Peter emphasizes the return of Christ and the importance of living holy lives in light of this event. He begins by reminding his readers that scoffers will come, mocking the promise of Christ's return, saying, "Where is this 'coming' He promised?" (2 Peter 3:4). These scoffers forget that God’s timing is not like ours: “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8). God is not slow; He is patient, giving everyone the chance to repent (2 Peter 3:9).

Peter then warns that the Day of the Lord will come "like a thief" (2 Peter 3:10), unexpected and sudden. The heavens will disappear, and the earth will be laid bare. This echoes what Jesus said in Matthew 24:43–44 about His return: "If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch." Therefore, Peter urges believers to live lives of holiness and godliness, "looking forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (2 Peter 3:11-12).

Peter’s message is clear: the delay of Christ’s return is an expression of God’s mercy, giving us more time to repent and align ourselves with His will. But this patience will not last forever. Jesus also warned of this urgency in Luke 12:40, where He says, “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Finally, Peter encourages believers to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Growth in faith is essential as we await Christ’s return.

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Questions:

How does knowing that Christ could return at any moment change the way you live today? Are there areas in your life where you need to repent while there is still time? How are you growing in your knowledge of Christ and His grace?

Prayer
Lord, help me live a holy and godly life, anticipating Your return. Amen.