“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” (2 Peter 3:14)
2 Peter 3:14 begins the final section of the Apostle Peter’s second epistle. The apostle wrote several miscellaneous directives for the purpose of encouraging the believers to whom he wrote. The word “therefore” which begins vs.14, introduces the reader to Peter’s concluding thoughts. Of all the things the Holy Spirit could have led the apostle to write, what in fact did he write?
To begin with, Peter encouraged his beloved readers by issuing a command. He wrote, “be diligent.” This command was issued to the believers in light of the previous context which stressed the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:1-13). Peter even refers to this in the first portion of 3:14 when he wrote, ““Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these.” What the believers were waiting for were the new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (3:13).
To be diligent (σπουδάσατε; spoudasate) means to be zealous, eager to do one’s best. God calls the believer to do their best for the Lord Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:23). In other words, we are to do everything for the purpose of glorifying God (I Corinthians 10:31).
Peter specifically mentions three things for which the believer should be diligent to pursue in light of the Lord’s soon return. Believers are to be without spot, blemish, and at peace.
To be without spot (ἄσπιλοι; aspoloi) means to be without fault, morally spotless and pure. It means to be without anything that would mar one’s moral character.
To be without blemish (ἀμώμητοι; amometoi) is being one who is blameless. This means being a person who is morally irreproachable.
To be at peace (εἰρήνῃ; eirene) is being a person who is free from worry. Even when life is difficult and false teachers seem to abound, the expectant believer in Christ is not anxious.
Dr. John MacArthur writes, “When Christ returns, each Christian should be found enjoying the peace of Christ, which knows no worry or fear about the day of the Lord or the judgment of Christ (cf. Phil. 4:6–7). To have this peace means that the Christian has a strong sense of assurance of his salvation and a life of obedience to Christ (cf. 1 John 4:17). Christians should also have a spotless character and a blameless reputation. These characteristics are in graphic contrast to the false teachers (cf. 2 Pet. 2:13), but like Christ (1 Pet. 1:19).”
Do these three characteristics sum up your life in Christ? If so, wonderful. If not, ask God to provide a new found resolve to live for His glory in this new year and decade.
Soli deo Gloria!
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