2 Peter 3:11-18 NKJV
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.
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.
The reading for today continues off of the heels of the preceding verses that speak about the events that will take place when nearing the Last Day — namely, that this world is being “reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (vs. 8) That judgment, undoubtedly, coming at any time (“as a thief in the night”, vs. 9) begs the question within verse 11: “what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…?”
Attaining such holy conduct and godliness can be thought of as living perfectly — crossing every “t” and dotting every “i” — just shiny and without any errors in life. As confessional Lutherans, does anyone seriously believe that they live in such a way? There’s actually danger in such thinking.
Luther, in his Heidelberg Disputation of 1518 wrote in thesis 7: “The good works of the righteous [believers] would be mortal sins if they [the good works] would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of pious fear of God.” In other words, fear, even, your good works! Give the glory back to God. This keeps the old Adam from taking credit and stealing God’s glory (which would be a moral sin).
Rather than drum up man-made guesses at the meaning of “holy conduct and godliness” that our flesh may try to cling to— God’s Holy Scripture reveals Scripture. As it proclaims in Titus 2:11-14: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” The Christian life is one of constantly dying (old man) and rising (New man) through faith in Christ.
Let us pray: O Lord, keep us ever-fixed on Your grace through Christ — for it brings about good works for Your glory. And as the Last Day approaches, also bring us to hasten it though the words You have given “Thy kingdom come” and “Come Lord Jesus!” Amen.