15 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.  16  He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.  17  Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.  18  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Peter tells us that Paul wrote about Jesus’ coming too. Paul spoke of it in all his letters. Peter says Paul includes some things that are hard to understand. I agree with Peter. Some of what Paul says is hard to understand. But notice how Peter treats Paul's writings. He uses the term "Scriptures" and so they are. Peter realized Paul's guidance was from the Holy Spirit and his personal walk with Christ.   

Although they had some earlier differences as recorded in Galatians 2, Peter and Paul were on the same team. Peter was even encouraging the church to read and follow Paul's inspired letters as Scripture. He warned that many are misinterpreting them and making them say things Paul did not intend. Even though they had different audiences, God’s truth ultimately united them.  

I think Peter is mentioning three simple but real purposes behind Jesus’ return. The first two reasons we have already mentioned. He is coming to judge the wicked and to reward the righteous. Many parables talk about the separation of wheat from the chaff, the sheep from the goats, the wise virgins and the foolish virgins, those with the wedding garments and those without. We will be separated from God or live forever in His presence based on our faith in Christ alone.

But there is also evidence there are further rewards for the believer, which I think are jobs and tasks we will be given based on our faithfulness to our work on earth. What we have done for Christ is part of a different type of rewards.  

Thirdly, Jesus Christ will be glorified and honored and worshipped.  We come to worship Him corporately as well as privately. There will be the final performance when Jesus will become completely glorified by all of creation. So now we need to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

You will not have more of Christ than you already have. You cannot have more salvation than what He has already given you. You cannot be more justified or more forgiven than you are or were on that day of your salvation. You will never be more accepted by Jesus than you are now, nor any more or less than any other Christian. Jesus cannot love us more than He does already.   

However, there is difference in the display of our grace and our understanding and appreciation and love and service of Christ in our lives. We do not all have the same knowledge of Jesus and aren't as close to Christ in love. We grow in love for Him and in service of Him and in obedience to Him and in faith in trusting Him and courage to stand up for Him and in zeal of making Him known. We grow in brotherly love and grow in humility. Grace is not dependent upon how many years we have been a Christian either. For there are young people that are more mature in their faith and in their life and in their knowledge of God than many Christians who have been saved for 30-40-50 years but have not gotten beyond the baby stage of maturity.    

The first century Christians underwent persecution. They got closer to Christ as they depended upon Him more. They grew in grace under suffering and hard times.  

Jesus does not want us stagnant but growing in our faith and our understanding. We are not to be lazy but working. Do you live for temporary pleasure? It will pass. But to Him be glory both now and forever; the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.      

Jesus is coming again, because in the first coming He came to earth to die, now He is returning to dwell as Lord forever; the first coming He came as man of sorrows and now as the Mighty God, before He came as the lamb of God now He will come as the lion of Judah. Before He was the prince of peace and now as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Before He came as the author of salvation, now as the finisher of faith. Before He came to atone for sins, now He is coming as the judge of the righteous and unrighteous. Before He came to accomplish our salvation, now He is coming to receive our praise.       

Jesus is coming in glory to be glorified to the earth, to show Satan demons and to those who pierced Him, and those who ignored Him, to show those who love Him and those who do not, that He is God and there is none else like Him. All of creation will bow their knees before Him and worship.  

Application:  We are to give him glory now as well as forever! Are you prepared?

Prayer:   Lord, as I read this, I am filled with a heart of Thanksgiving for all You have done to save me.  Lord, may my life, my day to day walk and talk, glorify Your Name!   

 

Dale