2 Peter: Faith In A Skeptical World Exemplo

The skeptics’ argument relies upon historical precedent: ‘everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation’ (v. 4). Therefore, they argue, there is no historical precedent to believe that God will judge in a climactic way, nor that Christ will return in power. It is an argument not too dissimilar from atheists’ arguments today, which appeal to the consistency of nature and scientific theory to dismiss the notion of God or the miraculous. Things go on as they always have. But to draw confidence from such an observation, we have to be sure we haven’t missed anything in the past. 

Peter cleverly picks up the historical precedent argument, and shows how it should lead to the opposite conclusion. There have been major interruptions to the created order in days gone by, and these give us certainty that God will indeed act powerfully once more. 

The skeptics ‘deliberately forget’ (v. 5) what they take for granted from the Genesis account – that the water which is necessary for life on earth as we know it, also brought destruction to the earth during the flood (v. 6). They did not dispute that water was involved in the earth’s creation and destruction. 

But another major force was at play in creation – God’s word (vv. 5, 7). By God’s word ‘the heavens existed and the earth was formed’ (v. 5). Just as the water created and destroyed, so too the word that created declares that the earth will be destroyed. According to this word, God has unfinished business. Historical precedent should lead us not to complacency, but to run for cover! 

History teaches us that God certainly does act, and His word tells us to expect that He will act again for the ‘judgment and destruction of ungodly men’ (v. 7). The Son will not be mocked forever (Ps. 2). The fire, an ‘unquenchable fire’ (Luke 3:17), which was foretold in the Old Testament (see, for example, Deut. 32:22), will surely devastate the world as we know it. It will be following a fire, rather than a flood, that God will bring renewal. The flood’s purge of sin was temporary. The fire however will lead to the permanent, ultimate Promised Land for God’s people – ‘a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells’ (v. 13). 

Reflection

It may not be fashionable, but are you as certain as Peter that a comprehensive, devastating judgement is coming? How does the destructive fire influence the way you view material possessions and the urgency of the gospel? How might the fire even now do its work to remove dross from your thinking and behaviour?