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2 Peter 3:14 – Waiting Peacefully

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Will

So then, beloved ones, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found spotless, and blameless, at peace with him.

Truth to Learn

We are to be at peace awaiting and looking forward to the return of Christ.

Behind the Words

The expression “looking forward to these things” comes from the Greek, prosdokōntes tauta. Tauta means “these things,” and prosdokōntes means “looking toward or looking for, with expectation.” Hence, we could paraphrase this as “looking forward to and expecting these things.”

The word translated “spotless” is aspilos, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not or without” and spilos, meaning “a stain or a blemish.”

“Blameless” is from amōmētos, made up of the privative a, meaning “not or without” and a form of mōmaomai, meaning “to censure or to blame.”

Both of these words are expressed in the nominative case, meaning that grammatically they are subjects, not objects. Hence the end of this verse is more appropriately translated as “be diligent, spotless and blameless ones, to be found by Him at peace.”

Meaning Explained

Peter is saying, “Because the world will be destroyed by fire and a new heaven and earth will be created (which will only be inhabited by the righteous), therefore (or so then), we are looking for these things to come to pass just as he said they would. We have no reason to be like the scoffers who don’t believe God anyway, we have every reason to believe the message about the future… and we should be preparing for it.

If we believe that this earth and all earthly deeds that we do will be burned up, we should focus not on the things of this world but on the things that pertain to godliness. In order to expectantly look forward to something you have to believe in it. If you don’t believe it will happen, then you won’t be expecting it.

And, if we believe these things will come to pass, then we are to be diligent to be at peace when He comes for us. Since we are in Christ Jesus, we are under no condemnation from God and should truly have peace. This is exactly how He should find us when He returns to judge the world.

Notice Peter calls us spotless and blameless ones. I think he does this intentionally to show the contrast between us and the false teachers he was talking about in the previous chapter where the words “blots and blemishes” are the same root words as “spotless and blameless” without the privative a in front:

Suffering wrong as the payback for their unrighteousness. They consider it pleasure to carouse in the daytime; they are stains and blemishes, self-indulgent in their delusions while they indulge in luxury with you. (2Peter 2:13)

Application

Are you expecting Him to return at any time? If so, do you have peace about it, and do you have confidence that He will return to take you home with Him?

If you’re truly saved then this peace should be yours because in God’s eyes you are spotless and blameless!

In God's service, for His glory,

Luke 23:13, 14; 20-22; John 19:4 – Spotless Lamb of God

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Will

¹³Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. … ²⁰Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. ²¹But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" ²²For the third time he spoke to them: "Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. … ⁴Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, "Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him."

Truth to Learn

Jesus is the true Pascal Lamb, sacrificed for you and me!

Behind the Words

The word translated “examined” is the Greek word anakrinō, which is a compound word made up of ana, used here as an intensifier meaning “repeatedly” and krinō, meaning “to judge.” It specifically refers to a thorough legal examination.

“Wanting” in Luke 23:20 is translated from thelō, which is most often translated “will.” But it implies more than just a wish or a desire, it implies a determination. Hence, it implies that Pilot was determined to release Jesus.

Meaning Explained

In Exodus chapter thirteen the LORD gave Moses instructions regarding the Passover. On the tenth of the first month, they were to select a lamb without spot or blemish. On the fourteenth of the month, they were to kill the lamb and sprinkle its blood on the two side posts and the top of the doorway. This was to be the sign to the destroyer to “pass over” the house and not kill the first born within the house. Any family in Egypt which did not have the blood sprinkled on the door posts of their home would wake up in the morning to find their first born son dead.

After the Israelites entered the Promised Land and built the temple, they rigorously followed this ritual. Each year on the 10^th of Nisan (the 1^st month), they selected the paschal lamb, leading it through the streets of Jerusalem to the temple. As it entered the temple, the people waved palm branches in all four directions and sang “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” laying palm branches before the lamb. This lamb was kept under observation until the fourteenth of the month when it was declared to be without spot or blemish. Then it was sacrificed by one of the priests for the sins of the people.

On the 10^th of Nissan, Jesus entered the gates of the city to the cries of “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” while palm branches were laid in His path. On the 14^th of Nissan, Jesus was judged by the Sanhedrin and no fault was found in Him except that He claimed to be the Christ, the Messiah. Pilot then gave Him a thorough legal examination and declared, “I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.” Then, even though Pilate was determined to set Him free, the Jewish religious leaders, including the chief priests, insisted on having Him crucified.

Application

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was declared to be without spot or blemish and His blood was shed to pay for your sins and mine. Has that blood been applied to your sins?

In God's service, for His glory,

2 Peter 3:14 – Waiting Peacefully

Posted on July 1, 2009 by admin

2 Peter 3:14

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

Truth to Learn

We are to be at peace awaiting and looking forward to the return of Christ.

Behind the Words

The expression “looking forward to this” comes from the Greek, prosdokōntes tauta. Tauta means “these things,” and prosdokōntes means “looking toward or looking for, with expectation.” Hence, we could paraphrase this as “looking forward to and expecting these things.”

The word translated “spotless” is aspilos, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not or without” and spilos, meaning “a stain or a blemish.”

“Blameless” is from amōmētos, made up of the privative a, meaning “not or without” and a form of mōmaomai, meaning “to censure or to blame.”

Meaning Explained

They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. (2Peter 2:13)

Application

Are you expecting Him to return at any time? If so, do you have peace about it, and do you have confidence that He will return to take you home with Him?

If you’re truly saved then this peace is yours because in God’s eyes you are spotless and blameless!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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