The agape love of God covers a multitude of sin, ours, in the salvation He provided in Jesus Christ.
To the Apostle Paul was given the mystery of the dispensation of the grace of God. Salvation is offered through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the King of Israel and the Savior of the world. John 3:16-18
Ephesians 1:9-14 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Wisdom and knowledge are given by Holy Spirit to those who trust in and listen closely to our triune God to understand what they cannot. Spiritual knowledge can only be understood through the teachings of Holy Spirit who takes the things of God and allows us to understand them. They are discerned Spirit to spirit.
Romans 16:25-27 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:15-18 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.
Peter was telling his Jewish believers in Christ that the gospel of grace given to Paul was by direct contact with the resurrected Jesus Christ. The knowledge of the Gospel of Grace given to Paul was for all of mankind. The blessed mystery of GRACE, the undeserved and unmerited love of God for His creation. If the original covenant with His chosen people was good how much better the dispensation of the grace of God for all of humanity. Carla
The scoffers regarded the delay in the Jesus’ return as evidence that He would not come after all. Believers should take the delay in Jesus’ return as evidence of His patient desire to save. The recipients of this letter knew Paul, and had received at least one letter from him. Paul expressed a similar view as Peter on the delay of Christ’s return (Romans 2:4; 9:22–24).
Even at this early stage of church history, Paul’s writings were being misrepresented (2 Peter 3:4–12). The comments about Paul’s writings suggest that their misuse was one of the problems underlying the heretical teachings. Like Peter, Paul regularly discusses Christ’s return and uses it to justify paying close attention to God’s work and living a life of integrity (1 Thessalonians 5:1–11). Based on the context, the false teachers were likely either exploiting one of Paul’s teachings on the return of Jesus or using Paul’s theology of salvation to argue that people could now do whatever they wished.
Peter expresses a high regard for Paul’s writings, classifying them as part of the sacred writings of the early church. Peter is exposing that ungodly people often attempt to justify their actions by twisting Scripture to suit their own purposes (Psalm 56:5; Jeremiah 23:36). The false teachers have moved from Christ to destructive heresy (2 Peter 2:20–22). Peter aims to caution his audience against this. The false teachers are characterized by their immorality; this same word is used of the people of Sodom in 2:7.
Here, at the conclusion of the letter, it seems that 2 Peter returns to the material shared with Jude (Jude 24–25). Although Peter offers a shortened version of the hymn in Jude, the same terminology to describe God’s work is deployed—calling Jesus “Lord” and “Savior” and proclaiming His glory for all time. Like Jude, Peter then ends with “Amen.” Peter asserts that the best way to resist incorrect teachings is to grow in understanding of Christ and His work.
Taken with 2 Peter 1:2, which mentions the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, this phrase acts as a type of literary bracketing to 2 Peter as a whole (an inclusio). This technique is likely deployed to indicate that the necessary knowledge that believers should grow in is contained in the body of the letter. Peter also insists that they experience the unmerited gift of God, His grace (1:11). Although they have been in danger of being led astray, they can receive Jesus’ grace and live as people in right standing with God. The full honor belongs to Jesus. This is a fitting closing in light of Peter’s emphasis in this letter on the Day of the Lord. Glory is given to Jesus both now and on the day when He returns in glory. Faithlife Study Bible
Note that Peter equates the letters of Paul with the rest of the Scriptures, indicating that Peter considered the apostle Paul’s writings to be the Word of God. Peter considers Paul’s writings on the end times to be hard to understand. This should be a comfort to each of us who attempt to interpret the writings of Paul on the coming of Christ. Even Peter found them difficult. Because of this, however, Peter says some people who are untaught and unstable destroy themselves. Untaught refers to one whose mind is untrained and undisciplined in habits of thought. Unstable refers to one whose conduct is not properly established on the truths of God’s Word.
Peter admonishes his readers that since they know truth, they should depart from the error of the wicked and grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. The NKJV Study Bible
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:1–2 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
2 Peter 2:14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
2 Peter 3:8–9 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall
I can still hear Mr. Rogers’ voice, as if he were speaking directly to me through the TV screen, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”
And I say, “Amen.” But why do I still tend to focus only on the scary parts? You know, the parts where I am certain there is little I can do, to be a helper.
In part because I convince myself I don’t have what it takes—the words or the means—to make a dent. And in that place, I feel stuck (or confined). Gratefully, words do indeed make a difference, and I am grateful for their liberating power. This, from poet John Roedel, did my heart good today…
“I can’t make the
world be peaceful
I can’t stall tanks
from roaring down roads
I can’t prevent children
from having to hide in bunkers
I can’t convince the news to
stop turning war into a video game
I can’t silence the sound of bombs
tearing neighborhoods apart
I can’t turn a guided missile
into a bouquet of flowers
I can’t make a warmonger
have an ounce of empathy
I can’t convince ambassadors
to quit playing truth or dare
I can’t deflect a sniper’s bullet
from turning a wife into a widow
I can’t stave off a country being
reduced to ash and rubble
I can’t do any of that
the only thing I can do
is love the next person I encounter
without any conditions or strings
to love my neighbor
so fearlessly that
it starts a ripple
that stretches from
one horizon to the next
I can’t force peace
on the world
but I can become a force
of peace in the world
because
sometimes all it takes
is a single lit candle
in the darkness
to start a movement
‘Lord, make me a candle
of comfort in this world
let me burn with peace’”
John Roedel
“Sabbath Moments”
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