December 25

2 Peter 1-3; Jude (biblegateway.com)

Contend for the Faith and Wait in Hope

After Paul’s final charge to Timothy, we turn to Peter’s final words and Jude’s urgent warning. Both letters prepare believers to stand firm in truth, resist false teaching, and look toward the promised return of Christ. 2 Peter 1–3 and Jude share a common burden: the preservation of the gospel amid false teaching and spiritual compromise. Written near the end of Peter’s life and echoed by Jude, these letters call believers to spiritual maturity, doctrinal vigilance, and steadfast hope in the return of Christ.

2 Peter 1 — Growing in Grace, Confirming One’s Calling, and Holding Fast to God’s Revealed Word

2 Peter opens with a pastoral urgency. False teaching threatened the churches, and Peter writes to fortify believers against deception by grounding them in the knowledge of Christ. He reminds them that faith is not static. It must be nurtured, strengthened, and expressed through a life that reflects God’s character. Confidence in salvation does not arise from presumption, but from a life that continues to reflect the transforming work God has begun. Peter’s aim is not to unsettle believers, but to equip them so they can stand firm.

Peter begins by reminding his readers who they are. They have received the same kind of faith the apostles have, not because of their own merit, but through the righteousness of Jesus Christ (v. 1). This means all believers stand on equal ground before God. No one has a higher or lesser standing based on position or background. Grace and peace grow as believers come to know Christ more fully (v. 2).

Peter explains that living the Christian life does not depend on human strength. God has already provided everything believers need for life and godliness through knowing Him who called them (v. 3). God does not call people and then leave them without help. What He commands, He also supplies.

Through God’s promises, believers escape the corruption in the world caused by sinful desires and share in what Peter calls the “divine nature” (v. 4). Peter is not saying believers become divine. Instead, he means that God’s character begins to shape their lives. As believers turn away from sin and trust God’s promises, their lives start to reflect God’s holiness. Grace begins this change through God’s promises, but believers must respond to it.

Because God has done this work, Peter commands believers to make every effort to grow (v. 5). Faith is the starting point, but it is not meant to stand alone. Believers are to add virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (v. 5–7). These qualities describe a life that is actively following Christ. Growth does not happen by accident. It requires attention, effort, and obedience.

Peter explains why this growth matters. When these qualities are present and increasing, believers are productive in their knowledge of Christ (v. 8). When they are absent, believers become spiritually shortsighted and forget that they have been cleansed from their former sins (v. 9). Forgetting what God has done leads to careless living and spiritual instability.

For this reason, Peter urges believers to be diligent in confirming their calling and election (v. 10). He does not mean they earn salvation. Rather, continued growth demonstrates that God’s calling is active and effective in their lives. Assurance comes from continuing to walk in what God has provided, not from assuming faith without obedience. Those who continue in these things will not stumble in their walk, and they will receive a rich welcome into Christ’s eternal kingdom (v. 11). Peter teaches that believers walk securely as they continue in faith and growth, not through careless assumption.

Peter shares these truths because he cares deeply for the church. He knows his death is near (v. 12–14), and he wants believers firmly grounded before he departs. He understands how easy it is to forget. Forgetting leads to drifting, but remembering strengthens faithfulness. That is why Peter is committed to reminding them of these truths, so that even after his death they will continue to recall what God has done and what He has called them to do (v. 15).

Peter next explains why the gospel message can be trusted. He makes it clear that the apostles did not invent stories or rely on clever ideas. What they proclaimed was based on what they personally saw and heard. Peter points to the transfiguration, where he and others witnessed Jesus in glory and heard the Father declare Him to be His beloved Son (v. 16–18). This eyewitness testimony confirms that Jesus is not merely a teacher or moral example, but the Son of God revealed in power and honor. Christian faith is rooted in historical reality, not speculation.

Peter then points to the prophetic word as something firmly established (v. 19). Scripture shines like a lamp in a dark place, guiding believers until the day dawns and Christ returns. This does not mean Scripture is more true than Christ’s revealed glory, but that it provides a steady and ongoing witness believers can continually rely on. While the transfiguration was a moment in history, the Word of God continues to speak with clarity and authority.

Peter explains that prophecy did not originate from human impulse or private interpretation. The writers of Scripture did not speak on their own authority, but spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (v. 20–21). Scripture’s authority rests in God Himself, not human creativity or cultural influence. Because of this, believers can trust the Word fully. It does not shift with opinion or pressure. It remains the fixed standard for faith and life.

2 Peter 1 teaches that salvation results in growth that confirms the reality of God’s calling. God supplies everything needed for life and godliness, but believers must respond with diligence. Faith matures as they pursue Christlike character. Confidence is not founded on assumption, but on a life shaped by obedience and sustained by grace. Scripture anchors this process, guarding believers against deception and drift. Perseverance is not passive inevitability; it is faithful response to God’s gracious provision. When believers remember what God has done, depend on His promises, and cultivate the virtues He commands, they stand firm until the day they enter Christ’s eternal kingdom.

2 Peter 2 — The Danger of False Teachers and the Consequences of Departing from Truth

After urging believers to grow in grace and confirm their calling, Peter turns to a sobering reality: not everyone who speaks in religious language represents the truth. Some infiltrate the church, twisting Scripture and appealing to selfish desires. Their threat is subtle, not because they deny God openly, but because they distort His Word in ways that lead to moral compromise. Peter warns believers so they will not be caught off guard. Spiritual stability requires discernment, for false teaching is not merely an intellectual error; it is a path that leads away from obedience and ultimately from life.

Peter states plainly that false prophets arose among the people of Israel, and false teachers will arise among the church as well (v. 1). Their danger lies not in loud denial but in the secret introduction of destructive ideas. They deny the Master who bought them, not always with words, but through lives and teaching that reject His authority. Their message promises freedom, yet it leads to ruin. Such rebellion invites swift judgment because it undermines the very foundation of salvation. God’s grace is never an excuse to sin.

Peter’s warning is especially sobering because these false teachers are not outsiders who have never encountered the truth. He says they “deny the Master who bought them” (v. 1), language that shows they were accountable to Christ and stood under His authority. Their denial is not accidental or theoretical. It is expressed through teaching and conduct that rejects Christ’s lordship while still using religious language.

This does not mean Christ’s atonement was deficient. Rather, it shows that God’s redeeming grace can be resisted and that allegiance to Christ can be abandoned. Scripture presents salvation as a genuine relationship that carries responsibility. To deny the Master who bought them is to knowingly turn away from Christ’s rightful authority. Their guilt is especially serious because they are not rejecting a truth they never knew, but turning from the Redeemer to whom they were accountable.

Many will follow these teachers, and the way of truth will be slandered as a result (v. 2). False teaching spreads because it appeals to human desires. Rather than calling people to holiness, it accommodates their appetites. Peter exposes the motive behind their message: greed (v. 3). They exploit others with fabricated stories, using spiritual language to mask self-serving intentions. Yet God’s judgment is neither idle nor distant. The same God who saves also holds accountable those who lead others astray.

To show that divine justice is certain, Peter recalls three historical examples. God did not spare angels who sinned, but cast them into judgment (v. 4). He did not spare the ancient world but preserved Noah while bringing the flood upon the ungodly (v. 5). He condemned Sodom and Gomorrah, turning them to ashes, yet rescued Lot, who was distressed by their lawless deeds (v. 6–8). These accounts demonstrate two parallel truths: God knows how to judge the wicked, and He knows how to rescue the godly (v. 9). His actions throughout history prove that rebellion does not escape His notice and that obedience does not go unrewarded.

Peter describes the character of false teachers in vivid detail. They are bold and arrogant, slandering realities they do not understand (v. 10–12). They pursue pleasure without restraint, turning worship into spectacle and fellowship into opportunity for corruption. Their words are impressive, but their hearts are trained in greed (v. 14). They promise others freedom while being enslaved to their own passions (v. 18–19). Their teaching divorces grace from obedience, offering spiritual privilege without transformation. This appeals to the flesh but destroys the soul. By separating salvation from submission, they present a path that bypasses repentance and removes the necessity of continued faithfulness, an implication Peter exposes through their conduct and outcome, a distortion Scripture repeatedly rejects.

Peter compares their path to that of Balaam, a prophet who exchanged righteousness for personal gain (v. 15–16). Like Balaam, false teachers may speak religiously while being motivated by selfish interest. Their message lacks substance. It is like springs without water and clouds blown by wind, appearing promising but yielding nothing life-giving (v. 17). Such teachers do not strengthen faith; they erode it. Their influence is especially dangerous to those who are unstable or immature. They lure people who are escaping from sin back into the very corruption they once fled (v. 18). They speak of freedom, yet they are themselves bound. True freedom is found in obedience to Christ, not in the absence of restraint.

When a person turns back to the sin they once renounced, their latter condition becomes worse than before (v. 20). Knowledge of truth increases responsibility. Peter describes individuals who truly came to know the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and began walking in the way of righteousness, not merely those who outwardly affiliated with the church. To know the way of righteousness and then abandon it is not a minor lapse, but a tragic descent (v. 21).

Peter’s warning is clear: turning from the truth leads not to neutrality but to destruction (v. 22). Such language affirms that apostasy is real; perseverance in faith is necessary, and departure from Christ is possible for those who once genuinely followed Him.

2 Peter 2 confronts believers with the seriousness of discernment. The Christian life requires more than initial belief; it requires perseverance in truth. God’s grace empowers obedience, not rebellion. Those who distort Scripture cannot offer life, because life is found only in submission to Christ. Peter’s warnings are not meant to inspire fear, but vigilance. The security of believers lies in continuing to trust and obey the One who saves, not in assuming that past experiences guarantee future faithfulness.

God rescues those who trust and follow Him, and He judges those who reject His authority. The call is simple yet weighty: remain anchored in the truth, resist teachings that indulge the flesh, and walk in the freedom that comes from obedience. In doing so, believers safeguard their faith and reflect the character of the One who redeemed them.

2 Peter 3 — The Lord’s Return, the Call to Holy Living, and the Certainty of God’s Promise

Peter concludes his letter by addressing a crucial issue that false teachers were exploiting: the promise of Christ’s return. They mocked the idea of judgment and encouraged believers to live as though history would continue unchanged. If Christ were not returning, obedience would seem optional and holiness unnecessary. Peter dismantles this deception by reminding believers that God’s timing reflects His patience, not His absence, and that the Day of the Lord will come with certainty. The hope of Christ’s return is not speculation; it is the foundation for righteous living.

Peter begins by stating his purpose. He writes to stir up sincere minds by reminding believers of truths already revealed by the prophets and commanded by the Lord through the apostles (v. 1–2). Faithfulness requires remembering what God has said. Forgetfulness opens the door to deception. Just as Israel drifted when it ignored God’s Word, the church is endangered when it treats revelation as optional.

Scoffers will arise, following their own sinful desires, questioning the promise of Christ’s coming (v. 3–4). Their argument appears logical: since everything seems unchanged, God must not intervene. Peter exposes the flaw in their reasoning: they willingly ignore history. God created the world by His Word, judged it by water in Noah’s day, and has reserved it for fire in the future (v. 5–7). Past judgment guarantees future judgment. The apparent delay of Christ’s return is not evidence against His promise, but a reminder of God’s mercy.

Peter then corrects the misconception that delay equals denial. With the Lord, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day (v. 8). God does not measure time as humans do. He is not slow; He is patient, desiring that none should perish but that all should come to repentance (v. 9). This statement reveals the heart of God, whose saving desire extends to all people, not merely a select group. His patience is an expression of mercy, offering genuine opportunity for repentance, yet repentance remains a human response that must be embraced, not assumed. The offer of salvation remains open, but it will not remain open indefinitely. God’s patience is purposeful, giving people time to turn to Him.

The Day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief (v. 10). When it arrives, the present heavens and earth will pass away, and everything hidden will be exposed. Nothing will withstand God’s examination. This reality leads Peter to a practical conclusion: since everything temporary will be dissolved, believers ought to pursue lives marked by holiness and godliness (v. 11). Hope for the future shapes choices in the present. The Christian does not prepare for judgment by speculation, but by obedience.

Believers live with anticipation, looking for the coming day of God when He will judge the world and usher in “new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (v. 12–13). This promise anchors Christian perseverance. The hope of a renewed creation motivates believers to remain steadfast when the world opposes their faith. They are not merely avoiding judgment; they are striving toward a future filled with God’s presence.

Peter urges his readers to be diligent, so they may be found without spot or blemish and at peace when Christ returns (v. 14). Holiness is not incidental; it is evidence of a life aligned with God. He notes that Paul also wrote about these matters, though some distort his words to excuse sin (v. 15–16). Twisting Scripture leads to destruction, not freedom. Sound doctrine produces steadfastness, not indulgence.

Peter closes with a final exhortation. Believers must guard themselves so they are not carried away by error or lose their secure standing (v. 17). Stability is not maintained automatically; it is cultivated by remaining anchored in truth. Peter’s warning assumes that standing in grace can be forfeited through neglect or deception, making perseverance essential rather than optional. Security is enjoyed by those who continue in Christ, not by those who depart from Him. Growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ protects believers from deception and strengthens them to endure (v. 18). Christian growth is ongoing. The believer presses forward, not by fear, but by confidence in the One who reigns and will return.

2 Peter 3 teaches that the promise of Christ’s return is not a distant doctrine but a present call to faithfulness. God delays judgment out of mercy, not uncertainty. His patience invites repentance, yet His justice remains sure. Those who belong to Christ are called to holy living, grounded in His promises and guided by His Word. The world may dismiss the truth, but God’s timing is perfect, and His purposes will be fulfilled. The sure hope of Christ’s return strengthens believers to persevere, reminding them that faith must be maintained, not merely professed. Believers endure by remembering what God has said, resisting distortions of His truth, and growing in grace until the day when righteousness fills the new creation. The hope of Christ’s return shapes life today and assures the future of all who continue in Him.

Jude — Contending for the Faith and Resisting Corruption in the Last Days

Jude is one of the shortest letters in the New Testament, yet one of the most urgent. Written by Jude, the brother of James and a half-brother of Jesus, the letter addresses believers facing a hidden internal threat rather than external persecution. False teachers had quietly entered the church, claiming spiritual insight while twisting God’s grace into permission for immorality and denying the authority of Jesus Christ. What appeared harmless was spiritually lethal. Jude writes as a pastor and watchman, urging believers to recognize the danger, contend for the truth they have received, and remain faithful to Christ with vigilance and obedience.

Jude begins by identifying himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, addressing those who are called, loved by God, and kept for Jesus Christ (v. 1). These words provide both assurance and responsibility. God’s people are not left to face deception alone, yet Jude later urges believers to “keep yourselves in the love of God” (v. 21), holding together God’s preserving care and the believer’s call to remain faithful. Jude originally intended to write about the shared blessings of salvation, but the crisis demanded a different message (v. 3). False teaching was not theoretical. It threatened the very foundation of faith. Therefore, Jude urges believers to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. The truth does not evolve with culture; it is entrusted to God’s people to defend and live out.

Ungodly individuals had slipped into the church unnoticed, distorting grace into license for sin and denying Christ’s authority (v. 4). Grace forgives sin, but it never approves of it. Jude shows that judgment on rebellion is not new by pointing to three examples: Israel’s unbelief in the wilderness (v. 5), the angels who did not keep their proper place (v. 6), and Sodom and Gomorrah’s descent into immorality (v. 7). These examples reveal a consistent pattern of privilege rejected, authority despised, and judgment received. Jude uses them to warn his readers that prior privilege does not remove accountability.

Jude compares the false teachers to those ancient rebels. They rely on dreams rather than Scripture, reject authority, and slander what they do not understand (v. 8–10). Their confidence is not spiritual insight but arrogance. Unlike Michael the archangel, who would not pronounce judgment on the devil but appealed to the Lord (v. 9), these teachers speak carelessly about matters beyond their comprehension.

Jude describes their character through vivid imagery. They follow the path of Cain, who corrupted worship; Balaam, who loved gain more than truth; and Korah, who rejected God’s appointed leadership (v. 11). Their presence is dangerous. They are like hidden reefs threatening ships, shepherds who feed themselves, clouds without rain, trees without fruit, and wandering stars reserved for darkness (v. 12–13). Their lives produce nothing that reflects God’s character.

Jude reminds believers that this infiltration should not surprise them. The apostles warned that scoffers would arise, following ungodly desires and causing division (v. 17–19). Such teachers create spiritual instability because they are devoid of the Spirit. In contrast, believers are to build themselves up in their most holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep themselves in God’s love, and wait for the mercy of Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life (v. 20–21). Perseverance is not passive. It involves purposeful obedience, spiritual discernment, and a heart anchored in God’s promises.

Jude also instructs believers to show compassion toward those influenced by error, rescuing some and urging others to flee from deception (v. 22–23). Not everyone responds the same way to false teaching. Some are confused, others compromised, and still others hardened. The church must deal wisely with each, maintaining purity without arrogance. Holiness requires separation from sin, but love compels action toward the endangered. Rescue is possible because repentance remains available, but Jude warns that remaining in deception places the soul in peril, underscoring the real danger of turning from the truth one once embraced.

The book of Jude teaches that the Christian faith must be guarded with conviction and practiced with courage. False doctrine does not always arrive with open hostility; it often enters quietly, appealing to desire while undermining truth. God preserves His people, yet He calls them to remain steadfast, build up their faith, and keep themselves in His love. Faithfulness, therefore, involves continued trust and obedience rather than complacency. The path of obedience requires effort, discernment, and trust in Christ’s mercy. Those who continue in the truth will stand secure. In a world where voices compete for allegiance, Jude calls believers to cling to the faith once delivered, confident that God can sustain them until the day they see His glory.

Conclusion

2 Peter and Jude remind believers that faith must be guarded, truth must be upheld, and hope must remain fixed on Christ’s return. Spiritual drift is real, false teaching is dangerous, and godliness requires intentional growth. Yet believers are not left to their own strength. God equips His people to stand firm, persevere, and remain faithful until the end.

For Christians today, these letters offer both warning and assurance. We are called to pursue holiness, reject falsehood, and contend for the faith without becoming quarrelsome. We wait not with fear, but with confident expectation, knowing that Christ will return and God will complete His work in us. Until that day, we grow in grace, hold fast to truth, and trust the One who is able to keep us from stumbling and present us faultless before His glory with great joy.