The final 5 verses of Peter’s letter contain 4 commands. In light of Christ’s return and His judgment upon sinners and this world of sin, as people whose faith rests in Jesus alone to save us, we are to be diligent (v 14), be thinking (vv 15-16), be aware (v 17), and be growing (v 18). God has given by grace, all we need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3), so we can trust His grace to be sufficient for us to live in these commands.


I. Vigilant (2 Pet 3:14). We are not spiritual bums, lying around waiting for God to do something in us, to us, and through us; we must apply ourselves to the work of God in us, to us, and through us (2 Peter 1:5-11). We don’t do the work, He does.
The phrase looking forward (prosdokao) is used three times (2 Pet 3:12, 13, 14) and here in the present tense, meaning that we must continually, actively, and expectantly focus our attention, wait for, and anticipate these things. We are commanded to be looking forward to Christ’s return, His judgment of wickedness, and the day of God.Vigilant means keeping careful watch. We are looking (prosdechomai) for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). Vigilance leads to a particular, diligent living (Titus 2:11-14).


II. Diligent (2 Pet 3:14). Since the new universe will be one where righteousness dwells (2 Pet 3:13), we ought to live righteously today. False teachers are of the world, live like the world, and appeal to the lifestyle of this world; but we must be different. We are commanded to be diligent (spoudazo), a word Peter uses 3 other times in this epistle (2 Pet 1:5, 10, 15).
Diligence is the idea of doing something with haste, energy, and a sense of importance. We are to be diligent to be found by Him. We are found “in” Him by grace through faith, a synonym for being saved (2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:27-29; Eph 3:12; Phil 1:29; 3:8-9). We desire to be found by Him living a godly life.

To be found (heurisko) means to discover something after searching. Nothing about you is hidden from God who knows and judges your actions (2 Cor 5:9-10), words (Mt 12:36), thoughts (1 Cor 3:20), motives (1 Cor 4:5), and intentions (Heb 4:12-13). God knows everything about you, but when Jesus comes back, in what manner of living will He find you? Be diligent to be found by Him living in and experiencing peace.
Peace (eirene, the basis for the English word serene), means to bind together that which is divided or broken. It implies the re-joining or reconciliation of a relationship broken by sin (2 Pet 1:2). Peace is God’s gift (Jn 14:27) and because it comes by grace, it defies logic or understanding (Phil 4:7).

We have peace with God in salvation (Rom 5:1-2), but Peter’s reference is to the daily experience of the peace of God (Phil 4:7), especially at His coming. If you know that He took your sins upon Himself at the cross once and forever, you will be found by Him living each day in His peace (1 Jn 2:28; 4:18).



III. Persistent (2 Pet 3:14). Salvation isn’t a free pass to live any way you choose. The believer is Christ’s servant, literally a slave (2 Pet 1:1). You no longer live to your own desires and plans, but yearn to see His will done in and through you. His will is your sanctification (1 Thess 4:1-8), which means being without spot (without moral corruption) and blameless (one who cannot be blamed). This is Christ’s character (1 Pet 1:19) and describes our character before God and reputation before others.
Christ’s return motivates us to holy and godly living so that no one can lay an accusation of sin against us (1 Tim 6:24; 9.7-Rev.19.8" class="scriptRef">Rev 19:7-8). We’re not sinless, but we are continually searching ourselves by Scripture (Ps 139:23-24; Jas 1:23) and confessing our sins as the Spirit reveals them through the Word (1 Jn 1:7, 9).
The Pharisees seemed outwardly like spotless and blameless men, but inwardly they were filthy (Mt 23:25-27). The false teachers are spots and blemishes (2 Pet 2:13) on the local church, but Christians will be vigilant, diligent, and persistent in pursuing Christlike character (2 Pet 1:5, 10).