The Day of the Lord and Holy Living

Synopsis

Scoffers in Peter's day questioned Christ's promised return since 'all things continue as they were from the beginning.' Peter answers that God's apparent delay is not slackness but patience — 'not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.' A thousand years are as one day to the Lord, so the delay is measured by mercy's timetable, not human impatience. Yet the day will come, unexpectedly as a thief, when the heavens will pass away and the elements melt with fervent heat. Rather than producing fear or complacency, this certainty is meant to produce holy conduct and godliness, and hastening — literally speeding the coming — of the day of God, while we look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. The final appeal is to be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless — language of righteousness by faith, since only imputed and imparted righteousness can meet that standard.