Nov. 01, 2026

       “WATCH OUT”

        “THIS IS THE DAY OF SALVATION”

                                          2 PETER 3:15-18

Today we need to be diligent:

1.  Be Diligent To Win The Lost- 2 Peter 3:15-16

2 Peter 3:15-16 “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, 16as 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.”

Why is it that Christ has not yet come?

The point is this: The believer must count the long suffering of the Lord as salvation, as His concern for souls.

• Paul- vs. 15 “…as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you…”

Romans 2:4 “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”

Romans 3:24-25 “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.”

* The Twisting of Scripture- vs.16 “… 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.”

The greek word translated “twist” (vs16) means to torture on the rack, to distort and pervert.

Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

2 Peter 3:2

What happens to people who blindly twist the Scriptures? They do it "unto their own destruction.” vs.16 

If we twist the Scripture allowing the longsuffering of God to stir the thought that we have a little more time to wait, then we are destroying ourselves. 

Matthew 22:29 “Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.”

1 Thessalonians 2:13 “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”

Peter used four “beloved” statements that summarizes what he wanted to get across as he closes this letter. “Beloved…be mindful” 3:1-2, Beloved…be not ignorant 3:8, Beloved…be diligent 3:14, Beloved…beware 3:18

2.  Be Diligent To Grow Spiritually- 2 Peter 3:17-18

• Beware Lest You Be Led Into Error:

2 Peter 3:17 “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.”

"Beware" means to "be constantly guarding yourself.”

Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.”

It is easy for people who have a knowledge of the Bible and to grow over confident and to forget the warning.

1 Corinthians 10:12 “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

What special danger did Peter see? That true believers would be

"led away with the error of the wicked vs.17.

The word “wicked" means "the lawless”.

"fall from your own stedfastness" vs.17 What was this stedfastness?

2 Pet 1:12 "For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth." 

How can we as believers maintain our stedfastness and avoid being among the unstable souls who are easily beguiled and led astray? By growing spiritually.

• Believers Must Grow in the Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ- 2 Peter 3:18

2 Peter 3:18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

*We must grow “in grace” vs.18-this has to do with Christian character traits, the very things Peter wrote about:

2 Peter 1:5-7 “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.”

Paul wrote:

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

We are saved by grace- Ephesians 2:8-9

But grace does not end there! We must be strengthened by grace:

2 Timothy 2:1-4 “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”

God’s grace enables us to endure suffering- 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Our God is the “God of all grace”

1 Peter 5:10 “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

John 1:16 “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.”

• We Must Grow “In Knowledge” vs.18

The better we know Christ through the Word, the more we grow in grace, the more we grow in grace, the better we understand the Word of God.

Hebrews 2:1 “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.”

“As newborn babes” is the way Peter illustrated it 1 Peter 2:2.

What is the result of Spiritual growth? Glory to God! “…to Him be glory both now and forever, amen.” vs.18

Are you living a godly life? Do you know Christ as your Savior? Are you winning the lost? Are you growing spiritually?

Colossians 1:10 “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”