正確的生活態度
彼得後書三章10至18節
10但主的日子要像賊來到一樣。那日，天必大有響聲廢去，有形質的都要被烈火銷化，地和其上的物都要燒盡了。
11這一切既然都要如此銷化，你們為人該當怎樣聖潔、怎樣敬虔，
12切切仰望神的日子來到。在那日，天被火燒就銷化了，有形質的都要被烈火熔化。
13但我們照他的應許，盼望新天新地，有義居在其中。
14親愛的弟兄啊，你們既盼望這些事，就當殷勤，使自己沒有玷污，無可指摘，安然見主。
15並且要以我主長久忍耐為得救的因由，就如我們所親愛的兄弟保羅，照著所賜給他的智慧寫了信給你們。
16他一切的信上也都是講論這事。信中有些難明白的，那無學問、不堅固的人強解，如強解別的經書一樣，就自取沉淪。
17親愛的弟兄阿，你們既然預先知道這事，就當防備，恐怕被惡人的錯謬誘惑，就從自己堅固的地步上墜落。
18你們卻要在我們主救主耶穌基督的恩典和知識上有長進。願榮耀歸給他，從今直到永遠。阿們。
信息分享
新約聖經每次提及基督再來時，都會立即提出一些道德的教訓。這裡也不例外。
彼得指出，我們的生活必須聖潔（11和14節）。基督徒必須學效基督過聖潔的生活，絕不可以追隨假教師的生活方式。
由此，基督再來的真理必會為我們帶來內心的平安（14節）。無論現今面對任何困難，當基督再來的時候，一切問題和艱難都必化解。
英文《活的聖經》（The Living Bible）將第15節上意譯如下：「要記著神為何在等候。祂要給我們有足夠的時間，將祂的救恩信息傳給其他人。」換言之，我們在等候基督再來時，必須負上傳福音的責任。
彼得繼而指出，我們必須緊守神的真理。他認同保羅的話說：「不要將神的話曲解。」《活的聖經》指出，曲解神的話只會造成災難性的後果。
彼得的最後囑咐概括了每個基督徒都應追求的目標：「在我們主救主耶穌基督的恩典和知識上有長進」。
只有不住成長，才會達致成熟。保羅在腓立比書三章14節說得好，他唯一的渴望和目標，就是要學像基督。英文的引申版譯本（The Amplified Version）將它譯作：「讓他可以與基督建立更深和更親密的關係。」
這豈不是每個信徒的目標嗎？我們該如何去達到這目標呢？我們可以每天祈求聖靈的幫助，讓這一目標在我們的生命中不斷得以實現。
HOW THEN SHALL WE LIVE?
2 Peter 3:10-18
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
15 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.
Message
Almost anytime in the New Testament when the second coming of Christ is mentioned there is an ethical application too.
First our lives must be characterized by holiness (vv. 11, 14). In contrast with the lifestyle of false teachers, a Christian's life must be patterned after Christ's holy life.
Then the truth of Christ's return should bring peace to our hearts (v.14). However difficult the way may be now, when Christ comes, every problem, every difficulty for the Christian will be resolved.
The Living Bible paraphrases the first part of verse 15, “Remember why God is waiting. He is giving us time to get His message of salvation out to others.” That brings out our responsibility while waiting for Christ's coming.
Peter also goes back to his thought of holding on to the Word of Truth. He links himself with Paul and says, “Don't twist the Word of God to make it mean something it doesn't mean.” The Living Bible says the result of doing so can only be disaster.
His last instruction sums up what ought to be the aim of every believer, “To grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
To do so brings spiritual maturity. Paul said it so well in Philippians 3:14. His one desire and aim was to be like Christ. The Amplified Version reads, “that I might become progressively more deeply and intimately acquainted with Christ.” (Philippians 3:10)
Shouldn't that be the aim of each one of us? What are we doing about it? Can we ask the Holy Spirit each day to make this goal a continuing reality in our lives?