彼得热切的劝告
彼得后书三章1至9节
1亲爱的弟兄啊，我现在写给你们的是第二封信。这两封都是提醒你们，激发你们诚实的心，
2叫你们记念圣先知预先所说的话和主救主的命令，就是使徒所传给你们的。
3第一要紧的，该知道在末世必有好讥诮的人，随从自己的私欲出来讥诮说：
4“主要降临的应许在哪里呢？因为从列祖睡了以来，万物与起初创造的时候仍是一样。”
5他们故意忘记，从太古凭神的命有了天，并从水而出藉水而成的地。
6故此，当时的世界被水淹没就消灭了。
7但现在的天地还是凭着那命存留，直留到不敬虔之人受审判遭沉沦的日子，用火焚烧。
8亲爱的弟兄啊，有一件事你们不可忘记，就是主看一日如千年，千年如一日。
9主所应许的尚未成就，有人以为他是耽延，其实不是耽延，乃是宽容你们，不愿有一人沉沦，乃愿人人都悔改。
信息分享
彼得在第1节指出：「我要你们思想并记念众先知和基督本人所说的话。」
在第8节指出：「神的时间观念，与我们有很大分别。」
在第14节，他提醒我们：「要敬虔度日，随时预备基督再来。」
在第17节，彼得最后嘱咐基督里的弟兄：「你们知道有假教师，所以要小心防备。你们又知道基督将要再来，因此要谨慎自持。」
彼得又再强调神话语的真理。不少人会嘲笑神的话，尤其是有关基督再来的预言。彼得却直截了当地指出，神必成就祂的应许，基督必在神所预定的时间再来。
彼得在第9节指出神有丰盛的恩典，以及神渴望人人得救的心意。神不愿意一人沉沦，祂希望人人都能及早悔改，以至得救。若有人永远沉沦，那并非神的心意，只是因为那人任意而行，不顺从神的心意。他/她不能责怪神。
这个信息，既给人带来鼓励，却又令人感到伤痛。对那些不住为挚爱亲人得救祷告的信徒来说，这是一个很大的安慰，因为神的心意与你一样，祂必用尽一切方法来引领他们悔改。
我们要坚持祷告，这也许是我们「唯一能够做的事」。但神也同样希望他们得救。坚持祷告，神是信实的；你终必看见祷告得蒙应允。
STRONG WORDS TO PETER'S FRIENDS - AND US
2 Peter 3:1-9
1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),
2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,
6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Message
In verse 1 Peter says, “I want you to think about, I want you to remember what has been said by the prophets and by Christ Himself.”
In verse 8, “Don't forget how God looks at time. It is very different to our concept of it.”
In verse 14, Peter's reminder is, “live in the light of Christ's possible return at any moment.”
In verse 17, Peter's final words to his brethren in Christ are, “Be on your guard. You know about false teachers. You know about Christ's return. Hold on to what you know.”
Peter is still emphasizing the truth of the Word of God. There will be those who will scoff at it, especially the fact of Christ's second coming. He states plainly God will fulfill His promise and in His time Christ will come.
Peter also speaks of the wonderful grace and the continuing desire of God (v.9). God does not want anyone to be lost. He wants them to come to repentance now so that He can save them before it is too late. If a person is eternally lost, it is not because God wants it, but because he or she has chosen his or her own way instead of God's.
He or she cannot blame God.
This is both encouraging and saddening. It is a comfort to those who are praying for the salvation of loved ones. God is on your side. He wants what you want. God is doing all he can to bring them to repentance.
Hold on your praying. It may be “all you can do” but God wants their salvation too. Pray on. God is faithful and you will see the answer to your prayers.