Fr. Mike Schmitz

they deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God, heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.

But by the same word, the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved and the elements will melt with fire?

But according to his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Final Exhortation and Doxology Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace, and count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation.

So also, our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters.

there are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction as they do the other scriptures.

You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware, lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.

Chapter four, a life pleasing to God.

Finally, brethren, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that as you learn from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are now doing, you do so more and more.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

For this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like heathens who do not know God, that no man transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things as we solemnly forewarned you.

For God has not called us for uncleanness, but in holiness.

Therefore, whoever disregards this disregards not man, but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

But concerning love of the brethren, you have no need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.