Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:17-18)

It would be fair to say that the book of 2 Peter is a vaccine.  Vaccines are there to inform our immune system, catalogue new threats for it to respond to, and simply reinforce good, healthy immune responses.  

As Peter describes his purposes for writing across the letter—it is for things like reminding, recalling, and now here he adds reasons like forewarning and raising a defensive guard against more harmful strains of teaching that float about in the church environment—whether they be spread maliciously or develop within us naturally when we’re worn down and drowsy.

Peter declares that the believers already are “looking forward,” already are standing firm in a “secure position.”  But given enough time of inactivity—our immune system, like our muscles will atrophy.  Given enough boredom and monotony from the day-in, day-out dailyness of life’s routines, our eyes will begin to wander and we will get distracted from the path.  

So Peter gives us a jab in the arm.  Wake up!  Remember what you already know!  Be on your guard against these “errors of the lawless,” even as you fix your eyes forward to the very thing they say isn’t coming: Jesus’ return to judge—to repair all wrongs and heal all hurts.

But it would be wrong to think this letter is just a vaccine against threats and a reminder to stand firm where we are.  Peter also invites a movement forward.  “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” he says.  We’re right back to the virtues of chapter 1.  Remember them?  Peter writes so that you will.  There’s no better way to end our consideration of this letter, than by going back and hearing that beginning again for ourselves.  Starting in chapter 1, verse 2:

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (2 Peter 1:2-8)

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in the grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18 MSG).