As we read on from Peter’s condemnation of the false teachers and their heresies, it is clear that he is interested not only in defending the truth but demonstrating its practical impact on the lives of his readers. “Since everything will be destroyed in this way,” he asks, “what kind of people ought you to be?” (3:11). His answer is that they ought to be living lives of “godliness and holiness” (3:11). The connection Peter makes is that since the new creation will be a place of righteousness then in this life Christians ought to strive toward righteousness.

Beginning in verse 14 he calls his readers to “be diligent to be found in him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” Just as we see throughout the New Testament, the full assurance of our salvation does not call for passivity but diligence. That Christ’s righteousness has been graciously imputed to us is not to produce apathy but diligence to live according to that grace.

Knowing that the Lord is indeed returning and that there will be a final judgment we ought not be “carried away by the error of lawless people and lose your own stability” (vs. 17). Instead, we are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (vs. 18). The depths and goodness and perfections of Christ are such that we will never exhaust the knowledge and grace of him. The deeper our knowledge of Christ and growth in his grace, the more our hunger for him will increase.