II Peter 3:11 – How Should We Then Live?

“Thus all these things being dissolved, what sort [of persons] ought you be in holy livings and godlinesses?”

“What sort [of persons] ought you be?”

That ultimately is the question, is it not? How should we then live?

“Thus all these things being dissolved ...” Understanding the Truth that all of this is temporary, that it is all irrevocably destined for complete annihilation – how should that truth affect my values, my decisions, my priorities, my attitudes, and the choices I make all throughout my day?

Two thoughts – one: that the passage particularly focuses in on “holy livings and godlinesses” and two: that whatever is the answer to the question ought to come from God Himself. The emphasis on “holy livings and godlinesses” draws us away from our temporal concerns and focuses us on that which is spiritual. We must consult God for our answer.

Of course the entire Bible is itself the answer to this question. The entire Bible answers the question, “How Should We Then Live?” But it is also true that there are some passages which more clearly and specifically answer this question before us.

One that I think hits the nail on the head is Col 3:1-4:6. I am going to copy/paste the whole passage here and bold particular lines as I think it so totally and clearly answers our text’s questions: What does God think are “holy livings and godlinesses?” What “sort of persons” does God think we should be? How should we then live? Note right off the bat verse 2 which I think immediately addresses the same issue of “Thus all these things being dissolved …”:

 ¹ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

⁵ Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, submissiveness, patience; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

 
¹⁸ Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them.
²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.
²² Workers, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

4 ¹ Bosses, give your workers what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. 
² Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; ³ meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, ⁴ that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
⁵ Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

If someone stumbles across this blog, I hope you’ll read the passage above slowly, thoughtfully, and carefully. Does it not precisely answer Peter’s question: “Thus all these things being dissolved, what sort of persons ought you be in holy livings and godlinesses”? What a Pandora’s Box of blessings! May I suggest this passage is profoundly important not only for what it says … but also what it doesn’t say??

First of all, if a believer took this passage to heart, could they ever be accused of being “so heavenly minded, they’re no earthly good?” It is a common (mis)application of “setting your affections on things above” that people think it okay to ignore their responsibilities in this world. Isn’t that the whole idea of monks – to close out this world and sit up on a pole somewhere just praying and meditating for years on end? Isn’t that impressively “spiritual”? Is it? Is it according to this passage? A thoughtful consideration of this passage would utterly refute such subtly impressive foolishness.

Note some other things it doesn’t say: It doesn’t say if you’re truly serious about following the Lord you’ll get a haircut, wear a coat & tie to church, carry a particular Bible version, sing only certain songs, go to church four times a week, volunteer for six more things at the church building, get on a plane and fly to Zambia to pass out tracts, stand militantly against Calvinism or Neoevangelicalism or whatever … It doesn’t say any of those things. Yet how many people do those things and think they’ve arrived spiritually?

What does it say? What sort of persons ought we to be? Note right away, He goes for your heart. “Put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, …”

And what does He want us to put on? BUT stop. Before you answer that, put everything else out of your mind. Don’t carry anything with you. Go back to the passage above completely empty-handed and naked. Take nothing with you. Leave behind your ideas of what it means to be “spiritual” and let God and God alone answer the question, “What sort of persons ought you be?”

What does He say? “Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, submissiveness, patience; ¹³ …and forgiving one another, …But above all these things put on love.”

Should we be surprised to find ourselves here? What did Jesus say are the two great commands? Love God/Love people. “Thus all these things being dissolved, what sort of persons ought you be?” “Loving persons” is clearly our answer. That is the “sort of persons” we ought to be. How should we then live? “In love.” “Over all these things, put on love.” “They’ll know we are Christians by our ___________”.

At this point our evil hearts will still jump track. “Love? Oh, of course. I feel very loving towards the needy and the orphan children of the world. Check that one off.” Whoops. Wait a minute. Once again, where does He want this love to show up? “Wives, husbands, children, fathers, workers, bosses …” Isn’t that interesting: At home and at work. Which just happens to be the two places common people spend basically all of their time! …And the two places they may find it most difficult to love, to forgive, to be kind.

But that is exactly where God wants our love to shine brightest. “So heavenly minded, no earthly good?” What does God say?

God, please help me keep this focus. As I sincerely try to live my life today in full awareness that all of this is temporary, may I put out of my mind all of my preconceived notions of what You think is important, and may I know the victory of conquering myself and putting on a genuine love for the very people I live with all day every day. I am too selfish, too self-consumed, too self-preserving. Today may I die to Self and tonight may I have known the victory of having loved.

That’s the “sort of person” He wants me to be. That’s how we should “then live.”