2 Peter 3:14 14Therefore, beloved, since you are looking for these things, make every effort to be found by him spotless and blameless in peace,
Peter begins his final exhortations and conclusion to his letter. Letter closings in New Testament letters often restate the key points and provide the author with the opportunity to emphasize crucial matters. An ethical imperative usually accompanies mention of the return of Jesus. Awareness of the second coming and God’s impending judgment is a powerful motivation for how we should live now. We need to have a healthy awareness that we will be judged by how we live, but also with hope that God’s grace is available for those who seek God in faith and repentance.
Peter repeats (1:10, 15) his key point that his readers must make every effort (spoudasate) to be doing as Jesus has commanded. God gives us grace for our journey, but we must do our part in obedience. Obedience and character development are significant ideas in this letter. Peter gives two more qualities that echo how he began the letter in 1:5-7. Spotless (aspiloi) has the connotation of being free from the defilement of sin. Jesus’ blood makes us spotless (Isaiah 1:18) by removing our guilt for breaking God’s law through the atonement that results from his death on the cross. With our guilt removed, our consciences can be recreated so that we become more sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit (see 2:14). Our response of faith and obedience to the Holy Spirit should result in holiness. The inner transformation should become visible in outward behavior. Our holy living comes in response to the Spirit’s cleansing.
Blameless (amōmētoi) shows the result of God’s forgiveness. We must continue to be blameless through confession of our sins (1 John 1:9) and by daily dying to the old life that wants to come back into control. We must seek God’s help through the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit so that we can find freedom from sin’s control and victory over temptations.
The result of the right relationship with God through faith and obedience is peace (eirēnē). Peace is the deep awareness that we are right with God and that life has purpose and meaning. The Holy Spirit will give us an awareness of our sin, which should lead to a sense of fear of punishment or a deep conviction of shame for committing the sin. We must respond to this with confession and repentance, which then results in peace. Peter urges his readers to live with a clear conscience that brings peace of mind. This peace will work out in every area of our lives and become a positive force for us. It will trickle out to our relationships with other people. Many Scripture passages touch upon the themes of this passage. Second Corinthians 7:1 states, “Therefore, since we have these promises, beloved, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in fear of God.” This is our goal as we await Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:23).