Verse 9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

I. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness.

A. This is one promise, not two or more.

1. There are many promises in the Bible, but Peter is not speaking about them.

2. He is restricting his thoughts to the promise of the judgment to come.

B. When men don't immediately fulfill their promises to us, we assume they won't.

1. We assume they have forgotten their promises.

2. They may have found it impossible to do what they said.

3. They may have found it inconvenient to fulfill their word.

C. God may not fulfill His promises to us immediately, but we should never doubt that He would fulfill all of them.

1. There is an element of faith is waiting for God when there is no evidence He is doing anything.

2. God is not a man, and we shouldn't treat Him like a man.

II. But is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

A. God is not necessarily longsuffering for sinfulness and wickedness.

B. He is longsuffering toward His elect.

1. The reason Christ hasn't returned is because He is waiting on His children to come to him.

2. Some of these children may not be born yet.

3. If Christ would come before they were born, they wouldn't be allowed to enter heavenly bliss with Him.

4. Therefore, Christ waits for them to be born, in their own time, and come to Him.

C. Some believe that Christ won't come until the last person is saved, and other believe that He won't come until the last person is added to the Lord's church.

III. The word "us-ward" in this verse refers to the children of God.

A. They are those that God has elected to himself from before the foundation of the world.

B. Some think God is unfair because He elects some and not others.

1. The truth is that God is never unfair.

2. The elect are the children of God who have fallen under the curse of Adam.

3. The non-elect are the children of Satan whom he has caused to come into the world.

4. If anybody is unfair it is Satan.

5. Those poor unfortunate souls would not die and go to hell if Satan, their father, had not created them in the first place.

C. It works something like this.

1. God created this world for His children, not Satan's children.

2. Satan has caused his children to be born into the world, and they face the condemnation of God because they are children of Satan.

IV. Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

A. God will bring His elect to repentance.

1. God created Adam and Eve and gave them the command to replenish (fill) the earth.

2. His perfect plan was for all the inhabitants of the earth to be living souls coming from the bodies of Adam and Eve.

3. These people would be born as time passed on this perfect earth.

4. When all the elect were born, God would come down to this earth and dwell with men.

B. Satan tried to overthrow God's earthly kingdom.

1. Satan decided he would overcome God by sitting on His heavenly throne and ruling instead of Him.

2. Satan sowed wild seeds (his children) in God's perfect earth, which intermingled, with the seeds of God (God's children).

3. Satan's children and God's children are both born as time continues going by.

4. When all God's children are born, grow up hear the gospel and repent unto salvation, God will return to this earth.

5. He will cause a great separating to take place between His children and the children of Satan.

6. He will cast the children of Satan into the Lake of Fire, and burn this earth with fire, cleansing it from all sin.

7. He will create a new heavens and new earth.

8. He will place His children on the new earth, and will come down from heaven and dwell with them for all eternity.

C. God's perfect plan will finally be fulfilled.

1. All Satan's efforts to destroy God will be destroyed.

2. Satan will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

3. God will receive more honor and glory for overcoming Satan than He would have gotten had Satan not rebelled.

Verse 10, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

I. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

A. It seems odd to speak of the "day of the Lord" and a "thief in the night" in the same breath.

1. "Day of the Lord" speaks of a time.

2. "Thief in the night" speaks of the condition God will find when He returns.

B. Day of the Lord.

1. Jesus is the light of the world.

2. When He comes, it will be light in the entire world.

3. When Jesus begins to rule and reign on this earth, He will never stop, for His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

C. Matt. 24:36 makes a distinction between the day and the hour of the Lord.

1. The day of the Lord would be a much broader term than hour.

2. A day is a 24-hour period.

3. An hour would be a specific (and much smaller) part of a particular day.

4. The day seems to be speaking about the whole general scope of the Lord's return, the destruction of the world, and the new heaven and new earth, while the hour speaks of the exact time Christ

D. Thief in the night.

1. This phrase doesn't mean that Christ shall return at night!

a. This would be physically impossible because it is never night on all the earth at the same time.

b. Approximately half of the earth will be experiencing darkness and the other half will be experiencing light.

2. This phrase is talking about the condition of the people. (I Thess 5:1-8)

a. I Thess. 5:4-8 - There are those who are of the night. (They are lost.)

b. They are not looking for the Lord to return; therefore they will be sleeping (not aware of what is going on around them, or looking for the return of the Lord).

c. God will not "sneak up on them". (See my notes under part III of this verse.)

d. He will announce His coming through fulfilled prophecies and the preaching of the Word, but they won't hear, because they are deaf to the Word of God.

3. Matt. 24:36-44.

a. Notice: in the days of Noah, life continued just like it always had.

b. The unbelievers saw Noah building the ark, but didn't listen to his Godly warnings.

c. They "...knew not until the flood came and took them all away..." (verse 39)

1. It is almost inconceivable that those people "knew not"!

2. They heard Noah preaching to them for 120 years.

3. They watched the building of the ark for 120 years.

4. They knew the words, but didn't believe with their heart that God would actually destroy them by water.

5. Lost people today are just exactly like that.

6. They hear preachers telling them the judgment of God is coming.

7. They see saved people living faithful to God, and know that is the right way to live.

8. They know the words, but don't believe with their heart that God will actually destroy them eternally in the Lake of Fire!

d. Verse 40 and 41 declare that people shall continue working just like they always have, unaware of their soon coming destruction.

4. Heb. 10:25 - Our actions as far as church attendance is based on our belief in the Lord's return.

a. If we are looking for the Lord to return, we will be in church services.

b. If we aren't looking for the Lord to return, we will be lax in our church attendance.

c. Somebody has said: Sunday school attendance shows the popularity of the church; Sunday Evening attendance shows the popularity of the pastor; Wednesday Night attendance shows the popularity of the LORD.

Verse 10b, In the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

II. Some of the events at God's return.

A. How does Peter know these things will happen?

1. We must remember that Peter is inspired of God.

2. He probably read these things in the Old Testament, but I don't know where right now.

B. Peter is not trying to teach against a pre-tribulation return of the Lord.

1. Peter is the only apostle that is not looking for the Lord's return.

a. John 21:18-21, Christ told him he will die.

b. II Peter 1:12-15, Peter is expecting to die, and his desire is that those that continue to live after his death will remain faithful to God.

2. II Tim. 4:6 - Paul is ready to be offered, and he understands that the time of his departure from this life is at hand.

a. This doesn't mean that he is not looking for the Lord to return before his death.

b. It means that the physical circumstances of this life point to him dying shortly.

c. Paul never recants his belief in the imminent return of Christ.

3. Therefore, we conclude that Peter was obedient when he was expecting to die before the Lord's return and Paul was obedient when he was expecting the Lord's return before he died.

C. Peter is not declaring that the day of the Lord includes only Christ being a thief in the night, and the destruction of the heavens and earth by fire.

1. One principle of prophetic interpretation is never go by the verse or chapter divisions.

2. Luke 4:16-21 - Jesus was in Nazareth and read Isaiah 61:1, and part of verse 2.

3. Please read Isaiah 61:1-3.

4. Jesus declared that the scripture He read was fulfilled in their eyes that very day.

5. There were other parts of Isaiah 61:1-3 that wasn't fulfilled that day, but would surely be fulfilled at a later date.

6. Peter is doing the same thing Jesus did.

7. There are many erroneous views of scripture because we don't rightly divide the scriptures as commanded in II Tim. 2:15.

D. Heavens shall pass away with a great noise.

1. How does he know there will be a great noise?

2. Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

3. I believe this is the heavens this verse is talking about.

4. The Bible doesn't say that the heavens will be "un-created".

5. The fire of God will purify them.

6. I Cor. 15:35-52 - The natural body dies, is buried, decays, and at the resurrection is changed into a resurrected body, holy, glorious, and without sin.

E. The elements shall melt with fervent heat.

1. This part of the verse is not just talking about the earth, but about all the elements that cause this entire universe to be what it is.

2. The word "element" speaks of the lowest basic parts that make up this earth.

F. The earth and its works shall be burned up.

1. We must get used to the idea that this earth is a temporary dwelling place.

2. Everything that makes up a work for this earth will be destroyed by fire.

a. All the great buildings will be destroyed.

b. All the famous paintings will be destroyed.

c. All the expensive diamonds and other jewelry will be burned up.

3. All the soil will be burned up.

G. The new heaven and new earth.

1. Rev. 20:1 - John calls it a new heaven and new earth because it is so remarkable different from the old one.

2. This heaven and earth contains no sin at all.

3. The heaven where God dwells now will also be burned up with fire because the stain of sin.

4. Satan has been in heaven, carrying his sinfulness with him.

H. Where are God and all his people during the time this burning of the heavens and earth takes place?

1. They are where God was before He created His present dwelling place.

2. There being no sea on the new earth shows two things:

a. Psalms 72:8 - During the millennium, Christ shall reign from sea to sea on this earth.

b. The physical characteristics of the new earth and it's inhabitants will be changed from physical to spiritual so there will be no need of physical water.

c. The River of Water of Life which proceeds from the throne of God is not physical water like we have now, but another type of water that is good for the bodies we will have then.

III. The return of the Lord the rapture) and the bringing in of His kingdom will not be a "silent event".

A. There are those who believe that the rapture will happen silently.

1. They believe the Anti-Christ will have to explain a lot of catastrophes and missing people.

2. They talk of airplanes and cars crashing and many lost people dying as a result of a saved pilot or driver being taken away.

3. There may be planes and cars crashing, but they will be the result of an event the lost world won't want to see, even though they know it has happened.

IV. Some scriptures that teach about the rapture.

A. I Thess. 4:13-18.

1. Verse 16 states that the Lord Jesus Himself shall come.

a. He will not send an angel or another ambassador.

b. He will not expect us to rise to meet Him until He comes for us!

2. Verse 16 states that the Lord Jesus will come with a shout.

a. He will not come quietly, however, it should be noted that even though Christ will come with a short and the sound of the trumpet, lost people would not understand the words that are shouted, nor will they understand the sound of the trumpet.

1) When Paul was on the road to Damascus and the lord struck him down, Paul heard the words and understood the meaning,

2) The lost people that were there heard the words, but saw no man.

3) John 12:29 – When God spoke to Jesus, telling Him He had glorified His name and would continue to glorify it, those people that stood by said it thundered – they didn’t understand what was said.

4) The same thing is true in these scriptures, where the voice of the Lord is spoken of as thunder.

a) I Samuel 7:10 – The Lord thundered with a great thundering. It seems to me that God spoke, thereby granting victory to Israel and defeat to the Philistines.

b) II Samuel 22:14 – When David describes the victory God gave to Israel, part of the description includes the phrase, "…the LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice."

c) Psalms 18:13 – This same theme of thunder representing the voice of God continues, with hailstones and coals of fire added.

b. The shout will be different from a physical shout.

c. Those people that are saved and in the grave will hear Him call them to come.

d. All the saved of the entire world will hear His cry.

e. There is not record of which language He will speak, but when He speaks, His people will understand.

f. This thought sure throws a kink in the Pentecostal doctrine of speaking in tongues!

2. Verse 16 states that the archangel will also have a voice to be heard.

a. As far as I know, there is not a record of what the archangel will say.

b. What he says will be in complete agreement with the rest of God's message.

3. Verse 16 states that the trump of God will sound.

a. There is a lot of discussion about this trump.

b. Suffice to say here that it is an announcement call for all God's elect to come home!

B. Psalms 50:1-6 tells what Jesus will say when He comes back!

1. Verse 3 states that God is now a silent God, but He will not always remain silent.

a. God was silent for 400 years before Jesus came.

b. He will again be silent for an undetermined period before He comes again.

c. It is not for us to look at signs and wonders, but to patiently wait for His return.

2. Verse 3 tells about the vast destruction that accompanies God's return to the earth.

3. Verse 4-5 tells exactly what Christ will declare when He returns.

a. Notice that Christ doesn't call for the rapture of the church.

b. The term "Rapture of the Church" is a misnomer.

c. There is no rapture of the church.

d. There is a rapture of all the saved of all the ages.

3. The correct term is "Rapture of the Saints."

Verse 11, Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

I. There is no question in Peter's mind that these things will come to pass. He does not say maybe these things will come to pass, but states the case positively.

A. Peter believes the prophecies of God even though there is no physical evidence of the coming destruction.

1. Peter knows he won’t be around when the destruction of the world takes place, because he believes in the rapture of the saints, but also because Christ told him he would die before the day of the Lord – John 21:18,19.

2. Peter wants the disciples of that day to know how to live even after he is deceased from this world. II Peter 1: 12-15.

B. Not only does Peter believe, he expects saved people to also believe.

1. When saved people really believe the coming destruction of this world, it will give them the proper outlook between physical and spiritual things.

2. They will strive more and more to be the kind of people they know they ought to be.

3. They will see the importance of holiness, even if they don't understand everything about the end of the world.

II. It is very important to look at things from God's viewpoint.

A. All the material possessions we so earnestly strive for and spend so much time and energy trying to possess will be completely destroyed.

B. A proper balance is very important at this point.

1. Some believe that since everything material is going to be destroyed, we shouldn't work for any of that.

2. Others don't believe the judgment of God is coming, that the only pleasures there are in this life are material possessions, therefore they ought to work all they can for those things.

3. The balance comes from the scripture, not from our minds.

a. Genesis 3:17-19 states that a part of the curse of God is working, earning our living by the sweat of our brow.

b. It is good and honorable to work for material possessions, knowing that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

c. A by-product of hard work is that a person is so tired after working that they don't have the energy to get into trouble.

d. All they want to do is sit down and rest.

4. When a person works hard, rightly placing themselves under the judgment of God, they are admitting the curse of God is good, and God will bless them for that.

a. The book of Esther was written to show God's blessing upon the Jews who yielded themselves to the judgment of God by leaving Israel and going to Babylon, submitting themselves to Nebuchadnezzar.

b. Those Jews that didn't submit themselves to God's judgment in going to Babylon had to pay the consequences.

c. Those Jews that heard Jeremiah declare God's judgment that they ought to stay in Israel and not try to escape to Egypt and rebelled against that command died in Egypt.

d. It is always good to obey the commands of God, even if they go against the natural urges of the flesh.

5. Matt. 6:19-21 - Lay not up treasures on this earth, but lay them up in heaven.

6. God gives every person things they can enjoy in this life.

a. Eccl. 5:18 – It is our portion to eat and drink and enjoy the labour of our hands.

b. Eccl. 9:5,6 – After death, there is no more enjoyment, or portion of anything on this earth.

c. Eccl. 9:9 – Live joyfully with the wife of thy youth, for this is your portion.

III. The difference between necessary and convenience things.

A. Convenience things: Some people will consider some of the things listed as necessary, but it isn't true. All of these things make life so much easier that we don't want to do without them, but we can live if we don't have them.

1. Running water.

2. Inside bathrooms.

3. Air conditioners.

4. Automobiles.

5. Insurance.

6. Refrigerators.

7. Televisions.

8. Radios

9. Electricity.

10. Etc.

B. Necessary things. Some would disagree with this list, but that is okay by me.

1. Food.

2. Clothing.

3. Shelter.

4. Children (for the propagation of the race).

5. Proper instruction as to how to live, and the transference of that instruction to the next generation.

Verse 12, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

I. We are not only commanded to look for the return of the Lord and the destruction of this present world, we ought to look for that day with joy.

A. Psalms 50:1-6 - These verses give some of the details of the rapture.

B. Isaiah 34:1-8 - These verses tell of the wrath of God upon the entire universe. The host of heaven speaks of the planets, and other galaxies (if they are out there).

C. If we could really get a glimpse of this earth being on fire and the elements melting with fervent heat, our attitude about material things would be vastly different.

II. There is a difference in looking for the coming of the day of God and hastening for that day.

A. A saved or lost person can look for the Day of God with dread and fear.

1. We ought to look forward to that approaching day with great anticipation of happiness.

2. I John 4:18 states that perfect love casteth out fear.

3. Therefore, if we love God like we know we ought to, we won't have any dread or fear of approaching Him.

4. We know that He loves us in spite of our sinfulness and wickedness.

5. He knows that we are people still filled with the sinful nature.

6. Even though we struggle to do right, we continually do wrong.

7. This is not an excuse to sin, but a reason for sin.

8. We are not willing to sin, but willing not to sin.

9. We sin in spite of our struggles, not because we don't struggle.

B. It is important to look for the coming of the day of God, but it is more important to desire the hastening of that day. A person could look for the day of God with dread.

III. It seems strange for us to look forward to the total destruction of the present heaven and earth.

A. We certainly don't look forward to the destruction of the people on the earth who will die and spend their eternity in the lake of fire.

B. We certainly wouldn't look forward to the total destruction of all those things we have worked so hard for in this life.

C. The answer is that we will look forward to the destruction of sin (which is nothing but transgression of God's law) and all those who continually, willfully, disobey God, bringing havoc not only upon themselves, but also upon everybody they come in contact with.

1. If we, as children of God, are where we ought to be, we will understand that God's judgment upon wickedness is very just.

2. Israel was commanded to go into the land of Canaan and kill every person.

3. They were to kill the soldiers, the old men, all the women, whether young or old, all the children, regardless of their age or physical condition.

4. These people had offended God and since they are the creation of God, He has the right to do with them as He sees fit.

5. We must come to the same place in this life as God expected Israel to come in that day.

6. We must learn to look at things the way God looks at them, not the way we look at them.

7. God looks at things with eyes of righteousness, and unbiased justice.

IV. It is very remarkable to think of the unqualified destruction of the heavens and earth.

A. The heavens will actually be on fire, and shall dissolve like paper dissolves when it is on fire, turning into ashes (another substance, being purified by fire).

B. The elements of the earth shall be melted until their appearance and internal structure is nothing at all like it was.

Verse 13, Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

I. When the world is destroyed, we still have hope because of His promise.

A. Our heavenly hope, faithfully expecting God to fulfill His promise, is in part because of all the promises He has fulfilled in the past.

1. When sin came into the world in Genesis 3, there was hope because of the promise that Jesus would die for sins.

2. When the flood came upon the earth, there was hope because of the promise God gave to Noah and his family.

3. When Abraham was living in Ur of the Chaldeans, there was hope because of the promise God gave to Abraham.

4. When lost people realize they are lost, they have hope if they trust Christ to save them from their sins.

5. When sickness comes, there is hope in Christ for we know that whatever the outcome, God will never leave us, nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

6. When death comes there can still be hope for we realize that "...though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:" Job 19:25.

7. I Cor. 15:54, "...this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

B. Hebrews 11:8-12, The faith of Abraham. (Example for us)

1. Abraham went out of his country because God commanded him.

2. He lived in tents, wandering about from place to place in the very land he was to inhabit, although he didn't have title to it at that time.

3. The land of Canaan had to be purified with the blood of the inhabitants because they were exceedingly great sinners before God.

4. When that cleansing was finished, Israel was instructed to dwell in that land.

5. By faith, Abraham looked for a heavenly city, not an earthly city, whose builder and maker is God.

C. Our situation compared to the situation of Abraham.

1. We are living on the very earth that we will inhabit eternally.

2. This present universe must be purified because of the exceeding great sins in it.

3. Jesus has shed His blood for the sins of fallen man, but most of these men have failed to ask God for forgiveness.

4. Those people have been delegated to eternal hell, fire and brimstone, yet that eternal fire will never cleanse their sins.

5. God will send His holy fire to the earth in order to cleanse it.

6. God did not give his blood for the forgiveness of the earth, but for the sins of the people who live on the earth.

7. He will give his fire for the cleansing of the heavens and earth (material things).

Verse 14, Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

I. A chief motivation for our living Godly and holy lives is because we are expecting this world to change from its present, temporary state of materialism to its future, permanent state of spiritual reality.

A. Two things are involved in this future change:

1. The return of the Lord Jesus Christ in the rapture and

2. Our living righteous lives because of the nearness of his day.

B. One thing that must be understood is that we do not strive to live right in order to be accepted when He comes.

1. Our salvation does not depend on how we live, but on the precious blood of Jesus Christ, who has freely paid our sin debt on Calvary's cross.

2. We live righteous lives because we are already accepted.

3. We want to please our Father.

4. We want to begin to possess now those heavenly qualities that are fit for eternity.

C. Notice the word "diligent".

1. This word means, "to try very hard".

2. We are saved, kept, and live by the grace of God.

3. We are still responsible to strive in our flesh for holiness.

4. Not fleshly holiness, but strive in our flesh for spiritual holiness.

II. How will Jesus find us in His day?

A. Examples of how we don't want to be found.

1. Matt. 24:43-51 - This unfaithful servant was found of the Lord and lost all his inheritance, yet retained salvation because that doesn't depend on works.

2. Matt. 25:1-13 - Five of the ten virgins were not prepared to meet the Lord and weren't allowed to enter into the marriage.

B. Examples of how we want to be found.

1. In peace, with God and saints.

a. Our salvation gives us the first indication of true, lasting peace with God.

b. As we live, make mistakes and learn more about God's forgiveness and mercy, our peace grows more and more.

c. Our peace with God gives us peace with our fellow man, even if they don't have peace with us.

d. II Cor. 13:11 - Paul's final admonition to this church was that they live in peace, so the God of love and peace would dwell with them.

e. I Thess. 5:11-13 - Paul's final admonition to this church is that they would "know" (completely understand both physically and spiritually) those over them in the Lord, to love them and be at peace with one another.

2. Without spot, before God.

a. Eph. 5:25-27 - The word of God will sanctify and cleanse the local church so that God might present that church to Himself as a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any other such thing.

b. James 1:27 - "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

c. II Tim. 2:15 - "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth". When Jesus returns, He ought to find us continually studying His precious Word, rightly dividing it, and living by what He says.

d. II Tim. 4:5 - Paul instructed Timothy to "...make full proof of thy ministry." This proof is mostly before God, although men must also see our commitment to God.

3. Blameless, before God and man. To be blameless is not to be sinless, this verse is not teaching "sinless perfection". I think being honest with ourselves with God by scripturally using the scriptures, then living according to those scriptures is a large part of being blameless.

a. I Tim. 3:2 and Titus 1:6 - One of the qualifications of a bishop (Pastor) is that they be blameless. This qualification is not only for a pastor, but it is God's requirement for every saint.

b. Phil 2:15, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"

c. Col. 1:22 - The purpose of our salvation is that we might be presented to God completely blameless.

d. I Thess 3:13 - The end purpose of God is that we might be unblameable in holiness before God, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

e. I Thess 5:23 - Paul prays that the Thessalonians be preserved blameless until the coming of Jesus Christ.

III. I believe it is very extraordinary that God doesn't require us to be "productive."

A. Much of "modern" religion is based on being the biggest and best.

1. It is right to be best before God, but the best of "modern" religion is before men.

2. There is nothing wrong with being big before God, but most "modern" religion gauges the success of a church by its attendance, the amount of its annual budget, and the number of its programs.

3. The sad thing about judging a church's' success by its size is "big is not always better!"

B. What God expects.

1. God expects us to be at peace with God, our fellowman and ourselves.

2. God expects us to be "without spot", before Him, not necessarily what men think of us.

3. God expects us to be blameless before Him, not necessarily what men think of us.

C. With God, there is none of the "competitiveness" (combativeness) with churches that is so often found in the world today.