The 'Righteousness" that was to come is the individual righteousness attributed of God by faith in Christ as the entity of the living God having come to earth and of his indwelling of believers with his person and teaching. It's called the 'law of faith' in Rom 3:27-31; and the perfect law of liberty in James 3. See also John 6:28,29; 14:1,7-15; Matt 16:13-17; 1 John 3:21-23 and places in Rev 12:17; 14:12 and 22:14.yes that is gentry's position. the reason I disagree is that with 2 peter 3.. if the church is the righteousness to come then well that is well off; for when peter wrote that the church was already in place and purchased.
Not all 'churches' teach the individual righteousness by faith and of the associated present tense kingdom, as most have some futurist leaning doctrines.
To join a 'church' does not make one justified or a christian,[little Christ] as you'd likely agree. It is an individual, reasonable, belief and dependence first.
When Peter wrote the words in 2 Peter [and first Peter] he was primarily addressing Jewish believers who had spiritually left the hope and allegience to the religioun and nationalism of the mosaic covenant because of faith in Christ as the Creator and of his words of Grace and Truth. This coming of Christ was the hope and purposes of that covenant.
Not only was the church established at the time Peter wrote his words, but the practice and the temple of the mosaic covenant were also still standing at that time though they had been "rocked" by events during Christ's life and were continually effected by the apostles and the growth of the faithful and freed in Christ.
In the preterist only section a thread titled 'preterism refuted' contains some discussion about what peter is referring to in 2 Peter 3, from a first century reader who's still living in the religious atmosphere [heavens] of the mosaic covenant. It starts about post #395. http://www.christianforums.net/showthread.php?t=42998&page=27
These ordinances and principles [I believe] are referred to as a 'covering' and a veil over all nations in Isaiah 25:7 which is prophesied at that time to be removed.
In 2 Cor 3, Paul says [in @55 AD] that when Moses is read [even after the church of faith in the positive Creator incarnate had been established] that a veil remained.7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering [heaven] cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
This alone doesn't prove that the 'heavens and earth' of Peters letter to his first century jewish believers referred to covering and oppression of the mosaic law and people who administered it, but it's one evidence of many in support of that understanding.But their minds were blinded: for until this day [55 AD] remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it [the heart] shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
If you wish to discuss more on this topic perhaps the preterist section would be better, and remember; Jesus promised to teach directly all those who sought [seek] his truth and his will for their own lives to honor the Father and the Son.
Thanks for the honest interaction.
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