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“The Prophetic Word Confirmed” • 8.19.18 • Calvary Christian
Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Peter has begun his second epistle sharing
with his audience that God had granted them a faith that was complete. It was
the same faith in Christ that the Apostles had.
- As such, they had everything that they needed
for life and godliness planted in their hearts. Now, they needed a life that
would facilitate the growth of their faith.
- They needed to add knowledge, virtue,
perseverance, etc., in order to prove to themselves and to the world that
their initial faith package had been installed!
- Believers that embodied this kind of life
could be assured, no matter what happened to them on this planet, that a grand
entrance awaited them in heaven. Verse 12.
Text
• II Peter
1:12-15 : "For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of
these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long
as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off
my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to
ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease." : "For this reason, I will not be negligent." He would
not be careless, but careful. Peter sees it as his duty to continually bring
these truths to their collective mind.
- He knows that they "know" the truth
and that they are grounded in it, but he also knows that it is just as easy to
let the superficial crowd out that essential.
- We all need to be reminded on a regular basis
that this world is not our home! There is a heaven that awaits us. They needed
to hear this again and he's not ashamed to tell them again!
- A true minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ
is not devoted to teaching original content, or to bringing out wisdom that has
never been heard before.
- He spends his life reminding God's people of
what they already know, refreshing them in the truths that they have based
their lives upon!
- This the right thing for the minister and
Peter to do with the rest of their life, while he dwells in this tent or
"tabernacle." This temporary and transitory station exists for a
single purpose.
- While it is standing, Peter wanted to use the
time to stir or awaken the Lord's people! One commentator used the phrase,
"to activate."
- Peter wanted to awaken their minds, to raise
their hearts toward eternal truths.
- Before we move on, consider who Peter is and
where he was at this very moment. He is an aged man, staring down a violent
death, which historians tell us, will be shared with his wife.
- He is either in or about to be in prison, with
only a short time to live. What would be on your mind? Would you not be a litte
more self-focused? Not Peter.
- As we have seen, he is aware first of his
duty to the Lord to serve the Lord's people. He is following his Lord's example
in ministering even unto the very eve of his own death!
- His Master was about to be betrayed and
murdered but He got on His knees and washed His disciples' feet, having loved
them until the end.
- Elijah was on his way to preach in another
town on the day he received an escort to heaven.
- Moses wrote songs and ordained leaders in his
final days before the Lord took him home! We have one life to live and it will
soon be passed. Only what is done for God and His Kingdom will last!
- Peter, with a clear view of eternity, places
his hands upon his remote brothers and sisters, who are suffering on this
earth, and shakes them out of their tent like focus! "This isn't your
home!"
- Peter knew that these were his final days.
The Lord told him that a time would come when he would go where he didn't want
to go! (John 21:18)
- It won't be long before he is martyred by
Nero, which incidently is why he is leaving a written record. He will work
hard, give all diligence to have his words preserved for them.
- The written word, which we are studying right
now, 2000 years removed, will be a lasting reminder after he has made his "exodus."
Where did Peter get this idea about death?
- As we'll soon see, much of Peter's thinking
in this section, derives from his experience on the mount of transfiguration,
where Jesus gave Peter, James and John a preview of His Kingdom.
- When Elijah and Moses came to speak to Jesus,
we discover from Luke 9:31, that
they came to speak about the "exodus" that He would accomplish at
Jerusalem.
- In all of these years after this experience,
Peter had learned that life was to be lived for the service God and His people.
Death itself would be redefined, not as the end, but as the exodus!
- Like the Israelites of the Old Testament, we
are leaving this slave's existence to enjoy the full benefit of our redemption!
How can Peter have such confidence? Glad you asked! Verse 16.
• II Peter
1:16-18 : "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made
known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses
of His majesty. For
He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him
from the Excellent Glory: 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And we heard this voice which came
from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain." : Peter wants to make this perfectly clear. Christianity isn't
the wise invention of a select group of people.
- The word "follow" refers to
treading out steps that have been laid out for another.
- The Apostles didn't prescribe a series of
wisdom myths that they would all agree upon and then foist upon the masses.
- When they shared about God's power to save people
through Christ and that Christ would one day return for His people, they based
this upon their own experience of history!
- They were "eyewitnesses." Peter,
James and John beheld the magnificence, the visible glory of the Lord!
- This wasn't simply a visible phenomena that
they then interpreted, as one might do with a dream or vision. This was an
event that happened in time and God made sure to interpret it for them!
- When the transfiguration took place, the very
voice of God the Father interjected into the scene from the most eminent place
of glory, from the throne room itself! What did He say?
- Of Jesus, the Father says, "This is my
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This isn't simply an announcement
of God's opinion or a proud Father's boast.
- This is a confirmation of what Peter had
confessed earlier that week! This was the Christ, the Messiah of the Jews, the
Servant and Elect One of Isaiah 42!
• Isaiah
42:1-4 : "Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights!
I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. He will not fail nor be discouraged, till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.'" : You cannot get a better endorsement anywhere in the Universe! Verse
19.
• II Peter
1:19-21 : "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well
to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the
morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any
private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God
spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." : Verse 19 sounds
strange to our ears. The KJV reads, "We
have also a more sure word of prophecy."
- The CSB: "We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed." Finally,
the NIV says, "We also have the
prophetic message as something completely reliable."
- Their experience of God's witness to His
Son's position verifies all that had been prophecied prior to Christ's first
coming!
- The word of the prophets is confirmed and
strengthened and our confidence in Christ is secure and stable. How should we
respond? We would do well to heed it!
- The Word of God deserves our most earnest
attention, not just in reading and studying, but in obeying! Look at the
picture that Peter is painting of what the Word is like.
- It is like a light that shines in a dark
place. The word can refer either to a low lit or dirty and squalid place.
Either is certainly true! We live in a dark and dirty world!
- The Word provides light and leads to a way through!
He says, "Look straight ahead at that light source. Keep your eyes right
upon it!"
- The written Word of God leads us to a picture
of the Word of God, Jesus Christ! Keep looking until the day dawns and the
morning star rises in your hearts!
- This is almost the only translation of this
phrase among the orthodox translations that we possess. It provides us with a
beautiful metaphor!
- When the physical long night is over, the
beauty of a sunrise brings great beauty and hope.
- This is what happens spiritually when you and
I read, study and apply God's Word. We're to do this until the morning star
rises, not over the horizon line of the earth, but in our hearts!
- Who is the morning star? This is none other
than Jesus Christ Himself! Turn in your Bibles to Revelation 22. John is receiving a vision of the Lord's holy city
and Jesus ratifies His own invitation.
•
Revelation 22:12-16 : "And
behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward
is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.' Blessed are those who do His
commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through
the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and
murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. 'I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you
these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.'" : With that as our background, listen again to verse 19 in the NLT.
• II Peter
1:19 (NLT) : "You
must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp
shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines
in your hearts." : Peter is telling them that they
can receive spiritually what he say physically upon the mount of
transfiguration.
- The more that we attend to the Word, the more
we look into it, the clearer we'll see Jesus!
- Keep looking to the word of God until you see
the Son rise! Keep looking at the Word of God and know that it will eventually
light up your heart and scatter your darkness.
- That is the power of the word. It exalts and
brings to the forefront of our minds, the person of Jesus Christ. That is the
united principle upon which the Bible is founded!
- That is the meaning of the phrase, "no
prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation." It cannot mean
that we are unable to interpret it. Peter has just told us to heed it!
- That requires perspecuity, clarity and
comprehension as to our responsibility to obey it!
- The idea is that scripture was written and
supervised by God to form a consistent, revelation that does not disagree in
any one part.
- No prophet that was writing scripture could
write something on his own. No man undertook to offer his own "take"
to the Christian community.
- His addition to the writings would have to
agree with all the rest of scripture to be able to be called
"scripture." This is why the doctrine of scripture requires the
oversight and direct action of God!
- Peter and the rest of the writers of
scripture transmitted the thoughts of God to paper. They were moved, or carried
along by the Holy Spirit! That's what holy men did! Chapter 2.
• II Peter
2:1 : "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as
there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive
heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift
destruction." : When the prophets wrote
what the Holy Spirit directed, they didn't write without spiritual opposition.
In fact, as soon as the true came out, the false came out with it!
- There have always been false prophets and
Peter is telling the church that they you should expect that there will be
false teachers now!
- The false prophets came out from among the
people and that's exactly where the false teachers will come from, but they will
never be overt! They will "secretly bring in destructive heresies."
- The words "bring in" are formed
from two Greek words which when put together mean, to introduce with. That is
their strength.
- The false teacher will always introduce their
brand of truth alongside of something that you already agree with. This is how
they fly under the radar!
- On the surface their belief doesn't seem
harmless or worthy of response, but this isn't a matter of benign disagreement
upon non-essential issues. These are destructive heresies!
- The word is better translated
"damnable." Their teaching leads to complete loss and therefore,
utter spiritual ruin! Think about that! It matters what you believe!
- It's one thing to have a different view of
eschatology. It's quite another to have a different view of redemption. One
leads to a little headache. The other leads to eternity separated from God!
- Those that harbor such beliefs and convince
others to follow, are not just misinformed.
- As with the false prophets of the old
testament, their message will inevitably lead their adherants to permanent
ruin. That is what heresy or party thinking, does.
- Ultimately, the heretic even refuses the Lord
that redeemed them! The idea here is two-fold. -
On the one hand, they refuse to be satisfied with Christ's work. Their
redemption is generally "Jesus plus." It's Jesus plus works or Jesus
plus tradition.
- To accept Jesus on a partial level is to
reject Jesus! He is the Way, the Truth and the Life or He is not! That is part
of what it means to deny the Lord.
- It might also express itself in believing
anything and anyone over the clear voice of Christ! If Jesus Himself stood
physically in their way, they would refuse Him for their new belief system!
- What other hope can they have if they reject
Christ? They are opening themselves to swift and total ruin! Sadly, they will
not be alone! Verse 2.
• II Peter
2:2,3 : "And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the
way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for
a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not
slumber." : It's one thing to derail your own
Christian life, to begin to walk away from the faith that saved you. It's
another to draw others away as well!
- Peter looks down the corridor of time and
sees not a few, not a couple, but many that will tread upon their path, right
into the same destruction. Jesus addressed this in Matthew 7.
• Matthew
7:13-15 : "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the
way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who
find it. Beware of false prophets, who come
to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." : Many will follow, not realizing or caring that they are walking
directly into hell! Notice the connection between verse 1 and 2.
- There are destructive heresies, beliefs (v.1) which lead to destructive ways,
behavior (v.2). The one leads
directly to the other.
- Many will follow and be destroyed and some
will dismiss the Lord outright! They will blaspheme or insult the way of truth
because of their behavior. Haven't we seen this repeatedly?
- When a false teacher is caught in their
inevitable shame, every non-Christian hears about their case and it's not the
person that they insult.
- They'll spit upon our faith, drag the Lord's
Name into the mud and are that much more hardened against believing in Him. But
that won't stop the false teachers.
- They themselves are covetous, but their
ministry is also that which runs upon the covetous nature of their adherants!
- They themselves want a life that they don't
have and are willing to use people who have the same desire. This leads them to
"exploit" or to "make merchandise" of God's people.
- Long ago, our country used to call shopping
centers "emporeums." That is how false teachers see their audience!
They are their clientele, the ones that they will buy and sell through!
- Like the cheap salesmen that they are, they
trade in and draw in the covetous with deceptive language. Believe it or not,
our word "plastic" comes from the word "deceptive" here!
- Their speaking is artificial! We use the word
to refer to that which is a cheap copy and that is a good usage here. False
teachers produce a cheap copy of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
- It's inferior. It won't stand the test of
time. It will break under pressure. These things are true.
- This word as the Greeks used it refers to
insincerity. They are telling you what you want to hear, basing their teachings
and offerings upon what they think you want to hear!
- They will only be selling what the masses are
buying! Peter assures the church that they are not getting away with anything.
- God has already pronounced their judgment and
when the time is right, God's justice will not be delayed.
Conclusion
- Peter can
focus on loving the Lord, serving His church and holding fast to the exodus he
will make because He witnessed the glory of the One he trusted in.
- We won't be
able to stand on the same mountain, but the same person can be seen in all His
splendor as we take in the Word!
- Jesus Christ
risen and victorious is our confidence! Seeing Him as He is will keep our
hearts strong in our hope and will keep us from being victimized by that which
is plastic and false!
- May the Lord
give us grace to see Him ever more clearly!
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