BIG IDEA:
THE FOUNDATION OF TRUTH NEEDS CONSTANT REINFORCEMENT SO THAT WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
This is the only way we will be able to stay on track in our spiritual lives when led astray by false teachers
INTRODUCTION:
Easy to get knocked off the track in our Christian life; cf. Trains at Christmas time; just the slightest nudge and they get knocked off the track
We are on the narrow way; it is the broad way that leads to destruction;
cf. The balance beam in gymnastics — hard to teeter on that and maintain your balance; a little nudge and you are gone
Context: false teachers denying the second coming of Christ in Judgment; no accountability so why not live for the lusts of the flesh; forget about moral excellence, knowledge of the truth, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love
In other words: forget about being like Jesus Christ and living out by faith the divine nature that has been given to us
Picture a town protected against flood waters by a dam of sandbags; you have to keep building the dam higher and plugging all of the leaks so that the water doesn’t burst through and flood the town; you have to keep on reinforcing this man-made dam
WHERE DO WE GET THE REINFORCEMENT THAT WE NEED?? (Draw a face)
Keep on pointing our ears, eyes, mouth, and nose towards the truth;
Focus on the truth; Focus on the message preached by Jesus Christ and the Apostles;
Don’t give the time of day to the false prophets
Look at this passage from 2 perspectives:
1) the responsibility of the hearer
2) even more importantly: the responsibility of the spiritual leaders
I. THE EARS OF AN ELEPHANT (:12-15)
remember the truth that we have been taught; responsibility of teachers to keep on reminding us
large floppy elephant ears — can take in and retain a lot of content;
cf. “the memory of an elephant”
SPIRITUAL LEADERS MUST CONTINUALLY REINFORCE THE TRUTH:
A. CONTENT OF THE TRUTH
B. URGENCY OF REINFORCING THE TRUTH
C. GOAL OF REINFORCING THE TRUTH
A. CONTENT: Not New Revelation, but Repetition of Foundational Truth is Essential (:12) “Therefore, I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.”
1. Be ready all of the time to fulfill this role
this was not some passing fad; not something that was only valuable in his cultural context — this role needs to be performed all the time
Kids: don’t you hate being reminded all of the time by Mom what you need to do;
Our Pride: I know that; don’t tell me that again;
But we need to be reminded of many things
Different than nagging = to find fault all of the time in a criticizing fashion; to irritate by constant scolding or urging
2. Reminders can be both positive and negative (vs. 8-9)
Positive: review the ingredients of the character stew vs. 5-7
Negative: warn about the dangers of neglecting these qualities and failing to live by faith – Jude 1:5 = Warnings
Task = “Recall to attention”; “call to mind”:
We have all sorts of things deposited in our mind; what kind of handle do we have on these truths so that we can recall them and use them at the point where the battle rages;
Recall is different than recognition
We have so many tools to help us in this regard:
– taking notes
– filing the notes in such a way we can retrieve them and apply them
– database applications
What can be recalled from the heart and mind is much more effective than what can be recalled from the file cabinet or PC software program; the enemy won’t always wait while we go to look up our notes
As we meditate on the truths; ponder on them as Mary did; turn them over in our mind; we make them our own
3. The same foundational truth which you already know is essential for continued growth
(scope is really the entire word of God — it is sufficient; the knowledge mentioned in 1:5 — especially that truth as it focuses on the person of Jesus Christ);
cf. The wire mesh added to concrete foundation to give strength; that grid of connecting truths that makes you strong and stable in the faith
Keep on reminding people of these same truths;
our union with the person of Jesus Christ
– temptation for the teacher to always want to be presenting new truths;
– temptation for the hearers to have itching ears that want to be scratched with some novel ideas
B. URGENCY to Reinforce the Truth while the Opportunity to do so is still Available (:13-14) “And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.”
1. Task described as: “stir up”, “awaken”, “arouse” by way of reminder
cf. Difficulty of getting some kids up in the morning;
interesting: did not have that problem 6 AM on Christmas morning
what is the interest level of the particular individual in the subject?
2. Duty in the sense of what is obligatory as appropriate and necessary
“I consider it dikaios”
3. Image of a “tent” or “house” used for our physical body reminds us again
that this is not our permanent home; the body is not what is ultimately important — it is going to be laid aside, removed
4. Peter knew his time was short — Context: Peter getting old; knowing that he is slated to die a martyr’s death very soon (John 21:18-19)
Application: cf. What a short time we have to disciple our kids
Piper Re vs. 13 — “Since the readers are already established in the truth, and since Peter’s time is short on earth, Peter thinks that the right thing to do is spend his remaining time arousing their memory of these things. If the Lord told you this afternoon that your time is short, what would you devote yourself to? Peter answers: I am going to devote myself to increasing the lively memory of Christian truth. He is convinced that if he can keep the greatness of Christ’s work and promises in the memory, believers will be awakened and aroused to hope in those promises and be diligent to grow in godliness and thus confirm their call and election.”
C. GOAL = Recall without the Prompting or even the Presence of the Spiritual Leader (:15) “And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you may be able to call these things to mind.”
Retention when Spiritual Leader is no longer around
my (emphatic) exodus: — departure
requires diligence on Peter’s part while he has opportunity
don’t make your disciples dependent on you; make them disciples of the Lord
teach them how to feed themselves from the written word of God
Interesting: Peter seems to have a consciousness in this section that he is being
used by God in the process of Inspiration to write prophetic words that will
continue to teach the church after his departure
II. THE EYES AND EARS OF AN APOSTLE (:16-19)
pay attention to the testimony of those who were Eyewitnesses and Earwitnesses of Majesty
THE MESSAGE OF THE APOSTLES DEMANDS OUR ATTENTION BECAUSE THEY TASTED THE GLORY OF THE SECOND COMING ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION
The apostles know what they are talking about (“we’)
in contrast to the false apostles and the false teachers who weren’t present on the
Mount (but sure make a lot of arrogant boasts about the validity of their fables)
Peter got to sample what was coming; like Coming Attractions; a sneak preview; Jesus had laid aside His visible glory while on earth, but here the curtain is pulled back and we get just a glimpse of that glory
A. The Credibility of Eyewitness Testimony
vs. 16 “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”
“when we made known to you” — dealing with apostolic revelation
“make known, reveal”
John 15:15 “All things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you”
going to remind us in this section: the source of the revelation was from God, not from man
Transfiguration Account — Luke 9:26-36
reference to the return of the Lord in glory and power followed by the Transfiguration account
Why Moses and Elijah? Representing the Law and the Prophets — Deut. 18:15 (Moses was the prototype prophet)
God’s revelation:
Heb. 1:1-4 God spoke long ago in the Law and the Prophets — “in these last days has spoken to us in His Son– the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature”
Peter, James and John had been sleeping — God wanted them to listen up and remember: If you want to arouse the sleeping ones; stir someone up so that they remember what you say — a dose of the glory of God will do the trick
subject of discussion: the exodus (departure) of Jesus that was imminent (just as Peter was thinking about his own imminent death) — 9:31 connection between death and entrance into glory and the Second Coming in power and glory to establish God’s kingdom on earth
In what sense did Peter not understand what he was talking about?
1) Peter wanted to skip the transitional step of death — let’s hang on to this present state — make 3 tents
“it is good for us to be here”
2) More importantly:
Peter making a huge mistake to treat Moses and Elijah and Christ with almost the same reverence; (3 tents) — God makes it very clear that there is a tremendous distinction
Piper: “Confidence in Christ’s future coming in power is based, not on a myth, but on an eyewitness experience of his majesty in the past. The difference between mythical speculations and Christian faith is history. Our doctrines are not the result of clever head-work. They are the result of historical observation.”
B. The Majesty of Divine Testimony
vs. 17 “For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased.'”
God the Father saying: “LISTEN TO MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL-PLEASED”
cf. How parents and teachers are always saying: “Listen to me”
(Remember: 2 different perspectives in this section in 2 Peter:
1) responsibility of spiritual leaders to reinforce the foundational truths
2) responsibility of all to listen to the message, to have their memory stirred up; to pay attention) I just wanted to remind you
the Doctrine in Question: the power and second coming of Christ
this was under attack by the false teachers (3:1-4)
3:10 the day of the Lord will come like a thief (unannounced, when you don’t expect it)
C. The Corroboration of Apostolic Experience
vs 18 “and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”
not following cleverly devised tales:
tradition = Jewish tales; the different rabbinical schools embellishing upon OT history
philosophy = all types of wild esoteric “knowledge” such as that dreamed up by the gnostics = too complicated to explain
Problem with lies: hard to maintain consistency; they have to be cleverly devised in order to have any chance of gaining a hearing
D. The Impact of Such Testimony
vs. 19 — “And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.”
the “we” here does not refer to all the saints; but to the apostles — track the use of “we” and “you” throughout this section
Peter referring to himself and to all the apostles who made known the power and the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
Lenski: “the opinion that Peter compares the prophetic Word with the transfiguration and calls this Word ‘more sure’ than the transfiguration or than all the majesty which the apostles came to see in Christ is untenable. No, after seeing Christ’s majesty the Old Testament prophecies were surer than ever to the apostles; they based nothing of their preaching on ‘myths’ of any kind. By its fulfillment the fulfilled prophecy is naturally made more sure than it was while it was still awaiting fulfillment.”
Peter had a healthy respect for the prophetic word — 1 Pet. 1:10-12
By extension, Peter is going to place his revelation and that of the apostles on the same level
“morning star arises in your hearts” — Rev. 22:16
Piper: “And what is the hope that lures us on to walk in the light as he is in the light? Two things: dawn without and daystar within.”
III. THE MOUTH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (:20-21) — THE PROPHETIC INSPIRED WORD OF GOD
listen only to those words (teachings) that originate from God rather than from man
“But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”
A. The Importance of This Subject of Revelation / Inspiration
“But know this first of all”
Peter about to leave this earth; feels the burden to remind the believers of the foundational truths that are crucial to their growth and stability;
wants to reinforce the authority and adequacy of the Scriptures — the written revelation that will be available even when he is not present with them
Great passage on the Revelation / Inspiration of Scriptures — What process did God use? You hear all the time the smokescreen excuse: “Everyone has their own interpretation of the Bible; therefore, no objective meaning can be attained; therefore, why even study it?”
B. The Source of the Revelation Must Determine the Method of the Interpretation
1. Sourced in God
– absolute truth
– objective truth
– unalterable truth
2. Interpreted from that Perspective
C. The Process of Revelation / Inspiration
IV. THE NOSE OF DISCERNMENT (2:1-22)
— sniffing out the rotten lies of the false prophets
CONCLUSION:
Theme Song:
Be careful little ears what you hear…
Be careful little eyes what you see …
Be careful little mouth what you say …
Be careful little nose what you smell …
Benediction: Romans 16:25-27
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to the obedience of faith; to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen”