2 Peter 1:12-21
Peter’s Approaching Death
12 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. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
The Trustworthy Prophetic Word (Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35)
16 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. 17 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.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 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; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Peter reminded the hearers and readers of his second letter of the truth of the gospel and all its implications. He made it clear that he held nothing back and was not negligent in being a faithful apostolic messenger of God’s word conveyed through him as the other of the twelve who had the same authority given to speak and write scripture which we now have before us to read and study as a constant reminder set down for us to live by. Even for we who have been in the Lord for many years of sanctifying grace and knowledge need to hear and be reminded of the truth upon which we have been founded. We need to be stirred up to keep learning and being reminded of our Lord and His teachings to us as part of making and living as His disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Like Peter, our lives should be driven to keep On reminding one another of these gospel truths until the day we shed this mortal coil and are with then Lord in heaven at last. These written words are our reminder of God’s truth given to live by and therefore deserve our full and lasting attention. It is too easy to forget these things if we do not stay immersed in them and then the world’s words and philosophy can turn us to begin believing fables that the adversary cunningly devises to question God’s word as in Eden’s Garden (Genesis 3:1-2). We then are called to speak and teach the whole counsel of God as we cut it straight by comparing spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:13, 16) with other spiritual ones throughout the context of the entire bible. Though we are not as the apostles who were on the scene as eyewitnesses of Christ’s majesty come to earth as a man and the three who witnessed His transfiguration, we see through the inner man with Spirit-led eyes to see our Sovereign Lord and King (1 Timothy 6:15) and believe by supernatural faith in His power and coming again when we shall see Him face to face at last! We do know that the prophetic word of the Lord was confirmed and recorded by the works of Jesus and so we take heed to come to and follow that light of life who rose as the sun in our hearts and minds. Yes, we understand by His Spirit that the scriptures came from God as the living Word made flesh and inscribed on parchment and etched onto our hearts by His Spirit. It is not up to us to interpret the word apart from His Spirit testifying in and among us and so we corporately comprehend scripture as we compare it across the entire Bible. Certain chosen holy men were used to write down all we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) as the Holy Spirit moved them, men who were the prophets and apostles until and just after Christ came, and through these men we have all we need to live as a reminders of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can trust all the finished word of God and live accordingly in response as we study to show ourselves approved (2 Timothy 2:15) to Him in living it out.
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