Good News Club: 2 Peter 1, God Speaks to Me Through His Written Word, Pt. 3

Introduction: Friends, last week we learned that God’s Word came specially from God. God’s Word that He has breathed out is useful and valuable to teach us about God and what He wants us to know, to help us understand when we’ve sinned, to know what to do about our sin, and to help us learn more about living in a way that pleases the Lord. Today, we’re going to learn some important things about how God gave us His Word in the Bible.

2 Peter 1:16 “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 see a sentence begin with the word “For”, we are reminded that this is the reason for an earlier statement.

Therefore, we need to ask, “what came before?”

The Apostle Peter that the Holy Spirit used to write this letter, has given instruction about what it looks like to live the Christian life.

Living the Christian life is more than just looking forward to Heaven; although, this is a tremendous blessing for anyone who has believed in Jesus to save them from their sins.

Living the Christian life includes qualities like faith (faithfulness), virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love (cf. 2 Pt 1:5-7).

Peter wants to encourage this kind of living in the believers and is going to give the reason why his readers and us can trust his instruction.

When Peter says that “we did not follow cleverly devised tales”, he is making a distinction about the teaching that he has given about Jesus.

What is a tale?

It’s a made up story.

I like stories.

However, do we trust that made up stories actually tell us about something that has happened?

No!

Peter is reminding his readers and all of us that he and the other Apostles and writers of Scriptures did not come up with stories about Jesus.

Instead, Peter describes his relationship to what he has taught about the power and coming of Jesus in a different way.

What does Peter share about himself (and the other Apostles) concerning the teaching that he has given about Jesus?

He is an eyewitness.

What does it mean to be an eyewitness?

You directly saw and experienced everything that you have described.

When someone was at an event that they describe, we can trust more what they say because they directly saw what they are talking about.

What is it that Peter and the other Apostles directly saw?

They saw Jesus’ power.

Can you think of an example of Jesus’ power?

He walked on the water.

He healed people.

He rose from the dead to never die again.

They saw Jesus coming to them, in person!

Can you imagine?!

Seeing Jesus in person, right in front of your face!

They saw Jesus’ majesty!

Majesty refers to the unparalleled greatness that Jesus possesses.

Jesus is great in His authority, He alone is Lord.

Jesus is great in His ability, He created all things!

There’s no one like Jesus, and Peter and the Apostles saw Jesus do all of these things!

Friends, because Peter and the other apostles saw Jesus’ power, in person, and His unmatched greatness, we can be confident in whatever they share with us about Jesus.

2 Peter 1:17 “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”—”

When we read the word “when,” what is the Peter here referring to?

An event, something that took place in time!

There are four things we see about this event.

Jesus received honor and glory from God the Father - meaning that Jesus received praiseworthy attention from God!

God the Father spoke something about Jesus: “This is my Beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased.”

2 Peter 1:18 “18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.”

The third thing that we read is in v. 18: there was on audience that included Peter.

The fourth and final thing is the place where this occurred: on a mountain.

When we put together all four of these items, Peter is giving us clues about this event.

It was the transfiguration of Jesus.

While that’s a big word, it simply means that Jesus was changed before His disciples.

What His disciples saw was Jesus completely transformed into His glorious and beautiful majesty.

This transformation indicated to the disciples that Jesus was Lord and God with all authority.

Peter and two other disciples saw this firsthand!

Therefore, because they saw this with their own eyes along with the other incredible things that Jesus did, we can trust whatever they say about Jesus!

So, friends, we have been given 2 reasons why we can trust whatever Jesus’ apostles said.

First, they saw firsthand His power and met with Him face-to-face.

Second, they saw His majesty that represented His beautiful authority.

In other words, what these individuals share cares great authority because they directly interacted with Jesus.

In the next several verses, we’re going to be given another reason as to why we should trust whatever the apostles share about Jesus.

2 Peter 1:19 “19 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.”

When you see the phrase “prophetic word,” what do you think that might refer to?

God’s Word, the Bible - that’s right!

For something to be “more fully confirmed,” you remember the picture of the rock and me?

Even though I was playfully pushing against the rock, I knew that I could not move it.

I was confident that the rock would not move by my power!

You see, Peter is referring to the confidence that we can have in the Bible as truly God’s Word!

The apostles witnessing Jesus’ glorious majesty in the transfiguration was a fulfillment of prophecy.

That is, things about Jesus written in the Old Testament were coming to pass right before Peter and these apostles very eyes.

They were seeing things that God’s Word talked about take place right before their very eyes!

Peter then makes a comparison: a lamp, shining in a dark place.

When you see a light in the dark, do you immediately look away?

No!

You look towards the light!

Why?

Our eyes are naturally drawn to the light because we want to see what’s going on around us!

You see, what Peter is telling us is that, just as when we see a light in a dark place we give extra special attention to it, we should give studying and obeying God’s Word extra special attention.

Friends, when you walk outside during the daytime, do you need a flashlight?

No!

Peter here is comparing the rising of the sun each day with something that is coming soon.

The “day” refers to something special that’s going to happen in the future: Jesus is coming again!

You see, friends, just as we can count on the sun to rise, we can be sure that Jesus is coming again (Schreiner).

When He comes, everyone who has believed in Him as their Lord and Savior will rejoice because He will make them new and able to live without sinning ever again.

Until He comes, we need the truths of His Word to remind us how to live in a way that pleases Him.

When we see the sunrise, are we excited about a new day?

Yes!

Therefore, we all should be looking forward to when Jesus comes again.

Friends, until Jesus comes again, we have every confidence in God’s truthful Word to instruct us how to live.

But the question remains, how did we get God’s Word?

2 Peter 1:20 “20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,”

What does the phrase “first of all” mean?

Priority, or Importance.

In other words, Peter wants us to pay attention to something very important.

What does “prophecy of Scripture” refer to?

The Bible, God’s Word.

When Peter uses the phrase “one’s own interpretation,” he’s referring to the source of the Scripture, the Bible.

Hence, the Bible did not come to us because you, me, or anyone else decided that we wanted to create the Bible.

2 Peter 1:21 “21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

“[An] act of the human will” refers to a choice to act in a certain way.

When we choose what we say or do, we think about either what we’re going to say or do.

In other words, God’s Word being given to us was not anything that any human being individually chose to do.

Instead, the Holy Spirit worked in certain individuals to produce God’s Word.

They spoke God’s Word because of the Holy Spirit.

They also wrote down God’s Word that they spoke because of the Holy Spirit.

In other words, friends, the Holy Spirit (God) is responsible for working in the individuals that God chose to speak His Word and write His Word down for us to read even to this day.

Conclusion: Friends, because God has given us His Word through certain individuals who witnessed first hand the things that they saw by the Holy Spirit, we need to give careful attention to God’s Word to learn what the Lord would have us to so that we can live in a way that pleases the Lord. Friends, God’s Word teaches us that we are all sinners who need Jesus to be our Lord and Savior from our sins. Also, friends, if you have believed in Jesus as you Lord and Savior from your sins, then you must take God’s Word, study it and live it to please the Lord.