II Peter 1:12-21

Intro

In prior studies and sermons, I’ve dwelt on II Peter.

Today, I want to focus on the second half of chapter one of this incredible, but often neglected book, and, hopefully, connect some dots.

It’s fitting in a sense that last week, Pastor Ward emphasized the reality of death and the centrality of the Gospel. It’s fitting because when we think of death, we tend to think of the most important things.

A friend of mine at work—younger than me—was just diagnosed with a brain tumor. As I try to put myself in his shoes, I realized this past week that I would probably radically re-prioritize how I spend the time I have left. I suspect that I would be a lot more intentional about the things I communicate to others.

“Final words are often meant to communicate things of first importance.”

In the book of II Peter, we have Peter’s last will and testament. And I don’t think I’m speculating when I say that. The text we are about to read makes clear that Peter understood that his death was imminent. And in this book—especially in this first chapter—Peter provides the church he was commanded by our Lord to shepherd, his final words—or those most important things that are most essential to our Christian life.

Steve began our time of worship by reading the first half of chapter one. I’d like us to know read the second half beginning in verse 12.

12 Therefore, I will 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. 13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

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. 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"- 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

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. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

There’s a lot to unpack in these verses—each one deserves its own sermon (or series of sermons).  But for purposes of this morning, I want to make some key observations on this passage and hopefully, like I mentioned earlier, connect some dots that I believe are of extreme practical importance.  Solet’s begin with verses 12-15.

12 Therefore, I will 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. 13 I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.

KEY THEME:  IMPORTANCE OF REMEMBRANCE.

Three times he emphasizes the need to remember “these things.” 

•Vs 12:  “remind you”•Vs. 13:  “reminder”•Vs 15:  “able to call these things to mind.”

Peter is writing with a heightened sense of urgency because he knows his death is near and he cares deeply for the spiritual well being of his readers. 

You can’t help but sense Peter’s pastoral heart.

What does Peter want his readers to remember? What are “these things” he mentions in verses 12 and 15?

Obviously, one could say he’s referring to everything he’s written thus far in verses 1-11; but he likely has in mind his instructions or roadmap for living the Christian faith. This blueprint to Christianity is found in verses 5-7 and it lists seven virtues or qualities that should characterize a Christian:

Excellence (moral)

Knowledge

Self-control

Perseverance

Godliness

Brotherly affection

Love

These seven virtues are not examples of abstract or difficult theology. They are intensely practical for each one of us.

In verse 8, Peter explains the importance of these virtues—they are of spiritual value and result in or demonstrate fruit.

In verse 10, he puts a finer point on the value of diligently practicing these virtues: it makes your calling and election certain. In other words, the Christian can be encouraged if he or she is desiring to demonstrate these seven virtues because it’s a very good indication that their faith is genuine.

And if our faith is genuine, verse 11 tells us that entrance into the eternal kingdom of Christ will be abundantly supplied to us. Which, of course, is also a source of immense encouragement.

So given the importance of “these things,” Peter tells his readers that he stands ready to always remind them of them, even though they already know them.

Peter’s language in verse 12—”even though you already know them”—suggests a bit of a gentle prodding of his readers: “I know you already know this, BUT let me remind you…”

He even acknowledges that these believers are already established in the truth. In other words, these are not new believers. They’ve been around the Christian block, so to speak, and already know what Peter has told them.

But Peter, with his pastoral heart and concern, knows that they are always in need of a reminder—especially when it comes to these essential matters of eternity.

You’ll recall that after his resurrection, Jesus restores His broken fellowship with Peter. Peter broke fellowship with Jesus by denying him three times. Jesus restores him by asking him three times if he loved him. And three times Jesus told Peter, essentially, to shepherd his sheep.

Peter never forgot this commission. So now, knowing his death is near, he is reminding his sheep of “these things.” Reminding the sheep is the best way he can shepherd them.

Have you ever thought that Pastor Ward repeats himself? Or maybe it seems like he often returns to the same subject? The truth is we all need to be constantly reminded of those things that are most important. I can’t remember what I had for dinner last Friday night or where that business trip was three months ago. We’re all like that. So we see in Peter the example for all pastors: remind remind remind your flock of “these things” that are most important. It’s vital for their spiritual well-being.

In fact, if you look at verse 13 you see something of Peter’s zeal when it comes to reminding his flock: “I consider it right” –you sense him asserting his apostolic authority—to do what? To “stir you up” by way of reminder.

Before moving on, we should note the reason Peter is writing with a sense of urgency. He tells us in verses 14 that his death is near:

“knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.”

When he speaks of the laying aside of his earthly dwelling or tent, he’s obviously invoking a metaphor for death. Paul uses the same imagery in II Corinthians 5:1-4:

"For we know that if our earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life."

To further emphasize his death, he speaks in verse 15 of his “departure.” in the Greek it’s the word exodus.

There is something unique about Peter’s upcoming departure from his body. It’s not just the natural conclusion of an old man being honest about the inevitability of death. Because in verse 14 he tells us that his departure is something that the “Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.”

While I don’t think you can rule out a special revelation he’s received from the Lord, I think that in all likelihood he’s thinking back to the prophecy of Jesus after he restored Peter following his resurrection.

John 21:18-20 “18 I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go.” 19 (Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.) After he said this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me.”

In a sense, this prophecy serves as a transition to verses 16-18 of II Peter 1, which is emphasizing the return of Christ. This may seem like a stretch, but hear me out. Peter is about to emphasize the importance of the second coming of Christ even though it’s an event that Peter has lived his entire Christian life knowing he would never live to see it. It’s interesting to think about—Christians throughout history have rightly lived in the hope that their generation would be the one that saw the return of Jesus. But Peter was unique in that the Lord told him that he would most certainly die in his old age, and that it would be a horrific death (crucifixion).

After emphasizing the need of his readers to remember “these things,”—namely the importance of the sanctified Christian life exemplified by the 7 virtues, Peter then recounts a singular event from the ministry of Jesus – the Transiguration.

Why, out of all the events Peter witnessed, does he mention this particular one?

Think of all the miracles he witnessed—Jesus walking on water, Jesus healing the sick or casting out demons, or Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Peter doesn’t refer back to these events. NOR does he even recount the resurrection of Jesus—you would of all things the resurrection would stand out!

But Peter instead relates to his reader what happened 30+ years earlier on that holy mountain when our Lord was transfigured. So why this event?

To answer this question, we must step back and consider why Peter wrote II Peter. What concerns prompted him to write this letter?

In short, Peter is writing these believer to warn them against false teachers and safeguard them against their false teaching.

So that begs the question—what was the false teaching?

Peter tells us in chapter 3: they were denying the return of Christ. They were saying there is no final judgment in the end—we can go about our lives as we please—satisfying our sensual desires along the way—because this Messiah figure you claim is risen from the dead will not return.

So you see the grave danger in the logic: If Christ is not returning, then there can be no final judgement. And if there’s no judgement, then what’s the point of living a holy life? Come join us—let’s eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die! God doesn’t control the future. But we do control the present!

When considered within this context, Peter’s emphasis on those 7 virtues are now far more significant than a pious pastor’s laundry list—they are the apostle’s practical antidote to the life of hedonism promoted by the false teachers.

So the key question on the table is this: Is Jesus really going to return to earth? It’s been 30+ years since He left—are you sure he’s coming back? We didn’t think it would take this long…things have gotten pretty bad…Nero’s not exactly our biggest fan…

Jesus surely wouldn’t let things get his bad and allow his followers to be hunted down, jailed and killed?

So in the face of the church’s early anticipation of a quick return of Christ, coupled with the increasing persecution the church was facing, you can appreciate the appeal these false teachers had and the danger they posed to the sanctified steadfastness of the church.

Peter writes this letter to combat this notion that Christ is not returning and reassure his flock that the Shepherd is very much alive and returning.

Peter anchors this reassurance on two pillars: his own apostolic testimony and the divine inspiration of Scripture.

Let’s consider first the apostolic testimony of Peter. In verses 16-18 we have Peter’s first hand account of the transfiguration.

It’s an event that’s described in all three synoptic gospels (Matt, Mark and Luke) and is also referenced by John in his gospel when he simply says in 1:14 “we beheld his glory.”

Let’s briefly reset the scene [by looking at Matthews account; 17:1-13].

In short, Jesus takes Peter, James and John to the top of a tall mountain.

There, Jesus was transfigured. We’re told his “face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.”

This was a light, a glory intrinsic to Jesus—he wasn’t reflecting the light—he was producing it!

Moses and Elijah appeared with Him.

Peter offered to make three tabernacles

They heard a voice from heaven. In Matthew 17:5 we’re told that voice said “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to Him!”

When we look at Peter’s account in II Peter 1, we see that Peter is focused on Christ. There’s no mention of Moses or Elijah. No mention of Peter’s offer to build the tabernacles. Peter is instead recalling what he saw of Christ in His glory and what he heard the Father say about His Son.

But what’s the point of all this—why did the transfiguration happen?

We know why—the NT tells us. In fact, Peter tells us why in verse 16: it was so that we would have a glimpse of “the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The word used for “coming” is Parousia—you may have heard of this term. It is used throughout the NT and is a word used in connection with the second coming of Christ.

Look back at Matthew 16: 27-28 READ. There is no chapter division in the original…Matthew proceeds to describe the transfiguration which happened six days after Jesus made this statement. Textually, the transfiguration is connected to this prediction at the end of chapter 16.

Peter is linking the Transfiguration with the return of Chirst—it’s not just a picture of Christ in heaven or as some writers, particularly of the amilinieal persuasion emphasize, a glimpse into the heavenly kingdom of Christ. Peter is not emphasizing heaven or a spiritual kingdom—he is explicitly linking the glory, honor and power of Christ revealed at the transfiguration to His physical return to earth: “we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Peter is arguing that you should have no doubt that Jesus will return physically to earth because he gave me a preview of His glorious return on the sacred mountain. In other words, because I am an eyewitness to the transfiguration, you should know that it actually happened in time and space. And just as certain as I am that I saw the transfigured Christ, so to am I confident beyond any doubt that Christ will return in the same glory of which I saw but a glimpse of.

Peter doesn’t just describe what he say. He tells us in verse 17 what he heard: “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased.”

When you compare the accounts of Matthew Mark and Luke, it’s clear that Peter in II Peter is not relying on these sources but his own recollection of what he heard.

We could spend weeks on this statement alone, but suffice to say it makes clear three things: Jesus is the son of God; God the Father loves His Son; and he is well pleased with his work.

“Because of His redemptive work, Jesus is the recipient of God’s good pleasure at both his baptism and His transfiguration.” – Kistemaker

The voice from heaven spoke in the language of Psalm 2, which is an intensely Messianic Psalm. Turn there. Look at verse 7 “I will proclaim the decree of the Lord; He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”

Now notice verses 8-9: READ. What’s the takeaway? When Messiah returns, he will judge the nations.

“To the extent that Peter is aware of the background in Psalm 2, he is surely also aware that in the psalm the king is said to conquer/rule over the nations…If the teachers II Peter opposes deny final judgement, this narrative stresses that already Jesus has been invested with the authority to judge the nations.” – Peter Davids

So in verses 16-18 Peter brings to bear extremely compelling evidence of the return of Christ: his eyewitness account of what he saw and heard. And not just his—go ask James and John—they were there—they’ll tell you the same thing. They were eyewitnesses not just of the glorified Christ, but more precisely, they were eyewitnesses of his triumphant return to earth.

Let me make one final point about this eyewitness testimony. Peter contrasts his testimony of the transfiguration to the myths and tall tells of the day. Look at verse 16: “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales…” Think of the Greek and Roman culture of the day and all the myths that comprised their pagan canon. I remember 7th grade…did people really believe these stories? Peter wants his readers to understand that the Christian faith is radically different than these mythologies. It’s based upon historical realities. It’s grounded in facts and events that happened in time and space. And you can apply your good common sense, your reason, your logic and weigh the evidence. And when you do all that, the truth claims of Christianity remain standing—they withstand all the pressure of critical scrutiny.

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. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

A few observations:

“prophetic word” would refer to the entire OT.

“made more sure” in comparison to what? Even more reliable than my eyewitness account of Christ’s return, you have something even better: the word of God. Which in the first century comprised the 39 books of the OT.

As one writer put it: “we have another source of assurance that is even more reliable than the testimony of the apostles, namely, the prophetic word. It is a fuller and more explicit testimony of the messianic glory.”

“to which you do well to pay attention” Naturally, if the OT is the word of God, we should pay attention to it. But think about how Peter is crafting his argument. My eyewitness testimony is reliable. But you have something even more compelling, the testimony of God Himself.

Think of all the prophecies in the OT concerning the first coming of Christ that were within your lifetime just fulfilled!

The OT predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, that He would be born of a virgin, that he would be from the tribe of Judah, that he would be rejected by His people, that he would suffer horrifically, that he would die for the sins of His people, and that the grave would not hold him.

God has proven his faithfulness to His Word. So will he be faithful to those promises concerning the return of Messiah! 1:7

“day dawns…morning star” The imagery seems a bit confusing to us, but Peter is further emphasizing the certainty of the second coming and the importance of cherishing the promise of Christ’s return in our hearts.

“A star will come out of Jacob.” Num. 24:17

“The day is almost here.” Rom. 13:12

“As you see the Day approaching.” Heb 10:25

“I am…the bright Morning Star.” Rev. 22:16

“Peter’s concern is about the inner attitude of those who are awaiting the glorious day of Christ’s return. The truth that Christ is coming again must first arise in their hearts, like the morning star, giving assurance of the coming day.” Hiebert

Great summary: “Even in defense of his teaching, Peter finds room to exhort Christians to spiritual growth. In this world—murky with lies, dark with sin’s corruption and shadowy with temptations deceptions—we must earnestly follow the bright light of God’s lamp, the Scriptures. Our study of the Word will increase the light in our lives until finally “the day downs and the morning star rises” in our hearts when Christ, who is called the Morning Star”, comes in his glory, and we are forever illuminated by the great radiance of his presence which will transform us completely.”

20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

These verses alone warrant many many sermons. But for our purposes today, let me note just a couple of things.

In verses 20-21 we have one of the most important passages in all the Bible when it comes to the doctrine of the inspiration of Scripture.

The grammatical construction of this verse makes clear that man is passive and the Spirit is active in the composition of Scripture.

“The Holy Spirit employed men, not instruments, for the composition of Scripture. The Spirit used human beings with their talents and insights, their peculiarities and characteristics, keeping them from sin and error. The Holy Spirit is in control of man. Therefore, the text is clear on this point: in the writing of Scripture, man is passive and the Spirit active.”’ Kistemaker

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.” II Samuel 23:2

“All Scripture is God-breathed.” II Timothy 3:16

It’s why we use the word “holy” to describe the Bible. BUT: “the stress is laid here, not on the spiritual value of Scripture (though that, too, is seen in the background), but on the divine trustworthiness of Scripture.”

“moved by” Maritime or nautical term meaning to be carried along by—like a ship being carried along by the wind (Acts 27:15, 17)

“The prophets raised their sails, so to speak (they were obedient and receptive), and the Holy Spirit filled them and carried their craft along in the direction He wished.”

In short, “Peter describes this divine-human partnership not as that of equals but as a powerful, energetic superintendence by the Spirit.”

One final note: In these concluding verses of chapter 1, Peter positions authority away from people in the post-apostolic era.

“Peter canonizes the living and written Word of God as our sole authority in the post-apostolic age. It will be the words of the biblical apostles and prophets, as given to them by the Holy Spriit, that provide the lone voice for the faithful after Peter’s death.” Not men, not traditions, not ecclesiastical offices or pronouncements. Peter, in his final words, emphasizes the Scriptures as the sole authority and rule of faith because it alone is divinely inspired.

So let me conclude this morning by getting as real and practical with you as I can.

Do you remember I began this message with the following quote: “Final words are often meant to communicate things of first importance.”

Read Reed’s FB Post.

I would submit to you that that is a testimony of a man who knows what is most important.

If you are here and not a genuine believer in Christ, the most important thing is to recognize that your greatest problem is your sin, that repentance of that sin is an urgent matter of eternal life or death. And that the only solution to that problem is found in the death and blood of Jesus. So ask yourself, have you really truly wrestled with that most important problem?

If you are a genuine believer, then you have great hope, but are you living in light of it? Is the return of Christ a reality that’s seen in how you live your life? Or is it just a NT teaching that you have some intellectual comfort with?

Let’s examine ourselves and ask ourselves if we need reminding of “these things” that prompted Peter to write II Peter chapter 1. What’s in our hearts? Are we living out Peter’s 7 virtues: Excellence (moral), Knowledge, Self-control, Perseverance, Godliness, Brotherly affection, and Love ? Is your heart motivated by these virtues?

If the motivation of your heart is not right, then may I suggest we pray for a renewal of our minds and adopt an eternal perspective? An eternal perspective like the one offered by Paul in Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”