1 Peter 1:16-21

Introduction

Review v.3-15

You get the sense that Peter is emphasizing the importance of making sure of your calling and election.

Peter emphasizes living a virtuous life, the call to virtue is grounded in God’s saving work and should not be misunderstood as work’s righteousness.

Emphasizing making sure that you are saved, that your lifestyle is giving evidence of genuine salvation because without genuine salvation that leads to a changed life then you will not have an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior.

You don’t want to miss the Kingdom, the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior.

That is why he says that he is going to stir them up by way of reminder.

Peter is concerned that the false teachers are turning them away from their eternal reward, turning them away from the Kingdom.

You see Peter’s heart, the heart of an undersheperd, he does not want them to be distracted, he does not want them to be turned away.

Brothers and sisters, even as we consider Peter’s passion here we are reminded that ideas have consequences and ideas effect our living.

False teaching is not something to take lightly, false teaching can be the difference between entering the Kingdom and missing the Kingdom.

As we continue in this letter we are reminded of what seems to be one of the major false teachings of these teachers.

As Peter is defending the church against the false teachers, it seems that the false teachers doubted the future coming of Jesus

2 Peter 3:3–7 ESV

knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

And notice what Peter says in 1:16

And if the Second Coming of Jesus is a myth, if Christ is not coming again in His glory, if there is not going to be a judgement then all of Peter’s exhortations to godliness are empty, this desperation to make sure of your calling and election so that you will receive the eternal reward is meaningless if Jesus is not coming again and if everything is going to continue on as it always has.

Notice that seems to be what these false teachers were saying,

2 Peter 3:1–4 ESV

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”

This lack of confidence in the Second Coming of Christ by the false teachers lead to ungodly living and Peter knows that the same would be true for the church.

The eternal reward, the hope that we have in Christ is one of the great motivators for godly living.

That is why he says that he is going to stir them up by way of reminder.

Those who have this hope of the eternal kingdom purify themselves.

I think part of what we see here is that those who have this hope of the eternal kingdom purifies himself.

1 John 3:1–3 ESV

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

What do we see here brothers and sisters? The eternal Kingdom, the reality of heaven and hell, these things are great motivations to life godly lives by the grace and power of our Lord and Savior.

As I have already mentioned, it is clear that some of the false teaching that Peter was writing to protect the church against was a teaching that denied the Second coming of Christ and that promoted licentiousness.

So what does Peter do in the rest of this chapter? He gives evidence of the reality of the Second Coming of Christ and the hope of the eternal Kingdom.

I. Eyewitness Testimony (v.16-18)

Again we see the claim of the false teachers couched in Peter’s statement in v.16

These are just myths. The word could be used to designate something that is a fable.

These myths could stand for teachings or stories that have no basis in reality and are fantasies. Ultimately these stories have not value, they may be entertaining, but they have no ultimate value.

Peter wants to be clear, when we made known to you the powerful coming of our Lord jesus Christ we were not sharing cleverly devised myths.

These are not fantasy stories, but this is ultimate reality.

Notice what was made know to the church, the ESV says the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the NIV says the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power

I think the NIV is more accurate, one might say the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What Peter is referring to is the Second Coming of our Lord

Matthew 25:31 ESV

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

2 Thessalonians 1:7–10 ESV

and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

This term for coming, parousia, is a Greek word that can literally mean presence but in the NT it becomes virtually a technical term for the arrival or the future coming of our Lord

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And the NT is clear that when Jesus comes again, He will judge the wicked, those who have not lived godly lives will be judged.

is clear in the two parables and in the last section that there will be those who expect to get into the Kingdom when Jesus comes again and yet they will be closed out of the Kingdom.

So Peter is aiming to make it clear that all of this is not a cleverly devised myth to try to control people.

And he gives two reasons

The first is seen here in v.16

Peter says we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

This apostolic teaching on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is anchored in history.

The Christian faith teaches the literal Second Coming of Jesus in glory and Peter is firm that this is something that cannot be compromised.

What is Peter referring to here?

v.17 and 18 tells us what he is referring to

Peter is clearly referring to the transfiguration.

Luke 9:28–36 ESV

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

The interesting thing about the transfiguration in Matthew, Mark, and Luke is the verse that precedes the transfiguration

Luke 9:27 ESV

But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

And listen to what Mark says

Luke 9.

Mark 9:1 ESV

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

Clearly the gospels are teaching us and Peter is teaching us here that the Transfiguration was a glimpse of the future glory of Christ when He comes again in all His glory and power.

In other words the Transfiguration is a manifestation of the coming of the Kingdom.

Even before Jesus goes to the cross God reveals the future glory that will belong to Jesus, the transfiguration was a prophecy of what was to come if you will.

This glory will be manifested publicly at Jesus Second Coming.

So first Peter says, listen I am telling you this is not a myth because I have seen glimpse of the future, I know that Jesus is coming and His Second Coming will be powerful, it will be glorious.

He will come again and it will be made known to all that He is the beloved Son of the Father, look at the end of v.17.

What does this remind you of?

Psalm 2 ESV

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2

He is the Son of , He is the beloved of the Father

II. The Prophetic Word (v.19-21)

Peter lists a second surety here in the passage.

Not only was Peter certain of the Second Coming of Jesus because of His eyewitness account but also because of the Prophetic Word which speaks of the powerful coming of the Messiah.

I studied v.19 over the past couple of days and I will admit to you that my understanding of this verse has changed.

discuss my previous understanding

But know i believe Peter is saying that the transfiguration confirms a reading of OT prophecy that would see the Messiah coming in power and glory.

Not that the transfiguration is what makes the prophecy of the OT firm or sure, but the transfiguration gives authority to the apostolic interpretation of OT prophecy about the Messiah coming in power and glory.

Passages like , ,

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This is a small sampling, but Peter is clear that the transfiguration is a proclamation to us that Jesus is the One who will fulfill these passages, that He is coming again in power and in glory.

Notice what Peter goes on to say in v.19

You will do well to take heed to these divinely inspired truths, you need to pay attention to the Scriptures so that you won’t be led astray.

This prophetic word has told us of what is to come and brothers and sisters, in the midst of so many voices that try to tell us what ultimate reality is we need to pay attention to the prophetic word.

The false teachers had deviated from the apostolic understanding of the prophetic word and they had done so to the destruction of their souls, Peter does not want the same to be said about the church and so he pleads with them to pay attention to the prophetic word.

This word is a lamp shining in a dark place

We are familiar with this language, right?

Psalm 119:105 ESV

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119.105

We don’t know about the end of history, we don’t know how things are going to unfold; that is we don’t know these things without Divine Revelation and God had made these things known to us.

God’s Word reveals to us the direction we are going.

God’s Word shines as a lamp in the darkness reminding us of the hope that we have if we are in Christ

He continues on v.20

V

here Peter seems to be attacking the opponents, arguing that they interpreted prophecy to support their own views, in doing so they resisted the proper interpretation given by the apostles

Peter is clear, the teaching of Jesus, the transfiguration, verifies the apostolic interpretation of OT prophecy but the false teachers questioned it.

Peter’s point

Schreiner

“Peter’s argument, then, is that the readers must pay attention to the prophetic word as it is interpreted by the apostles, for the OT prophecies are not a matter of personal interpretation but have been authoritatively interpreted by the apostles.”

We could also say this, Peter is clear that this apostolic interpretation did not ultimately come from them but it has a divine source.

Then v.21 provides the ground for v.20

Here we see that the origin or prophecy and the interpretation both come from God Himself.

Peter states this negatively and positively here

does not come from man

but men spoke from God...

Here we see one passage that teaches us the doctrine of Divine Inspiration.

The Scriptures are divinely inspired.

Application

Brothers and Sisters, we have the OT prophecy and we have the apostolic teaching (NT).

We do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place.

There are so many false teachings, so many philosophies, so many ideas that could lead us astray, that may lead us off the path to the celestial city.

Pay attention, take heed

What does that look like for us? How can you encourage others in that as well?