Changed By Truth

Introduction

Proposition

Tangible transformation is influenced largely by what we perceive as the truth. Tangible transformation is change that is not talked about, it is change that is walked about. Peter here again deals with transformative power of having sound core of beliefs or doctrine. Again, beliefs influence behaviors. Principals direct practice. Doctrine determines deeds. Peter’s main reason for writing this letter is to defend the claims of Christ against those who have perverted the Gospel as a license to live in a way that was antithetical to the teachings of Christ. Let me be clear, false teaching leads to false living. Sure, there are many Christians whose doctrine is sound but their lives are not. But it is much harder to live a sound life without a sound understanding of the gospel. Peter helps us to understand why an accurate understanding of the Bible is so important to those who are committed to trying to do better. Accepting the prophecy of Christ as truth influences transformation in a positive direction.

Antithesis

The issue is that we have trouble with accepting anything as truth, that is not tangible. When I say that we don’t accept it, I do not mean that Christians reject the truth. But I am inferring what Peter is implying, we do not with full conviction accept the truth with full conviction. I think we need a biblical definition of what Truth with a capital T is. Truth in this context is what has been foretold by the Old Testament prophets of Jesus’s coming, and what is being proclaimed by the apostles of his return. We’ve discussed this in previous sermons but we find the motivation for Peter’s defense against the return of Christ in 2 Peter 3:3-4. These false teachers taught that there would be no return of Jesus Christ, and because of that we now had a license to do as we pleased. I don’t believe there are many who are Christian who don’t believe that Jesus is coming back, the larger issue is that we don’t behave as if Jesus is coming back. I think much of this has to do with how we deal with truth as a culture. We can accept something as being a possibility, but we really don’t treat it as truth until we see something tangible. Many of us wouldn’t and won’t take the virus seriously until we’ve experienced the symptoms or lose someone we love. Although we know that it exists, we know that it is real, we behave as if it isn’t and that is the same as not believing it at all. This is the issue Peter wanted to help his readers with. Accepting the truth entails believing that it is true and behaving as if it is true. For them and for us it means believing that Christ is returning and behaving as if he’s coming back.

Relevant Question

So how does truth lead to transformation?

Thesis

That is the question that Peter wants us to wrestle with. The transformative power of the truth is found in it’s ability to influence our behavior. There are some hurdles on the way to arriving at a place in our spiritual maturity that will allow us to accept the prophecy of Jesus Christ in such a way that will transform us. Here are the three hurdles:

We need understand the value of this truth

We need to understand what the truth is

We need to understand where the truth comes from

Value Truth (16)

Peter first challenges us to value truth above mysteries and myths.

Understand Truth (17-19)

Peter secondly gives us a lesson as to exactly what it is we should accept and why.

Source Of Truth (20-21)

Peter concludes the paragraph defending the credibility of the prophecy of Christ by reminding us of where it comes from.

Conclusion

Throughout time the fate of god’s people have rested on their ability or lack thereof to respond to the words given to them through prophetic utterance. The list of examples is almost endless:

Noah said it’s gonna rain

Moses and the disobedient children of Israel

Samuel warns Israel of their desire for a king