The Firm Foundation of God's Word

(2 Peter 1:16-21, 2:1-2)

What happened in Washington at the Capital on January 6, 2021 is absolutely inexcusable. The actions of both political parties over the past 4 years have demonstrated that many true believers are dangerously partnering with a political system that does not follow Christ or seek to embrace His salvation or his Lordship. When the Bible tells us the words of Jesus, “My kingdom is not of this world” we see Jesus telling us that no earthly political movement will never have his support since the politics of men seeks to build a kingdom that is not the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus was clear: The bible says, do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. How many of us think that this verse should only be applied to marriage?

In the same way Jesus also gave another clear command: the bible says to come out from among them and be separate. The bible says that light and darkness are not to be mixed together and true followers of Christ are children of the light.

Several days ago we saw many of those principles thrown under the bus of bad theology. When the Lord clearly says something that is clear and makes sense but we choose to ignore it, a theological statement is being made. And that statement is that for many who claim to be Christians, their feelings have greater authority than the word of God. Their faith is in their feelings instead of the word of God being the unchanging foundation of their faith.

Let me give you an example:

WSJ - One Trump Fans Descent into the Mob Attack

On Doug Sweet's first trip to the U.S. Capitol, as a 13-year-old in 1975, he tilted his head back, gazed up at the glistening white dome and thought it was the most awesome thing he had ever seen. On his second trip to the Capitol, he joined a mob of Trump supporters who smashed their way into the seat of the U.S. Congress, and finished his visit handcuffed facedown on the floor. The 45-year journey between those two visits was marked by bright idealism and belief in dark conspiracies, by a solitary existence and a newfound fraternity with those convinced there is no way Joe Biden beat Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Rioters had overrun Capitol Police and forced their way into the building. Mr. Sweet could hear the thuds and see the smoke from flash-bang grenades going off inside. He says he hesitated. He says he felt the need to go inside to share his views with Congress but wanted to consult God first. He prayed aloud: "Lord, is this the right thing to do? Is this what I need to do?" He says he felt God's hand on his back, pushing him forward. "I checked with the Lord," he says. "I checked with Him three times. I never heard a 'No.'"

Faith and Feelings

The Certainty of God's Word

     This morning I want to address the confusion that exists around the role of faith and feelings. Many believers think that feelings are the affirmation or proof of faith. Nothing could be more wrong. While Jesus expressed the full range of human emotions, only He was the sinless God man. His anger was righteous anger. His grief was expressed with genuine sorrow. His acts of love were perfectly patient and kind and pure. When Paul describes perfect love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 there is only one person who has modeled and given such love - our Savior Jesus. To claim otherwise is to boast in a way that 1 Corinthians 13:4 condemns.      Contrary to this is the firm foundation of God's word. The Bible is trinitarian in its origin. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the authors of the Bible. This means that the Holy Spirit never works contrary or outside of the word of God. The illuminating power of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 2:14 is not the power to understand God's will, it is the power to spiritually understand and apply the word of God which alone reveals the will of God. As Psalm 119:105 tells us, "Your (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Any other source of light is not from God.

1 and 2 Peter were written by Peter the apostle. Peter was the leader of Jesus’ apostles. His original name was Simon and he came from a family of fishermen. Andrew was peter’s brother, and it was Andrew who introduced Peter to Jesus.

He became a prominent leader in the early church and while in the gospels we see a man who was impulsive and sometimes reckless, in the Book of Acts he was a bold proclaimer of the the resurrected Jesus.

We could spend all of our time talking about Peter in the gospels and the book of Acts but I’d like you to see in 1 Peter his comment on the word of God

1 Peter 1:23–25 ESV

23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Now 2 Peter is also written by Peter but it is more similar in its apocalyptic approach to Jude than to 1 Peter. In fact many scholars wonder if 2 Peter borrowed from Jude or if Jude borrowed from 2 Peter.

The theme of 2 Peter is to address false teachers. We do not know where it was written or if it was originally written to a specific group of believers. Since Nero died in 68Ad and Peter died under Nero’s persecution, we know that Peter wrote 2 Peter before 68AD.

Notice this morning what Peter has to say about the word of God:

1. Scripture is not myth but historical fact based on eyewitness accounts.

Peter refers to the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17

The humiliation of the the Son of God in his enfleshment, his incarnation

2. We have something more sure, the prophetic word

3. It is from the Holy Spirit who does not work contrary to his word.

4. False teachers follow their sensuality, their feelings

Two hymns

How firm a foundation ye saints of the Lord, is built for your faith in his excellent word, what more can he say than to you he hath said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled.

Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so, little ones to him belong, they are weak but he is strong

yes jesus loves me, the bible tells me so.