II Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
There were many false teachers already in the first century. There were also many doubters of God’s Word. There is no good reason to doubt God’s Word. The devil deceived Eve to doubt God’s Word in Genesis 3. She was able to convince Adam to disobey God’s Word and he plunged humanity into sin.
In our text, God directed Peter to remind the readers that he was not following some made up stories. Mythology is not helpful. Fiction may make for good reading, but it is also not helpful. It takes the reader away from reality and puts him into a make-believe world.
Peter was not doing any of that here. He was telling the readers of the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ demonstrated His power in many ways, but the greatest way was in rising from the dead. He demonstrated His power over sin and the grave. He alone can save sinners.
Peter and the other apostles were eyewitnesses to His majesty. They saw Jesus prior to His crucifixion. They also saw Him after His resurrection. They spoke with Him and they ate with Him. They saw Him leave the earth as well.
In verse 17 we read that Jesus Christ received glory and honour from God the Father. Peter was referring back to the mount of transfiguration where he and John and James witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. Peter, the outspoken one, made some foolish suggestions at that time. He was directed to recount how God the Father spoke at that time and told them that Jesus Christ was His beloved Son and that He was well pleased with Him.
Peter declared that they, the three disciples heard that voice when they were up in the mount. He was not making this up.
In verse 19, Peter reminded the readers that we have a more sure word of prophecy than that which God the Father gave him on the mount of transfiguration. Peter also stated that we would do well to take heed to this more sure word of prophecy. It is important to listen to God’s Word. Stop entertaining the perversions, and get into to God’s Word.
If a person will accept God’s Word as the Truth, it is like a light that shines in a dark place. When you are out walking at night or in a strange place that is in darkness, you are wise to pay attention to a light that is shining. If that light is revealing a dangerous place, you are wise to avoid it. If that light is showing the way to move forward, then you are wise to follow that.
God’s Word is better than that light. God’s Word is the Spiritual Light that we need to show us the way of salvation and the way of blessing after salvation.
We need to pay attention to that Light until the day dawns. We need to pay close attention to God’s Word until the Lord returns.
In verse 20 Peter reminds us that there are some things that true saints know. It is not that true saints should know it. They do know it. We know that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.
According to Mormonism, Joseph Smith was alone when he claimed to have received his vision regarding the devil he saw. He claimed his vision was from God but those who are saved know better than that.
According to Islam, Mohammed received his visions while alone as well. We, those who are saved, know that if he saw visions, they did not come from God, but rather from the devil.
The writers of Scripture did not sit alone in a trance and get some enlightenment. Not only that, but the best commentary on the Scripture is the Scripture. As we read something in one area, we can look elsewhere and see where God gave some other writer something that helps us to understand our text. Scripture helps us to understand Scripture.
In verses 20-21 we are reminded that the Scriptures are prophecy. They are directly from God and given to men who were set apart for that task. Verse 21 tells us that holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. We are also told that these men did not all of a sudden come up with an idea to write some things down. They were moved by the Holy Ghost.
This moving was unique to them. A Christian man may be encouraged to write a book in our time. That book may contain Biblical truths in it, but it is not inspired of God. In most books written by men, there will be some theological error. Fallible men will err.
The men God chose were also fallible men; however, when they wrote the Scriptures that God assigned to them, He intervened and made sure they did not have any errors. He made sure they wrote exactly what He dictated to them.
In II Timothy 3:16 we have the word “inspiration”. The Greek word there means “God breathed”. When we read the King James Bible we have the words that God breathed, brought over into the English language. God watched over that translation work so that we can have confidence in His Word. That cannot be said for the perversions. The person that wants to defend the perversions is lacking in knowledge for sure. He or she is refusing to believe that God chose holy men that were moved by the Holy Ghost.
That is not a good place to be. When we refuse to believe God, we cannot have the confidence we must have in our daily lives. We have politicians in our country who will stand in front of the cameras and lie without shame. They will twist words and try to trap others they do not agree with. They are of a similar ilk to the lawyers of Jesus’ day. They are not interested in Truth. They are interested in pushing their wicked agenda. Some of them show their true intent by the smirk on their face as they talk. Others shout and demand laws be written to silence anyone who would dare to go against them. They particularly hate anyone who would use God’s Word which exposes their corruption.
God’s Word is quick and powerful. God’s Word exposes the rot that is in each one of us. God’s Word will bring conviction to the sinner’s heart. It is through God’s Word that sin is exposed. It is through God’s Word that saints are strengthened.
Peter knew this and he was directed by God to remind the saints that they must know this as well. The world makes a lot of noise. The devil is very subtle. However, God gives His children discernment. We need to listen to Him through His Word and He will guard us that we will walk in Truth.
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Those who take offence to such talk, prove they have a problem in their heart. We are looking at God’s Word. If that offends you, I would advise you to take that up with God. Don’t shoot the messenger. If you do, God will raise up others to continue to give His message. He loves you and wants you to know His peace. His peace is not found in a vacuum. It is found in knowing the true God through Christ Jesus.
Pastor Bartel