These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
II Peter 1:12-21
Review…
- Outline of II Peter…
- Chapter 1 – A REMINDER for the church of the POWER of God…
- Chapter 2 – A WARNING to the church about FALSE teachers…
- Chapter 3 – The HOPE of the church because of the RETURN of Jesus!
- KNOWLEDGE of Christ…
- We have been GIVEN – Grace and Peace by multiplied…
- We have been GIVEN – all things that pertain to life and godliness…
- We have been GIVEN – GREATEST promises – making us partakers of the divine nature!
- What we MUST do…
- SEVEN things we MUST [imperative] add to our faith…
- Virtue – Knowledge – Self-control – Perseverance – Godliness – Brotherly kindness – Love…
- If we are diligent to ADD these to our FAITH we will find we will NOT be barren – or unfruitful…
- If we are NOT diligent to add to our FAITH we will be shortsighted and blinded…
- Therefore – we are to make our calling and election sure – so that we NEVER stumble…
- And will have an ABUNDANT entrance in the Kingdom of God!
The source of Knowledge…
- 1st – Reminder… vs. 12-15
- 1st – Continual REMINDER… vs. 12
- For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things!
- For this REASON – in light of the importance of having the KNOWLEDGE of Christ…
- Not NEGLIGENT [future] to care about – be concerned…
- REMIND [ὑπομιμνῄσκω] – to CONTINUALLY [present] cause one to REMEMBER…
- Peter was determined both TODAY [present] and TOMORROW [future]
- To ALWAYS remind the believers about what Jesus had given to them!
- Though you know and are established in the present truth!
- KNOW [εἴδω] – know by SEEING…
- We already KNOW [perfect] because someone told us THE truth…
- THE truth [definite article] speaks of the KNOWLEDGE of Christ…
- SINCE we SEE the truth – we are ESTABLISHED [στηρίζω] – STRONG in the TRUTH!
- BUT – It is possible for us to forget what we KNOW [saw] – forget THE truth…
- And get confused and misguided by looking – living for something other than Jesus…
- For that reason – Peter was determined to REMIND us of THE truth!
- You may have noticed that the Bible often repeats itself…
- The same message given in many ways – it is ALL about Jesus – Hebrews 10:7
- The reason is because often we do not HEAR it – or does not SINK in – the FIRST time…
- The Bible tells us over and over in the HOPE we will eventually get it…
- It is too IMPORTANT for us not to get – we must REPEAT it as many times as needed!
- Philippians 3:1 –“I never get tired of telling you these things – I do it to safeguard your faith.”
- 2nd – Timely REMINDER… vs. 13-14
- Yes – I think it is right – as long as I am in this tent – to stir you up by reminding you…
- Knowing that shortly I must put off my tent!
- THINK [ἡγέομαι] – 28x in NT – to lead or go before…
- The RIGHT way for Peter to LEAD – as long as he was in this TENT [earthly body]
- STIR up [διεγείρω] – to continually [present] WAKE us up – by reminding us to KNOW…
- But Peter did not have a of TIME left – he would shortly put off his TENT [death]!
- Jesus told a PARABLE of a man who THOUGHT he had TIME…
- He planned to build big BARNS – get RICH – and have an EASY life…
- What he did NOT realize – was he was out of TIME!
- Luke 12:20 – “God said to him – Fool! This night your soul will be required of you.”
- We only have so much TIME to give – and we do NOT know when our time will run out…
- From the moment we are born – a clock starts ticking – counting down our days…
- The question becomes – what we DO with the TIME we are given…
- Do we waste our most valuable resource – our TIME – pursuing things in this life…
- Or do we think like Peter – use of our TIME is to remind others to WAKE up – KNOW Jesus!
- Just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me!
- Jesus had shown [declared] to Peter how he was going to die…
- John 21:18-19 – “I say to you – when you were younger – you girded yourself and walked where you wished. But when you are old – you will stretch out your hands – and another will [bind] you and carry you where you do not wish. This He spoke – signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this – He said to him – Follow Me.”
- History tells us that Peter was crucified upside down for his faith in Jesus…
- Upside down because he was not worthy to die in the same manner as His Lord!
- When we do NOT follow Jesus – we are FREE to do what we want…
- We can GO where we like – SAY what we think – and DO whatever we want to…
- But with every SIN we sink deeper into DEBT – a debt we have no way to REPAY…
- If we LIVE to please ourselves – we are destined to face the wrath of God!
- When we give our lives to Jesus – our lives are no longer ours to live as we choose…
- But we give our lives here – so we can receive eternal life with God in heaven!
- Romans 6:22 – “Having been set free from sin – and having become slaves of God – you have your fruit to holiness – and the end – everlasting life.”
- 3rd – Leaving a REMINDER … vs. 15
- I will be careful to ensure you always have a reminder of these things after my decease!
- Moreover – Peter would [future] work to ensure we ALWAYS have a REMINDER…
- After peter died [ἔξοδος] – he wanted to make sure OTHERS would take up the call…
- To CONTINUE to REMIND believers to grow in their KNOWELDGE of the Lord Jesus!
- All of us have a limited TIME where we can be used by the Lord…
- But we can train up others to take up the call – raise up our children to take our place…
- Our kids are not ours – they are on loan to us – and we are called to give them back…
- That is why we have the tradition of dedicating our kids – I Samuel 1:27-28
- The dedication is not for the children – they are babies – it is for the parents!
- We make the promise – vow to train up our kids to REMEMBER and KNOW the Lord!
- Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go…”
- 1st – Continual REMINDER… vs. 12
- 2nd – Firsthand knowledge… vs. 16-18
- 1st – Cunning fables… vs. 16
- We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you…
- The power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!
- FOLLOW [ἐξακολουθέω] – 3x NT [all in II Peter] – to be a disciple of…
- Cunning FABLES – [σοφίζω μῦθος] – wise myths – the ideas of men…
- The KNOWLEDGE Peter was passing on was not to be a DISCIPLE of the MYTHS of men!
- They wanted us to KNOW the POWER [δύναμις] and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!
- The WISDOM and MYTHS of men are constantly changing…
- When my father was a student – the earth was ONE billion years old – today is 20 billion…
- My Dad is not 19 billion years old – but the WISDOM of men is always changing!
- If we are depending on the WISDOM of this age – we will be like a ship tossed in the wind…
- Every new TREND or TRUTH – that comes along will blow us in a new direction!
- Instead we need to know about the POWER and RETURN of Christ…
- If we are founded on the Rock of Jesus – we will be immovable!
- Ephesians 4:14 – “Then we will no longer be immature like children. We will not be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.” [NLT]
- 2nd – Mount of transfiguration… vs. 16-18
- [We] were eyewitnesses of His majesty. He received from God the Father honor and glory…
- When such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: This is My beloved Son…
- In whom I am well pleased. And we heard this voice which came from heaven…
- When we were with Him on the holy mountain!
- EYEWITNESS [ἐπόπτης] – to see something FIRSTHAND…
- Peter saw the MAJESTY of Christ – when He was TRANSFORMED on the Holy Mountain…
- Matthew 17:1-2 – “Jesus took Peter – James – and John… led them up on a high mountain by themselves – and He was transfigured [μεταμορφόω] before them. His face shone like the sun – and His clothes became as white as the light.”
- The highest mountain in Israel – Mount Hermon – 2814 meters…
- You can see Mount Hermon from Caesarea Philippi – ½ day hike to the mountain!
- When they reached the top of the mountain – Jesus was TRANSFORMED…
- For just a moment Jesus revealed Himself in all His GLORY – God almighty…
- Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus there on the mountain [the Law and the Prophets]
- Peter was sleeping – Luke 9:32
- When woke up – he said let us make THREE tents…
- The idea being Peter wanted to stay right there – in the presence of the glory of God!
- Life if full of mountains and valleys – ups and downs – good times and bad…
- When we get to the mountaintop – we want to stay right there…
- Set up a couple of tents and just hang out in the good times…
- But in the hard times we have to depend on Jesus – it is where we grow more in Jesus!
- While Peter was still speaking – a cloud passed over them…
- Matthew 17:5 – “A voice came out of the cloud saying – This is My beloved Son – in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”
- Peter had SEEN the GLORY of Christ – and he HEARD the VOICE of the FATHER…
- The TRUTH he was sharing was NOT his opinion – he was an EYEWITNESS!
- If a police officer was taking a report from a WITNESS…
- Who HEARD from someone else – what MAY have happened – unreliable…
- But if the person was an EYEWITNESS – then their TESTIMONY is TRUE!
- When we talk about Jesus – do we share about the EXPERIENCE of others…
- If the SOURCE of our KNOWLEDGE is SECOND hand – it is not as reliable…
- But when we share about our own EXPERIENCE – FIRSTHAND – there is CONFIDENCE!
- Acts 4:20 – “We cannot help speaking about we have seen and heard.” [NIV]
- 1st – Cunning fables… vs. 16
- 3rd – Word of God… vs. 19-21
- 1st – Light in the darkness… vs. 19
- We have the prophetic word confirmed – which you do well to heed as a light in a dark place!
- Not only do we have the EYEWITNESS of the Apostles – we also have the WORD…
- THE [definite article] prophetic WORD – CONFIRMED [βέβαιος] – trustworthy
- Which we do well to HEED [προσέχω] – to pay always [present] pay attention to…
- Because it is like a LIGHT that shines in a DARK place…
- DARK [αὐχμηρός] only here NT – to be filthy or dirty [spiritually]!
- We pay special attention to the WORD – because it is our only LIGHT in a filthy world…
- The way that God CLEANS us – is by WASHING us in the water of the WORD…
- His Word CONVICTS us of our SIN – shows us right from wrong…
- If we feel like we are covered with the FILTH of this world – take a BIBLE bath!
- John 15:3 – “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”
- Until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts!
- We pay attention [heed] the WORD – until the day dawns [subjunctive]
- And the MORNING STAR rises [subjunctive] in THE [ὁ] heart!
- MORNING STAR [φωσφόρος] – only here NT – the one who brings the light!
- How long do we CLING to the WORD – until the LIGHT bringer arrives…
- There will NEVER be a TIME in this life when we no longer need to be in the WORD…
- Only when Jesus comes back – and the day dawns – speaking of an end to the DARK [sin]
- When Jesus does not just RULE in our hearts – He REIGNS over all creation!
- 2nd – No private interpretation… vs. 20
- How do we use the Word to be a light…
- Knowing this first – that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation!
- FIRST – we must KNOW [γινώσκω] how to INTERPRET the WORD…
- No prophecy of scripture is of PRIVATE [personal] INTERPRETATION [untying]
- The Bible is NOT open for PERSONAL interpretation – it is NOT open to our OPINION…
- There is ONE correct INTERPRETATION – it is the ONE God intended…
- There are several ways that people can MISHANDLE the Word!
- FIRST [and most common] mistake – taking a passage out of context…
- Luke 4:9 – Satan quotes from the Bible to tempt Jesus – Psalms 91:11-12
- Satan does not MISQUOTE the Psalm – what he does is take it out of CONTEXT…
- NOWHERE in the Psalm does it suggest that we should TEMPT the Lord!
- Most ERRANT doctrines – many of the CULTS – and untold CONFUSION about the Word…
- Comes from a MISHANDLING of the Word – by taking it out of CONTEXT…
- CONTEXT is critical when it comes to properly INTERPRETING the Bible…
- We need to be WISE – get into the WORD – see if what is said is TRUE!
- Acts 17:11 – “Search[ing] the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things [are] so.”
- SECOND mistake – allegorizing the Word…
- ALLEGORY – means to have a HIDDEN or SECOND meaning…
- When Paul wrote to the Galatians – he told them about Mount Sinai and Mount Zion…
- Galatians 4:24 – “Which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants.”
- SYMBOLIC [ἀλληγορέω] – they are an ALLEGORY…
- The Bible does use ALLEGORY – but RARELY – and when it does it tell us!
- The use of allegory in teachings is a common practice in many churches today…
- Unfortunately it is a VERY dangerous way to interpret the Bible…
- IGNORING the interpretation of a passage – teachers seek a DEEPER meaning…
- ABANDONING boundaries – the passage is left to mean ANYTHING the teacher wants…
- This had led to many FALSE teachings – HERESIES being taught in churches…
- The key to PROPER Bible interpretation – take the text LITERALLY!
- THIRD mistake – not teaching the whole Bible…
- If we only teach certain TOPICS – or certain BOOKS – we miss out on all of the Word…
- We will tend to teach on IDEAS we like – and overlook ones we DISLIKE…
- But every part of the Bible is INSPIRED – all of it is NECESSARY…
- By teaching through the WHOLE Bible – book by book – chapter by chapter…
- We learn ALL of the Word – we LEARN all God wants us KNOW – Acts 20:27
- 3rd – Not by the will of man… vs. 21
- For prophecy never came by the will of man…
- The Bible is NOT – the WILL [θέλημα] of MEN…
- It is not a BOOK written by MEN about who they think GOD is…
- It is a BOOK written by GOD to MEN to let them know who He is!
- Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit!
- MOVED [φέρω] – to be CARRIED
- If someone sent you a TEXT message – we would NOT thank the PHONE…
- It was just the TOOL that CARRIED the message to us!
- HOLY men spoke as they were MOVED – by the Spirit of God!
- II Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…”
- INSPIRED [θεόπνευστος] – God [θεός] breathed [πνέω]…
- How do we KNOW – the Bible is NOT the WORDS of men – it is the BREATH of GOD…
- The incredible HISTORY of the WORD…
- No book has been more attacked – and stood the test of time…
- No book has been translated into more languages [1000+]
- No book has been more published – over 6 billion copies!
- The UNITY of the WORD…
- 66 books – written over 1500 years – 40 authors – 3 Languages…
- Although there are HUNDREDS of topics – it is ALL about Jesus…
- ONE problem – Sin – ONE Solution – the Savior [from Genesis to Revelation]!
- The discovery of Archeology…
- No archeological discovery has ever CONTRADICTED the Bible…
- Scores of archeological findings have been made which CONFIRM the Bible…
- HISTORY book are constantly changing – SCIENCE books get revised every year…
- Isaiah 40:8 – “The grass dies – the flower fades – but the word of our God stands forever.”
- Therefore – study the Word of God!
- II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved… rightly dividing the word of truth.”
- We need to be REMINDED how important it is to STUDY the WORD…
- NOT that God wants us to have a diploma from a seminary…
- But it is to our advantage to be STUDENTS of the WORD…
- Because we want to make sure we are living in the KNOWLEDGE of Christ…
- Because we never know when you might have an opportunity to SHARE about Christ…
- So we get to know our Bible – ALWAYS ready – prepared to stand up for Jesus!
- I Peter 3:15 – “If you are asked about your hope – always be ready to explain it.”
- 1st – Light in the darkness… vs. 19