The Sure Prophetic Word

THE SURE PROPHETIC WORD
2 PETER 1:16-21

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
In the name of Jesus:
It is attributed to Benjamin Franklin that he said that nothing in life is for certain, with the exception of death and taxes. In our experience, we know that this saying is true. Death is all around us. We have seen and have experienced the death of loved ones and each of us prepare for our own inevitable death. Death is certain because the wages of sin is death. Death has spread to all people. No matter where you live, no matter how you have lived, no matter who you are, you will face death, the death of those in your family and your friends, and your own death. It is inevitable. And we know that as citizens, each of us experience the certainty of paying taxes. In January we received in the mail tax forms from the city, state, and federal government which are to completed and postmarked by April 15. And we pay taxes in different ways and forms throughout our lives, taxes on our property, taxes on what we purchase, taxes on what we inherit. We are taxed to death, but taxes are NOT the cause of our death, sin is. Throughout our lives, death and taxes are certain.
But there is a greater certainty for all of us. This certainty is expressed and revealed in our text for today, where the Apostle Peter tells us that we have the sure and certain prophetic Word of God, that is, we have the certainty of God’s Holy Word!
When Peter writes this letter, he is nearing the end of his life. he is now an old man and was about to die. He looks back over his life since he became a disciple of Jesus and acknowledges that he had learned a lot. He and his fellow disciples had many great experiences, but his faith, the faith of those who follow Christ IS NOT BASED ON EXPERIENCE, but rather the sure and prophetic Word of God.
To be certain, Peter had stories to tell. Remember how he was called to follow Jesus? He had been out fishing and was exhausted because he did not even get a bite from a fish. Jesus tells Peter to let his net down on the other side of the boat. Peter had been fishing all night, and had already let down his net on both sides of the boat but following Jesus’ command, Peter let down his net and came up with a net bursting full of fish. Jesus called Peter to follow Him where Jesus would make Peter a fisher of men.
Peter witnessed Jesus touching his mother in law who was sick with fever (that is right, Peter, the first pope was married, so much for priests not marrying!) And having his mother in law healed. He saw the raising of the dead; Peter saw many great events and had many terrific experiences. And so, Peter relates one specific incident that he never forgot.
Peter, James, and John went up the Mount with Jesus, and there on the Mount, before their very eyes, they witnessed Jesus transfigured, He was changed so that His appearance was as lightening, Peter and the others saw the God-man Jesus in all of His glory. Listen to what Peter says: “we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.”
Yes, Peter had so many great experiences. One of the greatest experiences was on that holy mountain, holy not because of the location, but because of what happened on that mount. The eternal Son of God in human flesh revealed to sinners His glorious majesty. Peter saw with his own eyes Jesus in His heavenly glory. He heard with his own ears the voice of the Father speaking from heaven saying: This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. These events that Peter saw as an eyewitness only served to verify, to confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt that what God moved holy men to write in the Scriptures about what He was going to do was completed, was confirmed in Jesus. The Scriptures prophesized, God predicted that He would send a Savior who would do battle with sin, Satan and the certainty of death. God kept His Word, He fulfilled that Word, by sending His Son Jesus, who was born of the Virgin Mary, who lived to do the will of the Father, and who died as the perfect Sacrifice, for Jesus was and is the very Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Peter and his fellow disciples saw God work in Jesus Christ, they saw that Word fulfilled and saw Jesus’ actual glory and lived to tell about it. And that is why Peter writes, that you also may know that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the Living God, and that by believing in Jesus’ perfect life, and shed blood on the cross, by trusting in Jesus for salvation you are forgiven, you are His child, you are His beloved.
Peter points to this Word, the Scripture, which is given to us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Bible is not just man’s word; it is the very Word of the living God! Peter writes, reminding that he did not follow, nor did he proclaim “16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” nor did Peter give this word due to his own understanding or interpretation because he writes that “no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
The Word, which is absolutely certain and which came to us under the impulse of the Holy Spirit, causes us to lift up our heads, to Jesus, the eternal Son of God who came down from heaven, not to be glorified, but to serve sinners. That is why Jesus, while on the Mount of Transfiguration, came down from the mount. Even though Peter said, “it is good for us to be here” Jesus didn’t remain transfigured, rather, He came down from the mount, came down from His glory, to continue to live His life for sinners. Christ came down from heaven and came down from that Mount in humility so that He would give His perfect life up on the cross of Calvary for the sacrifice for all sin. By Christ’s perfect life and by His shed blood your sins are forgiven! This is God’s sure and prophetic Word to you this day, in that even though you are a sinner, Christ died for you! His blood cleanses you from all sin! God has declared this from heaven and He has sealed this with an oath. God has punished sin for sinners in Christ. For the will of God is this, not that Jesus would come down from heaven to be served by sinners but to serve sinners in giving His life as a payment for all sin.
There remains on earth false prophets who attempt to mislead Christians. False teachers who call into question the truths of God’s Word. False teachers who point to man’s ability to live a life which is based on what the sinner can do for God, rather than what God has done for the sinner. We live in an information age, where there is a plethora of material on how people can become more like God, or how a follower of Christ can be more successful in their daily life. What is a Christian to think, where is the follower of Christ to turn?
Dear friends, the Apostle Peter had those very same concerns when he wrote this letter. This is WHY he wrote this letter, to address these questions and concerns. Peter’s instruction is to the point: don’t base your life on your experience or on what the intellectually wise ones of the world say. Place your faith in Christ. And where do we learn about Christ? How does He come to us? Not by our works, our emotions, or religious experiences. God has come to us in the Person and Work of Christ. He speaks to us and comes to us this day and everyday in His sure and certain Word. And in this Word He gives faith and strength as we look for Him to come again in glory.
Until that time when Christ comes again, Peter urges all of us to place our faith and base our lives on the sure and certain Words of Holy Scripture, for the Scriptures bring us Jesus. The Scriptures have been written to share with us the salvation that is ours in Christ. This is why we need to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest His Word, for that Word is certain and true and brings us Christ.
In the midst of all sorts of uncertainties in life, there remains God’s Gift of His Sure and certain Word. This Word reveals to us the reality of our sinfulness but also brings the blessings of forgiveness and salvation through God’s Gift of His Son Jesus Christ. His Word is absolutely certain and gives not only faith in Christ but confidence as you daily walk with Christ. So turn to that Word, receive the strength that God gives through it, for God’s Word is the lamp for your feet and a light for your path.
Amen