1:12-15
Peter, as an apostle, urged his right and need to remind his readers of these qualities even though they were established in their faith. (12) He knew that his time was about up, he would put off his body soon. (14) And, he not only wanted to remind them while he was alive, he wanted them to know them well enough to recall them after his death. He wanted them to continue pursuing the virtuous life as long as they lived.
This is why we listen to the same sermons repeatedly and read the same scripture constantly. We want them ingrained in our memories so we easily recall them.
Eyewitness Testimony
1:16-18
One reason Peter would make every effort to teach them correct doctrine was that he was an eyewitness to Christ’s majesty.
The false teachers with whom Peter battled did not believe the Jesus would return. In addition to being false, this teaching removed the sense of urgency in living the virtuous Christian life in view of his return. We see this in verse 4 of chapter 3: “where is the promise of his coming?”.
Peter wanted to provide proof and authority for his teaching the Christ would return and in teaching the need to live accordingly. Peter appealed to the Transfiguration, where he witnessed the majesty of Christ.
The Transfiguration is that event when Jesus took Peter, James and John up onto a mountain to pray. Jesus’ appearance changed and his clothing became a dazzling white. The Father declared Jesus to be his beloved Son. The three disciples saw his glory. This even is recorded in Matthew 17.
First of all, Peter stated that the Apostles (“we”) did not devise clever myths when the told the power of Jesus and his return, or his “powerful return”. This is what the false prophets accused them of. Instead, he said, they were eyewitnesses to his majesty. Majesty is another word for glory. They also heard the voice of the Father declaring that “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. (17)
Peter saw the Transfiguration as a type of Jesus’ return in glory. The Transfiguration occurred right after Jesus taught the disciples that he would return in glory. (Matthew 16:25) Jesus received glory and honor at the Transfiguration: glory in the change in his appearance and honor in the stated approval of the Father.
Jesus later reiterated that he will come “in his glory” (Matthew 25:31)
The Transfiguration was history, not myth, and so the Parousia, the return of Christ, is also a truth and not a myth.
The Truth of Christ’s 2nd Coming Is Also Based on the Prophetic Word
1:19-21
Peter’s first argument for the second coming was the Transfiguration. The second argument for it is the prophetic word, the Old Testament, as interpreted by the apostles. (19)
We must pay attention to the Word because it is a lamp shining in a dark place. It is the light for our path. We must pay attention to it until the Lord returns.
The Lord gives the believer the ability to understand his word. “For God, who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ”. (2 Corinthians 4:6)
When Jesus returns, the prophetic word will be fulfilled. He will give us his light, increasing our understanding. His light as the Living Word will outshine the light of the Prophetic Word. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
That being true, the Prophetic Word is still sure and what we look to until Christ returns. Peter emphasized that no prophecy of Scripture came from someone’s own interpretation. This is likely a criticism of the false prophets who referred to Scripture, but interpreted it to fit their own ideas. Their ideas came from the will of man. Because of that, they went against the apostolic teaching and interpretation.
Rather, prophecy came as men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (21) God gave the Word and the interpretation by the apostles.
Because of this, we can trust the Scripture and believe the things it teaches are from God.
Because of this we accept the teaching of the apostles as recorded in the Scripture as the correct teaching of Jesus and the correct interpretation of the Old Testament.
We do not invent new interpretations that contradict the Scripture.
False Teachers Will Come
2:1-3
As false prophets came to Old Testament Israel, false teachers will arise within the church. This is why believers must be reminded of the importance of a godly life and of the truth of Jesus’ second coming. This is why they needed, and we need, to understand and hold to the truth of the Bible, the prophetic word.
False teachers usually come from within the church, not without, although they may eventually leave the church.
They will secretly bring in destructive heresies: they do not announce that their teaching is a heresy. Sometimes they are simply ignorant. Sometimes they want attention. Sometimes they think they are smarter than the apostles.
Heresies are destructive - they destroy faith and faithfulness.
Legalism leads to reliance on works and a diminished appreciation of grace.
Antinomianism (teaching there is no moral law) leads to immorality.
Gnosticism (belief in secret knowledge) leads to ignorance of the Bible & inserting other religious ideas into Christianity.
Some will even deny Jesus, the master who bought (redeemed) them. They will deny:
(1) his divinity;
(2) his exclusive ability to save;
(3) his resurrection; and
(4) his substitutionary, penal atonement.
Many follow sensuality. (2) How many so called Christian leaders have we seen fall as a result of this? Peter did they blaspheme the way of truth.
If you act as bad as the pagans, or worse, you cause them to believe the gospel is false. It is similar to God telling the Israelites that, because of the way they acted, God’s name was profaned among the Gentiles.
Peter also said false teachers exploit others in greed, using false words. We have many that do that today, telling people to give money to them and that, in return, God will make the giver rich.
How do we detect heresies? By knowing the truth:
-by study of the Word
-by sound teaching of the Word.
If you know what is true, you can detect what is false!
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