More fully confirmed...2 Peter 1:16-21...We see humble Peter again!


One of the greatest transformations, in my opinion, of Peter's life is the shift from pride to humility.  He was known for "putting his foot in his mouth" on many occasions around Jesus but Acts through the end of the Bible shows a different Peter.  Not perfect but definitely keeping Jesus at the forefront of his speaking and acting.  We have another example of this in our passage today.

Peter wants his audience of persecuted 1st century Christians to be very aware of their salvation planned by God, provided by Jesus, and being polished by the Holy Spirit.  He also wants them to be "living out" their salvation until the Lord returns or they met the Lord through physical death, whichever comes first.  Peter is concerned with a problem that we will be introduced to in chapter 2 that they have a correct and precise knowledge of God and Jesus.  One more thing is added to this list that needs to be highlighted by Peter to his audience.

Peter is an eyewitness of Jesus' movements, miracles, transfiguration, resurrection and ascension.  He and the other Apostles are witnesses that will die in the faith, not recanting on the fact that Jesus did rise from the dead.  He was on the holy mountain when Jesus was visited by Elijah and Moses and he also heard the voice from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." This experience must have been powerful to behold.  He was also given the instruction from Jesus not to speak of it until after Jesus had been raised from the dead.  It is now about 30 years after that event.

It is amazing to me that Peter says, "And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, 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" (2 Peter 1:19, ESV).  Wow, there is something that is superior to what his own eyes have seen and his ears have heard.  Peter's humility is seen as he elevates the Word of God over his own experiences.

This is something we don't do well in our day.  "I will believe it when I see it" is our mantra and it does work in some situations but when it comes to God, we are given faith from Him to believe in something we haven't seen.  What we have more sure than our God given senses that can fail us at times or be overwhelmed to take everything in are the very words of God that have come from Him and by Him.  I think my favorite cross reference to this passage is and I will end this post with this, 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (LSB).

And for this reason we also thank God without ceasing

that when you received the word of God which you heard from us,

you accepted it not as the word of men,

but for what it really is, the word of God,

which also is at work in you who believe.


Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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