2 Peter 1:16-21

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.  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,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.  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, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.  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 study of theology there are many different areas of study and a large diversity is the ways different people land on those different subjects.  Some of them are minor issues while others are vital.  Clearly, the more vital the subject, the more crucial it is that the body of Christ be in agreement.  This passage presents what could be argued to be two of the most important areas of theology.  A rejection of either one of these doctrines can cause all other areas of theology and our faith to crumble.

THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST: The coming of Christ to earth is not some sort of myth as many today claim it to be.  Jesus was not just a good man or inspirational leader.  He came in power, glory, and majesty.  He is the Son of God.  He is God.  Peter was an eye witness to the person and work of Christ and he was present at the mount of transfiguration where the Father declared the glory of Jesus in an audible voice.  The idea that God would take on flesh and become a man as Jesus did would be ludicrous to Greek thinking.  Both the deity and humanity of Christ are essential aspects of the doctrine of Christology.  If Jesus was not God and man, He sacrifice was of no avail and we are still in our sins.  Understanding the identity of Jesus is essential to our faith and all other doctrines rest upon this fundamental truth that in the person of Jesus, God became a man while retaining His deity and humanity.

THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE: The coming of Jesus as Messiah was foretold in the Scriptures and He fulfilment of prophecy demonstrates the supernatural nature of the Word of God.  The Bible is not just any other book just as Jesus was not just any other man.  Scripture is inspired by God and is the standard for truth.  The Holy Spirit moved in the lives of the human authors in such a way that what they recorded is the very Word of God.  God has chosen to reveal Himself, His plan of redemption, our own natures, His future plans, and truth itself through the Bible.  He did not leave us in the dark this fallen sinful world groping around trying to find a way out.  He inspired the Word of God that shines a brilliant light for all of us to see.  We can know who God is, who we are, and what God requires of us from Scripture with full confidence of its absolute accuracy.  It is our responsibility to study it, understand it, and obey it.  When Christ returns, we will receive even greater revelation and a deeper understanding of His glory.  But all that Scripture reveals is true and right.

APPLICATION: Thank God for sending Jesus as a man to pay the price for our sin.  Trust and praise Jesus for being fully God and fully man.  Study the Word of God with full assurance of its authority and authenticity.  Reject the ideas of relativism and recognize the Bible as the ultimate standard of truth.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hebrews 10:32-39

But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated.     For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.     Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.     For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.     For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”     But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Endurance...
Read more

James 3:5-12

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!     And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.     For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.     With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.     From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.     Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?     Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Medications come with warning labels about negative side effects they might cause...
Read more

1 Peter 3:7

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. It is important to remember the general theme of this section is submission.  The previous section was on wives submitting to their husbands.  This section is on husbands submitting to their wives.  Submission has nothing to do with inferiority and leadership has nothing to do with superiority.  According to Scripture, leaders are called to serve.  Service is an act associated with submission. HOW HUSBANDS SUBMIT TO THEIR WIVES: The two words Peter uses to describe how husbands are to submit to their wives are understanding and honor.  There are stark differences between men and women.  We look at the world a little differently and think about things differently.  Men will often have a difficu...
Read more