Slides: Our Lamp in Dark Places (2 Peter 1:12-21)

May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out. (Galadriel to Frodo) 

¹² Therefore I intend always to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. ¹³ I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, ¹⁴ since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

 
Reminder

• We need reminders to stir us up, even if we already know the truth.
• Peter knew his life would soon end, so he wrote ongoing reminders for us.
• Scripture helps us in every era, facing any challenge, to recall God’s truth.

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. (3:1-2)

 
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, 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.

 
Eyewitnesses

• Apostles made known Jesus’ coming again in power and majesty.
• Apostles were not mythmakers but eyewitnesses who saw and heard.
• Transfiguration previewed Parousia: Jesus’ majesty when he returns.

 
Promise of seeing

“There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. (Matthew 16:28-17:1)

 
Shining Son

And he was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus… a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.  Listen to him!” (Matt 17:2-5)

 
Eyewitnesses

• Apostles made known Jesus’ coming again in power and majesty.
• Apostles were not mythmakers but eyewitnesses who saw and heard.
• Transfiguration previewed Parousia: Jesus’ majesty when he returns.

 
¹⁹ 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, 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.

 
Scripture confirmed

• Jesus’ glory confirms OT prophecies.
• The same Spirit who inspired OT prophets also inspired NT writers
• NT apostles show true meaning of OT and reveal the real Jesus.
• Scriptures remain trustworthy even if twisted by ignorant, unstable people.

 
Scripture twisters

Our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. (3:15-16)

Light amid darkness
Pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place.

• Truth amid lies.
• Good amid evil.
• Life amid death.
• Glory amid shame.

Sunrise

… until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

• Scripture is Jesus’ light in our night.
• The Day of the Lord ends the night.
• When Jesus appears, his full light will shine around us and within us.