Second Peter 1:19-21
I. Introduction:
A. Having already given evidence that Jesus was not a cunningly devised fable (II Peter 1:16-18), Peter gives more evidence in what we are going to study.
- God expects us to be evidence seeking people (I Thessalonians 5:21).
- He expects us to search the Scriptures (John 5:39 and Acts 17:10-11) AND use proper reasoning skills (Hebrews 5:14).
- By proper reasoning skills I simply mean not convoluted human reasoning (Proverbs 3:5-7, Proverbs 16:25, and Colossians 2:6-8) or self-justification (II Corinthians 10:18).
- To be unmovable (I Corinthians 15:58).
- Confident until the end (Hebrews 3:14).
II. Body: II Peter 1:19-21
A. More sure [stable; firm] word of prophesy as prophesies were/are considerable evidence. Notice how Jesus and Peter used such evidence (Luke 24:13-27 and Acts 3:11-26).
- When looking at Jesus, all the words of the prophets concerning Him had to be fulfilled (Luke 24:44).
- The evidence - according to the Scriptures (I Corinthians 15:1-4).
- Seeing the difference between the true light and the false (Isaiah 8:20).
- Until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts (II Corinthians 4:1-6). Simple: Just think of the dawn of day and the sunrising.
- Understanding why we need to discern the difference between light and darkness (II Corinthians 6:14-7:1 and Ephesians 5:6-11).
- Sometimes one receiving a divine revelation/vision had no clue of the meaning of what they saw (II Corinthians 12:1-4).
- They didn’t understand or know all things revealed to them (Matthew 13:17).
- Some things were seen as afar off; not in focus (Hebrews 11:13).
- Not having to take thought (Mark 13:11).
- Literally, by the Spirit even in the first century when the mysteries of old were revealed (Ephesians 3:1-11).
III. Conclusion: Our next lesson: II Peter 2:1