“More Fully Confirmed”

Monday, February 26, 2024

BIBLE READING: 2 Peter 1-2

"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..." (2 Peter 1.17-18)

I suspect this was among the most definitive events of faith Peter would experience. However, Peter doesn’t expect that to be the basis for our beliefs. As he recounts this event, he does so as a contrast.: “we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention…” (2 Peter 2.19). To Peter, scripture is a greater experience that more fully confirms God’s will (2 Peter 1.19-21). That is because Scripture is the documented expression of God’s words that is unchanging and unaltered by time and opinions (see Psalm 119.89; 2 Timothy 3.16-17; 1 Peter 1.25).

We exist in a time where truth is presented as relative. That has appeal to our selfish egos, but when played out over time, it only creates instability and chaos. Simply put if truth becomes subjective, based only on feelings and experiences, life becomes meaningless. Practically this means we must guard ourselves against wrong ways of thinking. In our post-Covid era we must be more aware than ever as we have access to information like never before. There are millions of opinions coming from seemingly convincing sources that can deceive us. None of them front as a threat but can cause serious damage to the body of Christ. As Peter continues his letter, he warns about how to identify wrong sources of truth and false teachers.

• They are subjective (2 Peter 2.1). Destructive heresies are more than just mistruths. They are opinions, propelled by conviction. They create distinction in ways that God does not. Subjectivity breeds division and discord – things not from God (James 3.13-18)
• They deny authority (2 Peter 2.1). The gospel message is that Jesus is King and Lord. Someone may talk about Jesus, but if their message is not making him famous, be careful. A false message results in glory for the man.
• They are bold and self-willed (2 Peter 2.10). False messages have no substance so they must rely on bullying techniques and exertion of power to prop them up. The gospel is powerful without our efforts. We must not be intimidated, but wise enough to see through any teaching that lives off bold assertions and strong personalities.

I’m not suggesting we get in the business of calling out false teachers. That is nothing to be flippant about. We must be thoughtful and deliberate before making any judgments. But we must not be naïve. False teachers are still a problem in our day. Establishing a true baseline for belief is more critical than ever. Thankfully God has made truth understandable and accessible for everyone (1 Corinthians 1.18-31). His word is unchanging and verifiable (Proverbs 30.5). Not only is that good news for us, but that is what everyone really wants: a solid place to stand. By God’s grace, we can know the truth and it can set us free even when the rest of the world is crashing around.

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