Jesus is “The More Sure Word of Prophecy”!
Prophetic Word Made More Sure
(From the pen of Dr. Phil Newton of the Pillar Network. Used by permission.)
“So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:16–21).
Everything rests on divine revelation. The hope of life in Christ, now and forever, depends upon God revealing Himself to us in His Son through the revelation of Holy Scripture. For this reason, as evangelical believers—those trusting in the gospel of Christ alone—the authority of God’s Word serves as the foundation of our faith in Christ. God has spoken in His Word, revealing Himself with finality in Jesus Christ so that we do not await further revelation or need latter-day prophets to reveal the way of God (Peter wrote against them in chapter 2). Peter explained that the gospel message and the apostolic word he declared as God’s revelation was “more sure.” Consider why the revelation in the gospel is more sure.
(1) The apostles presented an eyewitness account of Jesus Christ as God’s Son, the Savior. Instead of “cleverly devised tales,” as with false prophets, the apostles saw the majesty of Jesus Christ. John put it, “We saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father” (John 1:14). They saw far more than the multitudes who witnessed Jesus healing the blind, lame, and leper, delivering the demonized, feeding the multitudes with the few loaves and fish, and raising the dead. They listened to Him speaking, saw Him walk on water, witnessed Him commanding the sea and the wind, and at the transfiguration, they heard the Father’s voice declaring, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased.” Here Jesus “received honor and glory from God the Father . . . and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven,” Peter explained.
(2) For this reason, the apostles’ witness coupled with the many prophetic words of revelation recorded in the Old Testament. Peter said, due to what the apostles saw and heard, “So we have the prophetic word made more sure.” Hundreds of years of the prophetic revelation concerning “the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” received visual and verbal confirmation by the apostolic witness. What David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and the rest of the prophets foretold, the apostles saw and heard firsthand. For that reason, Peter tells his readers, “You do well to pay attention” to this apostolic and prophetic revelation and eyewitness account of Jesus Christ, “as to a lamp shining in a dark place.” That darkness of the mind and heart continues until the lamp of divine revelation written in Scripture comes to light by the Holy Spirit’s illuminating work in the mind and heart. Paul compares this divine work of the Spirit to God declaring in Genesis one, “Let there be light” (2 Cor. 4:1–6). When this inner revelation of the faithful record of Scripture comes to light, then “the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.” Here is the experience of regeneration and conversion, as we’re convinced that Jesus really is God’s Son who came to die and rise again, and so we believe in Him.
(3) Peter affirms, “No prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation.” In other words, we’re not given room with the Holy Spirit inspired revelation to decide on our own what to make of the Word. Rather, we read the prophetic revelation of Jesus the Messiah, we then hear the authenticating eyewitness revelation of the apostles, and then we believe. God has given us His Word to experience His life in Christ. That’s the prophetic word made more sure!
Brought to you by The Inverted Christian @ https://www.invertedchristian.com/post/have-you-thought-about-your-worship-lately