2 Peter – truth and false prophets

Sunday, 1 June

Taking a break from the current series going through Romans, we instead looked at 2 Peter during the morning service.

We often look at 2 Peter 1: 16-212 Peter 1: 16-21
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. in old time: or, at any time  

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 to remind ourselves of the truth of God’s word. Here the apostles were witnesses of Christ’s transfiguration on the mount and yet they said that we have “a more sure word of prophecy”, the word of God. It is quite an amazing thing to think that they counted the word of God as more trustworthy than the things they saw with their own eyes.

Similarly, we often look at 2 Peter 2:1-32 Peter 2:1-3
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV

2 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. pernicious ways: or, lascivious ways, as some copies read 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.  

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to warn ourselves against the dangers of false prophets. But how often do we actually connect these two thoughts together?

The chapters and verses in the Bible were not inserted by the authors. They were only added later for our ease of reference. But sometimes we make the mistake of thinking a particular thought ends in a chapter or a verse, instead of reading it like a letter.

These two pieces of scripture are a good example of this. Peter’s thought carries on from 2 Peter 1 and flows right through into 2 Peter 2.

It is the very fact that we have such a sure word of prophecy that allows us to effectively guard ourselves against false prophets. The only way we can discern that what one man teaches is truth and another false, is by testing it against the word of God. This is exactly what the Bereans did, and they were commended for it in Acts 17.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. [Act 17:11Act 17:11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV

11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.  

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KJV]

The Bereans tested Paul’s teaching against the Old Testament scriptures they had access to and found them to be truth. This is the way we all need to approach any teaching (even anything on this website) – by testing it against the word of God. This is the only way we can protect ourselves against those who seek to destroy us and “make merchandise” of us.

Evening Service

Lesson 19 of Dr Jim Berg’s series on Quieting a Noisy Soul was entitled “Overcoming Your Anxiety & Fear, Part 3.” During the session, we looked at ways to retrain our thoughts to eliminate negative “what if” and “if only” thoughts.

He also made the point that we often fail to fulfil our responsibility because we give into our fears. Fear can cripple us from being effective for God and in other aspects of our lives. Retraining our thoughts in this way can enable us to overcome these fears and have victory in our lives.

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