Martin Luther once said, “We need to hear the Gospel every day because we forget it every day.” In 2 Peter, the Apostle writes to remind the early Christians of the “precious and very great promises of God” (v. 4) and the calling to live with virtue - especially love (v. 5-8). False teachers have denied the promised return of Christ to judge and are promoting self-indulgence. Peter reassures the church that the “power and coming of the Lord” is not a myth (v. 16). We can know it’s true because of Peter’s eyewitness testimony and because the Scriptures testify to it.

Peter appeals to his eyewitness testimony to prove the truth of Jesus’s coming (v. 16). He saw, and heard, and was there on the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus was revealed in glory and the Father spoke over him (v. 17-18). This revelation of Christ’s glory was a glimpse of his end time glory, and a confirmation of Jesus as the Son of the Father (v. 18). The eyewitness testimony of the Apostles is recorded in the New Testament for all to access.

The Transfiguration “more fully confirm[s]” the truth and reliability of the message of the Old Testament Scriptures (v. 19). The OT promises there will be a Son (Ps 2:7) who is the Servant (Isa 42:1) who accomplishes God’s purposes in the world. There is a coming judgment and “Day of the Lord” (Isa 13). The Son of Man will judge and rule over an everlasting kingdom (Dan 7:13-14). The Scriptures are not products of human invention, but men were carried along the Holy Spirit as they wrote (v. 20-21)

In the Bible we have access to a sure, reliable, true witness to the “precious and very great promises” of God, which give us light while we seek to live for Christ in a dark world (v. 19).

How do you 1) remind yourself of God’s promises and 2) walk by the light of Scripture?