Truth. “What is truth?” Pilate said as he stood before Jesus questioning Him as to the meaning His statement that “All who are of the truth follow me.” Truth is important. Either 2+2=4 or it doesn’t. It can’t be right for you but wrong for me. If something is true then it is true. NASA engineers crashed a spacecraft on Mars because they used the wrong number units. What does it matter if it is 55 M.P.H. or 55 K.P.H? It is the difference between resting a spacecraft on a planet and crashing a spacecraft on a planet. Truth matters.
In this passage of Scripture Peter speaks about the importance of truth. He says, “truth matters.” The key idea of this passage is the wonderful promises of salvation and spiritual growth in the Christian life must be built on the necessary character of truth. Without truth, the message of salvation cannot stand. If the Bible is not true then we are ultimately lost. As the Apostle Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised [from the dead] then your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.”
Peter describes three different aspects of the truth of the Gospel in this passage. We will look at the first two this morning.
I. The Truth Remembered
The first aspect of the truth that Peter describes is the truth remembered. There are three reasons Peter reminds these believers about the truth.
A. Being reminded of the truth is necessary for growth
The first reason that Peter reminds these believers about the truth is that being reminded about the truth is necessary for growth. At the beginning of verse 12 Peter uses the word “therefore” referring back to verses 3-11. If you remember, these verses describe the absolute importance and necessity of spiritual growth in the life of the Christian. Peter wants to make sure that these believers will receive this abundant entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Peter doesn’t leave any believer out of the picture. Each of us needs to be reminded of the truth of the Scripture. He says at the end of verse 12, “even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you.” Peter makes a declaration of the established faith these people had in the truth. He observes that the truth was present with them. They definitely had the Gospel of grace affecting their lives. But they needed to be continually reminded of the truth and allow it to penetrate their lives daily if they were going to be growing Christians.
As Peter said in his first letter, “As newborn babies desire the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” A continual diet of truth was required by these believers to continue in their spiritual walk with the Lord. As it is with us physically so it is with us spiritually. Physically we need to be eating true or pure food to continue to be healthy. I recently read about a family who died because the father had fed the family pigs with corn seed not meant for consumption. The seed had been sprayed with a chemical to keep it from being eaten by bugs before it germinated. The pigs were not affected by it but the poison remained in the pigs’ bodies and when the family ate it they all became sick and died. The analogy applies spiritually. We must continue to be nourished from the pure truth of the Word. When we begin to mix the world’s philosophy with the truth of Scripture we begin to be, as it were, poisoned. We become weak in our spiritual walk and miss the glorious joy of knowing and walking closely with God.
We need to continually remind each other of the truth and help one another grow in the truth. Each of us has times when we fail to apply the truth of the Scripture to our lives. This is the time that we need someone to come along side us and encourage us to listen not to the world’s philosophy or our emotions but to the truth of the Word of God. It is easy for us to forget to apply the Word of God to our own situation when we are hurting. Satan seeks to give us blows to cause us to focus inwardly and shutdown. It is at these crucial junctions we need someone to remind us of the truth of God’s Word that we might grow spiritually.
Peter is not speaking to anyone except those who have already been grounded in the truth and know it well. But if we fail to be reminded of this wonderful truth of God’s great grace and mercy poured out on us we will fail to grow in Him.
B. Being reminded of the truth is necessary for revival
The second reason that Peter reminds these believers about the truth is that being reminded of the truth is necessary for revival. In verse 13 Peter says, “I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder.” What is the purpose of bringing the Word of God to our remembrance? We ought to desire to stir each other up. Now I know some people who can stir up others but not in a good way. And usually they are not using the Word of God to do it. But we are not talking about that kind of stirring up. We need to revive one another through the Word of God. This is what King David said in Psalm 19. There he declares, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul . . . The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.” We need to be reminded of the truth of God’s Word because we need our spirit revived. The Christian life is, by necessity, a long journey and we often need to be refreshed in that journey. And we need to be reminded of the application of the Word of truth to us. This is what the author of Hebrews describes in chapter 10. There he says, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day [of Christ’s return] drawing near.”
Why are we coming together each week? Why are you here? To listen to a sermon? To praise and worship God? Yes we are here for these things. But we are also here to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. We need to be getting involved in the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope you don’t view your time at church to be similar to watching a football game. This is not a game. This is not entertainment. This is truly dealing with life and death. If you will not be involved in the lives of others in this body you are not fulfilling what Christ has for you to do. Consider how you may stimulate one another to love and good deeds. It doesn’t say, “Let only your pastor stimulate one another to love and good deeds.” Do you understand that your involvement in the lives of people here is called ministry or service? So let’s talk to each other about the Word of God and the impact it is having in our lives that it might impact the lives of one another. Let us stir up each other by reminding each other of the truth and how it is working in our lives.
C. Being reminded of the truth is necessary for recall
The third reason that Peter reminds these believers about the truth is that being reminded of the truth is necessary for recall. In verses 14-15 Peter says, “knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.” Peter says that he is going to continue to remind his readers about these truths so that when he is gone they will be able to recall readily what he has told them. Sometimes I need to be told things more than once before I get them. Sometimes I forget something because I failed to pay attention to what had been said. Sometimes I forget something because of the busyness of my schedule. Sometimes I will forget something because it is a long time since I heard it. Being reminded of the truth is what will allow me to recall it later. If there is something really important that I need to know I make sure I have reminders. I put notes on my computer keyboard (though I have found that not to be too effective). For some reason I can be typing away on the computer and completely ignore the note. I also ask people to remind me. I’ll ask my wife to remind me to call someone and immediately she says, “Don’t forget to call them.” Thanks. Sometimes I’ll set an alarm to remind me of something. Sometimes I’ll repeat it over and over to remember.
Peter was making sure that when he was no longer around to tell them the truth they would be able to recall it accurately. The way that I find the truth sinks in best is by ongoing reminders. I have found that in discussing the Word of God with people it is usually not the first time I explain something that they get it. Sometimes it takes several times for them to understand and apply it.
Peter knew that he was about to be martyred for his faith. Jesus told him how he would die in the Gospel of John. And Peter saw the urgency of being diligent to remind these believers about the necessary truth of the Gospel before he departed from this world. Listen, if we are not reminding each other of the truth we will become like those Peter said were “blind and short-sighted, having forgotten their purification from their former sins.”
II. The Truth Reported
The second aspect of the truth that Peter describes is the truth reported. Here he looks at the truth they learned from having seen Jesus in all His glory as they were with Him upon a mountain. Peter describes three details of the report to show its importance in proving the truth of the good news of salvation in Christ.
A. It was an eyewitness report
The first detail to show its importance in proving the truth was that it was an eyewitness report. In verses 16-18 he makes this clear. “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased’ – and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.”
Some people would claim that the Bible is a set of mythical stories created to give people a hope in God. They relate them to the mythologies of the Greeks and their stories about the gods. The difference, however, between the Greek mythologies and the Bible is that the Greeks understood the stories they possessed to be just that – stories. They never claimed than these stories were anything more than fables. They never said that they were witnesses to these things. The people and the writers understood them to be mythology. But the Bible writers never intimate such a thing. In fact they make a big deal about the importance of being trustworthy eyewitnesses.
In John’s Gospel he proclaims that he saw the crucifixion; he saw the soldier pierce Jesus’ side to prove that he had died; he saw the empty tomb and the resurrected Christ. In the apostle Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth he tells them that the foundation of the Gospel, Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, was well established by over 500 eyewitnesses.
Peter outlines the veracity of his statements by saying that they did not follow cleverly devised tales. He categorically denies that there is any falsehood in what he is saying.
What was the crux of this eyewitness report that Peter describes? First, he says they saw Jesus’ majesty. They saw Jesus in all His heavenly splendor. If there was any doubt in their minds that Jesus was God this event removed it all. In the New Testament, the word “majesty” that Peter uses to describe Jesus’ glory is only used to describe the greatness of God. Peter did not hesitate to declare the Jesus’ deity.
Secondly, Peter says they heard the Father’s voice. Not only did they see Jesus’ majesty but the voice of God interpreted what they were seeing. “This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased.” He is the Father’s special Son who always obeys the will of His Father. Not only did Peter declare Jesus to be the magnificent God but also the perfect man. And by the admission of His own testimony and the testimony of those who were with Him (James and John) he declared once for all that Jesus Christ was the promised deliverer who would come and rescue mankind from their sins.
B. It was a reassuring report
The second detail to show its importance in proving the truth was that it was a reassuring report. In verse 19 Peter notes, “We have the prophetic word made more sure.” What Peter means by this, “the prophetic word made more sure” is that what they had seen backs up the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus. The Old Testament, through the fulfillment of many prophecies in exacting detail, has been shown to be God’s Word. But Peter says this has made it more sure. God has given these men even further verification of the truthfulness of God’s Word. God didn’t need to do this. He didn’t need to show Peter, James and John the power and glory of Jesus Christ but He did. And because of this Peter says the Old Testament prophecies have just been given a greater surety in His mind. God gave these men the opportunity to see His glory that their eyewitness report might back up what God’s Word already said.
God has continued to do this in our day. He continually verifies His Word. Does He have to do this? Isn’t the fact that He declares, “Thus says the Lord” firm enough evidence to its divine character? In one sense, yes it is enough. But in another sense God continually loves to show us that He is the God who cannot lie. And we have seen it in the archaeological discoveries that have been unearthed in recent years. The Dead Sea Scrolls have shown us the amazing accuracy of those who copied the Old Testament Scriptures showing us that what had been written hundreds of years earlier was perfectly preserved. God has allowed us to find the ancient city of Ebla dating to the third millennium BC. In it are records that help to corroborate biblical accounts such as the existence of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. And the list is widespread. Just recently there was evidence uncovered that King David’s kingdom was as expansive as the biblical account states instead of a small primitive encampment that liberal scholars had maintained.
Peter says that this eyewitness event reassured him of the truthfulness of God’s Word. God wants you, not to doubt His Word, but to trust it. And He has given us all the evidence necessary to see that it is truly His Word.
C. It was an enlightening report
The third detail to show its importance in proving the truth was that it was an enlightening report. The whole of verse 19 says, “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.”
Peter says that the truth of the Good News of God’s forgiveness for our sins through Jesus Christ is enlightening. The truth of the Word of God is a lamp that lights our way through the darkness. The word “darkness” that Peter uses is a strong word and indicates complete darkness. How many of us would try to navigate a cave without light? It would dangerous or deadly. Why then should you be content to grope through this life without light? The Scripture declares that the Word of God is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths.
Peter says you do well to pay attention to the Word of God. You ought to pay attention to what God says. There is no true light apart from the Word of God. There is nothing but darkness.
When missionaries came to the Mouk people of P.N.G. most of the people in one of the tribes received Christ as their Savior. The other Mouk tribes took notice of them. And one day a nearby tribe sent a delegation to the missionaries in that village. They said, “You come teach us what you have been teaching them. When we look in our eyes we see only darkness but when we look in their eyes we see light. We want this light.”
The truth of the Word of God brought light to these people. Peter said it is to this light you do well to pay attention.
Why does Peter go through trouble to outline the truthfulness of the Word of God? Why does he seek to describe its veracity? Listen my friends, if you are going to surrender your life and make Jesus your Lord you had better know that this Word is true. If you might possibly give up your life for Christianity you had better recognize the Scripture is trustworthy. And God has given us the verification of it that if we might seek to know its truth He will show it too us. For God knows that we ought not give ourselves for a lie. I knew as a young man following a science discipline in college I did not want to follow fables. I knew the Word of God was simply true or it wasn’t. Either 2+2=4 or it doesn’t. Perhaps it would take a little more diligence to verify the Word of God than a simple mathematical formula. But the consequences of believing it or not were a little more serious also. If it was true then I needed to follow it. If it was false I needed to stop wasting my time with it. But God continued to confirm its truthfulness to me by various means because I sought it not as a skeptic but from a heart of wanting to know the truth.
And since, as Peter says, God’s Word IS true you had better not neglect its message for it is a message of hope and life and forgiveness to those who believe it. And it is a message of judgment to those who reject it.
As a believer in Christ you must allow the truth of Scripture to be your guide. You must allow the Word of God to direct you in its truth. It is to be a lamp to our feet. Its truth is to be a daily manual for living in the truth. If you are not being fed by it you are going to be deceived. You do well to pay attention to it like using a light in a dark place.
Also as a believer this means that we must take the truth seriously. We must not lie. We must not exaggerate. We must clearly speak the truth in all our dealings or else how will people believe us when we speak about God and the eternal life He offers.
But if you have not put your trust in Christ as your Savior, if He has not become your Lord then you need to believe the truth of the Gospel. The Gospel, that is the good news, is that though you are separated from God on account of your sins, Christ has taken your sins upon Himself on the cross. And if you put your trust in the truth of Christ’s death on the cross as the complete payment for your sins you will have eternal life. That is truth.
Truth matters. Will you embrace it as if your life depended on it?