“Speak Up”

2 Peter 1:12-21

January 13, 2008 - ©Rev. Dr. Ben Gong

Prophecy of Scripture

¹² So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. ¹³ I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, ¹⁴ because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵ And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

¹⁹ We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. ²¹ For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 30:11-14

The Offer of Life or Death

¹¹ Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. ¹² It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" ¹³ Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" ¹⁴ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

The challenges for the first century church

We are preaching a series of sermons of growing discipleship of Jesus Christ in the beginning of year 2008.

Satan uses two factors to hinder our spiritual growth. One is from outside—the challenge from our family, our culture, or the political environment (such as persecution). God will strengthen us to fight against the outside challenge if we seek God’s help faithfully.

The other factor hinders our spiritual growth is from inside—the false teaching in the church. The heresy will harm our faith and damage our church. We should be very careful to the false teachings and speak up the truth to our people.

The first century Christians had experienced these two factors. However, the outside challenge (the persecution from the Roman Empire) did not stop the spiritual growth, and the early young church had been growing strongly and rapidly because of the work of the Holy Spirit and the work of the early church.

On important work the early church did is to hold the truth of Jesus Christ faithfully. The apostles worked very hard to fight against the inside challenges. Paul, Peter, and Jude preached many messages against the false teachings. Peter said he would make every effort to make sure the church would remember the true and right teachings about our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the most harmful false teachings is that the false teachers were questioning the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. They laughed at Christians who believed Jesus would come back soon and judge the world. They laughed at Christians who led a godly life.

They argued, “Where is the promise of the second coming? Where is promise of the judgment? Why do not you just enjoy yourselves instead of paying attention to all these godly rules made by the apostles? The apostles made these rules to intimidate you in order to control you. Listen to us and we can give you a good news: you have freedom to do anything.”

The early church had to respond to these false teachings.

The response of Apostle Peter

Peter first confirms his readers that they have already heard the right teachings from the apostles and established faith in truth. They had already had the truth in their hearts. In order to strengthen their faith, he wants to continuously remind them these important teachings like Moses reminding Israelites in Deuteronomy before his departure from the earth.

Deuteronomy is the last word that Moses preached to the Israelites. He reminds them to remember God’s promises, laws and rules after entering the Promised Land. When we read Deuteronomy, we discover Moses repeating many teachings which he has preached before in Exodus, Leviticus and Number. Moses knows he is going to die. He wants these important teachings will be remembered by the Israelites.

The last word is always the important thing. 2 Peter is the last word that Peter preached to his people. Peter knows he is going to die and he wants his people to remember this important promise from God.

Peter’s own testimony

Peter uses his own life experience to testify that the second coming of Jesus Christ is a definite event. James, John and him went to the holy mountain and saw the glory of Jesus in his transfiguration when they were with Jesus.

In the gospel of Mark (more accurately the gospel of Peter because the church history teaches us that the gospel of Mark is preached by Peter and edited by Mark) chapter 9:1 Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

And then chapter 9:2-8 describe Peter, James and John experiencing Jesus’ glory in his transfiguration.

Jesus’ clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses who were talking with Jesus (Mark 9:3).

They also heard the voice from heaven in the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7)

Peter understood this experience completely until he witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ and was restored by Jesus to minister to his people. Peter believes this experience is the foretaste of the coming of the kingdom of God. It is the vision of the second coming of Jesus Christ in power. It is the promise of God.

The experience testified that Jesus is the Son of God. He is fully human and he is fully divine. He is God.

When we read the gospel of Mark, we discover Peter is making very effort to prove that Jesus’ identity: He is the Son of God. He is fully human and he is fully divine. He is God.

We love Peter and trust his word because he is a real person just like us with blood and flesh. We see his change (his spiritual growth) from the first day of his calling to be Jesus’ disciple by Jesus to the last day of his death crucified on the cross by which he glorified God.

He responded to Jesus’ call immediately, and he is the first one who confessed Jesus is the Son of God; he is also the disciple who proclaimed to fight for Jesus and then denied Jesus at the night when Jesus was betrayed. He was depressed when he saw Jesus’ death and restored to ministry after Jesus’ resurrection. He was afraid of the Jews to see him eating with the Gentiles and he was bold to preach the good news of Jesus Christ to hundreds and thousands of people.

We have to love and believe Peter because his spiritual journey is just like our spiritual journey. We can identify with him though our spiritual journey sometimes is lacking that kind excitement or risk, however, sometimes is very similar. Though we are always changing, up and down, strong and weak; however, God is always faithful.

The prophets’ testimonies

Peter does not stop at his experience, but quote the Scripture (the word of God) as authority. He says we have a completely reliable source, which are the prophetic messages. If we pay attention to these messages, we will understand the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is an unquestionable promise from God (2 Peter 2:19).

He uses the metaphor of the light in the darkness and the morning star rising at dawn the sunrise to illustrate the feeling of aha when we understand the prophetic message—the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When I was first introduced to the Bible, I was fascinated by the miraculous stories about Jesus and the virtues of Christians and the love of the church. I almost immediately accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.

One teaching bothered me most is the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I still remember the experience in the summer of 1990. When I was praying and meditating to God, I heard a small voice, saying, “He probably would not come back. This is just a lie. It is just a false hope. Almost 2000 years had passed, where is Jesus?”

I shared my experience with my mentor a great Chinese woman Christian leader who led me to Christian. She told me that it was Satan’s plot because he did not want me to accept Jesus Christ. I should study the Scripture and use the word of God to fight back Satan’s lie.

God gave me an opportunity to read the whole Bible in the summer of 1990. God opened my mind and eyes and I had the feeling of aha (I got it).

If we read the Bible in a whole picture, we will discover on one of the most important themes of the Old Testament delivers to us from God by the prophets is about the first coming of Jesus Christ: A prophet and king is coming in a humble way as a suffering servant. He will take a way the sin of the world; he will give his people the joy of the forgiveness of sins; and he will bring reconciliation between God and his people.

On of the most important themes in the New Testament is delivered to us from God by Jesus Christ and the apostles and the angels is about the second coming of Jesus Christ: A king and judge is coming in great power and glory. He will judge; he will reward; and he will reign a just and righteous kingdom.

Peter emphasizes the prophetic messages delivered by the prophets and inspired by the Holy Spirit are from God. It is the word of God. It has authority.

Peter’s statements echoes Paul’s statement in 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” God’s word will turn into work if we read it carefully and do it rightly.

God’s word is trustworthy, and God is trustworthy.

The response of our church

Today we face the same challenge both from outside (the world) and inside (the church). The suffering and groaning world could not give us a hope of future. The world needs the good news of hope, love, and faith. It is the church that has the truth of Jesus Christ and can offer this good news to the world.

The second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is a good news. He will come in power and glory. He will judge the world. He will reward according to what we have done. This is a good news.

When someone argues why the Lord has not come yet, Peter urges his readers not to forget one thing that with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2Peter 3:7-8).

Our Lord Jesus Christ wants everyone not to perish but to come to repentance is a call for sinners coming back to God for God loves us; it is also a call for his church to preach this good news to the world.

How can we respond to the Lord’s call?

The message today is clearly speak to us that we should speak up the good news just like Peter did 2000 years ago.

Many of us have experienced the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ—the joy of the forgiveness of sins. We are redeemed people. We are empowered to witness this good news.

We can learn two things from Peter to make every effort share this good news with other:

1. Share your stories. Tell others your experience with God-- how you become a disciple of Jesus Christ, how you grow up a mature Christian. Share your stories in your small group, at your Sunday school, at home with your family members, friends, and neighbors. It is always easy to start with your own experience and people like to hear a personal story.

2. Share the word of God. If you know the Bible very well, you can teach in a small group, at Sunday school, and at home. If you do not know the Bible very well, go to attend a small group, Sunday school and a house Bible fellowship to learn the knowledge of God and be equipped to share the word of God. The word of God is truth and life and power and trustworthy.

If we say we love our Lord Jesus Christ, we must understand his heart (he wants everyone not to perish but to come to repentance), and we must to do his will. We want our beloved family members and friends not to perish but to have an eternal life.

Thus my dear friends, invite your beloved to a Christian fellowship—to a small group, Sunday school, a house Bible study fellowship, and church. Led our beloved family members and friends to enjoy a new life in Christ.

I have a card for you to fill it out after the sermon. You may put at least three names (no more than seven) that you want them to know God and become the disciples of Jesus Christ. They could be your family members, your friends, and your neighbors. They could be here in Chicago or in any corner of the world.

You make a commitment to the Lord that you will (1) pray for their salvation, (2) share the good news with them, and (3) invite them to attend a Christian fellowship and church.

Encouragement

I want to encourage you that this is a godly investment. You will witness the power of God transforming people’s life, and experience the joy of seeing a sinner becoming a saint.

The second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is true. The angles in Acts 1:11 said to the disciple of Jesus Christ, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

The judgment is true, and the reward is true. Thus all your labor in the Lord will not be in vain says Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:58.

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This sermon is copyright ©2008 by Rev. Dr. Ben Gong, Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, Illinois.