WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.620 I do hope you have a copy of God's Word with you this morning. 00:00:02.620 --> 00:00:07.780 If you will please take it out and turn to 2 Peter 1. 00:00:07.780 --> 00:00:07.780 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.880 This paper is commonly known as the 95 Theses. 00:00:39.880 --> 00:00:43.939 It was nailed to the church door at the Church of Wittenberg. 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:47.379 But it was originally entitled, brace yourself for it, 00:00:48.060 --> 00:00:51.799 The Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences, 00:00:52.299 --> 00:00:58.740 in which Luther outlined 95 reasons why this practice of the Roman Catholic Church 00:00:58.740 --> 00:01:02.179 was unbiblical and therefore sinful. 00:01:03.160 --> 00:01:09.740 He arrived at the linchpin of his argument upon doing translation work in the book of Romans. 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:15.879 He was troubled as an Augustinian monk, as he was being taught a gospel that was by works. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:22.760 He was very aware that he would never measure up to the standard that was put forth before him. 00:01:23.599 --> 00:01:27.780 He was honest and he was humble about the condition of his own heart. 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:31.859 And so he was put to work translating the book of Romans, 00:01:31.939 --> 00:01:35.379 which I just find wonderfully, laughably providential. 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:41.640 And he didn't make it very far into the book of Romans when he came to Romans 1, 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:45.500 verse 16 and 17, where Paul says, 00:01:45.500 --> 00:02:07.260 The righteous shall live by faith. 00:02:07.260 --> 00:02:16.819 The righteous shall live by faith, not by indulgences or any other work, but by faith. 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:21.900 It was Luther's intention to see Rome change its view on the matter. 00:02:22.620 --> 00:02:26.939 And we don't have time to cover the scope of that episode today. 00:02:27.060 --> 00:02:31.939 It's not why we're really gathered together, although it's a wonderful story. 00:02:31.939 --> 00:02:41.900 But his action on October 31st, 1517, was the spark that set Europe ablaze with Bible-saturated reformation. 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:49.900 A major work of many of the reformers was to see the Bible translated into the language of the people. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:56.960 Until they did this important work, it was only available in limited print in Latin. 00:02:56.960 --> 00:03:03.020 And without a great deal of education, the common Christian was not a reader of Latin. 00:03:03.200 --> 00:03:08.240 And therefore, Rome had great power to shape European Christianity. 00:03:08.920 --> 00:03:14.620 They could teach what they wanted to teach and withhold what they didn't want to teach. 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:21.280 The work of Bible translation was carried out by many men across the continent, right? 00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:29.259 We often attribute the Reformation to Luther himself, but God was at work all across the continent of Europe 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:33.199 in the lives of many people and many churches, right? 00:03:33.800 --> 00:03:39.180 Men like John Wycliffe, who was a forerunner of the Reformation, had done this important work. 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:45.080 Martin Luther, William Tyndale, Miles Coverdale, and many others. 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:49.920 And we are indebted to men such as these. 00:03:51.240 --> 00:03:58.860 As we sat down to plan the preaching schedule for the rest of this year and noted that October 31st fell on a Sunday this year, 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:06.520 we began to muse about what the reformers would think of American Christianity. 00:04:07.640 --> 00:04:11.860 Just imagine to them the preciousness of the Word of God. 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:15.680 They were bringing it into the language of the people. 00:04:15.960 --> 00:04:21.379 By God's grand design, the press had been imprinted, had been invented some hundred years earlier. 00:04:21.520 --> 00:04:25.259 It was widely being used, so things could be printed and distributed. 00:04:25.460 --> 00:04:36.460 But even then, can you imagine how very precious it would be to own or even have access to a copy of the Scriptures in your own language, 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:39.939 to be able to take it up and to read it? 00:04:39.939 --> 00:04:43.740 What would they think of us today? 00:04:44.719 --> 00:04:48.579 These men and women who fought bravely to bring the Bible to the masses. 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:53.800 And let's be certain to recognize we are those masses. 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:59.100 I will be quick to admit, I would likely have not been a reader of Latin. 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:00.879 I'm not that smart. 00:05:01.220 --> 00:05:03.319 I just wouldn't have been in that category. 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:09.620 I would have been one of those saying, oh, if I could just have the Word in my own language. 00:05:10.540 --> 00:05:19.659 What would they think of a people with such access to God's Word and so little biblical literacy? 00:05:19.660 --> 00:05:27.320 We have in our gathering this morning hundreds of copies of God's Word. 00:05:27.520 --> 00:05:30.000 There's a stack of them back there on the back table. 00:05:30.260 --> 00:05:32.060 In case you forgot yours, just go and pick one up. 00:05:32.540 --> 00:05:35.360 Every Sunday, there are copies left here. 00:05:35.840 --> 00:05:39.060 There's a stack of them on the sound booth rail back there. 00:05:39.180 --> 00:05:39.320 Right? 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:40.740 Just left behind. 00:05:41.520 --> 00:05:41.620 Right? 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:42.600 And we're forgetful. 00:05:42.640 --> 00:05:43.260 And I get it. 00:05:43.400 --> 00:05:43.600 Right? 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:44.920 We can access other. 00:05:45.020 --> 00:05:46.400 You probably have another Bible at home. 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:49.900 So you go, I'll pick that up when I'm back on the next week. 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:56.740 But we treat it in our hearts the same way we often do in the physical form. 00:05:57.200 --> 00:06:03.200 We have so much access to a God who has spoken to us. 00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:08.580 He's revealed himself to us by his Word. 00:06:08.579 --> 00:06:15.439 And we're largely, relatively, just neglectful of it. 00:06:16.560 --> 00:06:20.319 So in brief this morning, again, we're pressing toward baptisms today. 00:06:20.419 --> 00:06:21.699 We want to have time for that. 00:06:21.779 --> 00:06:23.439 I don't want to keep you all day long. 00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:27.959 So join me in briefly looking at our text today from 2 Peter. 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:30.500 I'll begin reading in verse 16. 00:06:30.919 --> 00:06:34.219 Before I do, beloved, let me remind you that this is God's Word to us. 00:06:34.279 --> 00:06:36.240 That's why I say this every time I preach. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:39.120 It was written for his glory and our good. 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:46.120 So we would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:49.019 Peter writes, 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:55.500 For we do not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:55.900 --> 00:06:58.740 But we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 00:06:58.740 --> 00:07:05.620 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was born to him by the majestic glory, 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:10.180 This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased. 00:07:10.699 --> 00:07:16.879 We ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:22.620 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:27.240 To which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:31.319 Until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:33.399 Knowing this first of all, 00:07:34.180 --> 00:07:37.379 That no prophecy of scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 00:07:38.180 --> 00:07:40.600 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, 00:07:40.659 --> 00:07:44.540 But men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 00:07:44.540 --> 00:07:48.500 But false prophets also arose among the people, 00:07:48.939 --> 00:07:51.360 Just as there will be false teachers among you, 00:07:51.760 --> 00:07:54.620 Who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, 00:07:55.140 --> 00:07:57.379 Even denying the master who bought them, 00:07:57.939 --> 00:08:00.340 Bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 00:08:01.100 --> 00:08:03.120 And many will follow their sensuality, 00:08:03.160 --> 00:08:06.340 And because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 00:08:07.080 --> 00:08:10.120 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. 00:08:10.700 --> 00:08:13.700 Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, 00:08:13.699 --> 00:08:16.680 And their destruction is not asleep. 00:08:18.199 --> 00:08:23.680 Now this morning, I want to focus your attention on just one verse, 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:25.019 Verse 19. 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:27.839 But before we spend our time on this verse, 00:08:27.939 --> 00:08:31.480 Let's look at the larger context of what Peter is communicating here. 00:08:31.579 --> 00:08:35.279 The reason that we read all of those verses together. 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:37.559 And verse 16 begins with the word, 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:38.819 For. 00:08:38.820 --> 00:08:40.680 And any time we see that word, 00:08:40.800 --> 00:08:42.640 We need to back up a little bit to understand, 00:08:42.760 --> 00:08:47.580 What is the argument that he's progressing through in this case? 00:08:48.520 --> 00:08:49.260 Well, in this time, 00:08:49.340 --> 00:08:51.240 Peter has spent the lion's share of chapter 1, 00:08:51.340 --> 00:08:55.500 Speaking of the holiness that will accompany the life of a believer. 00:08:55.640 --> 00:09:01.879 Like, what does the life look like of one who has responded by faith to Jesus Christ? 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:06.299 Notice in chapter 1, verse 3, the first half of that verse, 00:09:06.299 --> 00:09:07.139 He says, 00:09:07.299 --> 00:09:14.679 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. 00:09:15.139 --> 00:09:18.620 And he goes on to elaborate on the qualities of the Christian life. 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:20.899 And he says in verse 12, 00:09:21.460 --> 00:09:26.840 Therefore, I intend always to remind you of these qualities. 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:29.679 And then in verse 15, 00:09:30.179 --> 00:09:33.240 And I will make every effort so that after my departure, 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:38.600 You may be able at any time to recall these things. 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:45.159 This is all that leads us up to the fore at the beginning of verse 16. 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:50.559 He's saying, right, the life that is in Christ by faith is going to produce fruit. 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:55.620 Here's a list of that fruit, qualities, he calls them, in chapter 1. 00:09:55.959 --> 00:09:59.079 And I'm going to be sure you remember these qualities. 00:09:59.799 --> 00:10:00.079 Why? 00:10:00.860 --> 00:10:03.459 Because you want to be sure that you're in Christ, right? 00:10:03.759 --> 00:10:06.659 You want to be sure that you have, in fact, placed your faith in Him, 00:10:06.939 --> 00:10:08.620 that He's given to you the gift of the Spirit, 00:10:08.699 --> 00:10:12.039 who's helping you to walk in His ways. 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:18.219 So, how is it that Peter will make every effort so that after my departure, 00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:23.000 You may be able at any time to recall these things? 00:10:23.079 --> 00:10:25.879 That's where his mind is as he goes on in verse 16 to say, 00:10:26.099 --> 00:10:30.099 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths, 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:32.939 When we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:33.759 --> 00:10:36.500 But we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:39.919 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:42.299 and the voice was born to Him by the majestic glory, 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:46.100 This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. 00:10:46.539 --> 00:10:49.940 We ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven, 00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:53.080 for we were with Him on the holy mountain. 00:10:54.019 --> 00:10:55.779 What is he talking about? 00:10:56.779 --> 00:10:59.740 He's making this very clear argument from 15, 00:10:59.740 --> 00:11:04.159 I'm going to do everything I can to remind you of these qualities. 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:07.600 And then he launches into this rant. 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:09.200 Is he off topic? 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:10.379 Absolutely not. 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:15.879 What he's talking about is the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:21.259 The moment when Peter and James and John were taken up onto a mountain, 00:11:21.259 --> 00:11:25.419 and Jesus' deity was put on display. 00:11:25.740 --> 00:11:28.480 He was changed in form. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:33.240 They got to see this exalted God Christ. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:39.460 You can read about that further in Matthew chapter 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9. 00:11:40.159 --> 00:11:45.440 What an astounding thing this would have been to be a witness of. 00:11:45.920 --> 00:11:50.620 It was only Jesus' closest confidants, His closest disciples, 00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:53.360 that were even brought with Him up to this mountain. 00:11:53.500 --> 00:11:57.480 The rest of the apostles didn't get to see this moment in His life. 00:11:57.480 --> 00:12:00.539 Just Peter and James and John. 00:12:01.519 --> 00:12:09.019 Jesus' pre-crucifixion resurrection promises were confirmed to them in this moment. 00:12:09.379 --> 00:12:09.420 Right? 00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:11.300 This was declarative. 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:11.620 Right? 00:12:11.700 --> 00:12:14.519 In many ways, Jesus had called Himself God. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:15.940 He had declared it outright. 00:12:16.300 --> 00:12:18.920 He had done things like healing and forgiveness of sin. 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:23.979 But now they were seeing Him changed in this moment. 00:12:24.679 --> 00:12:35.000 And here in 2 Peter, Peter is suggesting that this is the prominent event for affirmation that Jesus is, in fact, the Christ. 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:38.240 That His life was perfect. 00:12:38.240 --> 00:12:40.879 He never sinned. 00:12:41.299 --> 00:12:45.120 That His death was meaningfully sacrificial. 00:12:45.560 --> 00:12:50.919 He paid the eternal debt that is due us for our sin on the cross. 00:12:51.139 --> 00:12:54.740 That He had the power to be raised from the dead. 00:12:54.740 --> 00:13:02.060 This moment bolsters Jesus' earthly ministry and informs His heavenly ministry. 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:05.100 This is an exceptional thing. 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:11.360 If you were to ask me if I could step into any moment in history, I think this is the moment. 00:13:11.539 --> 00:13:14.360 I think I'd want to be on that mountain. 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:18.360 I would want to see Jesus Christ transfigured. 00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:24.039 This moment of all the moments to be a witness of. 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:28.600 But Peter does something most curious. 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:35.659 Something that I just think ought to ignite your heart as you hold a copy of God's Word in your hands this morning. 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:37.300 He says this. 00:13:37.500 --> 00:13:40.279 Remember, there's this confirmation of who Jesus is. 00:13:40.420 --> 00:13:42.360 This is the Christ. 00:13:42.680 --> 00:13:42.860 Right? 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:46.460 He is God made flesh. 00:13:46.680 --> 00:13:47.840 They were witnesses of this. 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:50.620 We were eyewitnesses of this, he says. 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:52.460 And then in verse 19, he says, 00:13:52.460 --> 00:14:00.519 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed. 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:09.000 We have a greater confidence that God's Word is God's Word. 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:12.919 And it displays for us this Christ. 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:15.279 That is incredible. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.759 God wrote us a book. 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:20.539 That we can take up and we can read. 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:23.299 And we can behold Him in it. 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:24.799 Peter is saying, 00:14:25.179 --> 00:14:27.980 This is better than being on the mount of transfiguration. 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:33.100 To birth in his people a confidence that Jesus is the Christ. 00:14:33.100 --> 00:14:35.120 This is what Peter is saying right here. 00:14:36.560 --> 00:14:37.040 Right? 00:14:37.580 --> 00:14:38.639 It's astounding. 00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:45.700 I can still remember the first moment that I read 2 Peter and this jumped off the page at me. 00:14:45.779 --> 00:14:47.379 It wasn't all that long ago. 00:14:47.500 --> 00:14:49.159 It was just some years ago. 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:56.360 If you're at all like me, I often find myself kind of skimming the seconds and thirds of the epistles. 00:14:56.360 --> 00:15:01.240 This is a profound thing that he is doing. 00:15:01.399 --> 00:15:05.360 We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed. 00:15:06.220 --> 00:15:08.500 Now he's talking about the scripture of his day. 00:15:09.360 --> 00:15:11.740 We believe in the canonicity of the Bible. 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:12.720 The 66 books. 00:15:13.159 --> 00:15:15.240 We don't have time to explain all that to you today. 00:15:15.240 --> 00:15:24.519 I think that he would also apply this to these future books that would be confirmed and put in the canon that we hold today. 00:15:24.519 --> 00:15:26.919 It's more fully confirmed. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:37.100 And because of that, you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 00:15:38.799 --> 00:15:43.759 Can you just imagine being on the mount of transfiguration and not paying attention to what was happening? 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:54.879 To being up there with these men and off picking flowers or looking at the shape of the clouds or enjoying the view from the top of the mountain. 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:55.059 Right? 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:58.159 The most important thing was happening right there. 00:15:58.779 --> 00:15:59.620 They paid attention. 00:15:59.740 --> 00:16:06.279 And he's saying, we have something more fully confirmed and you will do well to pay attention to it. 00:16:06.779 --> 00:16:09.600 Pay attention to the word. 00:16:09.600 --> 00:16:16.460 He goes on to defend the canonicity, the veracity of the scripture. 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:16.720 Right? 00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:20.639 That the scripture that they held was in fact God's word. 00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:27.519 He says in verse 20, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:28.180 Right? 00:16:28.180 --> 00:16:29.700 Man is not its source. 00:16:30.519 --> 00:16:33.480 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man. 00:16:34.060 --> 00:16:39.100 But men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 00:16:39.600 --> 00:16:43.840 Men were used as the agents to pen the Bible. 00:16:44.139 --> 00:16:47.519 But they are not its ultimate author. 00:16:47.820 --> 00:16:47.920 Right? 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:51.800 Men spoke from God. 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:55.920 Paul writes in 2 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. 00:16:56.580 --> 00:17:05.740 All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 00:17:06.339 --> 00:17:06.480 Right? 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:10.279 We often refer to the scriptures as being inspired. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:15.059 Meaning that God spoke into men who pinned the message down. 00:17:15.539 --> 00:17:20.299 But here you can see in 2 Timothy 3, 16, all scripture is expired. 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:22.500 It's breathed out by God. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:28.819 And what Paul is doing there is he is emphasizing that God is its very source. 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.860 It comes from him. 00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:32.859 It is his word. 00:17:32.859 --> 00:17:33.339 It is his word. 00:17:33.459 --> 00:17:37.479 And therefore, we would do well to pay attention to it. 00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:47.139 So how is it that Peter will make every effort so that after his departure, we will be able at any time to recall these things? 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:48.240 That was verse 15. 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:55.700 He will do so by giving his readers confidence in God's word. 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:58.359 See the logical flow that he's making here? 00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:00.079 How is he going to do this? 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:07.140 He's going to labor to give people confidence in his word. 00:18:07.140 --> 00:18:15.580 The things he has said will need to be remembered because the way of truth was and it will be perverted. 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:23.059 So if we read into chapter 2, sometimes the chapter breaks don't serve us very well. 00:18:23.119 --> 00:18:25.339 I think this is one of those cases. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:27.439 He's talking about the canon. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:30.819 He's talking about the scriptures that they held written by these prophets. 00:18:31.579 --> 00:18:34.779 And he says, but false prophets also arose among the people. 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:46.680 Back when the word was becoming the word in their day, even then there were false prophets, just as there will be false teachers among you. 00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:51.559 It's an age old problem that still exists today. 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:58.839 There will be people who will be false teachers that will lead people astray. 00:18:58.839 --> 00:19:06.179 They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the master who bought them, denying Christ himself. 00:19:06.339 --> 00:19:11.079 And I would suggest to you that anybody who's teaching a salvation that is by works is denying the master. 00:19:11.819 --> 00:19:19.119 Jesus' person and his work, this is what accomplishes the salvation of the church and not works. 00:19:21.059 --> 00:19:27.559 They bring upon themselves swift destruction and many will follow their sensuality. 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:30.940 And because of them, the way of truth will be blasphemed. 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:33.960 And in their greed, they will exploit you with false words. 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:36.679 Their condemnation from long ago is not idle. 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:40.059 And their destruction is not asleep. 00:19:40.159 --> 00:19:47.759 And I believe that Peter is intending to give to these Christians comfort that these men's deeds will not go unpunished. 00:19:48.099 --> 00:19:53.079 They will someday be held accountable for the things that they teach. 00:19:53.079 --> 00:20:01.899 And something I see in the church these days that troubles me is that we look at teachers who don't preach the word. 00:20:02.699 --> 00:20:05.399 They don't open it up and preach it. 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:09.119 Or they take a snippet of a verse and then they walk away from it. 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:14.019 That they don't really feed God's people when God's people gather. 00:20:14.239 --> 00:20:18.619 And we give them permission to do so because they have good intentions. 00:20:20.479 --> 00:20:25.139 Because they want people to come to faith in Christ. 00:20:26.679 --> 00:20:33.500 These people, with all of the sincerity and kindness I can muster in my heart, are misled at best. 00:20:33.500 --> 00:20:45.680 Men who stand up and declare to be pastors, to be preachers of God's word, who don't preach God's word, will be condemned for that activity. 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:50.740 They will be judged for what it is they deliver to people. 00:20:51.980 --> 00:20:54.259 It is a frightful thing to preach. 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:56.799 Even to a small congregation. 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:04.960 Every Lord's Day that I preach, I tremble because I know I'll be held accountable for the things that I teach. 00:21:05.519 --> 00:21:13.200 Whether I'm rightly teaching you from the word or wrongly teaching you from the word. 00:21:14.359 --> 00:21:18.319 So there's been a problem and there will be a problem that it's going to get contorted. 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:19.799 It's going to get twisted up, right? 00:21:19.819 --> 00:21:22.819 It's going to be used to say things that it doesn't say. 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:28.019 People are going to isogete the text, read into the text what they want it to say instead of exegete it. 00:21:28.179 --> 00:21:30.519 What does the word actually say? 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.039 What does it mean? 00:21:32.159 --> 00:21:34.559 It is what the people need. 00:21:35.399 --> 00:21:37.939 You may have heard the statement. 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:42.539 The road to hell is paved with good intentions. 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:50.179 If we truly love people, we're going to open up the word for them. 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:52.940 We're going to teach them the word. 00:21:53.120 --> 00:21:57.820 We will do well to pay attention to it. 00:21:58.880 --> 00:22:02.660 So let's think a little bit more about verse 19 together. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.680 There's the context of what Peter is saying. 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:07.080 Verse 19, which I've already read. 00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:08.120 Let me read it one more time. 00:22:08.119 --> 00:22:15.159 And we have the prophetic word, the scripture, more fully confirmed. 00:22:16.059 --> 00:22:25.359 To which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 00:22:25.779 --> 00:22:29.219 I want to spend the next hour talking about this verse, but I won't. 00:22:29.220 --> 00:22:38.759 So to just give us a bit of an outline for it, we're going to use the lens of a Latin phrase because we are good reform people. 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:43.120 And I love church history, so I have to use Latin from time to time. 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:51.160 This Latin phrase first appeared in 1674 in a devotional book by Judocus van Laudenstein. 00:22:52.120 --> 00:22:52.240 Okay. 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.339 See if you can write that one down. 00:22:54.339 --> 00:22:59.119 It's on the back of your bulletin if you care for it, but here's the Latin phrase, and I'll give it to you in English. 00:23:00.639 --> 00:23:07.839 Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda, secundum verbe de. 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:14.579 Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda, secundum verbe de. 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:23.559 The church is reformed and always being reformed according to the word of God. 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:30.240 You'll often hear kind of the cry, the reformation cry, semper reformanda. 00:23:30.379 --> 00:23:31.500 You'll hear that pulled out. 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:32.819 But this is the entirety of the phrase. 00:23:32.899 --> 00:23:38.460 It's the first time that this phrase appears in print at very least. 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:44.200 The church is reformed and always being reformed according to the word of God. 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:48.519 So we'll take that phrase as a brief outline to talk about and to think about this idea. 00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:52.720 What does it mean for us to do well, to pay attention to the scripture? 00:23:53.559 --> 00:23:54.200 In our age. 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:57.359 So first, Ecclesia reformata. 00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.319 The church is reformed. 00:24:00.159 --> 00:24:06.720 Van Lodenschein would have been a very, had a very particular audience in mind when writing the devotional book that this phrase was found in. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:11.619 He would not have been suggesting that doctrine is to be figured out on the fly. 00:24:11.619 --> 00:24:16.000 But he would have been writing to the Dutch Reformed Church. 00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:24.139 This tradition was confessional and it held to the inspiration, authority, inerrancy, and sufficiency of the scripture. 00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:32.320 The church he is referring to was a church that had returned to the truth of the Bible for its form and its practice. 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:32.800 Right? 00:24:33.220 --> 00:24:37.880 They were already doing well to pay attention. 00:24:38.340 --> 00:24:40.940 I think this is what he meant by that phrase. 00:24:41.040 --> 00:24:42.180 Ecclesia reformata. 00:24:42.180 --> 00:24:44.019 The church is reformed. 00:24:44.340 --> 00:24:47.620 It has left behind the religion of works. 00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:49.820 It has come back to the scripture. 00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:55.500 It has seen that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. 00:24:55.500 --> 00:25:01.480 Beloved, it is good for us to be descendants of such people. 00:25:01.480 --> 00:25:06.000 We want to be careful, Reformation Day, not to venerate the reformers. 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.119 Right? 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:12.460 But it is good that our faith is set on their shoulders. 00:25:13.220 --> 00:25:16.240 It did not begin in 1674 or in 1517. 00:25:17.079 --> 00:25:22.599 But we are indebted to those people who faithfully handed down the truth to us. 00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:22.839 Right? 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:28.459 God has been at work amongst his people to bring to us his word. 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:28.859 Right? 00:25:29.139 --> 00:25:33.000 As we pick up the scripture, we ought to be firstly and foremostly thankful to God. 00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:33.240 Right? 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:35.279 He has spoken and he's brought us his word. 00:25:35.339 --> 00:25:40.339 But we also ought to be thankful for the people that were used by him to bring it to us. 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:40.599 Right? 00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:52.539 Men like William Tyndale, who ran all over Europe, hiding and avoiding being captured so that he could translate the New Testament and much of the Old Testament. 00:25:52.839 --> 00:25:53.619 In the English. 00:25:53.759 --> 00:25:53.859 Right? 00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:55.019 An incredible work. 00:25:55.179 --> 00:25:59.619 A work of God done by a man for our benefit. 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:09.119 Men and women like Van Loddenstein were a pillar and buttress of the truth for God's glory and for our good. 00:26:09.119 --> 00:26:13.439 And I pray that we will be part of a people who are generationally minded. 00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:19.139 That our God will be praised in this place and among all peoples until our Lord returns. 00:26:19.239 --> 00:26:21.179 Like, are we going to pass that baton? 00:26:21.439 --> 00:26:22.559 Be faithful to the word. 00:26:22.959 --> 00:26:25.979 Carry it to the next generation. 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:28.860 But here's the danger. 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:31.960 A danger that the reformers knew well. 00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:35.519 A danger that Peter and Van Loddenstein knew. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:40.240 The church does not drift toward holiness. 00:26:40.920 --> 00:26:45.039 The church does not drift naturally toward the scripture. 00:26:45.620 --> 00:26:45.700 Right? 00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:50.000 The church does not naturally submit itself to the word. 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.299 Right? 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:50.980 It is a work. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:55.240 It's a thing we have to be actively doing together. 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:58.720 We must pay attention. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:02.779 Which brings us to the next part of our phrase. 00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:04.799 Semper reformanda. 00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:07.319 Always being reformed. 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:12.720 And I think what was meant, or at least should be, if it's not what Van Loddenstein meant, 00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:17.700 was and always in need of being reformed. 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:22.660 Church is reformed and it is always in need of being reformed. 00:27:22.660 --> 00:27:27.980 And this does not mean that we're disregarding and throwing out the doctrines of the faith. 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:28.519 The faith. 00:27:28.620 --> 00:27:30.600 Don't hear me saying that at all. 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:33.880 But we should never think that we have arrived. 00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:37.220 We shouldn't think that we've got it all figured out. 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:39.420 We shouldn't leave the scripture behind. 00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:41.900 Like, oh, read that book and I've learned from it. 00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:43.780 On to other books. 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:53.400 We are not, notice the phrase, always reforming, but rather we are always being reformed. 00:27:53.780 --> 00:27:57.240 Which means an action that's happening to us. 00:27:57.600 --> 00:28:02.240 And it connotes a standard to which we are being changed. 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:12.539 The church, the faithful church, is being acted upon by the spirit as we take up the word so that we would be changed to God's standard. 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:19.259 We are to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:22.359 Maybe more than we ever have before. 00:28:22.859 --> 00:28:27.980 But certainly it's always been true that we live in a dark place. 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:36.039 You can step out, pull your phone out of your pocket right now, and find untruth everywhere. 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:39.279 It is not a difficult thing to access. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:47.519 We have to pay attention to the lamp that's going to lead us through the darkness of this world. 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:53.180 And we're to do this until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts. 00:28:53.180 --> 00:29:00.000 In short, this is a beautiful language, but in short, he is talking about glorification. 00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:05.400 He's talking about what will happen when we reach the end of this life. 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:08.340 Which means, do we ever stop paying attention? 00:29:08.920 --> 00:29:09.799 Absolutely not. 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:13.120 We are to pay attention and to pay attention and to pay attention. 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:23.359 Because until we're glorified, until we leave behind these sinful bodies, before we leave behind this world, we will be in a dark place and we will need a lamp to guide us through. 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:29.679 So, beloved, let us not be so haughty to think that we have arrived. 00:29:31.679 --> 00:29:34.099 But what standard is that standard? 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:55.199 We should test everything by the word and be willing to change our beliefs and practices if we find ourselves inconsistent with the word. 00:29:55.200 --> 00:30:02.559 Now, note carefully that I am saying inconsistent with the word, not inconsistent with the culture. 00:30:03.860 --> 00:30:13.299 Faithful Christians have never read the Bible through the lens of their culture, but have seen the Bible as a counter-cultural agent. 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:17.380 It pushes against the wisdom of the world. 00:30:18.600 --> 00:30:21.080 It's not the natural thought pattern. 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:26.319 And it's not the natural inclination for us to think the way the scripture would have us think. 00:30:27.119 --> 00:30:29.559 We must be in the word. 00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:31.099 And we must be in it regularly. 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:32.639 And we must drink of it deeply. 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.839 And we must meditate on it. 00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:35.240 And we must memorize it. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:39.019 We should be saturated with God's word. 00:30:40.419 --> 00:30:43.939 And beloved, if you are beloved, if God has loved you in Christ, 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:52.420 why would we not love him in a way that compels us to know him in the way that he's shown himself to us, 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:56.840 the way more fully confirmed the scripture? 00:30:58.640 --> 00:31:03.440 One of my favorite doctrines of the Bible is the clarity of scripture. 00:31:04.580 --> 00:31:08.680 We can know what this book says and what it means. 00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:18.320 I am grateful that when we approach the Bible with humility, by the power of the Spirit, we can know the will of God. 00:31:19.920 --> 00:31:27.180 Throughout the church's history, the vast majority of Christians have been very simple people. 00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:29.840 They have not been high-minded people. 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:33.140 And I praise the Lord for the incredibly intelligent people that are part of the church. 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:36.940 But generally speaking, this has not been the case. 00:31:36.940 --> 00:31:47.259 People through centuries have taken up the word, read it, understood it, lived faithful lives in accord with it. 00:31:47.720 --> 00:31:53.299 You don't have to be particularly brilliant to take the word and read. 00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:59.640 Beloved, we must not stop paying attention to this word. 00:31:59.980 --> 00:32:03.519 I think this is what the Reformers would want us to hear today. 00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:08.839 I think they would look at us in our wealth of word and go, what are you doing? 00:32:09.619 --> 00:32:11.599 It is everywhere. 00:32:12.460 --> 00:32:14.980 We don't have just one good English translation. 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:18.920 We have lots of good English translations and some bad ones too. 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:22.299 But there are lots of Bible around us. 00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:27.240 So much opportunity to know God by his word. 00:32:27.240 --> 00:32:30.319 We must not think that we have it all figured out. 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:36.019 We must have our beliefs and our actions shaped by this word. 00:32:36.299 --> 00:32:45.920 We will do well to pay attention to it as a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts. 00:32:46.420 --> 00:32:47.240 Let's pray together. 00:32:47.240 --> 00:33:17.220 Let's pray together.