“For we did not follow cleverly devised myths 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, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,’ we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on)the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1:16-18)
These days as we access the various media that surrounds us, we hear and read a lot of messages and reports claiming to be the truth. What passes for truth in the world, however, is often a chaotic conglomeration of opinion, lies, speculation, and emotional ranting. Christians who feast on a steady diet of such a melange can become discouraged, fearful, disobedient, and even fall away from the Lord.
The apostle Peter reveals to us that truth is the Word of God conveyed by the church of Jesus Christ. Peter could not foresee the present chaos we are in, but the world he lived in was quite as wicked and violent as is ours. Knowing that the time of his death was approaching, he desired to impart some final words of exhortation and teaching to his fellow believers. He warned them to be wary of false teachers, a problem that plagued the Church from almost the very beginning. The words of the message proclaimed by false teachers arose not from the heart and mind of God, but out of the false prophet’s mind or imagination. However, believers can be sure of the divine origin and authority of the gospel which he and the other apostles preached to them because they received the gospel from Jesus Himself. He had beheld Jesus’ divine glory at His transfiguration. Jesus is not only Savior he is the Son of God, God incarnate.
And so Peter exhorted them to grow in Christ and hold fast to the truth of the gospel. He reminded them that they already possessed everything they needed to discern the truth as well as to expose and respond to false teachings. They had the Holy Spirit.
God’s word is divine and our ultimate authority. As long as the church preaches His word it teaches the very words of God. As long as believers know the truth of the gospel and hold fast to it they are safe from error. But this knowledge does not come automatically nor does spiritual maturity. Although believers possess all the necessary resources they need to live and grow in Christ, growth requires their active and energetic participation. As Christians we must actively study the word of God for it will show us the light of truth which can be applied to every situation, trial, or temptation we or others will face.