Introduction: Two weeks ago we discussed why we can have confidence
that Jesus is God. This week Peter returns to this topic. Why? Does
it seem odd to you that Peter should spend so much time proving his
belief in Jesus? It might seem odd thousands of years later, but at
the time, this was the key to conversion – making the case that
Jesus, a man who lived on earth and who was crucified by the
authorities, was also fully God. It still is the central issue in
bringing nonbelievers to faith. Let’s explore Peter’s arguments to
bolster our faith today and learn how we can best share Jesus!
- The Voice
- Read 2 Peter 1:16. Recall our discussion of the Da Vinci
Code? We discussed whether the gospels were “invented”
stories about the divinity of Jesus. We also learned that
Peter was a strong proponent of the divinity of Jesus.
Thus, we might ask the same thing about Peter, did he
invent these stories? What does Peter write about invented
stories about Jesus? (He denies that he was misled by
clever stories. Clearly, Peter admits this is an issue,
but he thinks that people will believe that he was misled,
not that he is misleading others.) - What does that say about Peter’s state of mind about
misleading others? (It has not crossed his mind that
people would think that he is making this up.
Apparently, no one suggested that to him.) - How does Peter refute the idea that he was misled by
clever stories? (He says he did not get this
information second-hand. No, he was an eye-witness to
the majesty of Jesus.) - Read 2 Peter 1:17 and Matthew 17:4-5. Who does Peter say
endorsed the divinity of Jesus? (God the Father. Peter
heard it!) - Notice the timing in Matthew 17:5. God interrupted
Peter when He called Jesus His Son. Peter remembers
the interruption! - Let’s read the context. Read Matthew 17:1-6. If you
were Peter, and were arguing for the divinity of
Jesus, would you simply say, I heard “this voice …
from heaven?” (No! I would tell the entire amazing
story. It would promote Jesus and it would promote
me!) - What do we learn from the fact that Peter
refrains from telling this entire story?
(Clearly, Peter is not exaggerating or
overstating the proof for Jesus.) - Read 2 Peter 1:18. Does Peter have others who will
corroborate his story? (He says “We ourselves heard this
voice.” We learned from Matthew 17 that James and John
were also there.) - Assume you were a lawyer organizing Peter’s proof. What
would you say are the important points of proof? (Peter
both heard and saw Jesus’ majesty. He heard the voice of
God claiming Jesus was His Son. God endorsed what Jesus
was doing. Peter has corroborating witnesses. The way
Peter relays the story seems truthful truth. He refrains
from exaggerating and stating details that would bolster
his own reputation.) - The Prophecy.
- Read 2 Peter 1:19. What other proof does Peter assert for
the divinity of Jesus? (The prophets of the Old
Testament.) - Let’s look at some of these. Read Psalms 22:1 and Psalms
22:16-18. Does this sound familiar to you? (Read Matthew
27:37-46 and Luke 24:36-39. It was typical that the person
crucified was nailed to the cross through the hands and
feet. Jesus told His followers to look at His hands and
feet because they showed his crucifixion scars.) - Read Zechariah 12:10, Isaiah 53:5, and Isaiah 53:10. How
do these forecast what happened to Jesus at the cross?
(I’ve recited just a few of the prophecies that point to
the life of Jesus.) - Look again at 2 Peter 1:19, but this time let’s focus on
the second part of the text. What analogy does Peter make
to our understanding of how the prophecies forecast the
life of Jesus? (He compares it to sunrise.) - How is that an apt comparison? (As people studied the
prophecies, and compared them with the recorded
events of Jesus’ life, their understanding kept
growing and growing. Finally, they could “see” how
Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and how
He fulfilled the Old Testament sacrificial system.) - Read 2 Peter 1:20-21. Peter is engaged in an argument
about Jesus being the Messiah. What argument is he
countering here? (The idea that the Old Testament
prophecies were simply the ideas of humans. Peter tells us
that the Holy Spirit placed these prophecies in the minds
of the prophets.) - Why is this point important? (It shows that the
coming of Jesus was a divine plan. Hundreds of years
before Jesus came to earth as a human, God inspired
prophets to write about Jesus’ coming and His death.) - Notice the means by which the Old Testament
prophecies were written. Does this indicate that the
Holy Spirit dictated the words of the prophecies?
(Peter writes about the “will of men.” He seems to
tell us that the Holy Spirit operated on the
prophet’s “will.” They then wrote (“spoke”) as the
Holy Spirit “carried along” their will.) - Read 2 Timothy 3:14-15. This is Paul writing to Timothy (2
Timothy 1:1-2). On what basis does Paul say that Timothy
should continue in the faith? (The credibility of those
who have taught him, the gospel decisions he has made, and
what he reads in the Bible.) - Do you see the similarities in the arguments for
belief in Jesus made by both Peter and Paul? - Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. “God-breathed” is a very unusual
term. What do you think it means? (Barnes’ Notes
translates the idea as “breathing upon, or breathing into
the soul.”) - Read Genesis 2:7. Does this help you to better
understand the expression that the Scripture is “God-breathed?” (It does for me. God animated Adam with
His breath. He became alive with God’s breath. The
Scripture is animated with the Spirit of God. I don’t
think that God dictated the Bible and the writers
simply wrote down what God said. Rather, I think the
writers of the Bible were inspired by the Holy
Spirit. The thoughts of God came alive as He breathed
through the writers the text of the Scripture.) - Now, let’s circle back to 2 Peter 1:21 and re-read
it. How does this confirm Peter’s argument that
prophecy is a reason to believe that Jesus is God?
(Those prophecies originated in the power of God.
Just as God gave Adam life, so God gives life to the
prophecies pointing to Jesus.) - Friend, are you convinced about Jesus? Do you believe that
He was sent from God, became a man, lived and died to take
away our sins, and now has returned to His Father in
heaven to be Ruler over all? - Next week: False Teachers.
