God's Word is Essential - II Peter 1:12-21

You can read it regularly or starve to death spiritually!

I have been attempting to teach God’s word from the level of teen-agers through adults for over sixty years. Baptist study guides are prepared to take us through the bible from Genesis to Revelation once every eight years. That means that I have gone over the same scriptures at least seven times. Admittedly we sometimes cover more than one chapter in a lesson, but one would think that this would amount to at least three or four times of thorough study. Truthfully I tell you that I am learning more new things about his word than ever before. I often wonder and ask; “How have I missed something so important for so many years?”

Very often just a little knowledge helps to reveal new and additional understanding each time you study the word—the more you know—the more you will learn and the possibility for learning is inexhaustible. The word tells us that we are not to know and understand all things here and now and that there will always be new revelations as we return to study the bible anew. The bible promotes regular and detailed study as being necessary in the life of a Christian; God’s word teaches that we are to study to show ourselves approved in the sight of God.

Every time I hear a church member dismiss Sunday school as if they had already learned all there is to know I think about all of these years of my continuous study and wonder if I have been a slow learner. Some will actually say that they have never needed to study the bible—or that they no longer feel a need to study. Parents such as these are the ones that will drop their children off at church for bible study telling them it is important—and then return later to pick them up with their actions proving that they do not believe what they said about it’s importance. Their actions speak louder than their words—and it becomes clear that their peers and today’s culture has shaped their lives with much more results than bible study has. Any child born into a poverty stricken home will suffer, and may starve to death. Any child, regardless of the amount of wealth in the home that is denied the privilege of study in God’s word will spiritually suffer and may die a sinner’s death. Listen to me…eat nourishing food or die physically—study the bible and pray or die spiritually. The bible—God’s instructions to and for man—is essential.

In olden times God spoke to his people through dreams, visions, angels, audibly and at least one time through a donkey—but today he speaks through his written word. He talks to each of us through the bible and he offers new insights when we study it reverently and with expectation. The bible applies to all people, however it has personal messages in it for each individual and it requires careful study and prayer for the bible to speak to you personally. One thing is for sure…it will never speak to you if you never take time to open the pages…read the words…and apply them to your own needs. Do you ever feel depressed? Find and read a list of the “Promises of God” realizing that each one applies to you individually. Believe and trust God and then call your Shrink and tell him/her that you will not need another appointment.

The salvation story of Jesus Christ for sinful man has been misunderstood and misinterpreted in so many ways that it stands in its own way of being accepted. With all of the testimony written by eye-witnesses and recorded in the sixty-six books of the bible available in our home libraries…the problem should not be as great as it has become in recent years. When Peter was writing his two books, very little if any of the Holy Bible was available for personal study in the homes. About one half of the New Testament had not been written and all that was completed still remained in crude, hand written scrolls that were still just single copies, available only to the author and his few close friends and church leaders.

I have read that the apostles [and other knowledgeable spiritual writers] wrote other books that were not included in our bible when it was canonized. This does not mean that these other books would contain false teaching, it was just necessary to reduce the amount of books that were available into one book—the bible. God inspired the authors of the bible and the message is without error.

Men canonized the scripture. [That means that man decided what would be included and what would be left out of the final pages of the Bible.] God spiritually inspired those men to include everything that was necessary for man to know; and he also inspired them to remove, or leave out, everything that God did not want man to know. The fact that is so important and that relates to our study in Peter today is that there were many false profits and false teachers that were teaching and writing at the same time and their conflicting teaching was already causing trouble in the Christian Church.

The greatest problem with the false teachers was that they would single out some of the fundamental and absolutely necessary teachings of the apostles and deny necessary truths and also add unnecessary false concepts. These differences were very important to the faith. Some of the arguments regarded core issues such as: 1. the two covenants; 2. legalism or law vs. grace and faith; 3. Christ being both man and God or physical and spiritual; 4. resurrection or life after death; 5; hell and heaven. Peter and the other writers addressed these problems directly and with passion. False teachers were probably the greatest stumbling block in the way of Christian progress. That has not changed greatly.

Without calling any names of the different churches…just think with me for a few moments about some of the key differences taught by different dominations. This conflict in teaching has caused confusion among people…confusion to the point that many do not believe in and join any church because they are not sure which one is right. Here are just a few of the different teachings that are confusing. 1. How to be saved, that is, the exact steps that are absolutely necessary; 2. Is baptism absolutely essential; 3. Sprinkle or immerse? 4. Lord’s Supper required or optional; 5. Wine and bread symbols or do they turn into flesh and blood; 6. How, when and what are the results of receiving the Holy Spirit; Speaking in other tongues.

7. Belief/disbelief in physical healing; 8. Who intercedes for man? Is intercession individual and personal or does it require another person; 9. Abortion; 10. Women in leadership roles; 11. And one of the last is homosexual acceptance. In the lesson today, Peter tried to steer the congregation back to correct theology. We must KNOW THE TRUTH! How? The answer to this question is the one that makes bible study so important, because the only way you will ever know the truth is for you to study the materials written in red letters [by Christ] and the rest of the inspired word of God. The most important expression—BY FAITH—comes into play here…because you must BELIEVE the word to be absolute truth.

The lesson title today is “God’s Word is Essential.” I was tempted at the beginning of the lesson simply to tell you that truth—and then just end the lesson by stating that you must accept the word by faith or close the Bible and go fishing.
Some who are not interested in regular bible study; and maybe not even be interested in the weekly lesson at Sunday school, will probably say that they have heard the same thing over and over and feel that they already know what is being taught. Peter addressed this in verse twelve. He says it is important that people be reminded even though they already know the entire bible well and are firmly established in its teachings. Have you ever known a parent of an outstanding athlete that will argue with the coach that his son does not need to practice the basics any more…because he has already done that for three years? “Coach, my son is always high point man in every game, he blocks more shots than any other guard you have; and he leads the team in steals and assists—I want you to excuse him from all practice sessions during his senior year.” Will this fly with the coach? No. And it doesn’t please God when anyone refuses to practice the reading of his word.

Peter knew that his life would soon end…Christ had made it plain to him…but even though he had only a short time left, it was best that he spend that time teaching God’s word. He was martyred for his faith in about AD 68 and was placed on the cross head down at his own request. I wonder what percentage of Baptist believers would die for their faith if they were given the opportunity to renounce their faith and live. It is a frightening thing to think that the majority of the people on earth today would make this demand of Americans if they were in power.

You will find one of the strongest statements regarding the inspiration of Scripture in verses sixteen through eighteen. Peter is referring to the transfiguration where Jesus’ divine identity was revealed to him [Peter and the other disciples]. The others confirmed the same truth. Did all of the apostles lie? If they did lie, would they have all told the same story? Listen, Peter was there…Peter was an eye witness…and he confirms that our God is real! He is! And forever will be!