My dear readers,

(Extracts from RPG Workbook Vol II No. 12, December 1989, edited by Dr SH Tow)

1. “WE HAVE A SURE WORD” (2 PETER 1:16-21; 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17)

How can we know and accept the Scripture as God’s holy and inerrant word? This was Peter’s deep concern as he wrote today’s passage. He puts forth two main arguments.

a) We were eyewitnesses of His majesty. Peter’s message concerns the coming and power of Jesus Christ. He had witnessed miracles which no mere mortal could have done. But the one unique event he appealed to as the direct confirmation and authentication of His divinity was the Transfiguration. To him, this event was of even greater significance, surpassing miracles. For while still in the form of a servant, in a state of humiliation, God the Father declared in the sight and hearing of Peter and the sons of Zebedee, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” and while Jesus stood transfigured, “his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light” (Matt 17:2). Our Lord’s divine majesty was established beyond doubt. Peter’s message was from Him and of Him. They were not “cunningly devised fables” or “hear-say”.

b) Holy men were moved by the Holy Ghost. Peter goes on to defend the Old Testament Scripture, “a more sure word of prophecy” the fulfilment of which he and the other Apostles had witnessed in the Person of Jesus Christ. The OT prophets had foretold: “The Saviour is coming!” In the fulness of time, God sent His Son, seed of a woman, born of a virgin, as prophesied in old time. Peter and the rest had seen OT prophecy come to pass before their very eyes. And the greatest of the fulfilled miracles was the Resurrection of our Lord. The fulfilment of OT prophecy by New Testament history is God’s demonstration of the truth of both. Without a shadow of doubt, then, Peter declared: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake (and wrote) as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

QUESTION: Do you believe all the Scripture to be God’s Word?
THOUGHT: Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief.

2. FALSE TEACHERS, FALSE TEACHINGS (2 PETER 2:1-4; 1 TIMOTHY 4:1-6)

The way to God and Heaven is made known to men by a) God’s Word, and b) faithful teachers of the Word. This is God’s ordained method. The Canon of Scripture closed with the completion of the Holy Bible with its 66 books. No other books or “bibles” or “prophecies” may be added. The Bible in its present form is all-sufficient for all our needs, in “faith and life” or “doctrine and practice.” The Reformers therefore declared “SOLA SCRIPTURA” as their watchword and our safeguard against the addition of extra-scriptural material.

Our adversary the devil, with his wiles and deceit, endeavours in every age to thwart the purpose of God by attacking the Word of God. This he does by a) perverting the Word, or b) using false teachers. We see then that God’s Word is the prime target of attack by Satan throughout history, for he is the deceiver and father of lies (Jn 8:44). False teachings mislead the unwary and untaught, drawing men away from God unto everlasting destruction.

One chief method of perverting the truth is to introduce extra-biblical teachings. Many churches do this, placing extra-biblical materials (church dogmas and traditions; dreams, visions and prophecies of self-styled “prophets”) at the same level as God’s Word or above it. These are given equal or greater emphasis in the teachings of these groups and churches. Peter calls them “damnable heresies” (2 Pet 2:1); Paul, “doctrines of devils” (1 Tim 4:1).

The second method of perverting the truth is to twist or misinterpret God’s Word. Peter in 2 Peter 3:16 speaks of men who “wrest, as they do, also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” Modern theologians, some pretending to subscribe to the dictum “Sola Scriptura”, nevertheless, following their pernicious ways, interpret Scripture according to their own carnal lusts, “speaking lies in hypocrisy” (1 Tim 4:2). These men for their evil deeds bring upon themselves swift destruction.

QUESTION: Who is our teacher “par excellence?” (Jn 14:26;16:13)
PRAY: For Holy Spirit’s filling.

3. JUDGMENT AND DELIVERANCE (2 PETER 2:4-10; JUDE 14-15)

False teachers deserve the greater condemnation and punishment because by their false teachings they cause many to follow their pernicious ways to everlasting destruction. And in the cause of their activities, they “make merchandise” (2 Pet 2:3) of those who follow them, for their basic motive in promoting false teachings is covetousness. Notorious examples of such covetous types are seen in the Charismatic pastors of mega-churches and televangelists who reap huge profits from their congregations and viewers. But God’s judgment for these is sure: it is only a matter of time.

God did not spare the sinning angels; neither did He spare the wicked old world in Noah’s day nor the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha for their filthy lifestyle. While God’s judgment for these unrepentant sinners is inescapable, nevertheless God does not punish indiscriminately, for “the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2 Pet 2:9).

As we read of these accounts recorded for the warning of today’s wicked world, let us see our God as absolutely holy, just and fair. See how He hates sin even when it infects the highest and most glorious angels of heaven. These were cast into the deepest hell, held in chains of darkness, to await final judgment. If angels received such punishment, how much more the lowly mortals of earth whose sins are “bursting at the seams?” God looked down from heaven on the inhabitants of the earth and saw that “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5). But Noah and his family found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

The days of Noah are back with us. Shortly the Judge of all the earth will return. “… behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation “ (2 Cor 6:2). Let all who will, flee to Jesus Christ for salvation and deliverance.

QUESTION: Why should we not wait till Jesus comes, then repent?

God bless you dear readers.

Yours faithfully in the Saviour’s Service,
Dr SH Tow, Founding Pastor