Not from Someone’s Private Interpretation

11/29 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 26-27; 2 Peter 1; Micah 4; Luke 13

Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)

11/29 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 26-27; 2 Peter 1; Micah 4; Luke 13

2 Peter 1:20

knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture
comes from someone’s own interpretation.

PROPHECY

I’ve been to a couple of charismatic meetings here and there over the years as a missionary. There were those who attempted to quote Scripture with closed eyes and outstretched hands, proposing that those words, from God’s Word, were personal prophecies for those whom they prayed over. This had been going on since the days of Simon Peter. Concerning the supernatural, Peter was an eyewitness to the glorious voice of God the Father during the transfiguration of the Son upon the mount (2 Pet 1:17-18). Nevertheless, says Peter, “we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed,” for God’s Word is for our blessed illumination…

until the day dawns and the Morning Star arises in [our] hearts. 2 Peter 1:19

In other words, God’s Word is our sure authority; and has been given to us to exalt Jesus Christ, the Morning Star, within our hearts. Surely, all Scripture is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16), but if it doesn’t exalt Christ, the instruction of Scripture is reduced to merely a means for us to placate our guilt and attempt to justify ourselves before God by the works of our flesh. The prophetic word of Scripture came not from someone’s own interpretation, but from God Almighty— for His glory, through the exaltation of Jesus Christ. The prophetic word of Scripture is “to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing” with apostles like Simeon Peter (2 Pet 1:1). God’s Word is not primarily to make bad people good, but to make saved people more sanctified through the exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, as saved people become more sanctified through the Word of Christ (John 17:17), we who are saved may proclaim Christ from the sure word of Scripture so that lost sinners may be saved, by God’s grace, to exalt Christ with their lives. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

The Word of God must exalt Christ
Within the hearts of men,
Men sav’d by grace and made alive
To live with Christ in heav’n.