Power Eyewitness

Power 

Eyewitness

The disciples of Jesus Christ thought Christ would return in their life time

Since that time many have become concerned

about what they heard about His coming

Others have predicted falsely

Peter gives us two safe guards

  Stick with the eyewitness accounts

Stick with the prophecy of Scripture

These two must agree with each other

We must hold on to

“the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”

Until He comes

Eyewitness

One of the most powerful ways to understand

something you have not seen is

from the testament of an eyewitness.

Peter in 2 Peter 1:16 says he was one

of the eyewitnesses of Jesus Christ.

Peter was martyred around 68AD by Nero.

This puts his writing within the time span of Jesus.

It also was a long time ago for us, almost 2000 years.

For you and I to talk to Peter and

any other eyewitnesses is impossible.

There are many who have spent a lot of

time researching the claims of the eyewitnesses.

There are those who claim the eyewitnesses are false as

well as those who give credibility to the eyewitnesses.

    

One such man is J. Warner, a California

Detective, who handled cold cases for years

and is well recognized for his work.

 

J. Warner has written a book

“COLD-CASE CHRISTIANITY”.

 He reviews the evidence for the reliability of

the New Testament’s eyewitness accounts with the

criteria used in his profession to handle cold cases.

  

It is people like this I will defer to for the details.

Peter gives us several things to determine the truth

about “the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”.

I believe the disciples of Jesus Christ who were

eyewitnesses thought Jesus would return in their life time.

As Peter came to the end of his life time and saw

Steven martyred and the persecution of the saints

 he realized the verbal witness needs to be written.

   

Peter says…

 

“We did not follow cleverly invented stories”

The matter of the power and coming of Jesus

Christ is not a fairytale or wishful thinking.

Even though Peter saw the coming

of Christ would not be in his life time…

He wrote later in 2 Peter about

the Lord’s coming. Chapter 3…

Peter not only say he is an

eyewitness but he says “of His Majesty”.

Peter not only is saying he walked with Jesus

but refers to the Mount of Transfiguration…

Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35

Where he, James and John

heard God, the Father declare…

 "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

At that time the three disciples kept this to themselves.

Who would have believed them

 until Christ rose from the dead.

Peter not only says believe

because of the eyewitness but because…

“we have the word of the prophets made more certain”

Peter is saying what he says had

to line up with the Word of God.

“no prophecy of Scripture came about

 by the prophet's own interpretation.”

Many have seen things in dreams and

visions and in reality, but what is

seen must line up with God’s Word.

“The power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ”

is true.

If we want the truth we must listen to the

eyewitness accounts and the prophecy of Scripture.

These two will safe guard us

from “cleverly invented stories”.

Don’t be deceived - Don’t give up.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,

as some understand slowness.

He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to

perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

                                                                        

Scripture Reading

2 Peter 1:16-21 NIV

16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."   18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.