February 1, 2021

Have you ever told a story and had someone question if it was true? Perhaps you had accomplished something at work or during school that you were proud to tell people about, maybe you scored the winning basket in a big game, or you caught some sort of record-breaking fish. In the era of camera phones, we can now quickly capture proof of some of these accomplishments, but until the last decade or so, most people did not have a camera phone, so people have to decide if they believe what they are being told without much evidence to verify the claim. Often times our reputation will determine if they believe us. Sometimes we might be able to locate an old newspaper article about the big game back in high school, or maybe there was a witness present when the record-breaking fish was caught. But what if instead of being questioned about something that occurred in our lifetime, we are asked how we know that the Gospel is true?

Peter provides sound guidance on the truth of the Bible. “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” II Peter 1:16. Authors of the new testament were present during the life of Jesus, they saw him perform miracles and knew of his teachings. Some were even present when God spoke to Jesus. “For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” II Peter 1:17-18. Imagine the awe experienced from being present when this event occurred. “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came from the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” II Peter 1:19-21. The prophesy found in the old testament was confirmed by the life of Jesus. These prophesies would have been known by the people of the time, and the actions of Jesus fulfilled these prophesies, such that no one could dispute that they had occurred. Furthermore, Peter teaches us that no prophesy comes from men, but from God who uses the Holy Spirit to move men to speak as instructed. Therefore, Peter teaches us that we can trust the Gospel because the authors of the new testament were witnesses to Jesus’s life and actions, Jesus fulfilled prophesies, and the prophesies come from God, not men. This means that we can have confidence in the truth of the Bible and the life of Jesus!