Rooted 4 -The Taproot

For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know them and are established in the present truth... 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... And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place... for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:12-21)

The Bible is not myth but a prophetic word confirmed by eyewitnesses—the essential root of everything we believe.

Theology Always Begins With the Bible

If you ever pick up a Christian theology book—as more than a doorstop or a prop—you'll find that virtually every one begins in the same place: in the area theologians call Bibliology, the doctrine of Scripture. They begin there because the whole of the Christian faith, all that we believe and practice, is founded upon the Bible. You don't begin with the study of God the Father, of Christ, or of the Holy Spirit, because we learn about all of them in the Scriptures. So you must first establish the truth, the veracity, of the Scriptures.

And when you open such a chapter on Bibliology, within the first pages—often the first paragraphs—you'll find this very passage cited, 2 Peter 1:16-21, especially verses 20 and 21:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

This is an essential text in establishing the doctrine of the Bible. But we won't get to verses 20 and 21 for a while; let's start at verse 15.

The Bible Is the Taproot of the Christian Faith

In verse 15 Peter says, "Moreover, I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease." What is one simple but important reminder the Apostle Peter wanted those he led to keep firmly in mind? It's point number one on your outline: the Bible is the taproot of the Christian faith.

The Bible is not just important or valuable—it is essential. There is no Christian faith without the Bible. That is why theology books always begin there, and it is why so many people over the last 2,000 years have given their lives for the Scriptures, laboring to translate them so others could know God. If you're going to be a deeply rooted and fruitful follower of Jesus, you must be deeply rooted in the Bible. That means more than a sprinkling of Scripture during the 75 minutes we gather on a Sunday morning. You will never grow to your full potential in Christ by simply coming to church on Sunday. The Bible must become more of your life than just this gathering.

This is true for every Christian, including pastors, and it's easy to lose sight of. Many of us own several Bibles—different sizes, colors, translations—and in our day you can get virtually every English translation on a smartphone for free. We have more access to the Bible than any people at any time in history. Yet research over the last 15 to 20 years shows that Bible literacy in the nation with the most access has decreased substantially. You don't become deeply rooted simply by owning a Bible. It doesn't happen by osmosis. Even a Bible on your nightstand won't help. Jesus spoke of abiding in His word and His word abiding in us—spending time in it, and letting it dwell within us.

Consuming, Not Just Possessing, the Word

Before the first service this morning, a brother shared how, every week for years, he takes a passage of Scripture and memorizes it. Occasionally a coworker—he doesn't work among many believers—notices and asks, "What is that?" "I'm memorizing Scripture, because God's word needs to abide in me. It transforms how I think and live. If I'm going to be fruitful as a Christian, I need to be deeply rooted in the Bible." So do you and I. Having access isn't the same as consuming it. We need to actually spend time in this book—which is really a collection of 66 books, written by 40 authors over 1,500 years, in three languages on three continents, yet carrying one cohesive, consistent redemptive message.

This week my kids started school, and my wife bought Bibles for our two oldest, Ethan and Addison, since their school has Bible class and chapel. She asked me to write in the inside covers. I wrote: "A great man once said, this book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book." Then I copied the introduction from the Gideon Bible:

"The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, the Christian's charter... Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end... It is given to you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and remembered forever."

I believe those things are true. But again, having phenomenal access does not guarantee the Scriptures will be these things to us if we don't take time to abide in them. As a pastor this is increasingly difficult, because it's my vocation to study and teach. The temptation is to read only to prepare a message. So I keep a reminder on my phone each morning—to read the Bible simply to spend time with God, not to build a Bible study, because this is how He has revealed Himself to us.

"How Do I Know the Bible Is True?"

A few weeks ago, after teaching on the Scriptures, a family member asked if they could give my number to someone they'd brought to church. That Sunday afternoon the person texted: "I've never heard these things before, and it's amazing—but how do I know the Bible is right? How do I know it's true? Where is its authenticity?"

Peter presupposes that question. In verse 12 he says he will remind them, "though you know them and are established in the present truth." If you've followed Jesus for a while, you've heard that the Bible is the foundation of our faith—necessary, essential—and you're nodding along. But it's good to be reminded, because I don't know about you, but I forget very easily. So in verse 16 he tells us why: "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."

The New Testament Was Written by Eyewitnesses of Majesty

Point number two: the New Testament was written by eyewitnesses of majesty. The Old Testament was written by holy men of God, moved by the Spirit, who prophesied of the majesty that was to come. The New Testament was written by those who saw the fulfillment of those prophecies. What we study verse by verse at Cross Connection is not the creative writing of first-century Middle Eastern storytellers. These men did not gather and brainstorm, "How should we picture this whole Christ figure?" They didn't sit around chiseling out a script. Holy men, consecrated to God, were moved by the Spirit of God.

The Scriptures are not "cunningly devised fables." The Greek word for fables is muthos—myths. These are not myths. Throughout history great minds have tried to expose the Bible as mere myth, and many of them became followers of Jesus when they examined the evidence. About thirty years ago Josh McDowell wrote Evidence That Demands a Verdict, examining the evidence from a legal perspective. About twenty years ago Lee Strobel, the legal writer for the Chicago Tribune and not a Christian, decided to put the claims of Scripture through the legal process. He came to faith because the evidence was there, and went on to write The Case for Faith and other books. The apostles and the New Testament writers have been checked out for centuries and found truthful.

The Power and Coming of Our Lord

Peter says they made known "the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." There are at least two ways to understand "coming." It may refer to the first coming of Jesus 2,000 years ago, of which Peter, Paul, and others were eyewitnesses. Or it may refer to what the Scriptures prophetically speak of—the second coming, which has not yet happened. Either way, the Scriptures reveal the coming of God incarnate to earth. That God became a man is a heavy statement, one that must be substantiated, verified, and corroborated. So Peter says, "We did not follow cunningly devised fables, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty."

When did Peter see this? Verse 17:

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.

Peter heard the voice of God—the Excellent Glory—declaring, "This is My beloved Son." This is the Transfiguration, recorded in Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9. Peter, James, and John saw Jesus manifested in His glory and heard the Father speak. John testifies to the same in 1 John 1:1:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life... that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us.

Could it be more explicit? John says: we saw it, we heard it, we handled it, and we declare it. They were not proclaiming a story they collectively invented; they were proclaiming what they had seen and heard.

Our Faith Is in a Living and Glorious Lord

Look at Matthew 17:1:

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.

Of course Peter, the one who would answer, spoke up: "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make three tabernacles." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice came: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" In mid-sentence, God essentially says, "Peter, be quiet. Hear Him." The disciples fell on their faces in fear, but Jesus touched them, said, "Arise, do not be afraid," and they saw no one but Jesus only. Coming down, He commanded them to tell no one until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Point number three: our faith is in a living and glorious Lord. Why does Peter, some 35 to 40 years later, return to this event? Because the Christian does not follow myths fabricated by storytellers; we put our trust in the Son of the living God, whose glory was witnessed by eyewitnesses who recorded these accounts in the Scriptures. Peter not only saw Jesus transfigured, he heard the Father say, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him."

The Prophetic Word Confirmed

So what difference does that make? Verse 19:

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.

The Bible is living and powerful, authenticated in that what it says comes to pass. Notice the sequence. In Matthew 16, Jesus asked, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said, "Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." That was a prophetic word—not Peter's private interpretation. Just six days later, on the Mount of Transfiguration, the Father Himself confirmed it: "This is My beloved Son." The prophetic word given in Matthew 16:16 is confirmed in Matthew 17:5 by God Himself.

Such confirmations fill the Scriptures. If we tried to trace every prophetic utterance to its New Testament fulfillment, it would take months, even years. The first coming of Jesus alone fulfills more than 300 specific, detailed Old Testament prophecies—one document cites 355 fulfilled prophecies, enough to spend nearly a year covering one each day. The Bible declares what will happen, and it comes to pass.

The Christian Believes and Proclaims Corroborated Facts

Peter, James, John, and the rest were eyewitnesses of His majesty, seeing the fulfillment of these prophetic words. So Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:1:

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you... that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once... After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also.

Point number four: the Christian believes and proclaims corroborated facts. Not assumed stories, not presumed mythologies—verified facts. Paul says, "I declared to you, I proclaimed to you, and you believed, because we were eyewitnesses of His glory." He died on the cross, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the prophecies of Scripture. The Bible proclaimed it would happen, and they saw it come to pass.

Therefore, back in verse 19, "we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed." Parents, have you ever said something like that? "I've told you what to do; you would do well to listen." Another translation says, "you should pay close attention." The Scriptures hold prophecies confirmed and authenticated by eyewitnesses—many of whom suffered horrendous, torturous martyrdom. As they stood before their accusers and executioners, all they had to do was recant: simply say these things did not happen, and go free. Instead they said with confidence, "We have seen the risen Christ." So they were burned at the stake, disemboweled, beheaded, thrown to wild beasts, given to gladiators—standing firm in their declaration: "We have seen and heard the glory of God."

The New Living Translation says we should "pay close attention" to these things, for "you must pay attention as you would to a lamp shining in a dark place." May this light, shining in a dark world, ignite a light in our hearts to guide us through the darkness until the day dawns and Christ returns. These prophetic utterances proclaim both the first and the second coming.

The Christian Awaits the Second Coming

Someone will say, "It's been 2,000 years—you still really believe He's coming again?" Turn to 2 Peter 3:1:

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle... that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets... knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."

Did Peter not nail it? Are we not living in such a time, as in many other times over the last 2,000 years, when people mockingly ask, "Where is the sign of His coming?" Many in our own nation and spheres of influence are ashamed to say they follow Jesus, fearing mockery: "You really believe those things? We're so progressive—it's the 21st century, with instant communication and scientific understanding—and you believe this? What kind of simpleton are you? Is the earth still flat?" And so many are backed into a corner to stay quiet. In the last days they will say, "Where is the sign of His coming?"

But verse 8:

Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

Point number five: the Christian awaits the power and second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It hasn't been long at all to the eternal God. He is not slow—He is patient, not willing that any should perish.

Scripture Is God-Breathed and Profitable

How can we be certain? Verse 20:

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

These prophetic words were not the will of man—not educated guesses men postulated so people might believe them. No prophecy comes by private interpretation. Those consecrated to God were moved by His Spirit to write things confirmed hundreds of years before their fulfillment. We believe and proclaim truths that have been verified, and those who investigate the claims of Christ on the basis of evidence find again and again that this is not blind faith or wishful thinking, but trust in things that can be corroborated.

So Paul writes in 2 Timothy 3:16: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God"—it is God-breathed—and because it is God-breathed, it is useful for four things, so that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. First, doctrine: Scripture tells us what is true and right, according to reality as God set it in place. Second, reproof: it's like a GPS. You put in your destination, and the line appears showing the right way. Then, in that pleasant British voice, it says, "Recalculating"—which, in plain American terms, means, "You're on the wrong path." Scripture sets the line of what is correct and shows us where we're out of it. Third, correction: it shows us how to get back to the line. And finally, instruction in righteousness: how to stay on the line until the day dawns when we stand in God's presence.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Someone objects, "But I'm on this other way." That's fine—it's a way to somewhere, but not the way to the Father. So the Scriptures show us the line, reprove our inconsistencies, correct our wrong ways, and keep us on the path. God's word is good.

Closing Prayer

Father, I thank You for Your word. May it become to us alive and powerful, more necessary than our daily food. As we hide Your word in our hearts, cause it to direct our steps, that we would walk in ways pleasing to You. Direct our steps by the light of Your word, bringing us ever closer to Your presence. And Lord, as we live in a culture becoming more and more like the one in which the early apostles lived—a culture against You and Your word, that scoffs at resurrecting power—I pray we would not be ashamed of the gospel, for it is Your power unto salvation to everyone who believes. Help us not to shy from the truth, but to declare boldly, by the power of Your Spirit, that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. We praise You, Jesus.

If you have never put your trust in Jesus for salvation, know that Christ came 2,000 years ago to die for our sins according to the prophetic Scriptures. He died on the cross, was buried in the tomb, and three days later rose again, seen by witnesses who declared that His word is true. If you'd like to receive His grace and forgiveness today, it's a free gift He offers as you put your trust in Him. Pray with me: Dear Jesus, I recognize that I have failed, that I am on the wrong path. I pray that You would come into my life, forgive me of my sin, direct my steps, and help me to follow You by faith. In Jesus' name, amen.