Remembering Truth

Introduction

Senior moments. Have you had any? I’m not sure when that phrase came into our culture but it is used to describe those times when you have a lapse in thoughts. It is easily seen in older adults, but all of us can have them. You are talking and then you forget the point; or you enter into a room and think “what did I come in here for?” Memory is such a precious gift.

But memory is not always accurate. As time passes, events that were profound at one time begin to dim. We can’t remember when events took place. We ponder and reflect and say something like “I think that happened 2 or 3 years ago.” We see pictures from decades ago and wonder who the people are in the photo. How could we forget?

We need regular reminders or we will forget. Our Lord’s Supper provides such a remembrance. We eat this common meal each week. We celebrate our relationship with God and with each other but it also serves to remind us of our allegiance and direction in life. We need reminders. But our memories are not always accurate. What we need is something which serves to remind us that is accurate. Peter suggested such in the section we will look at this morning. Writing to people who were being inundated with false teaching, Peter encourages these readers to remember what he had taught them. In fact, he was going to make sure that they had an accurate record of what he had taught them. What he was going to do was make sure they had something that was objectively true. Then false teaching could be ignored and refuted. Let’s continue with remembering what Jesus has done for us.

The Text

Although Peter’s readers are well established in truth, Peter knows that he will not be around to insure that the truth will remain established. As a good spiritual father, Peter wants to leave a legacy of spiritual truth and vitality to his readers. He knows that false teachers are trying to infiltrate into their groups. He knows that these false teachers are extremely persuasive. He knows that without a solid foundation, they will be easily swayed. So he begins this section by saying that he will always remind them of these things. “These things” probably refers back to the preceding verses.

They already know these things, but Peter’s concern that they will not always have him around makes him want to leave something that is more permanent. He knows his time on this earth is quickly coming to a close. So in verse 15, he wants to leave them something that will “always” be able to help them remember. What could he have in mind? Some believe that he is talking about this letter and that could well be true. But others believe that he is talking about something more substantial. Some believe that he is talking about his collaboration with Mark on the gospel account. At the end of Peter’s first letter in 5:13, Mark is with Peter in Rome. Perhaps this is Peter’s more permanent solution.

Peter goes on to explain that his memories are based on eyewitness events. He saw Jesus. He talked with Jesus. He learned from Jesus. In particular, Peter mentions the Transfiguration as “the” event of his time with Jesus. It was at the Transfiguration that Peter heard the voice of God; he saw the glory of Jesus. Such persuaded him about who Jesus was. In Mark’s gospel, Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ in Mark 8 is followed by the account of the Transfiguration in chapter 9. This is set up to reveal confirmation of Peter’s confession.

In addition to his leaving something permanent and his eyewitness accounts, Peter reminds his readers that they have the words of the prophets to support their understanding of truth. Peter has in mind something beyond just prophetic writings. We might use the phrase the Old Testament. The writings which these readers have Peter says did not come for the mind of men but from the initiative and direction of the Holy Spirit. Peter is affirming that the Scriptures are true and trustworthy. These then are the sources of truth for these readers:

Peter’s permanent writing — the gospel of Mark

Peter’s eyewitness accounts.

Scripture — the Old Testament

Application

Peter’s concern that his readers remain firmly established in truth should make us aware of the importance of truth in our own lives. Peter establishes that truth can be found in eyewitness events and Scripture. Peter was an eyewitness and his recording of those events through the gospel of Mark are reliable as are the Old Testament Scriptures. If we want to know truth then what we call our Bible is the basis for truth. Unfortunately, we do not spend as much time in the Bible as we need to. No other writing has been scrutinized in the same way as the Bible. Generation after generation have dissected it; thought critically about it; sought for inconsistencies; tried to highlight things that are not understood; and through it all, Scripture has remained intact. Our Bibles are highly reliable.

But too many do not believe in the reliability of Scripture. In fact, many believe personal truth is all that matters. Peter is has more than a passing interest in believers being firmly established in the truth. Sociologist Robert Bellah wrote a book many years ago entitled “Habits of the Heart.” In that book he tells of one of the hundreds of interviews he conducted. A woman named Sheila said, “I believe in God. I can’t remember the last time I went to church. But my faith has carried me a long way. It’s ‘Sheila-ism.’ Just my own little voice.” This is what pervades our culture. We search for truth that pleases; that finds its basis in feelings; rationality is left to the philosophy majors.

We begin sentences with “I feel that…” and conclude with “I don’t see how God could…” It is our feelings that have become the basis for truth rather than Scripture. It is like the man who asks “how many legs does a cow have?” “What if we call the cow’s tail a leg. Now how many legs does a cow have?” “Five?” “No, the cow still has four legs. Calling a tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.”

Calling things good when they are evil doesn’t make them good. When we find truth in our own actions and minds instead of the reliable Scriptures we will soon fall into error. If we are not spending time with Scriptures then we will give our minds and hearts to our own subjective thoughts. Too often what happens is that people reject the Bible not because of its supposed contradictions, but because the Bible contradicts them. We make up our mind to do things the way we want to and then we ignore the source of truth — the Scriptures. Invitation.

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