Facts Not Fables: The Certain Foundation of The Faith! 2 Peter1:16-21

The Transfiguration of Our Lord                      21-January-2024

Sermon Text: 2 Peter 1:16-21

Sermon Theme: "Facts Not Fables: The Certain Foundation of The Faith!" I. They Saw Jesus’ Glory! (Vs.16). II. They Heard The Father’s Voice! (Vs.17-18) III. The Spirit of Truth Brought them to Know Jesus In His Word! (Vs.19-21) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..." why does God the Holy Spirit begin the Scriptures with these words? History begins with creation. The lie of pre-historic times is a fable. Man-made fiction following Satan's lie, "Has God indeed said..." It’s fanciful fiction. Inventing 'Nebraska man from a fossilized pig's tooth.' It is a deadly fiction, viewing human life as disposable babies as accidents to be slaughtered if they aren't convenient to what we want at the moment. We have slaughtered over 63 million unborn children in the U.S. since 1973. Although two years ago our Supreme Court removed the murder of the unborn as a "right" under our U.S. Constitution. We have seen Ohio enshrine the right to murder the unborn in their state constitution. Illinois protects the murder of unborn babies up to the point of birth. Michigan protects the murder of the unborn by-law. Indiana and Kentucky remain states committed to protection of human life from the moment of conception. The Lie endorses murder. Jesus teaches us Satan has been a Liar and Murderer from the beginning. When he speaks a lie, he speaks is from his own resources - he is the father of lies.

     How did our country choose the culture of death, mutilation, and the lie? It's roots could be traced to our own denominational wars in that began in the 40's. Students of German universities that taught rationalism began to influence the thinking of the Missouri Synod. Professors at our St. Louis Seminary began questioning the historical accuracy of the Holy Bible. They denied that the first 11 chapters of Genesis were historical, instead they classified them as mythological. Soon they denied the book of Jonah, and finally questions many, if not all, the miracles of Jesus. They reduced the Gospel to merely saying, 'I believe in Jesus" with no need to subscribe to the accurate confession of Him as God/Man in Christendom's historic Creeds. If not for the lay people of our Synod being woken up to the false teaching at our seminary and colleges through faithful publications like "Christian News" our synod would've lost the Scriptures. Our synod in convention began an investigation into the false doctrine taught at our St. Louis Seminary and many of our colleges. On February 19th, 1974 the liberal professors and many of the student body walked -out of the seminary. They would go on to form the "Seminary In Exile" or "Seminex" for short.

     What does this have to do with "Life Sunday"? The Christian Church in America sold out God’s Word for modernism. They exchanged the truth for the lie. Instead of protecting the gift of sex for marriage, birth-control, encouraged adultery. The Church remained silent as the gift of children was trashed. Soon no-fault divorce was enshrined in state, then federal laws. The Church remained silent while marriage and the family were destroyed. It wouldn't be long until abortion with no limits was declared a "constitutional right" by the supreme court - women and children were attacked their lives desecrated and overall the church remained silent - or claimed it was a Roman Catholic issue - not a concern for all of Christendom. Satan - the murderer and liar from the beginning destroyed marriages, children, families, the innocence of generations, and the life of unborn babies. False doctrine destroys bodies and souls! False doctrine destroys congregations and communities.

      Today as we celebrate this historically accurate account of Jesus' Divine nature shining though His Human nature on the mount of Transfiguration, let us repent and learn the apostle Peter, "Facts Not Fables: The Certain Foundation of The Faith!" I. They Saw Jesus’ Glory! (Vs.16). II. They Heard The Father’s Voice! (Vs.17-18) III. The Spirit of Truth Brought them to Know Jesus In His Word! (Vs.19-21)

I. On the shores of the Sea of Galilee our risen Lord told Peter, Joh 21:18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." Then the Apostle John adds, Joh 21:19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." Peter would glorify God by preaching the truth of Jesus even before Nero. Tradition informs us that he choose to be crucified upside down to honor Jesus in 64A.D.. Peter didn’t know when he would be martyred - executed for giving eyewitness evidence of Jesus the God/Man Savior. He writes his second epistle to record what Jesus had taught him, so his congregations when he was gone would know the truth.

    Listen! (Vs.16) Peter, James, John and the other apostles were not making up stories about Jesus. Eyewitness evidence when corroborated by three or more separate people would stand up in any court of law. These men saw Jesus’ power. He raised the dead. Healed the sick. Calmed storms. Restored sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. They were eyewitnesses of His crucifixion - John stood at the foot of His cross. They saw, touched, handled His risen flesh that still bore the marks of our salvation. Luke, the medical doctor, testified “Act 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Christianity is based on historical eyewitness evidence. As Paul wrote, “1Co 15:14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” There were over 500 eyewitnesses of the crucified and risen Jesus when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 15 - many still alive.

    The power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Truth - He is the Truth! Peter, James, and John saw Jesus’ majesty and laid down their lives witnessing to the Truth. James the first Apostle to be martyred by King Herod. Peter martyred by Nero. John would witness through old age of Jesus until he fell asleep.

    Do not let the Liar stop you from telling others about Jesus. Speak what the apostles saw and testify - their evidence hasn’t been refuted - many who have tried to expose them as frauds have been converted through their witness.

II. Peter, James, and John saw Jesus’ flesh shining as bright as the sun. Not like Moses’ face whose skin reflected God’s glory. Jesus’ Godhead shone through His flesh - once His conception took place by the Holy Spirit through His Promised preached to the Virgin - He ever remains the God/Man. The only Mediator between God and mankind - the only Way to the Father.

    All three men heard God the Father’s voice! (Vs.17-18) The Man Jesus received honor and glory as the Father spoke to His only begotten Son from His eternal throne room. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!” James and John had been with John the Baptizer when Jesus stepped into the waters of our baptism to absorb all of humanities sin into His innocent flesh. They heard God the Father speak these words over His only begotten Son - there He began His path to crucifixion to save us sinners. Now Moses and Elijah appear talking to Jesus - Heaven and earth are reunited in their Creator. St. Luke tells us that they speak of His exodus which He is about to accomplish in Jerusalem. He is the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world. He will offer His holy precious blood and His innocent suffering and death to rescue you from the slavery of sin, deliver you from Satan’s lie, purchase you back from death to life in Him!

    God the Father speaks from the bright shining cloud of His glory. Peter, James, and John fall down like dead men before His voice. The mountain is holy - Jesus is there - God the Father testifies of His Son - they hear! It isn’t that we invent words to find God - He reveals Himself in His only-begotten Son. “Hear Him!” He commands!

    Never stop inviting people to come to church with you. Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the message of Christ! Those who belong to God hear God’s Word - daily - not only on Sunday. This past Friday, January26, the Church celebrated the Confession of St. Peter. Before the mount of Transfiguration Jesus ask His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Remember Peter’s response? Mat 16:16-19 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (17) Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. (18) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Peter would falter when Jesus told him that it was necessary to suffer and die as the Christ. Learn from Peter to remain in the Father’s Word - to Hear Jesus!

III. Where can we hear Jesus? Mystics want a spiritual experience apart from God’s written Word. Don’t fall into Satan’s trap - God has said what He means and means what He says in His written Word - the Holy Bible. Hear Him! (Vs.19-21) The Holy Bible though written through the pen of sixty-six different men has only one Author - God the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of Truth - the Comforter.

        God is the Author of language - He spoke our world into existence - He reveals Himself in His written Word. Moses and Elijah wrote about Jesus, His passion, His resurrection, His glory. Listen to Jesus preaching in the Temple: Joh 5:37-47 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. (38) But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. (39) You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. (40) But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. (41) "I do not receive honor from men. (42) But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. (43) I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. (44) How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? (45) Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. (46) For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. (47) But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

       Never follow your feelings, your reason, your senses when studying the Holy Spirit’s Word. Let God the Holy Spirit teach you of Jesus - you don’t make up your own interpretation - but confess - what does God’s Word say! The Holy Bible isn’t myth it is Truth! Hear Him! Speak the Truth! Satan always seeks to steal God’s Word away and murder the innocent. Stand and confess - His Word is Truth! Amen.