From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part 9 of a series. Read part 8.

Peter and John, two of the eyewitnesses of Christ's transfiguration, both testify to the sinless perfection of Jesus Christ.

In our study of Jesus Christ, The Holy One of Israel, we now come to the last of the earthly testimonies of His sinless perfection recorded in Scripture, the words of the apostles Peter and John. They, along with James, had been with Jesus on the mountain where His glory, for thirty-three years cloaked in human flesh, was for a brief period opened up before them.

Witnesses of the Transfiguration

John writes of the absolute holiness of the Son of God - all of light, nothing of darkness in Him:

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 - the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us - that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:1-5)

Peter writes of the scene on the mountain:

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. 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.

The Facts Verify Prophecy

And so, Peter continues,

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 by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:16-21)

The Bible is a book of history - the only infallible record of history. Peter is stating that the facts of history verify prophecy: The One who came into this world, taking on the form of a servant to dwell among men, live the perfect life they could not live, and to die the death they deserved to die, is indeed the promised Holy One of Israel. He "committed no sin, either was deceit found in His mouth" (1 Peter 2:22). "And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin" (1 John 3:5).

What do these things mean for the saints of God living in this present evil world? Theses apostles tell us two things specifically.

The Christian's Anointing From the Holy One

First, John tells us that we must beware of false Christs, and that the Lord Himself has equipped His true saints with discernment:

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. (1 John 2:18-23)

Believers have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, sent by Christ the Holy One (John 16:7). The Spirit gives those who rely upon and submit to Him the discernment to "test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).

"Be Holy, Because I Am Holy"

Secondly, Peter declares that because Christ is the Holy One, we His people are to be holy. He begins his first epistle by reminding Christians of the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Holy One of Israel in the first coming of Christ:

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - things which angels desire to look into.

Because we have the prophetic word of the coming of the Holy One now confirmed by His first coming, Peter says,

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind [literally, have your minds always ready for spiritual action], be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:10-16)

Next - Revelation: The Final Triumph of the Holy One

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