2 Peter 1:20 (ESV)
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.
Chemtiz follows up in Chapter 8 on something that is important and lost in many of today’s theological discussions, especially regarding the sacraments. Over and over again when discussing Baptism and the Lord’s Supper with fundamentalists I run into what can only be regarded as contempt for God’s word. They talk about inerrancy and inspiration of the Bible, but then are completely content to ignore what is says. All to often the idea comes in that one interpretation is just as valid as another interpretation, even when those interpretations contradict each other. Faith in what the word says is no longer as important as believing that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant word of God. But what does that matter if we are willing to take such a cavalier attitude with His word, and not bother to find out if we are wrong or right concerning what He tells us.
In fact this is what has led to liberalism in the church. In denying the miraculous in the sacraments, the way was opened to deny miracles and the veracity of scripture. If God cannot make his body present in the Lord’s Supper; if God cannot impart faith and regenerate a sinful baby, then obviously walking on water, and a virgin birth are impossible also. Then all we have is true statements about morality, which even Aristotle was able to discern. Then the law, and not the resurrection, our morality, and not the forgiveness of sins, become the basis for our salvation. The veil of Moses, is once again thrown over the eyes of would be Christians, who read the scriptures because in them they think they have eternal life, and do not realize that these are they that testify concerning Christ, in whom we have eternal life.
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