2 Peter 1:12

2 Peter 1:12 says, Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.  Peter said that he would continually remind his fellow believers about the truth of the gospel, even though he knew that they knew it.  As followers of Christ, we can never forget that He died for us and we are to live for Him.  We can never allow lies or distortions to come into truth of the gospel.  Verse thirteen adds, Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  Peter said that he felt that as long as he lived that it was his responsibility to keep his fellow believers stirred up in the gospel.  The tabernacle was a reference to Peter's earthly body, which is the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit if we are followers of Christ.  Verse fourteen continues, Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.  Peter knew that he soon would die, just as Jesus Christ had died physically.  We can be certain of one thing, and that is that either in death or the second coming, we will put this old body off.  Verse fifteen states, Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.  Matthew Henry says this refers to why Peter was writing this.  I believe that inspired by God, Peter did not want them to have to rely on oral traditions or memories to remember the truth of God, which is also why we have the Bible to guide us today.  Verse sixteen adds, For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  Peter reminded his fellow believers that the gospel was not just a myth, as many people would make it today.  Peter was an eyewitness to the truth of the gospel, and though we have not seen the death, burial and resurrection of Christ physically, once we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, we know the truth of salvation spiritually.  Verse seventeen continues, For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  Peter was an eyewitness to this proclamation of God at the baptism of Jesus.  Though we may not have been there, if we accept Christ for Who He is, the only way to salvation, then we must accept the truth of the Biblical account of His life.  Verse eighteen says, And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.  Peter was with Jesus at His baptism and at His ascension.  Peter knew the truth of what he was saying, and if we are to be effective witnesses today, we must have our faith grounded in that same truth.  Verse nineteen adds, We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  The coming of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world was not a new concept but had been prophesied by the Old Testament.  We can look back on that truth when we read God's word.  Verse twenty continues, Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  As Peter said then, we cannot just come up with our own interpretation of what the scripture, or the Bible, means.  Our interpretation must always be consistent with the whole scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-one concludes, For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  The prophecies of the Bible, though spoken by men, are the word of God.  We cannot change His word to suit our own purposes, but we must believe all of it as we study it under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.