Twisted Teaching

Also, regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him.16 He speaks about these things in all his letters in which there are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures.

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

-Second Peter 3:15-18 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

One of the greatest plagues in the church today is our man made teachings and doctrines. Some churches preach and teach what the Word says, others preach and teach only what they want to hear. Still others take the Word, and make it fit what they want to believe. It's a problem today, and it's been a problem for years and years. It's a problem that Peter was writing about in Second Peter 3:15-18. 

Verse 15 says, "Also, regard the patience of our Lord as an opportunity for salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him." In the preceding verses, Peter is writing about the return of Jesus, and the destruction of the earth by fire. Then, in verse 15, he is saying that the patience of God is your opportunity for salvation. As of right now, God has not destroyed the earth and all that is in it. We're still here. That means that you still have the opportunity to be saved from this coming destruction, through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. He then references the writing of Paul concerning this. Verse 16 says, "He speaks about these things in all his letters in which there are some matters that are hard to understand. The untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction, as they also do with the rest of the Scriptures." Peter tells his readers that sometimes the writings of Paul is hard to understand. It's the doctrines that Paul is teaching, sometimes it's difficult to understand. It's hard to understand why God loved me so much, and you so much, that He provided Jesus as the sacrifice for your sin and mine. He goes on to say, that because of the difficult teaching, "the untaught and unstable twist them to their own destruction." Difficult teachings bring out the worst in people. Sometimes, though, the difficult teachings are not because it's difficult to understand, but difficult to put into practice. Rather than "step on toes," the unstable twist the meaning into something different. 

Verse 17 says, "Therefore, dear friends, since you know this in advance, be on your guard, so that you are not led away by the error of lawless people and fall from your own stability." He is saying that we know the twisted teachings from unstable people will come, but we know the truth. We've been warned about this type of teaching, so we should not be led away by the erroneous teachings of unstable people. Instead, verse 18 says, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen" We are to be on guard against wrong teachings, and to grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus. Are you allowing false teachings to shape your faith? Think About It.