We Have to Be Careful, People…
“…speaking about these things as he does in all of his letters. In which there are some things that are difficult to understand, which the untaught and unstable [who have fallen into error] twist and misinterpret, just as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, [let me warn you] beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men [who distort doctrine] and fall from your own steadfastness [of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith], but grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory (honor, majesty, splendor), both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” -2 Peter 3:16-18
One thing I’ve repeatedly noticed among said Christians today is that the majority of them are clearly NOT doers of the Word, which only disproves their claim from the very start (1 John 2:4). They are, as Scripture describes, hearers only who have merely deceived themselves (James 1:22-25).
What is worse is when you see these deceivers then put themselves into a position to teach or preach the Word of God, in which they have not been affirmed by the Holy Ghost to do, only to receive a greater condemnation (James 3:1).
As a matter of fact, what you will find with these individuals is that they are the first to say that “we are not justified by the works of the law (Romans 3:20);” and in response I say, no doubt, you are correct, in part. Yet, notice with me, if you will, that these same people are also those who do their best to justify their lack of faith (without works-James 2:14-25), who surely prove the point that they are not justified. Yet, they are teaching?
What, I ask, are they teaching? What is it that they teach when they have no testimony? They are first to be partakers of the fruit (2 Timothy 2:6).
Romans 15:18 proclaims,
“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed.”
Paul’s ministry relied on both what he taught (“Word”) and how he lived and worked (“deed”). He views himself merely as an instrument; Christ is the active worker behind the success of the mission. And he is to teach only what he has received in school of the Holy Ghost (Revelation 19:5).
I have observed throughout the years these sorts who would continuously do their best to diminish the Gospel to only what they carnally understand (Romans 8:7).
“… not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.”-2 Corinthians 3:6
And if they do not know what they are spiritually speaking about, they will conjure something up to act out as if they do.
Again, remember, these are not doers of the Word; they are hearers only, deceiving themselves.
These are hearers who proclaim themselves as teachers who are like Epicurean and Stoic philosophers of today (who spend their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing); who do nothing but converse and debate the pith and marrow out of what the Word of God clearly reveals (Acts 17:18), while the world and the souls of men (for which they are Biblically responsible) round about them are literally going to hell (Psalm 9:16-17).
This takes place because they are not born, nor are they led (Romans 8:14) to go out and about by the Spirit of God in actively following Christ to become (by the Holy Ghost – Titus 3:5) fishers of men (Matthew 4:19).
https://rumble.com/vdeksx-ministry-piece.html?e9s=src_v1_cbl%2Csrc_v1_upp_a
Friends, simply put, they are carnal men teaching what they have never spiritually been taught.
These are self-appointed men who have no life or leading of the Spirit of God (testimony), and yet they teach?
What are they teaching?
King David wrote in Psalm 119:100, “I understand more than the aged [who have not observed Your precepts], because I have observed and kept Your precepts.”
Precept- any commandment or order (entrusted by the Lord unto His children) intended as an authoritative rule of action.
These types are too busy conjuring up new doctrines that occupy their time in talking (God forbid they walk) around in circles, killing time allotted unto them, which is a clear revolt and dereliction of biblical obligation and duty on their part. Read 1 John 2:4.
Oh, without exaggeration, how they love to do nothing but to debate over anything and everything. This, of course, comes with their contradictions and conjectures (Myths and endless genealogies which promote controversial speculations – 1 Timothy 1:3-4), cherry-picking and creating new doctrines (This is the reason for 45,000 denominations worldwide – This is also how cults are started), even going so far as to accuse and to question the Word of God itself that they may stand in their own self-righteousness (Colossians 2:8; Titus 3:9).
How are we to respond? The Bible tells us that we are to sharply rebuke them, that they may be sound in the faith! Who are those that are to be rebuked (Titus 1:9-14)? Those that are guilty of establishing heresies and the commandments of men in the place of the Word of God (Titus 1:9-14). Why? Because this is a different Gospel (Galatians 1:8). That is all one has to do is weigh out the truth of what I write here: look at the curse that it has brought upon our nation; look at their fruit (Galatians 6:7-8)
https://rumble.com/vd111b-the-fruit-of-a-nation-that-forgets-god.html?e9s=src_v1_cbl%2Csrc_v1_upp_a
These are like that of Jannes and Jambres, who resisted Moses; who resist the truth, who are men of corrupt minds and are disapproved concerning the faith (2 Timothy 3:8).
Friends, it is not difficult to find the source that flows from those who are doing their best to justify the unjustifiable; just simply look to the type of people and sins that they entertain and tolerate in and around them (Jeremiah 10:23;17:9). Also read 1 Corinthians 15:33.
How unlike King David, a man after God’s own heart, who said in Psalm 119:63, “I am a companion of all who [reverently] fear You, And of those who keep and honor Your precepts.”
Friends, beware of “those who promise others liberty, while they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” (2 Peter 2:19)
They are, in so many ways, the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:13-14), playing the part that they were not ordained by the Lord to play.
Search the Scripture and see the recurring theme of the Lord admonishing us to identify and to call out false prophets and false teachers.
- Matthew 7:15
- Deuteronomy 18:20-22
- Galatians chapter 1:6-9
- 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15
- 1 John 4:1-6
- 2 Peter 2:2
- Jeremiah 23:16
- Jude 1:3-5
- 2 Timothy 4
- Matthew 24:11
- Matthew 24:24
- Romans 16:18
- Luke 6:26
- Mark 13:22
- Jeremiah 14:14
- Mark 7:6-9
- Matthew 7:15-20
- Jeremiah 23:1-40
- Ezekiel 13; 22:28
- Jeremiah 5:30-31
- Matthew 24:4-5
- Isaiah 8:20
- Deuteronomy 13:1-5
- Colossians 2:8
- Acts 13:6
- Lamentations 2:14
- Revelation 2:20; 13:14
- 2 Corinthians 11:13
- 1Thessalonians 5:21
- Micah 3:11
- Acts 20:29
A false prophet claims direct, new divine revelation from God, while a false teacher misinterprets, distorts, or corrupts existing scriptural truth.
In conclusion: Yes, we are all still in school, and yes, we all will be in school until the day that we die and stand before the Lord (Hebrews 9:27). Yet, one thing is for sure, and that is that we must take heed to what we listen to, and who it is that we listen to, for it must, as Scripture states, be sound speech (without error) that cannot be condemned (Titus 2:8:10).
There is no better Scripture reference to make in closing out this article, for this warning applies to all of us:
“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest (To distort; to turn from truth or twist from its natural meaning by violence; to pervert), as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” -2 Peter 3:16-18
