God's Amazing Grace

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obedienttogod

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Praise the Lord, Everyone! I hope my sudden thread post does not alarm anyone. I was searching for a website hoping to discuss some questions I have and thought my brothers and sisters in Christ might have answers I can learn from. One of those questions I have been studying deals with God's Amazing Grace. More specifically, how Grace was taught to us by the Apostle Paul.


Have we actually misunderstood the message of Paul?

If you would, please read these 2 scriptures and how I view them, and then tell me if you agree/disagree with my line of thought.


2 Peter 3:
15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.




We know that Peter's original responsibility was preaching to the Jews, we also know that later in his ministry, before the 70 A.D. destruction and his own death around 68 A.D., Peter began evangelizing more to the Gentiles. Sometimes with Paul, and sometimes with his own entourage evangelizing.

Since we know that Peter's 2 Epistles were written while he was in Rome (first around 64 A.D.), it's safe to conclude that Peter was addressing a message towards the Gentiles.

But what is most interesting in my opinion, is what is written in 2 Peter 3:16, specifically the last part of verse 16: "which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

What this tells me, is that Peter witnessed the churches started by Paul, doing things, preaching things, practicing things that Peter clearly thought was incorrect. In my estimation (I feel this is the Holy Spirit giving me insight concerning the "why" for this verse in how Peter writes it), Peter addressed these churches and asked, "who taught you this doctrine?" I believe they gave Peter a letter written by Paul, possibly the letter that speaks about the message of Grace that we have in our New Testament within the Book of Romans.

???Maybe they were practicing a LICENSE TO SIN 2,000 YEARS AGO???

I believe Peter took the letter and read it. I believe he saw how it was/could be hard to understand. I believe he considered that by what he had witnessed being practiced, preached within the Roman Gentile churches, he knew the Gentile converts misunderstood Paul, and by result, was distorting Paul's message.

And I believe this is why the Holy Spirit led Peter to write both Epistles to the Gentile converts, specifically, pointing out that they were distorting Paul's message and it would lead to their destruction, this is why we have 2 Peter 3:16 ending with "which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction."

And just like when Peter addressed the Jews by holding them accountable for the crucifixion of Jesus, he now holds the Gentiles accountable for "distorting" Paul's message by calling them "ignorant and unstable people."


So I humbly ask you, with today's message of Grace where the belief is we can sin and get away with it (a sort of license to sin), have we actually misunderstood Paul like Peter is suggesting?

And if we have, are we distorting Paul's Grace message to the point of causing our own destruction?
 
Hmmmmm, could the lack of response from here mean that most believe we do have a license to sin? So heeding Peter's warning then must be a no go? I hope then no one has distorted Paul's message since Peter warns it will bring their destruction. Well, pray about it and may God reveal if we are doing as Peter suggested. Personally, I do feel some have misunderstood Paul and have distorted his message. In God's abundant Grace and Mercy, may the Holy Spirit give unto us all the revelation to know we are abiding the scriptures as they were meant to be.
 
Yes, we all believe we have a license to sin because we don't understand Peter's epistles to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

Yes dis is it.
 
The argument of OSAS has been raging here since the inception of the Site. While you may trying to approach it in a different direction, I assure you, (as Scripture states) there is nothing new under the sun.

Note: I do not subscribe to OSAS theology, as is well known here.......FYI

Second point is........and do not be offended.....we have so very many new folks show up here to TEACH us what Scripture really says/means, and how we are mistaken in our understanding of it. Seriously, there are Senior Theologians here, Teachers, Preachers, Pastors, Evangelists, and Elders and Deacons who have studied the Word for the greater part of their lives.

Possibly, it would have been better to just get to know folks here before deciding to INSTRUCT them in Scripture.

I won't critique your OP, but there are a few points of interest that could be, and probably will be. Don't be in a rush for a response............ No one knows who you are.........
 
This is why I read these 2 verses daily because verse 15 tells us this is Peter speaking directly about Paul's message, and verse 16 claims we are not properly understanding his message and distorting it. And of course, he warns that it will ultimately bring destruction.

2 Peter 3:
15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
 
p_rehbein said:
The argument of OSAS has been raging here since the inception of the Site. While you may trying to approach it in a different direction, I assure you, (as Scripture states) there is nothing new under the sun.

Note: I do not subscribe to OSAS theology, as is well known here.......FYI

Second point is........and do not be offended.....we have so very many new folks show up here to TEACH us what Scripture really says/means, and how we are mistaken in our understanding of it. Seriously, there are Senior Theologians here, Teachers, Preachers, Pastors, Evangelists, and Elders and Deacons who have studied the Word for the greater part of their lives.

Possibly, it would have been better to just get to know folks here before deciding to INSTRUCT them in Scripture.

I won't critique your OP, but there are a few points of interest that could be, and probably will be. Don't be in a rush for a response............ No one knows who you are.........
Click to expand...



I can definitely appreciate the concerns you are bringing to my attention and I thank you for that. I more or less just wanted to point out that for 2,000 years it's clear Paul has been misunderstood and his message has been distorted to fit some beliefs. Peter claims that will bring destruction, which is a far cry from having guaranteed eternal salvation.
 
Paul wrote to Jews, Jews where were tryign to add works to the gospel. He was tryign to tell them that works can not save you, and anyone who adds works to the gospel are teaching na different gospel.

Peter said some of these jews twisted pauls meaning, and distorted grace and went 180 degrees away from where they had been (from salvation by works. To salvation by believing) mening they could live any way they want it does not matter. I said a prayer so I am saved.

Both of these two groups (one is called a legalist, the other are in the book of Jude called Licentious) are not saved. Both of these groups have their hope based on pride (one saying I am good enoug, the other saying they are not bad enough)

This does not negate Pauls words of security in christ. Paul did teach eternal security, by the words he taught (seal of the spirit, Perfected forever, God will complete his work, and the fact we are saved not by how good we are (works of righteousness) but By Gods mercy. Through FAITH.

Mere belief and saying a sinners prayer will not save you

true faith and calling out to God as the tac collector did, in faith (whome jesus said went home justified) are saved. And have all the things paul said they have
 
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