In 2 Peter 3:1,3,4 the apostle writes to “those who have attained like precious faith” (1:1), reminding them that, “in the last days will come scoffers walking according to their own lusts and saying, ‘where is the promise of His (Christ’s) coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'”

Earlier in the epistle Peter had warned the church about those same men who “will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even DENYING THE LORD Who bought them. And many will believe their destructive teachings and (by obeying them) will blaspheme the Truth.” These false teachers would know God’s Truth but would, “turn from the holy commandment (Law) that was delivered to them” (2:21). This “holy commandment’ was the Law which the Apostle Jude referred to as “the faith that was once delivered to the saints” that concerned “the common salvation” promised to those who would obey God’s Law. Jude warned about “certain men who have crept in (to the church) unnoticed, who have been marked for condemnation. These ungodly men have turned the grace of God into licentiousness and thereby have denied the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 3,4). Notice that Jude was writing “To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Christ Jesus” (vs 1). Both Peter and Jude were the church (then and now) about men who would tell the people that, because of Adam’s sin transferal miracle, sin was (is) inevitable. But all was well, for God, knowing that man must sin, provided His grace which would erase man’s sins following repentance of those sins. A perfect example of this heresy was voiced by a local preacher who told his congregation: “Don’t try to be righteous (refrain from sin), you’ll just make yourself sick. You are nothing more than a society of sinners.” Jude called this Satan-inspired church doctrine “licentiousness,” meaning that God’s grace had provided church people with a license to sin. The fact that today the vast majority of church people claim to be “sinners saved by grace” proves that this is a universally proclaimed Biblical “truth.” Running the radio and television channels will bear witness to the popularity of this heresy within church circles.

Jesus, Peter and Jude, along with the other apostles, repeatedly warned (warns) the church about “ministers of righteousness” sent by the “angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14,15). These false prophets would proclaim that Jesus, the carpenter of Nazareth, was the Christ of God, but would then say that CHRIST HAD NOT COME IN THE FLESH (1 Jn. 4:1-3). These were the scoffers Peter was referring to in 2 Peter 3:3,4.

I have a deep-seated craving for understanding in all areas of life, especially when it comes to the Word of God. The Biblical Truth that Satan sent men to declare that the man from Galilee was indeed His Christ, then had them deny that the Christ had come in the flesh made neither Biblical nor intellectual sense. Why would a man who wanted people who believed in the carpenter from Galilee who lived and died as a man, tell those same believers that He had “NOT COME IN THE FLESH?” Who would listen to such a double-tongued preacher? Even a child would reject such logic. God mercifully, and with the help of a trusted man of God, opened my eyes to the Truth concerning this Scriptural puzzle. Truly, the Lord’s formula for Scriptural study found in Isaiah 28:9,10 must be followed in order to understand His Word. Only those who obey His commanded study style will be given the Truth about His Word of Life. Alas, “few” people “find” this key to Biblical understanding and use it (Mat. 7:13,14). If this “Biblical contradiction” is as confusing to you as it was to me, allow God to explain it to you through me in the following postings. I praise Him for the privilege of sharing this most exhilarating Truth with you. L.J.