Did you remove my comments from this article's original posting?

Please re-post someplace else...I want to read it. HaMashiach Yeshua will end the jihad when He gets back! I hope your trip to Israel was a blessing. :)

What do you think Peter thought these people were unlearned in?

And yes, Peter misunderstood things for quite some time. Does that negate his warning?

Man has made it hard to understand with preconceptions and not defining terms in doctrine by using the "whole" Bible but instead using church rhetoric. Peter said the "unlearned" and unstable are apt to misunderstand Paul's letters and twist other scriptures, to their own destruction. What do you think Peter thought these people were unlearned in? the Gideon's New Testament? the philosophers of the day?

That is right, as repentance should not be left out either. As John the Baptist came preaching repentance to "prepare" the way of the Lord. After John, Jesus began preaching repentance!

You are right on, Moira! "Works" has been made a bad word by those misunderstanding Paul. 2 Pet 3:14-16. Hebrews tells us what carnal "work"/service is replaced by faith in the promised "work" of Jesus on the cross. He is not talking about good deeds and obeying commandments making you fall from grace.

I agree, Daniel. Misunderstanding Paul is a biggie to Peter and I think James also hinted at it as well. I think the church follows its leaders, repeat what they say, becomes church rhetoric, and ... do not think for themselves. Each one of us with the capabilities should be thinking for our self.

Peter's warning...

2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 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, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Sometimes, it seems the church is most enamored by their understanding of Paul than the plain words of Jesus, who is our Savior, not Paul. I follow Jesus, and if my "understanding" of Paul contradicts what Jesus said plainly, my understanding is wrong.

The baptism into Christ's death, burial and resurrection couldn't happen at the time of this conversion of the thief on the cross, since Jesus hadn't completed it yet. He was repentant and was a believer, and God is just and merciful. In a sense, the thief did "die with Jesus" though.

I agree, the church, generally speaking, does not pay attention to ALL of it. Belief in the gospel is the initial "act". But let us move on to completion. Heb 6. I don't think we even have all of the principles of Christ's doctrine down right either, according to Heb 6, most but not all. And yes, the affliction of the unborn, and widows and orphans are being ignored. The unborn that are in line to be murdered are already orphans. They have been abandoned by their parents already. Please understand the affliction of being a widow and an orphan. Children without dads, and moms without real husbands. Believe me, the term widow also includes women who have been abandoned by divorce, and orphans are children who have been abandoned by divorce. The attached shame on a woman that goes with the divorce creates bigger problems than losing a husband by death.

The church needs to really step up and hold adults accountable for their roles in marriage and in the church. The church is so afraid of being legalistic, that sin, once someone is "saved", is ignored...this is very unbiblical of the church and it is a blemish. We, the church, had better not misunderstand Paul, as Peter warned us. 2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 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, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.