True Teachers Lead Us to Christ

“And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”” ‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭2:20-22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This passage of Scripture has been a controversy among believers for centuries. I will strive to stay within its context. After dealing with false teachers and their teaching, Peter lays these words before the reader. When someone takes the gospel message, distorts it’s content, and misleads people then there is a betrayal afoot. No biblically sound teacher of the scriptures should encourage believers to live any way they choose and drag our Lord’s name through the mud of immorality and debauchery. Peter cites Proverbs 26:11 at the end of this chapter. Knowing and serving Jesus is serious business. Many profess Him as Savior because they want to escape hell and go to heaven. They gladly receive the message of salvation but they don’t allow Jesus to take Lordship of their lives. Many in our time, if asked, would say they believe in Jesus. They may even attend church occasionally. There is a clear, distinct difference between associate salvation and true repentance. Godly sorrow for sin turns one to Christ in repentance (see 2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance is turning away from sin because of remorse or regret. When someone genuinely repents of sin and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, a transformation takes place (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Many are attracted to the benefit of eternal life that Jesus offers but they allow the attractions of sin to lure them into a lifestyle that rejects His Lordship (take a moment to read the parable of the sower and seed in Matthew 13:1-23). They want salvation without commitment or consecration. Jesus is more than a religious affiliation that gives us a crutch to lean on in hard times. He is Lord!!! The word “Lord” in the Greek is “Kurios” which is the equivalent of the Hebrew “YHWH” (Yahweh). Jesus is God in human flesh! He is so much more than a religious figure. His call to us is to not only profess His salvation, but to live His Lordship. For those who choose to submit to Him, and follow His ways of righteousness, there is the blessing of a life well lived and the promise of everlasting life. Salvation comes from The Lord Jesus Christ! The life we live is our understanding of that reality. What a tragedy for someone to say they know Christ and yet deny Him in their conduct. For someone to hear the gospel, know it’s truth, accept it, and yet turn away from it and teach others the same — that is the most terrible end. False teachers turn us from the truth. True teachers lead us to Christ and His righteousness. Our lives are meant to be lived for Christ. He saved us from sin, not to sin!!