2 Peter 3:17-18

17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Peter’s words, “knowing this,” means knowing that the false prophets are distorting Scripture. And he indicates that they are to be aware of it and be on guard (to be prayerful and to anticipate any trouble) beforehand, or before they are “carried away, or deceived. And if they are deceived, they would fall from their own steadfastness. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul tells us that we are to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Hence, the purpose of steadfastness is to do the work of the Lord, not to do our own works, in order to look good in front of others.

In verse 18, the last verse of this letter, Peter stresses very importantly, that we are to “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” And, in my opinion, if we follow this advice, He will keep us close to His side and out of the way of false teachers and all evil influences.