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2 Peter 2.22
22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”
The Story:Peter is a tough guy. He doesn’t mince words. And the reason is because these are matters of life and death. People who profess to believe in Jesus and are “washed” in baptism, but then fall under the thrall of false teaching and turn back to indulge their fleshly ways demonstrate this much: They were never really saved at all. Sure, they had some “experience” of the Lord, and they professed to “believe” in Him. But that doesn’t count for anything unless it is backed up by a life of repentance and seeking the Lord. Dogs eat their vomit; clean sows ultimately find their way to the mud again. Just so with those whose hearts have never truly been turned to the Lord. We may not like the way Peter puts it, but we’d better make sure his warning doesn’t apply to us.
The Structure:We’ve endured an entire chapter of Peter warning us of the dangers of false teachers, of allowing ourselves to be enticed by passion and the flesh, and of clinging to a mere profession of faith as anything like true assurance of salvation. In this age of restoration, the purpose is to be restored and not just to know that we’re going to Heaven when we die. But restoration is hard work. It must be grounded in truth and pursued with diligence. It doesn’t just happen. And there are plenty of dangers and temptations to distract those insufficiently grounded in the Word and Christ from making any real progress in the faith.
How do you know that your profession of faith in Jesus Christ is true? How do you protect yourself against the allure of the vomit and the mire?
Each week’s studies in our Scriptorium column are available in a free PDF form, suitable for personal or group use. For this week’s study, “Beware False Teachers: 2 Peter 2.12-22,” simply click here.
T. M. Moore
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.