[Know This] Promises of Deception and Demiseਨਮੂਨਾ

Warnings of Defeat

We have looked at the warnings of deception and demise. Now we look at the warnings of defeat in 2 Peter 2:20–22.

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning” (v. 20). Peter warns new believers against getting caught up in the world and false teachings. The word “entangled” recalls a sheep whose wool is caught by thorns. Peter is talking about new converts who have begun learning about life that comes out of godliness and the pursuit of Jesus Christ; when their wool gets caught by the thorns of this world, they’re overcome by it.

Concerning such entrapped believers, Peter writes that “it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them” (v. 21). In other words, they’d be better off if they had never heard the gospel than to have heard it, begun to walk with Christ, and then to return to their former life.

The apostle Peter walked intimately with Jesus for three years. But on the morning of Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter denied Him three times. Peter experienced death for three days. He got entangled again by fear. Peter knows what he’s warning believers about—the death they will experience from having already known freedom and then having it stripped away. Through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, we have forgiveness for our sins. Peter experienced that forgiveness when he came face to face with the resurrected Lord, who asked him, “Do you love Me, Peter?” “Yes, I do.” “Then, feed My sheep.” By sharing the wisdom he gained from his experiences, Peter is feeding the Lord’s sheep through his epistle.

Regarding those who return to a sinful life, Peter concludes, “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” (v. 22). Both the dog and the pig were held in poor regard by the Jews because they were unclean animals, ingesting the world’s filth. They represent a person before Christ. How they react to the trappings of the world reflects on their trainer. A person trained by the epignósis of Jesus Christ and cleansed by His blood does not return to filth.

Know this: True freedom is found only in Jesus Christ!

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