Spiritually Barren

Can a true believer lose his salvation? Or, once you truly believe in Jesus are you secure for all eternity? Second Peter 2:20-22 engages us in a conversation that lends itself to look at the various critical Scriptures concerning this great question. This passage lends itself to the following argument for the doctrine of eternal security or perseverence of the saints.

"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). False teachers are likely to go back to their old sinful and worldly ways, despite having "escaped the pollutions of the world" (v. 20a) through "knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (v. 20a). So, can Christians lose their salvation? Is that what this means? Some seem to think so, based on this and similar passages (e.g. Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26).

But the only thing this verse says is that false teachers, who escaped from worldliness and sin through knowing Christ and then turned away from the Christian faith, are worse off than they were before knowing Christ. There is no biblical terminology that affirms that they were Christians. The text does not call them "sons of God" or "children of God." It does not say they were "born again" or that they were "redeemed." The New Testament clearly distinguishes between those who are "in the church" and those who are "born again." First John 2:19 says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us." These false teachers were "in the church," but not "of the church." They were "not of us" (1 John 2:19), because they did not know Christ as Savior. They were not born again!

They were outwardly religious and professed faith in Christ, even convincing many people that they knew far more about Christ than they did. That is how they infiltrate the church. But as the text says, they only have "the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 2:20a). In the Greek, "knowledge" refers to an accurate awareness about Christ, but not to a saving knowledge of Christ. Their escaping the ways of the world (v. 20a) is nothing more than temporary and superficial moral reform through religion. It is only nominal Christianity, without genuine faith and repentance.

Peter says, being "again entangled in…and overcome" by their former paganism and sin (v. 20b), "they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning" (v. 20b, NIV). Why? Because they are lost, despite an accurate awareness of Christ! To understand fully the truth of Christ and still reject Him is like saying, "final answer!" They are forever lost and their judgment will be severe.

"For 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). This verse speaks of the seriousness of apostasy, or falling away from the truth of Christ. The "holy commandment delivered to them" (v. 21b) refers to the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, or to the Christian faith in its entirety, passed on to the saints. “The way of righteousness” (v. 21a) also refers to the whole of Christianity. They reject the entire faith of Christianity. Their professions of faith are spiritually barren!

Ultimately, they reject Christ and the truth of salvation. Their rejection of the only true way of salvation leaves them without any hope of eternal life. The writer of Hebrews gives a similar warning against apostasy: "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame" (Heb. 6:4-6).

In Hebrews 10:26-31, the writer expounds further on that same truth: "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. And again, 'The LORD will judge His people.' It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Both passages in Hebrews speak of being fully informed of the gospel of Christ and having a full and complete understanding of the truth, yet rejecting Christ. Neither passage uses biblical terms of salvation. Both use terminology indicating head knowledge alone, without heart knowledge. These apostate teachers hear the gospel and fully understand the gospel, but ultimately, their final answer is: "No!" They reject Christ. Their professions are spiritually barren. As it says in Hebrews 10:31, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Peter concludes in 2 Peter 2:22: "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.'" A right pretty picture! I jest, of course. Two proverbs: The first is biblical; "As a dog returns to his own vomit, so a fool repeats his folly" (Proverbs 26:11); the second is not, but probably borrowed from an ancient secular saying. Both dogs and pigs were vile animals, according to the Jews. The thought here is that false teachers are unclean and their professions of faith are spiritually barren, so ultimately, they return to the sinful and worldly ways from which they came.

Jesus used the words "dogs" and "pigs" when speaking of those who opposed God and his Word. One such occasion was in Matthew 7:6—"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." It has been observed that the nature of the "unclean" animals does not change. So, the "dog" that "returns to his own vomit" or the sow "having washed" (or literally, "washed itself") refers to the person who has a religious profession of faith of some sort, an outward change, yet without regeneration that brings an inner change affecting his entire nature—in other words, professions of faith that are barren! Such people soon revert to their true nature—their old sinful self.

John MacArthur gave us a pointed description of these false teachers: "Apostate teachers, as Peter describes them, actually develop from within the church where, partially exhumed from the muck of society's wickedness, they hear the truth but ultimately reject it. Like Judas Iscariot, they breed in close proximity to Jesus Christ and His Word—cloaking themselves in the feigned righteousness of hypocrisy. Ultimately, they use the church solely for their own selfish purposes, like spiritual parasites, seductively seeking to drag as many as possible down with them, to the fiendish satisfaction of the hosts of Satan." (MacArthur New Testament Commentary: 2 Peter & Jude, [Moody Publishers: Chicago, 2005], 107)

Sadly, many churches today contain people like the ones described by Peter in this passage. They have sought personal improvement or moral reform in their search for spiritual or religious experience, yet without saving faith in Jesus Christ. Some have even become leaders in the church. However, their prophecies are spiritually bankrupt; what they teach is spiritually bankrupt, because they do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior. Ultimately, they will reject Christ and return to their old life of sin.

But it doesn't have to be that way for you. Remember, it is a slow fade. You begin to miss your daily Bible reading and you begin to miss church. You wander into a "spiritual desert," so to speak. It seems like Jesus is far away. I understand. Backsliding is a subtle process, a gradual one that can happen without notice. If this is you and you are struggling right now, take your que from Peter.

Peter had first-hand knowledge of the process of backsliding which can lead to denial; he experienced it the night Christ was betrayed. Three times Peter denied he knew Jesus (Luke 22:54-61). In the end his heart was sorrowful, however, and he "wept bitterly" (v. 62). Later, after the resurrection, Peter met Jesus on the seashore and three times Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love Me?" Three times Peter responded, "Yes." And three times Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," or something similar (John 21:15-17).

Did you follow the progression? Peter was sorrowful; he had a contrite heart. He sought out Jesus, or Jesus found him, and he confessed all to Jesus; confessing again his love for Jesus. Then he was both forgiven and restored to fellowship with Jesus. He was even given a commission to serve Jesus in ministry.

Follow Peter's lead. Repent and turn to Jesus. Walk out of that spiritual desert and come to Jesus today. Confess everything to Him and confess anew your love for Jesus. Let him forgive you and restore your fellowship with Him. The altar is open. Come; come to Jesus and renew your walk with Him. Amen.