“Worse Than The First” – 2 PETER 2:17-22

The life of a disciple of Jesus Christ is a life of struggle against contradictory forces and competing interests. Our will battles against the will of God. Our friends, family and acquaintances demand our time and pull us in many directions, often away from spiritual things. For many, the blessings of this life satisfy enough that the blessings of eternal life dim in our mind. As we have seen in the actions and attitudes of some in the gospels and as is still true today, some want an “easy Jesus” who makes no demands upon them.

How do we enjoy our lives in this world and still grow in Christ as strangers here?

This struggle prompted Peter to warn (2:20) of falling from grace. As he offers his last advice before “departing” this life for eternity (1:14-15), the need to shine the light of truth on this battle is placed upon his heart by the Holy Spirit. The gravest danger is to those who have been sanctified – set apart in Christ – who are exposed to teachers who fuel the contradictory forces and offer competing interests. An “easy Jesus” (i.e., “cheap grace”) would not be concerned with what you teach or how you live once you are saved. Those who ignore the teachings of Jesus and focus solely on the grace of Jesus promise freedom and deliver slavery (2:19). It would be much easier to “allow” grace to cover my lifestyle choices and my refusal to exercise self-control.

Such a “gospel” is a dry well (2:17) offering no refreshment to the soul.

Being lost in sin is bad enough, Peter says (2:21a), but to have been cleansed of sin (1:9) and return to sin is worse. Our imaginations can run wild with speculation on how this is so. Will torment be worse because we can “see” across the great fixed gulf of eternity and “know” what inheritance we squandered (1:10-11)?

I do know this … the terms “vomit” and “mire” (2:22) are less than inviting.

Those contradictory forces “entangle” the Christian (2:20b) when our guard is down and we are not growing in salvation (1:5-8). The competing interests soon “overcome” us (2:20b) in our distraction. And then some stand ready to say “It’s OK, you are fine. Jesus just wants you to be happy!”

The truth is that Jesus wants you to be SAVED, knowing this is the source of true happiness. Jesus knows the ugliness of sin because He witnessed it and paid its price. The magnitude of His love, mercy, patience and grace cannot be overstated. The sad reality of the freedom to fall back into sin forces a clarion call of warning to the church. Just because grace abounds does not mean it is OK to sin (Romans 6:1-2). One of the greatest arrows in the quiver of Satan is to convince people they are saved when they are not.

The tragedy is that it may be to late when you realize you are wallowing in vomit when you thought you were bathing in Jesus’ blood!