The first half of verse twenty brought us into the discussion of the “once saved, always saved” debate and the last half of that verse told us, “the last state has become worse for them than the first.” In other words, their current fallen state of once knowing the plan of salvation and then reject Jesus, is worse than it was prior to knowing about Jesus. One question that we might ask here is how can the state of unbelief be made worse? What’s worse than unbelief? To answer that question, we need to explore one of the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation.
Let me begin by pointing out some characteristics of these letters that were essentially dictated to John by Jesus and recorded in the book of Revelation. Each letter has a different theme that connects everything together including a unique title for Jesus, the name of the town, etc., all relating to the subject of the letter. The letters are in a sense a form of a report card to each church, most of them have some form of commendation and admonition along with a recommended course of action to take. Only two of the churches were doing well (Smyrna and Philadelphia) while the other five were not. It is also important to note that even though these letters were directed to the church they were addressed to, each letter concluded with the words “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Meaning the information is for all churches and applies to everyone. It always fascinates me that of the five churches that weren’t doing so well appear to have the bulk of their problems come from within the church.
We are now going to focus on the last church in that list; the church of Laodicea, when the name of the city is translated it means to be ruled or led by the people (laity). Remember the name of the town (or church) plays a role in understanding the subject of the letter. I would encourage you to read Revelation 3:14-22. In the middle of this letter is one of the greatest promises in the Bible: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20) Sadly most people when they read that verse take it out of context. This letter is to a church, what is Jesus doing outside? Many of today’s churches are ruled by people and have no room for Jesus.
Let’s now look at Revelation 3:15-16. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Jesus is saying they (the people at that church) are lukewarm as they are neither cold nor hot and that He would prefer them to be either cold or hot! Why would being cold be better than being partially warm? Isn’t a little heat better than none? Jesus is saying if you are cold you know you are without and as a result, could still find and be open to the truth about Jesus, confessing your sins and change, dedicating your life to Jesus from that moment on. But if you only know of Jesus and do not have a relationship with Him, you might not know about salvation or know how to get it. Many people today are Christians by title only. Perhaps they have attended Sunday School, confirmation, or perhaps even regularly attend Sunday services and think they know all they need to know about God and Jesus, when in reality they never knew or experienced any relationship with Jesus.
2:21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
One of the surest and possibly the greatest barrier to knowing the truth about something (or someone) is to think you already know all there is to know about the subject and therefore as a result, you stop pursuing the truth (presuppositions). Peter amplifies this point by saying it would have been better for them if they never knew about the “way of righteousness…from the holy commandment” that was given to them. The way of righteousness is all about God’s plan of salvation. Any attempt of being good or right for our own salvation is absolutely a waste of time (read Isaiah 64:6). The way of righteousness is only available from Jesus (see Romans 6:15-23). The holy commandments are instructions from God to us (see Romans 7:12); these instructions were also given to false prophets and teachers, but were rejected. They may have reviewed God’s Word or perhaps even considered the gospel message, but unfortunately their insincere attempt only pushed them further away.
2:22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
Peter next illustrates this point using a proverb and an old secular adage. The first is from Proverbs 26:11 where it says “The dog returns to its own vomit.” Then Peter refers to a pig after being washed returning to wallow in the mud (the word here is actually referring to dung) getting completely filthy again. Peter is saying that people can only return to their own nature. A dog is a dog, and a pig is a pig. We are sinners and we can’t change that nature. Only God can change us! Peter is pointing out that this is especially true for false prophets and teachers (see Psalms 51:10; 139:23; Ephesians 4:17-24).
Summary of Chapter Two
This study of this epistle’s second chapter regarding false prophets and teachers has been somewhat detailed. When something is studied so closely sometimes we “can’t see the forest for the trees” (thank you John Heywood for that phrase) so here is a quick summary of this chapter.
In verses 1-3 Peter exposes the true nature and motivations of false prophets and teachers. They are destructive, blasphemers of the truth, deniers of God and they follow their own lusts. Peter then notes that they will be condemned and uses three Old Testament stories to illustrate, pointing out that since God did not spare the fallen angels (verse 4), the pre-flood world (verse 5) and the people of Sodom & Gomorrah (verses 6-9), He would not spare these teachers, especially those who indulge in lusts and despise God’s authority (verse 10a). Peter continues to describe their nature in verses 10b-13a saying they are bold and daring (verse 10b), they blaspheme God and His creation (verses 10a-11), they are irrational and speak about things they do not understand (verse 12) and revel in their deceptions (verse 13a). Peter next exposes how they are able to find and influence people to follow them. They revel in plain sight (verse 13b), they will dine and enjoy entertainment with their students (verse 13b) and they have an insatiable desire to sin and will entice others to join in, saying it’s okay (verse 14). Peter says they will have unique traits or ‘marks’ that should give them away if we are looking, including, that they will follow the way of Balaam seeking gain of power or money (verses 15-16); they are without substance (verse 17); they speak loudly often boasting (verse 18); they will entice by sensual lust (verse 18); they prey on the weak, often seducing the unstable (verses 18-19); they promise freedom but are slaves themselves (verse 19), and they have rejected God’s plan for salvation (verses 20-22).
Peter is joined by many others in the Bible who also have warned against the subject of false teaching; here are a few common traits. False teachers are often strict or domineering, strongly denouncing God and the truth (see Jeremiah 5:30-31; 3 John 9-10). They teach man’s perspective telling people what they want to hear (see Jeremiah 6:14; 23:16-26; Ezekiel 13:2-10; 2 Timothy 4:3-4), and they often treat history and Scripture with contempt (see Jeremiah 6:16). Instead of proclaiming Biblical truth, they promote their own ideas, methods, and doctrines. They often distance themselves from normal Christianity and they might even tout a direct, possibly exclusive, connection to God.