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These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity\u2014for \u201cpeople are slaves to whatever has mastered them.\u201d If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. Of them the proverbs are true: \u201cA dog returns to its vomit,\u201d and, \u201cA sow that is washed returns to her wallowing in the mud\u201d (2 Peter 2:17-22).

The apostle Paul wrote, \u201cIt is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery\u201d (Galatians 5:1). And in Romans, \u201cFor we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin\u2014because anyone who has died has been set free from sin\u201d (6:6-7).

This chapter is Peter\u2019s take on this subject. The false teachers are leading recent converts back into slavery to sin. These new Christians, having begun to change their lives, leaving behind pagan ways, were now being told that in Christ they have the freedom to return to those ways without condemnation. Since Christ has set us free from judgement we can go and do what ever we want. Peter\u2019s converts would have fewer problems if they could join in the pagan feasts, make offerings to the gods, and so forth. Our lives are easier too if we make the same choices as our unbelieving neighbours.

Peter and Paul are in full agreement with each other. Jesus did not set us free from condemnation so that we might become trapped in sin again. Sinful lifestyles do not set us free, ask anyone who has a family member or friend addicted to alcohol or drugs, to gambling or video games. Ask someone who is obsessed with making money or a person who has little control over their sexual appetite. They are not free. They are enslaved by their sinful behaviour and the internal desires of the flesh.

They are like a \u2018dog that returns to its vomit\u2019 or a \u2018sow that is washed returns to wallowing in the mud.\u201d There may be an allusion to the cleansing symbolized in baptism here. These people, washed in baptism, returned to the same mudhole of sin. They are like animals with animal instincts. No self-control.

Why does this matter? As Paul says, \u201cYou, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love\u201d (Galatians 5:13). This has been Peter\u2019s point as well. The grace of God works into our lives all sorts of wonderful qualities (see 1:5-7) which lead us towards love, agape. This is the work of God\u2019s grace and of the Spirit of Jesus in our lives.

But these folks are still being controlled by the desires of the sinful nature. There is no room for love. They are enslaved to other things. They are being ineffective and unproductive, they are being nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins (2 Peter 1:8-9).

Don\u2019t be like them, warns Peter, for when you walk away from the grace of God, you will discover it is more difficult to find your way back.

As you journey on: Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. Glory to the Master, now and forever! Amen! (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18 MSG).