Reflections:
Regeneration or Restoration!
Bro. Stanley K Sam, Secunderabad
“And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” (2 Peter 2:22)
God is the sovereign One who is in full control and knowledge of everything that's happening. Everything that happens in a Christian's life is providential. Nothing happens by chance.
But what many show up is only an external profession of false faith while on the inside they continue to tactfully blend with the world around them. Peter takes the illustration of a dog and a swine to refer to such people who are without any moral scruples. They are intent on satisfying their inflamed appetites of the flesh.
Their spiritual and doctrinal ignorance has led to all kinds of fleshly indulgences (Acts 17:30; Ephesians 4:17-19). Born with a fallen nature, it is natural to live sinful lives. It's our unsaved, inward nature that influences our outer appetites and actions. That means the heart has never experienced any change (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Like these animals, we chase our bodily appetites by succumbing to the delusions of the devil. Sexual immorality is openly practiced without any feeling of shame. In ancient times, when the dogs were not owned by anyone, they wandered and scavenged around by living on filthy garbage. Though these people learned about Christ and knew the truth at one time, they had by now rejected it and continued to live the old sinful life.
In the Bible, Orphah is a good example. Washing a pig does not change its heart. Today also if anyone rejects God's righteousness in Christ, then our guilt is far greater. God will one day expose our hidden life of lust and sin, by judging them openly.
A True believer may fall into a dirty puddle, but if they are sheep, they will not wallow in it. We can receive a new nature only by being born again. We will, then, jump out of it immediately. Peter denied the Lord, but after weeping his heart out, he was restored. © Stanley K Sam
