Escapees Who Willingly Return to Thier Sin Prison

2 Peter 2:20 “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 then they were at the beginning.”

            Lord, I am trying to understand and I need the Holy Spirit’s help here.  I am absolutely sure that those who have truly trusted You as Savior and Lord cannot lose their salvation because it does not depend on us and our works, but on You and Your work for us on the cross.  It is Your gift of grace. 

            This morning I looked in the Lexicon to see what word for “knowing” was used and what it meant.

  The word used here means “full knowledge”.  I have two thoughts:

1)      These that Your Word are talking about are ones who have studied, been taught, and maybe even have taught the Word themselves but have never “trusted” You for the salvation You so freely offer.  These might be people who may have grown up in an apostate or “liberal” church and have heard and believed a tainted gospel (You must have works or maybe “special visits from the Spirit” to be saved).  Then for some reason they fall into the temptations of the evil one or they are drawn away by their own lusts and “leave the faith” and maybe take many with them because of their example.

2)      Or You are speaking of those who are truly saved, but fall away.  These are folks who, for all they show outwardly, appear to know and love You.  Then something happens in the church or maybe disaster strikes their life and they let that situation and Satan drive them away.  They allow themselves to be casualties because of pride or their own legalistic views.  One might still live a moral life, another falls into worse sin than before they were saved.  Both lead others away from the faith instead of to You.  They are still saved and will be with You in Heaven because of Your work for them, but one might die the “sin unto death”.

            Unfortunately, the televangelists and Pastors and their families are Satan’s prime targets, and I have seen them fall and cause others to leave the faith or to never trust You because of their example.  This happens in good sound churches all over the world.

            Lord, I never want to be led astray.  Keep me ever close to You, my Shepherd, not for works of righteousness that I have done, but simply because of Your grace and mercy.