We have been studying the false teachers who bring in damnable heresies [2 Pet 2:1].  Today, we are going to study 2 Pet 2:18-22, in which we learn what affect these false teachers have on people who have already “escaped from them who live in error,” [2 Pet 2:18].  You’re in truth here today; they are in error who oppose the truth.

Here’s what the false teachers do:

They speak great swelling words of vanity – 2 Pet 2:18 – swelling – growing or enlarging, the words become broadly popular.  They are feigned words [v.3]; they use filthy conversation [v.7]; they speak evil [v.10, 12].

They allure through the lusts of the flesh – 2 Pet 2:18 – they walk after the flesh, and they are self-willed [v.10].  So, they use these lusts to draw you into their error.  Prov 12:26 the way of the wicked seduceth them.

They allure through much wantonness – 2 Pet 2:18 – negligence of restraint; lasciviousness (looseness; irregular indulgence of animal desires; tendency to excite lust); licentiousness (excessive indulgence of liberty; contempt of the just restraints of law).  They have forsaken the right way, they’ve gone astray [v.15].

They promise you liberty – 2 Pet 2:19 – 1 Pet 2:16 they use their liberty for a Cloke of maliciousness.  Yet they are the servants of corruption – 2 Pet 2:19 – corruption – depravity; wickedness; perversion or deterioration of moral principles; loss of purity or integrity.  You are either a servant of righteousness or you are a servant of sin, one or the other, no in between [Rom 6:16-22].

So, these words, these lusts, this wantonness, and this liberty are all very enticing.  Thus, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error are allured – 2 Pet 2:18 – 2 Pet 1:4 these had “escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Here’s what happens if you fall for them:

You are entangled and overcome – 2 Pet 2:20 – If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of Jesus, they are again entangled therein – Again entangled – in error [18] and in pollutions of the world [v.20]; had escaped it previously 2 Pet 1:4.  And overcome – They are overcome and brought into bondage [Jn 8:32-36].  Overcome and in bondage like the teachers v.19 who will perish in their own corruption [v.12].

Your latter end is worse than your beginning – 2 Pet 2:20 – the latter end is worse with them than the beginning – 2 Pet 2:20 – DeMars; Caleb; Petit.  2 Pet 1:9 he hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.  It’s always Worse: in Jn 5:14, Jesus said Sin no more lest a worse thing come upon you. When Jesus cast the devil out of people it’s Worse in Matt 12:43-45 when 7 other spirits come in later. When the Pharisees proselyte a soul, they make him twofold more the child of hell [Matt 23:15]. If someone turns from the holy commandment in the Tribulation, it’s far worse; they cannot be saved [Heb 6:4-6].

You turn from the holy commandment – 2 Pet 2:21 – Better not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them – commandment Rom 7:12; 2 Pet 3:2 –  better in the sense of Lk 12:47-48.  Lot was vexed with their unlawful deeds [v.8].  He turned and Lot lost everything.  Not talking about losing your salvation.  He was righteous.

You fulfill the true proverb – 2 Pet 2:22 – Dog to vomit, sow to wallowing in the mire.  When you turn from the commandment you end up in your own vomit and mire.  It’s ten times harder to recover yourself then than it was to escape the pollutions of the world the first time.