2 Peter 2:16-22

2Pe 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.  Numbers 22:21-33 

2Pe 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; Clouds without rain, carried about by every wind of doctrine.   Such people are spots in your feasts, as earlier stated, distractions to your worship when they are present. 

to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  Paul uses a similar phrasing in Acts 13:8-11  But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation ) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. :9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, :10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? :11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 

2Pe 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, No one has better opportunity to speak great swelling words of vanity than a false teacher or preacher who, by virtue of his position, is elevated before the people, and holds their rapt attention during a sermon. The crowd expects him to be an authority, speaking on behalf of the most High God.  While Satan’s angels may transform into angels of light to deceive God’s people, the mere man who misuses his authority and position to promote a false gospel or one who just allows himself, through the vanity of the flesh, to be elevated in his own mind and importance, does much harm to God’s children. 

they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.  Eventually, the allure, or attraction will be through the lusts of the flesh. 

1Jo 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 

That is what will again ensnare them.  The goal being of course to bring those unstable souls that were clean escaped from them back to their worldly positions and away from serving God. 

2Pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.  Only one who can know righteousness and peace can be overcome and brought into bondage.  We don’t think of the forever wicked as being overcome and brought into bondage; he is already there by his nature. 

Primitive Baptists are often criticized for their understanding of salvation and their belief that it is impossible to eternally lose that salvation.  Men will declare, mockingly, that “if I believed like you do, I’d go out and get my fill of sin,” believing such a lifestyle for a child of God has no consequences.  Chapter 2 of 2^nd Peter is awash with the temporal consequences of such grievous sins.  God does not allow sin to go unpunished. 

2Pe 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  You can ‘fall from grace’ in a timely sense, without impacting your eternal destination, but that fall will not be graceful. Leaving the service of Christ for the world and willful participation in sin not only returns one to their despised former state, but an even lower position than where they were originally rescued. 

2Pe 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  Better to have not known the way of righteousness.  That sentence should sting every child of grace who’s ever walked in service and thought that the light affliction found on the straight and narrow is not comparable to their former sinful life.

Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, :27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. :28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses::29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 

2Pe 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.  Pro 26:11 As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.  We are to keep our flesh, (our sin nature) under subjection, as it is easy to return that former sinful life.