Based on 2 Peter 2 (New King James Version)
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’”
If we understand this passage well, and that it is written to believers, we would understand that we must be very careful with deviation or apostasy, because no one is free to fall. There are many who believe and even preach that a person, at the time they accepted Christ, that they no longer have anything to worry about. But it is not like that. If one has come to Christ, or has been born again, as the Lord Himself explained, that is only the beginning of a long journey. It is not a question of accepting Christ, and nothing else, because unfortunately, that is part of the deviation that exists today in many places. In order to be saved and obtain the eternal life that God has for those who love him, it is necessary to abide.
The first problem that can arise with a believer who takes salvation as something certain, as something that does not depend on their own decision to remain is precisely the matter of taking things for granted, of not being careful with what they listen to or follow, because the devil is always there, dedicated to precisely making believers fall. The believer is the one who is most prone to the attack of the enemy. How can I say this? Very easy. If the devil tried to tempt the Lord Himself many times while He was on this earth, how can he not try to tempt one of us? And do you think he tried to tempt the Lord in vain? The devil tempted the Lord because the Lord had a choice. The devil is not stupid. The thing is that God never takes away free will. The Lord was free to do as He wanted, to yield to the enemy, or to follow the Father’s design. As we read, the angels also have free will because although they were in their sinless state, they fell, and followed the devil. And also, as it is written, these false prophets and teachers arise (and will continue to arise) from the people of God who deviate from the truth, for not remaining. Because what does he say about these? That: “…even denying the Lord who bought them.” Who did the Lord buy (past sense)? The unbeliever? No. Here he speaks of converted people who fell into temptation, and became agents of evil, by giving in to their lusts and to the sin that still dwelled in them. Because it also says: “They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness…” So, the convert can fall, because even if they have converted, they are always free to choose, because God does not force anyone. Everything is based on love, and in love, there is no obligation. There are people who unfortunately, due to their stronger desire for the world and sin, they allow themselves to be seduced by error, and end up settling for the illusionary crumbs of this world.
That is why we must not be overconfident, and we have to take care of our salvation, always choosing the will of the Father, zealous for His Truth. This also says the Word: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:1-6. So, it is necessary not only to convert to the Lord, but also to bear fruit, ultimately, to do the will of the Father with our lives, because the Scriptures also say this: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23. The only way we will enter His kingdom is by doing the will of the Father, but because we love Him, and not with other intentions. God knows everything and will judge His people. So, are you abiding faithfully in the Lord to be able to obtain His salvation, or are you getting carried away by things that seem like the truth that feed your flesh? Lord bless! John