The True Proverb

2 Peter 2:20-22 KJV

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.

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.

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.

Albert Barnes writes,

"There was no thorough internal change, any more than there is in the swine when it is washed, or in the dog. This passage, therefore, would seem to demonstrate that there never had been any real change of heart, and of course there had been no falling away from true religion. It should not, therefore, he quoted to prove that true Christians may fall from grace and perish. The dog and the swine had never been anything else than the dog and the swine, and these persons had never been anything else than sinners."

What a terrible thing for a person to

• Hear that there is salvation
• Approach that salvation, to even
• Teach others about this salvation and then to
• Personally turn from that salvation

It would be better for one to have never heard in this case because their judgment would be lesser.

But then there is this caveat; that even though they have not been born again, there is hope while there is breath in them that they will one day come to Him. 

John Newton was born to a mother whose desire for her son was that he grow up to be a preacher. She died when he was nine years old, and with her death went all influence toward godliness. Though there were indications of spiritual illumination in his teen years, Newton plunged into deeper and deeper sin. With deeper sins came greater degrees of bitter fruit; life becoming harsher and harsher until finally on board a ship that was doomed to sink, he wondered if there was any hope that God could be merciful to his soul. 

God was merciful. He was spared death at sea and came to place faith in Christ. With saving faith came a transformation of character until Newton was called into ministry and was greatly used in his lifetime and having written one hymn that is even still ministering to hearts.