Dogs and Hogs
Scripture Reading: Psalm 135; Ezekiel 33-34; 2 Peter 2
What the true proverb says has happened to them, “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”
- 2 Peter 2:22
Peter is writing about false teachers primarily in this passage. It can be applied on a wider basis. What he is dealing with is why it is that some seem to have made a genuine turn to Christ but end up back in their old sinful ways, and often in a worse way. If we are judging them by the fruit of a moral reformation, it appears for a while that they have had a genuine conversion experience. But something went wrong and they have turned back. Why?
Peter’s use of this simple proverb is helpful. First, because its gross. At least the first half about the dog is. That’s just gross. And its dirty. The part about the sow isn’t as disgusting, but it does emphasize the dirtiness of the hog. This is intentional. He wants us to feel the gross dirtiness of sin, and with emphasis the sin of those who turn their back on Christ.
But there is more than that here. Mostly his point is that dogs and hogs are going to act like dogs and hogs because that is their nature. I have had the joy of owning both dogs and hogs in my life. A lot of them. Some were better to interact with than others. Some were well domesticated (I never had a pet pig but some acted very pet like). But I never had one that didn’t, at some point, act like a dog and a hog. Why? Because that was their nature.
Which brings me to Peter’s point: When you see someone who seemed to have a real turn to Christ and a real reformation of life go back the other way, there is a reason for it. And the reason is quite simple – their nature was never changed.
This reminds of the true nature of conversion. It is not merely a moral reformation, although morals will likely be reformed as a result of being born again. It is not like turning over a new leaf, or making a resolution to do better. It is a spiritual miracle. It is the removal of a heart of stone and in implanting of a heart of flesh. It is becoming a new creature of new creation in Christ Jesus.
Becoming a Christian means one has their nature changed. People act according to their nature. So, apart from being born again, one will return to what they are eventually. Dogs and going to dog and hogs are going to hog.
While a dogs and hogs can’t ever change themselves from what they are, Christ, by the power of the Spirit can change us into new creatures. That is why he told Nicodemus that it is like being born again. You have to start over as something new and you can’t. But Christ can. Turn to Him in faith and be new.
