November 13^th , 2016

9:30 am --------------------------------------------------------------Take Up Thy Bed and Walk – John 5:10-16

10:00 am ---------------------------------------------------------------------The Calling & Election – 2 Peter 1:10

Nursery Today: Second Service – Wendy , Alt. -- Aimee

DOGS, SWINE, SHEEP

“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” (2 Peter 2:22). “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (I Peter 2:25).

Both the dog and sow are unclean animals. The proverb about the dog is from Pro. 26:11, and the one about the sow is probably from the Syrian Story of Ahikar (not found in the O.T., but known to Peter and his readers). The words for “vomit” and “sow” and “wallowing” and “mire” are found only in this verse in the entire Greek N.T., making it a singular, important text.

The “them” Simon Peter is referring to are those having “known the way of righteousness,” yet “turn from” it to apostasy, as dogs to their vomit and sows to their wallowing in the mire. This whole 2nd chapter of II Peter is about “false prophets” and “false teachers,” and is a warning to all of us about deception, false profession, and not living up to what we profess. Apt descriptions of such apostates are these: “Clouds and wind without rain” (Proverbs 25:14), and “Wells without water” (2 Peter.2:17).

The people of God in Scripture are never called dogs, goats, or swine, but always “sheep” or “lambs.” “My sheep,” the Lord Jesus said, “hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Sheep are both defenseless and dumb; so are the children of God. We could never find our way to the true God without our “Shepherd and Bishop,” who died at Calvary, and was “brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep” (Hebrews 13:20). Note, “that great shepherd of the sheep.” The Great Shepherd saves the sheep! The Overseer of our souls guards and guides the sheep! From beginning to end, we need sovereign mercy from “the Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock” (Psalm 80:1). No wonder Jesus said, “I am the door of the sheep…I am the good shepherd” (John 10:7,11).

If we are not sheep, we are dogs and swine, which means we are “reprobates” (2 Corinthians.13:5). We must be “sheep” in order to be Christ’s disciples, for He has no other kind. Dogs have a nature that makes them return to their own vomit. So do sinners return to their sin, despite their knowledge or profession. Swine, though washed outwardly, still have pig natures, and will always return to wallowing in the mire. By contrast, sheep may stray, fall in the ditch, and get very dirty, but they will not wallow in the ditch, be happy in the ditch, or stay in the ditch. That is why we as Christ’s sheep must always say, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Yes, beloved, Christ Jesus, “the faithful witness” (Revelation 1:5), is our hope, who loved His sheep, gave Himself for them at the cross, and now “ever lives” to keep them to the end. Christ’s sheep have been delivered from “the hole of the pit” which is full of the vomit and mire of this world.– copied

The Dog Follows His Master

So long as two men are walking together, you cannot tell which one of them the dog belongs to. But let the two men part company and it then becomes evident; the dog will follow his master! The dog does not hesitate, de­bate, or remain undecided; he quickly follows the one he loves.

Where Christ and men separate; where the Word of God and the traditions of men divide; where the ways of God and ways of the flesh part, ­the servant of Christ does not hesitate, debate, or remain undecided; he follows Christ, whom he loves, regardless of the cost.

The master may go to a sim­ple cottage, a meal of dry bread, and a lonesome ex­istence while his companion enjoys all the luxuries of the world. But the faithful dog cares little for these things so long as he is with his master. – H.T.M.

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“ God chooses us, not because we believe, but that we may believe.” – Augustine