Don't Go Back

Nov 2, 2025    Pastor Cameron Ward

This powerful message challenges us to examine whether we're truly living a transformed life in Christ or simply maintaining our old patterns with a spiritual veneer. Drawing from 2 Peter chapter 2, we're confronted with the sobering reality of false discipleship—people who claim faith but never actually follow Jesus into newness of life. The central question pierces through our comfortable Christianity: Have we been saved from our old way of living, or have we merely added Jesus to our existing lifestyle? The imagery is stark and uncomfortable—springs without water, mist driven by storms, dogs returning to vomit, and pigs returning to mud. These aren't just warnings about false teachers; they're mirrors reflecting our own tendency to cling to familiar sins while expecting different results. The call to repentance isn't about minor adjustments but radical redirection. We're reminded that knowing about Jesus differs fundamentally from knowing Him through His Spirit. True salvation means every part of our lives—our relationships, habits, entertainment choices, and thought patterns—undergoes transformation. We cannot serve Jesus while walking the same path that led us away from Him. The Holy Spirit isn't given so we can remain unchanged but so we can become springs of living water, anchored in truth rather than tossed by every storm. This message invites us to get sick of being sick, to leave the mud behind, and to surround ourselves with people who help us stay clean rather than pull us back into old patterns.