You have provided no evidence that 2 Peter is speaking about unsaved individuals
What do you feel Peter meant by:
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 ESV)
???
Who's the "them" (saved or un-saved)? What is true about his proverb reference?
Not presuming to answer for Francis, this is my own thinking...
The dog had regurgitated something because it was indigestible, the sow was washed from filth. I think both of these statements indicate they went from a previously unconverted condition to one of conversion and acceptance but they went back to the previous condition. I do believe this line of thinking is supported by...
Heb 10:26 For if we
sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Returning to sin as a way of life. Everyone sins, and no one holds a gun to one's head forcing one to, this is covered by James...
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Sin, when it is finished, when it's work is complete, indicating a pattern of continued sin...
From Bullingers...
James 1:15
when lust, &c. = lust, having conceived.
sin. App-128.
finished = completely finished. Greek. apoteleo. Only here.
bringeth forth. Greek. apokueo. Only here and Jam_1:18.
death. See Rom_6:21.
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Heb 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
One who sins and then genuinely repents is forgiven. The best example I can think of is David, Bathsheba and Uriah. His unrepentant attitude went on for at least nine months...
2Sa 12:9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
2Sa 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
2Sa 12:11 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.
2Sa 12:12 For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.
2Sa 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
2Sa 12:14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.
2Sa 12:15 And Nathan departed unto his house.
And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.
The child had been born, it was a full nine months and some time since the adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. Now notice verse 13, this was not just a casual recognition that "hey, that may not have been the best thing to do", it was realization of the awful reality of the sins involved. We find the account of David's heartfelt repentance in Psalm 51.
Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again,
The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Heb 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days,
in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Heb 10:33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Heb 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Read the last two verses carefully, the just live by faith, but God is not happy with those who draw back. In fact, it is possible to draw back 'unto perdition'. The word for perdition is...
G684
ἀπώλεια
apōleia
ap-o'-li-a
From a presumed derivative of G622; ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): - damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.
One can draw back to destruction, damnation. Draw back from what? Illumination with the Holy Spirit...
Heb 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.