[Tantumergo]

2Pe 2:20 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.
2Pe 2:21 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.
2Pe 2:22 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.

These may be cute polemical verses to throw at someone but they sure don't support your theory of election and pre-destination!!

If these people escaped the pollutions of the world,knew the way of righteousness, and were washed of their sins in baptism, then how come they returned to the vomit and mire if they were elect and pre-destined???

I suppose you will say that they were never pre-destined, but they surely must have thought they were before they lapsed!

If they can turn back, how do you KNOW that you will not? How do you KNOW that you are one of those pre-destined for glory and not one of those poor fools who accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, received baptism and the remmission of sins, but then whoops, sorry - must have been in the wrong queue?

It is obvious that the first Pope didn't believe in your doctrine of "once saved always saved".

[RnMomof7]

2Pe 2:20 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. 2Pe 2:21 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.
2Pe 2:22 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.

No where does this scripture say these men were saved..it says they knew the truth..many men know the truth and refuse it . We are told the church is full of them. that is the purpose of the parable of the wheat and the tares...the tares grow right along side. They may even think they have a saving faith..BUT God knows who are His and he will strip the tares from His field

God allows theses tares to remain for even the reprobate benefit from the word of God ,it is a restraing force on the hearts of even evil men.

"A religious education has restrained many whom the grace of God has not renewed: if we receive the light of the truth, and have a notional knowledge of Christ in our heads, it may be of some present service to us; but we must receive the love of the truth, and hide God’s word in our heart, or it will not sanctify and save us." Matthew Henry

 

It is obvious that the first Pope didn't believe in your doctrine of "once saved always saved".

Really?

1Pe 1:2   Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
    1Pe 1:3   Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
     1Pe 1:4 

  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
     1Pe 1:5 

  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Now this sounds to me like the "first Pope "believed in election , predestinatiopn and the persaverence of the saints!

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So tell me Tantumergho..what kind of a Calvinist were you? I was singing Tantumergio while you were in diapers I bet

Now I sing

this

[AnalogReigns]

If they can turn back, how do you KNOW that you will not? How do you KNOW that you are one of those pre-destined for glory and not one of those poor fools who accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, received baptism and the remmission of sins, but then whoops, sorry - must have been in the wrong queue?

We humans are especially good at lying to ourselves. Anyone who thinks they accepted Jesus, recieved baptism and the remission of sins....but who does NOT love others--SHOULD have no assurance they are truly saved. See I John 1.

Jesus Himself taught there would always be false bretheren or "tares" amoung the wheat. He also taught we shouldn't be too concerned at rooting them out--as such is destructive to the wheat.(Mat. 13:24-30)

God is good, and when we find ourselves believing the good news of Jesus work, AND we see ourselves loving others both in word and deed--we know "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:6) That assurance is a gift of God.

The trust is not directed at oneself--in a truly prideful way (which perhaps is what is annoying you) rather it looks to Jesus who said: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." (John 10: 27, 28)

Churches always have "tares." Christ predicted it... and those tares even benefit here and now from their association with God and the Church.... St. Peter is here talking to those tares--pleading for them to truly repent and believe. The "holy commandment" they have turned from is the Gospel itself--which they had never yet believed.

Your remark about the "wrong queue" seems to assume Calvinists think God is arbitrary--like blind fate. However we only acknowlege God is loving--and His choices of His people are only a mystery of love.