[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

[RnMomof7]

Opps correction Now this sounds to me like the "first Pope "believed in election , predestination and the perseverence of the saints!

[Tantumergo]

No where does this scripture say these men were saved

What is being saved if not "escaping the pollutions of this world"?

that is the purpose of the parable of the wheat and the tares

You don't need to tell Catholics about tares at this moment in history!! ;)

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

Quite - its the inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled - we and our faith in Christ are capable of corruption and defilement. What is so objectionable about the "once saved always saved" attitude is that it presumes final perseverence, when in fact this is something that is only known by God. Even the greatest saints did not take their salvation for granted:

1 Cor 9:27 But I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.

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

Of course he believed in election and predestination of the saints. I only said that those verses didn't support your theory!! The Catholic Church has always believed in the election and predestination of the saints, but at the same time, holding the mysterious determination of God in balance, we do not believe that predestination takes away free will. Perseverence is a free gift of God dependent absolutely on grace, but again we do not believe that grace violates nature, but rather builds on nature.

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

I was a Presbyterian. I really hope you were not singing Tantum ergo when I was in diapers because then time would be really running short!!! ;)