Amy.G said:
If that is the case then we do not have eternal security and those that belong to Christ can't be kept by Christ. I do not belive that. I believe that God has sealed us with the Holy Spirit to the day of redemption just like scripture says.
What makes you think those false teachers were saved? I do not see any sign of that.
Well I still maintain that 2nd Peter 2:20 is saying they were saved at one point:
If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.
Note that Peter writes that "they have escaped the corruption of the world". That sure sounds like they came out of the world and into Christ. Also, Peter says "by knowing", not that they knew "about" Jesus but that they "knew" Jesus. Finally Peter says "again entangled" with the world, indicating that they have gone back to being as they were before. If they can go back to the world, they must have been out of it at some point.
Here's some more passages about
knowing Jesus that speak of knowing Christ in the context of saved believers:
1 John 5:20
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may
know him who is true.
2 Peter 1:8
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 2
1I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may
know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Philippians 3:8
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they may
know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
It seems that all these passages are talking about "knowing" Christ, not knowing "about" Him. The passage in Peter is saying the same thing.
I'm not trying to disprove OSAS or anything, just trying to look at this passage without any preconceived notions.
Les