2 Peter 2:20

[Song]

Hi, I was reading through the Bible and this specific verse stood out to me.

2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

Of course, Salvation cannot be lost, once saved always saved. In the previous chapter, Peter assures the reader of this. Salvation as well will come to all people as well, as is the Lord?s promise. So, I have two interpretations of it.

1)

Those who believe in ECT and those who believe in UR can both have knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Both of them can be saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ. However, those who believe in ECT are entangled by the defilements of the world. Specifically, they get the false human traditions and mythologies of an ECT hell and try to add it in the Bible. Christians who have to deal with the pain of imagining what may happen to their family members and friends.

2)

There can also be non-believers, those who have knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but falsely imagine The Lord in the ECT view. There?s many atheists I?ve encountered online who refuse to believe in God because they?re scared of ECT, they hate ECT. And I too despise ECT, but I believe in God.

Job 2:9-11 Then his wife told him, ?Do you remain firm in your integrity? Curse God and die!? But he replied to her, ?You?re talking like foolish women do. Are we to accept what is good from God but not tragedy??

Like Job?s friends and his wife, they may tell Job to curse God. But, the source of these ECT lies is not from God. In fact, God tells us time and time again that His ultimate goal, that will be fulfilled, is to save everyone! In pains my heart thinking of all the people that could be saved, that could have a loving relationship with our Lord and Saviour, yet are turned away by ECT.

I?ve just thought of another acronym for ECT. Evil Cunning Tricks. Because that?s what it is. A malicious ploy to keep people away from Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Yet, think of a magician who shows you a magic trick. Maybe he pulls a rabbit out of his hat, or he makes his assistant disappear. There?s no magic there. It?s all a trick. A lie. All the devil can do is trick us, but ultimately, God will have the final and absolute victory, saving everyone, sending all people to Heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

[Ross]

All this highlights the difference between knowing about Christ and being in Christ.
Each person in their appointed time will become in Christ, not by personal efforts but 100% by Christ's.
This seems to be why Paul points out that in the resurrection there will no longer be Jew and Greek,  barbarians....

[jabcat]

 :dsunny:

[Song]

All this highlights the difference between knowing about Christ and being in Christ.

:dsunny: Agreed. Many of my family members are in "Christian Churches" and consider themselves "Christian", yet they falsely believe that you have to have your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds to go to Heaven.

Matthew 10:21-23 Brothers will turn against their own brothers and hand them over to be killed. Fathers will hand over their own children to be killed. Children will fight against their own parents and will have them killed. 22 Everyone will hate you because you follow me...

I've tried to tell them about having faith alone in Jesus Christ to be saved, but they reject the idea. Like you mention, all I can do is support them like a family member does and hope that they can learn the truth eventually.

[Ross]

All I can do is support them like a family member does and hope that they can learn the truth eventually.

Just like to add in the overlooked translation of hope; confident expectation;
     ergo- not a possibility, but rather a certainty.

My family have all been devout church goers. One sibling has his bachelor of Divinity, the other is a Pentecostal.
Grand-father-in-law and father-in-law have both been Baptist church presidents.
They are still unaware of the salvation of all.
Used to be a concern, but I keep getting the reminder Jesus gave to Peter when Peter said
" What about him" Jesus replied
" If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me."

I am not my brothers keeper, although I have tried to be many times- glad Jesus knows better and has a plan for him as well.