Dear John,
Let me take a stab at this and see if I help…
Come let us reason together….
1. There is no Arminian who could call themselves Christian who holds that God saved all people by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross whether they want it or not.
2. There is no Calvinist who could call themselves Christian who holds that people are lost or saved by pre-programming of God whether they want it or not.
These are the two extremes of both arguments and no Christian can go that far and remain Christian. So let us be reasonable. It is possible to be Arminian or Calvinist while not being a Christian.
So I begin with being a Christian. What does the Bible say about being a Christian? Please refer to my pamphlet “The Full Disclosure Gospel.”
Free will necessary for salvation.
8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Romans 10:8-10 (New International Version)
Our assurance of salvation is the relational presence of the Holy Spirit. Give me that rather than a cold contract any day. It is written on our hearts and sealed.
Romans 4:16
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.
2 Corinthians 1:22
set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2 Corinthians 5:5
Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Ephesians 1:14
who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Finally I can not know if someone else is truly saved, but every person can known for themselves if they are saved or not if I really want to know.
7After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:7-9 (New International Version)
If you would like a more detailed description of what actually happens when we are saved I can tell you about the court case taking place in heaven right now.
For a summary of the two positions see http://www.the-highway.com/compare.html
I really differ with both when it comes to “election” because that is where the train comes off the tracks.
Pastor John
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