SAVED BY OUR OWN MERITS - THE ULTIMATE CONCLUSION OF SEMI-PELAGIANS
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Semi-Pelagians, of whatever variety, ultimately believe they are saved by their own merits.
This conclusion is INESCAPABLE.
An account was related to me where a street preacher type stated, in so many words, we are saved because we are smarter than you. You fail to place your faith in Jesus, therefore you are stupid.
When it comes down to it, that's what semi-Pelagians of all stripes believe. There is something inherent within me that caused me to be saved, rather than God's grace.
It is constantly reinforced amongst them in their echo chamber that God has given every man a measure of faith, therefore if that person is not saved, it's their own fault. The logical conclusion is that the reason they are saved is due to their own merits. There's no way of escaping this.
As I do jail ministry, I find myself thinking like a semi-Pelagian. I know the crimes of some of those men. I am thinking, there's no way those guys are going to come to Christ. Then, it comes to me, Robert..you're thinking like a semi-Pelagian. STOP IT.
And, the basis of the Arminian position is basically this: God predestines based on foreknowledge of the faith response of the individual. So, there's no way to avoid the conclusion that the Arminian's salvation, in his mind, is related to his personal merits, in that he made the right decision and others did not. This is UNAVOIDABLE.
Some just aren't smart enough to avoid statements like the street preacher. They believe they are the ones who were smart enough to flee to God, and that their wisdom is to be credited, and not the pure grace of God, but they just aren't dumb enough to say it.
Thank goodness for dumb Arminian/Pelagian street preachers who bear their thoughts so clearly
This conclusion is INESCAPABLE.
An account was related to me where a street preacher type stated, in so many words, we are saved because we are smarter than you. You fail to place your faith in Jesus, therefore you are stupid.
When it comes down to it, that's what semi-Pelagians of all stripes believe. There is something inherent within me that caused me to be saved, rather than God's grace.
It is constantly reinforced amongst them in their echo chamber that God has given every man a measure of faith, therefore if that person is not saved, it's their own fault. The logical conclusion is that the reason they are saved is due to their own merits. There's no way of escaping this.
As I do jail ministry, I find myself thinking like a semi-Pelagian. I know the crimes of some of those men. I am thinking, there's no way those guys are going to come to Christ. Then, it comes to me, Robert..you're thinking like a semi-Pelagian. STOP IT.
And, the basis of the Arminian position is basically this: God predestines based on foreknowledge of the faith response of the individual. So, there's no way to avoid the conclusion that the Arminian's salvation, in his mind, is related to his personal merits, in that he made the right decision and others did not. This is UNAVOIDABLE.
Some just aren't smart enough to avoid statements like the street preacher. They believe they are the ones who were smart enough to flee to God, and that their wisdom is to be credited, and not the pure grace of God, but they just aren't dumb enough to say it.
Thank goodness for dumb Arminian/Pelagian street preachers who bear their thoughts so clearly
I believe the Arminian position is correct.. But it has nothing to do with intellectual smartness.. It has everything to do with being humble before the LORD..
Isaiah 57: KJV
15 "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
James 4: KJV
6 "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
That is the verse they use but that is not what it says. Romans 12:3 "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned."
The context shows that the is to "everyong among you" those that are among the elect/Church. Then he goes on to say to, "each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." The each are those among the elect, not in the world or all men, Paul is addressing the elect/Church, again not the world or all men.
The context shows that the is to "everyong among you" those that are among the elect/Church. Then he goes on to say to, "each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned." The each are those among the elect, not in the world or all men, Paul is addressing the elect/Church, again not the world or all men.
