"Then by your logic, Christ can't be the one true and only Savior. A Savior who is unable to grant salvation -- and that in effect is what you're saying-- by any standard can't be considered a Savior.
I don't know why you say that? I said God initiates the knowledge of salvation, reaching out to the world with his free gift. And then, who gets saved is decided by men, who choose either for it or against it. He is still the Savior even though we make the choice."
I said that because you said our salvation is ultimately up to us. Think about it, if it is a free gift (which I believe that it is), then being free would not require anything from its recipient, to include requiring a "decision", otherwise it's not really free.
" It is logically possible then, that if salvation is primarily based upon our actions, that no one, or everyone, might become saved -- both outcomes are possible.
Yes they are. But we also know that some will choose for, and some will choose against. That is determined by a person's inward intuition or predilection. I call it Predestination. "
what does "choose for" mean; what does "choose against " mean? How do you think someone manifests either?
"They are possible because they rest upon our own assessment of our spiritual condition. How can we even be sure whether we've correctly "accepted salvation" (whatever that might mean) ? Please define the criteria that illuminates when it's been achieved.
It is achieved when we prefer to be children of God, and reaches fruit-bearing status only when we begin to obey God's word, to follow God as our only God."
All religions have that same basic tenet in common and believe that they do so. Only one can be correct. So, based upon the criteria you've stated, any of their members regardless of the religion's doctrine, can be saved by following those doctrine.
"It sounds to me like you are describing (whether you realize it or not) that our works are a requirement for salvation. The Bible makes it abundantly clear, however, that we can never be saved by any of our works.
Jesus said that our work is to believe in him, which means to follow him. None of this means we're saved by works. It only means that Jesus alone did the work for our salvation, and that salvation results when we choose to follow him.
John 6.29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
No disrespect intended but Jesus did NOT say that -- you've gotten the interpretation really wrong.
Please, read it again very carefully. It tells us that it is God's work -- the work of God-- that makes anyone believe in Christ. It is NOT our work. We see below that any work we may attempt is accounted by God as debt, not grace.
[Rom 4:4 KJV] 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.