F
I will have to draw a sketch here so it is clear to the readers what is actually being communicated between us. All that Christ did for our salvation was completed at the cross. However, scripture clearly shows that our justification is given us in time (not from eternity or at time of crucifixion) upon being regenerated and as a fruit believing in this finished work. Not before that. The way you want to have it is that what you call "eternal salvation" is something which is totally abstract and without any MEANS whatsoever. All scriptures regarding salvation in scripture you would say is only about timely salvation. In effect, with your view, one does need (or rather manifest the fruit of) believe in Christ, in the gospel, receive baptism or anything. It is good if one have any or all of these, but they do not mean anything as to our "eternal salvation". In fact one may even die in unbelief and yet be "eternally saved" with your view. Because to say that salvation comes by any MEANS for you would mean that it is conditional or dependent on or even a work of man. With this faulty logic you come to most weak conclusions like saying that if a person shows a "desire" to know God and to learn about "spiritual things" then that is evidence that this person can be elect or eternally saved. In an earlier post, under your old username forest, you suggested that Noah's mission was merely to have people saved from being drowned, however there was people who drowned in the flood who yet were "eternally saved". You also suggested that the non-believing jews, who Paul addressed in Rom.10 were eternally saved, because he called them "brethren". These are just some examples of the extreme and bizarre things your Primitive baptist tradition has led you to believe about salvation.