It is a fact that actual and reliable investigation into Calvinism, remembering that the thread title declares Calvinsim to be 'gospel',
has not really occurred. Some, truthfully, have defended what they believe with scripture, albeit understood from a Calvinist position. Others have simply dismissed any assertion that Calvinism, or it's clone 'I am not a Calvinist but I believe just like one.'
The assertions presented as fact by a few, are geared to create a defense rather than actual discussion. The clamoring for attention using this process is loud and littered with things that shout 'look over here'....or 'this verse represents me'.....or 'I am without error' ...or even the more mundane 'you are liars', which, seems to be the most vigorous defence. There is no actual study done by anyone who has the credentials to be believed, that includes the 'you are liars' defence because it is not a defence and indicates a hasty and emotional conclusion that, of course, cannot ever be proved.
Our salvation is only through belief in Christ. No one come to the Father without the atonement of Christ and no one comes to Christ without Faith.
There is absolutely no condition or consideration in which God places His Spirit into a person to assure they will accept the gospel.
The Holy Spirit only enters AFTER a person accept God's gift. He does not stir up belief from the inside; He acknowledges belief from the inside when belief has occurred. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, He does not dismiss it and save a person before the person is saved.
That is one of the most, if not the most, outrageous claims of Calvinism. It certainly cannot be proven from scripture. That is, scripture kept within the contextual framework it is found in and not relegated to be married to some OT passages or worse, twisted to mean something other than what it actually means.
Please note accusations against other posters have not been made and no one is being called a liar. Obviously, this post is not meant to attack or prove or disprove any text, so I won't be botherd to respond to anyone who mistakenly believes I want to argue with them.
The gospel is not the narrative of Calvin or the clone; it is the 'Good News' that God has provided the perfect sacrifice in His only begotten Son and has provided that, for each and every single person who accepts that fact by faith. That, is my firm conviction and what I believe the Bible attests to.