Mike Winger's "Why I think Calvinism is Unbiblical"

So, seeing the liberty is available, I reserve my right to take the liberty to assume that, since the directive to "believe" is given, so then also has the ability to, and the other option is to continue in unbelief.

The ability to do good was there plain as day in Cameron's post...

He also explained how it was not about actions so much as the condition of the heart, and who man serves.

Add in: you cannot serve two masters, and, without faith it is impossible to please God.

see post 1061

The directive was also given to circumcise your heart.

Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

Did they? Could they? Peter said none could bear what had been laid on them.

“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.
You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit!"

My heart circumcision was not performed by human hands.

How were they to do something that the Holy Spirit of God does for us?

Without the help of God???

That is what some here say amounts to. They did it themselves.

All by themself, without any help from God, thank you very much.

They are not like those others who needed help.

the context provides insight into what qualifies one in having a stiff-neck and uncircumcised heart; resisting the Holy Spirit. It implies a flexible neck turns toward God and a callous is softened by a tearing that results in sensitivity toward that which touches it. And God (also) performs on furthering the circumcision as He continues to touch it.

The whole point is that it is God Who circumcises the heart, and until then, the natural man hears not the gospel as anything but foolishness: their hearts are darkened, they love their sin, they are rebellious toward God, a slave to sin. I have a dental appt. See you later!

I consider dental appointment to be like a day at the spa. Relax and enjoy!

Jesus literally says they are evil. Is there any good in evil? If you don't understand the necessity of a changed heart from what I shared, I'm at a loss.

wow, that bad eh?

It's not personal. The fault lies in me. I don't know how to explain it any better.

Nah, it is not you,

IT is the doctrine it requires way too much explanation, elucidation, rationalization and maybe even some imagination!

Well you see it like that and I see your view as not being able to let go of the little bit of credit that you feel you deserve for making the "right choice". That glory belongs to God in TRUTH, and you just can't let go of it trying to claim it as your own. You are trying to take Gods glory the way I see it, and frankly the way the bible clearly spells it out. There is NOTHING a person can do to save themselves, we are dead in our sin, even repentance is a gift from God, the same God that MUST draw us in, salvation is by grace not a met requirement, God is sovereign, have you ever looked up what this word means? The list goes on and on, however I do also believe we clearly have choice. BIG QUESTION, who get's the credit for your choice to choose Jesus? <--- This is the point and main question, who does the glory for this CHOICE belong to? See I was blessed with a personal testimony that completely prevents me from being able to claim I was even aware of what was happening the day I was granted repentance and was born again. I KNOW for a gospel truth fact that I didn't choose a dang thing that day, so ALL glory belongs to Him and Him along. I believe this is just as true when the person is on their knees at an altar call praying to Jesus and is reborn in truth then and there. That was 0% the church house, 0% the preacher, 0% the mans decision to walk up front when called, and it was 100% God lest any one of them boast. That said God obviously used every bit of them to bring that to be. Crazy right?

That's one thing I want to make clear that I believe is the biggest point of disconnection here, I believe in choice, I just also believe in Gods sovereign power, how those two work together to bring about His perfect will is beyond my capabilities, but I feel it's important to be very clear that God gets ALL the glory for my salvation, and even the glory for the just punishment of every sinner, I don't get to be a critic of God.

I don't know. Salvation is an inward work. Unless there are accompanying signs, it's impossible to know.
Down the road, if fruit is evident, that is one indicator. But simply acknowledging their need and saying a prayer doesn't guarantee one is saved.

Then I guess it is you.

If it were me, it would happen something like this...

You may or not be right. The person themselves may or may not know. How many people that you prayed with later expressed doubts about their salvation?

I'm not denying the necessity of a changed heart nor that it is Jesus who works in creating a new heart within us. But I can't conscientiously deny that no one can will to have a new heart even without the power to perform it.