Since there is only one way a person can be saved, what do you think is the proper way of salvation? There are four major views: calvinism, arminiansim (OSAS), arminianism (non-OSAS), and open theism. Give your verse and reason. Before you give a verse make sure you have not read into that text that which is not there. It must clearly say what you are proposing. So think twice.

Well actually there are five major views, you left out the only one that counts...

John 3:3 Jesus replied to him, "Truly, truly I tell you, unless a person is born from above he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Amen x 10 my friend.

That's what Jacob Arminius taught, and that a person couldn't lose salvation: those who are born-again "they shall never perish" (John 10.28). And leaving open theism aside because open theists worship a god without infinite foreknowledge, there are not 5 choices but only 3 choices: Arminian, Non-OSAS, and Calvinism. Non-OSASers are not saved because they refuse to give their lives to the God who keeps when they obviously can't keep themselves.


To the Calvinist, he is not saved either:

1. You refuse to repent and believe in Christ to be regenerated by erecting an idol called Total depravity which says you can't so you won't;
2. You worship a god who sends people to Hell from birth without any opportunity to be saved and they could do nothing about it. What love is this? You worship a god who does not provide sufficient grace to all or is unable (impotent) to. Isn't this what Hitler did to the Jews?;
3. You worship an evil tyrant that must irresistibly impose its kind of regeneration on people without giving them the choice (not much of a gift). Isn't this what Hitler did to his Aryan race?;
4. Your god contradicts himself with his two wills you claim secretly doesn't want all to be saved but openly says he does. If something is a secret then by definition you can't make any claim about it or if it even exists;
5. It's wrong to give people false hope to deliver the gospel to them when your god made them unable to respond. There is no way around this duplicity and charade;
6. The god of Calvinism could save all, but doesn't, whereas God of the Bible doesn't save all because most people refuse His love, e.g. Calvinists.

Let's call this the 6 Major Sins of Calvinism.

Just some thoughts:
Without getting into Calvinism, etc. Jesus described every type of person who would hear the gospel. Only the good soil was truly ready to receive and held the Word in esteem. The rest never really wanted more than the benefits of salvation. As God foreknows our choices only these were truly His and these are the ones who know that they have salvation.
Tasting of God's goodness is simply a heart test.

So Revivin, if you think that the answer lay in only one of these preconceived theologies which one to you subscribe to?

Theories? Scripture doesn't theorize but clearly shows there is only one way to be saved. I made myself clear which is the correct way.

I have a question: What about people who are genuine seekers of spiritual truth, yet never heard of Jesus or understood the OT prophesies about Him? (The patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for instance.) Does Heb 11:6 say that such people are saved when they die?

SLE

Just a statement that says: Those who were under the Law shall be judge under law and those who are under Grace shall be judge under grace. Those who were without law shall also be judge without the law but by their conscience shall they be judge.

''But it will be very devastating and regrettable for you and me who are under Grace to WALK AND LIVE UNDER THE LAW''.

Rom 2:12-16

For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Rom 2:25-29

For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

I hope that answer your question@SpiritLed

I just love it when members use the word conscience in their replies on sharing the gospel. Staying close to what we know personally ourselves and God who has revealed it to us in his word. When the focus is there we allow God to work in the individuals heart. We allow him to convict the individual, not us. We are just along for the ride commanded to share the Gospel out of knowing the truth ourselves.

1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience;
which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:....

Only through the promise of a healed conscience can one get into the Lords ship of Jesus! The Lord Jesus Christ.

This is utterly worthless and ignorant junk - worse than that, it is divisive and destructive.

Coconut has helpfully, simply and accurately identified the only means of salvation. A lot more could be said, but nothing more needs to be said.

Whether one can lose salvation, whether Calvinism or Arminianism is a better model for understanding the teaching of the Bible are important points for careful debate, and they do have a bearing on our walk and witness of faith.

But make no mistake, our salvation does not hang on the conclusions we draw here.

You have absolutely no business declaring who is saved and who is not saved on the grounds of this issue.

Nowhere does Jesus turn anybody way on account of these issues.

Did you really think that you can unravel and conclude a centuries old debate that has exercised some of the finest theologians in such a few short sentences?

Please consider your words very carefully and refrain from making such sweeping and ill-informed and unjustified judgments.