I have seen those who embrace DoG/Calvinism/Reformed theology go on the offensive when someone will say the following:
"I received Christ as my Savior", or; "I trusted Christ as my Savior", or; "I accepted Christ as my Savior" and for other salvation statements of this sort and along these same lines.
Generally, those who hold reformed views attack those who make statements such as these.
Also, in John 1:12, it does speak of those "who received Him."
Why then, when persons make a salvation statement similar to those I have mentioned, are they attacked or at the very least maligned for doing so?
What is at stake for saying this? Why is it wrong? Are those who do these things just being overly critical, or are they defending the faith?
It is not helpful to mis-characterize those who believe the bible teaching on the grace of God, as those who ......go on the attack, malign,go on the offensive.
When a new convert makes a profession of faith,believers are happy to hear of it.Even if the professed christian uses language that may or may not be accurate.
As part of making disciples a mature believer will start to plant seed of truth to a new convert,in trying to build them up in the faith.
Often times all that is needed is to use scriptural language,and complete verses rather than half verse sound bites. If the new convert is speaking about.....I did this, I did that, rather than God did something to them,that might be a good place to start....for example;
The statement.....I "accepted Jesus". While it might be better than hearing someone say I have rejected Jesus,it is still not following the biblical language or teaching;
5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
here in Eph 1 we are told that it is God who has made us"accepted" in the beloved.
All believers receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour. As we look at the full passage in Jn 1...we see why..
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
We see that those who welcome or receive Jesus did so by the will of God.
Not the will of the flesh,or the will of man.
So when someone says, I raised my hand to accept Jesus, I walked the aisle, I prayed the sinners prayer, I did cartwheels in the sanctuary, I signed a card, I cleaned myself up,......someone can do all these things and yet not be given a new heart by God yet.
Everyone cuts a new professor some slack. It is when as happens in here sometimes that people openly oppose the grace of God and insist that man himself is in control that you will see reformed persons react against this attack on God's grace.
Some might do so having not been instructed correctly,or never even hearing of it....with them instruction will help. Others are just still in rebellion to the God of the bible,and His word.They are to be resisted firmly with the word, no different that a Christ rejecting JW.
They are ever learning and unable to come to a saving knowledge. God alone knows the heart and motives of each person.
The BB has a mixed multitude so from time to time you will see a mixture of responses along this spectrum. Even if the person persists in their error, others can read and learn by seeing the error contrasted with sound bible verses. The man centered false philosophy gets exposed by the truth that the church has historically held. new converts can grow in grace and knowledge.