I apologize, Brother. I messed up the quotes in an above post and it subsequently messed up your post as well. It is now too late for me to fix it.
Salvation is most assuredly presented with the Author being God through Christ. God, before the foundations of the world were ever laid, determined the means to redeem sinful man back to Him. He choose to do so through the sacrifice of His own dear Son. He has set the conditions of that salvation as our repentance (from sin) toward God and faith (in that sacrifice) toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).
Where we differ is that I believe that He extends this invitation to all mankind freely and has not predetermined man's eternal destiny independent of man's free will. He has, however, predetermined man's eternal destiny based upon man's free will. He has predetermined that all who accept the invitation to receive Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour will be saved (John 1:12). He has predetermined that all who reject His merciful and gracious offer of salvation will not be saved (John 3:18).
Not a problem with the quotes. I didn't notice until I got home, and it was in-correctable then, too.
I started a thread on "Freedom of the Will" which you might be better able to contend for your thinking.
I don't (though I used too) hold to such freedom of the will thinking. However, I do look at the arguments on both sides that are raised. But more, I look for Scriptures that can change my opinions.
Paul presented in Romans the combating that takes place between the old and new "wills." and from other passages, also, I was forced into concluding that a new "core value" is instilled into the person. This is not to split salvation into elements that can be parceled into which comes first and who is on second with when on third....
Do we not all experience that very battle of the "wills" as Paul described?
Certainly, if Paul had two wills (two natures) in conflict (Romans 7) then the old will is not modified, not changed, not "made willing" but supplanted by a more powerful and righteous will.
Therefore, it remains impossible for the "old will" to accept the things of Christ, but continually combat and daily brought under subjection.
That makes it impossible for the "old will" to be enlightened to the point of belief.
It also makes it impossible for anything of this earthly to gain that which is eternal. For the Scripture teaches that we are a "new creation" and that "old things have passed away - all becomes new"
Check out the other thread, and add Scripture support for your thinking. I look forward to an even more sharply defined approach to this matter.
On the other matter of the offer made to all - freely.
The draw to Christ is certainly a part of Scriptures. However, what is offered in the drawing may not be what some express.
For example: Christ drew all people during His ministry on earth. The religious self righteous, the writers, the political astute, the rebellious, the .... He drew great crowds and individual inquirers. But, whom did He choose?
Look at this portion of John 12:
31“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
32“
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”
33But
He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.
34The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the Law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
35So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes.
36“
While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.”
Christ is not saying that the Cross would bring a drawing of all, for then it would stand in conflict to Paul's statement that the preaching of the cross "was folly (foolishness) to the unbelieving."
And besides, who wants to be drawn to persecution for that is certainly what Paul stated believers will bear.
What Christ is stating is that type of death He would die, that the lifting up would not bring the offer of salvation to all people, but that by being lifted up that He was the victor over the authority of Satan. That being the Light those that walk in the light "may become the sons of the light" - that which John states in the opening chapter of his account.
Salvation is free. Certainly.
There is no restriction to present the offer of salvation as free to all. Certainly.
But as is recorded in the book of Acts:
"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as
should be saved." (Those who were being delivered, those rescued)
It is important that the emphasis remain upon the authority of God being the one who delivered, rescued, saved.
The word "such" is specific - "That one," and "This one." It emphasizes the specific persons selected.
The character of the early church was that of "having favor with all men."
However, do you think that the forces of Satan were not involved from the earliest moment - was not even one disciple have Satan in the heart?
The Scriptures are very clear even at this to state "in favor of all" as separate from "and God added..."
Salvation is freely offered to all, but not all are redeemed, there are others that look and act but are not.
Richard Wurmbrand said that while imprisoned he met those who were believers and also those who thought they were believers.
The earliest church was filled, certainly.
It was filled with both the wheat of God's planting, and the tares of the enemy's planting. Both looked the same, until the time of harvest.
