Featured Does it or did it make any difference to you?

Yes, the REALITY made a difference and I struggled for over a decade to find a “theology” that agreed with the experiential reality of God’s wondrous grace.

 

I was 4 years old. All I knew was I was a sinner and I needed Jesus to save me.

The question is...should we stay at that level of understanding? Do I want to be like the Jewish Christians in the sermon to the Hebrews?
Hebrews 5:11-14
There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

 

I was unchurched when the Lord saved me. I mostly remember the thrill and energy that came alive in me. I wandered into an Arminian Church to be baptized but didn't know anything other than my new sense of joy experience.

Things never lined up with my experience. They tried to get me saved Arminian style when I knew I was already saved. This went on and on until years later when in another church I heard the Calvinistic doctrine of Limited Atonement for the first time as they were teaching against it! That was it. It explained everything that did not line up with my salvation experience. I dropped out of church immediately and spent $$$ on a Reformed Theology and 1600s Baptist library over many years. That led to home church and daily bible studies. (I live behind the Arminian Curtain). The Limited Atonement doctrine caused a complete reversal in my thinking. I knew for the first time that I believe because God saved me. I knew they were wrong when they tried to teach me that I saved myself when I chose to believe, which I never did. I already believed based on experience.

 

I agree. Many of the finest Christians I know are very shallow on their theology. What they know is God loves them, the plan of Salvation, and they love people. Their love for people shows.
Most people I know who get all caught up in C vs A debate are old sour scholars. The sinner can not see the Love of Christ in them because if it actually is there, it is well hidden. It seems that the sourest of the sour are on the C side.

 

Arminians do not teach you save yourself. If you were taught that, it was not by Arminians.

 

They teach among other things "you must choose to believe" = self-salvation.

 

So the truth is optional?

“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 (KJV 1900)

 

Who is they? Not a real Arminian.

 

By your standard, if you misunderstand anything in the Scripture you fail.
You do not have to be a theologian to be saved.
You remember Jesus illustration of childlike faith

 

Actually being as a child was the requirement.
Matthew 18:3.
Mark 10:15.
Luke 18:17.
John 3:4 note the question.
Re: John 3:3.
Re: Matthew, Mark and Luke.

 

Universal atonement does not save a single soul. They must save themselves by works.

 

If you love the truth, you are not one of them.

 

And you don't understand Arminianism.

 

And you are too scared to leave your house.
A front porch theologian. No salt nor light being taken into the world. Too doctrinally correct to find a single church worthy of your attendance. Not one single church is good enough for you.
Seriously, What good are you to The Kingdom of God?

 

How does universal atonement save if not by works?

 

All of the local churches are apostate. What would you do?

 

Arminians don't believe universal atonement.

 

Examine yourself and try to figure out why you are the only person in a 25 mile radius of you that has proper theology. Why you are right and EVERYONE else is wrong.

 

They believe Christ died for the whole world in their unenlightened sense.