Do you HOPE you are Going to Heaven?, or has it "been Granted"?

Philippians 1:29;
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”

In reference to the Calvinism/Arminianism Debate;

From: The “god” of Arminianism is Not Worshippable – by Dr. C. Matthew McMahon | Reformed Theology at A Puritan's Mind

"The Scriptures demonstrate God in a completely different light than Arminius’ ideas.

"In making a pact and agreement with the members of the Triune Godhead, the Father promises to send the Son, the Son promises to complete the work given Him, and the Spirit promises to apply the work that the Son accomplishes.

"This is not a “hope” on the side of God; rather, it is established in God’s eternal decree.

"This is electing grace.

"The Synod of Dordt said in opposition to Arminius’ teachings,

“Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world,

"He has out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of His own will, chosen from the whole human race,

"which had fallen through their own fault from their primitive state of rectitude into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ,

"whom He from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect and the foundation of salvation.”

"The Westminster Confession of Faith states that,

“Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid,

"according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen, in Christ,

"unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving him thereunto; and all to the praise of his glorious grace.”

"Since God has done this, He will not simply “hope” that men come to Him.

"Instead, He ensures their belief by regenerating their hearts through his electing grace.

"The Confession states,

“All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit,

"out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ;

"enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills,

"and, by his almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ:

"yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.”

"Even the Belgic Confession, that which Arminius repudiated, though vowed to, says,

“We believe that, all the posterity of Adam being thus fallen into perdition and ruin by the sin of our first parents,

God then did manifest Himself such as He is; that is to say, merciful and just: merciful,

"since He delivers and preserves from this perdition all whom He in His eternal and unchangeable counsel of mere goodness has elected in Christ Jesus our Lord,

"without any respect to their works;

"just, in leaving others in the fall and perdition wherein they have involved themselves.”

"The Bible teaches that God sovereignly regenerates the elect sinner apart from the sinner’s choice.

(Alan's note: God may said to have, "Renewed their chooser". The Regeneration of the New Birth takes place below the level of consciousness, prior to the now saved soul being aware to choose, or not choose. The first thing they know is, they now have a New willingness of their own to turn from their hatred of God and from sin and to 'choose' Jesus.)

"If God does not first regenerate the spiritually dead sinner, then that sinner can never come to faith in Jesus Christ.

"The Synod of Dordt taught in Article 1,

“As all men have sinned in Adam, lie under the curse, and are deserving of eternal death,

God would have done no injustice by leaving them all to perish and delivering them over to condemnation on account of sin, according to the words of the apostle:

"That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God" (Rom. 3:19).

And: "For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).

And: "For the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23).”

"Fallen sinners do not desire goodness, salvation, or God for that matter, since their hearts are evil.

"As the Apostle said in Romans 3:12,

“They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable;

"there is none who does good, no, not one.”

"God must “regenerate” the spiritually dead so that they may be able to follow Christ.

"This is done by faith, and faith is not some “free will” contribution that men may make towards their steps to coming to salvation.

"Instead, they are given faith, and have implanted faith, the seeds of faith, as a gift of God so that they can believe.

"God sovereignly imparts faith and the ability to exercise faith toward salvation in the sovereign act of regeneration.

"Christ made this very clear in John 3:3, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

"Very simply, Christ says that man is

1) unable to see the kingdom,

2) that he must be born again, and

3) if he is not born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.

"This “seeing” means “spiritually perceiving”.

"Unless the Holy Spirit first births one from above spiritually, they cannot see the kingdom.

"Thus, Arminius’ is wrong when he says that man must see the kingdom first before being converted.

"That is the opposite of what Christ taught.

"Christ insisted that men cannot go to heaven without first being born again by the Spirit.

"In fact, they cannot even “see” the kingdom unless they are first born again.

Christ again says that man does not have the ability to come to God without His help in John 6:44,

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;

"and I will raise him up at the last day.”

"In this way Christ says to His disciples in John 15:16,

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit,

"and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

This salvation, or effectual working of God in the heart of sinners, is found all through the book of Acts and the work of God in the church after Christ’s ascension. Acts 11:18, for example, says,

“When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying,

“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

"Certainly Paul’s letter reflect this same sovereign work of God. Romans 9:16 says,

“So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”

And also in Ephesians 2:1 he says,

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins…”,

and in Ephesians 2:8-10,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;

"it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

He also uses a very helpful term, “granted,” in Philippians 1:29 for this same idea,

“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”

Men are not the autonomous generators of “faith.”

"Faith is a gift given to them by God.

"As a matter of fact, Christ is said to be the Author of their faith,

“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).