Bob,
You are interesting to read as your rhetoric is quite rich, but unfortunately your arguments do not get very far.
I do agree that sometimes "all" does mean each and every one. For example "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out." (Jn 6:37) And "Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me." (Jn 6:45b) Some of the context can be seen in the negative statements such as "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." (Jn 6:65.)
Regarding the analogy, Fred and Bob are equal beings. I think that this suggests much about the Arminian position. Gen. 3:5 is the temptation that mankind faces again and again and in our efforts to be like God, man comes up with all kinds of doctrine.
Jesus said that all the the Father calls, believes. Jesus said unless the Father grant that one comes, he will not come. You say that man must be a part of his salvation. One of the three statements does not match the other two.
Charlie
You are interesting to read as your rhetoric is quite rich, but unfortunately your arguments do not get very far.
Actually the entire case rests on a Sovereign God. You insist on a partnership for salvation; the Bible teaches that God does it all. I reject grace dependent on man's choice. God claims to perform His grace.Indeed it is - but Calvinism must make it's entire case in that little bit of realestate where Fred cashes in on what someone else provided.
I suggest that your understanding of the word 'all' ('pas" in Greek) is lacking. Read Acts 21:28 & 22:15 and tell me if Paul was a witness to every single man in the Roman empire or to every class of man in the Roman empire. Even in english, all often does not refer to each and every. It depends on the context.Now all that is left for Calvinism to make its case on -- is "redefining" "ALL mankind" and "World" from the SAME texts used by BOTH sides to explain Fred's "ability".
I do agree that sometimes "all" does mean each and every one. For example "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out." (Jn 6:37) And "Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me." (Jn 6:45b) Some of the context can be seen in the negative statements such as "For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father." (Jn 6:65.)
Regarding the analogy, Fred and Bob are equal beings. I think that this suggests much about the Arminian position. Gen. 3:5 is the temptation that mankind faces again and again and in our efforts to be like God, man comes up with all kinds of doctrine.
You make assumptions that this is not part of God's Sovereign plan. Neither you nor I know what God's plans are. Your comparision is really quite empty.So what is left to Calvinism as "substance" in it's last stand case arguing against "World " and "All mankind"?
It is that God would be "inneffectual" if He draws All Mankind for the purpose of salvation but then All Mankind does not become saints.
hmmm as in - "inneffectual" if God creates the Angles for the divine purpose of being ministers of light - when in fact 1/3 of them one day - turn to rebellion.
Jesus said that all the the Father calls, believes. Jesus said unless the Father grant that one comes, he will not come. You say that man must be a part of his salvation. One of the three statements does not match the other two.
See, again you forget that sometimes the Potter forms a vessel for a common use , that is for destruction (Rom 9:21-22). Paul was quite comfortable about the issue. I do not think that God was surprised about the Fall. But you are then assuming that this was not part of his eternal decree before time.As if God would be "inneffectual" if He creates mankind to "Worship God and Glorify God" only to have 100% of mankind turn to sin and total depravity in the Garden of Eden.
Charlie