It's hard to explain but what I'm meaning is the knowledge of God's sovereignty which is real, is clashing logically with the reality of man's responsibility, which is also real.
"Man is Responsible for his actions, notwithstanding the fact that God has Decreed All that Comes to Pass, for at least three reasons:
"1. God's Decree Concerning Sin is Not Causative but Permissive, Directive, Preventive, and Determinative.
"God Decreed that sin should come in the world, for reasons that are fully Known only to Him, but He Decreed that it should come by man's own free choice.
"God does not compel man to sin, but He allows it.
"Man, and not God, is the Efficient Cause of sin;
and for that reason man is Responsible.
"Before passing it needs to be remarked that no objections can be brought against the statement that God Decreed that sin should come into the world that cannot be brought against God's Actual Permission of sin, unless the objector takes the position that God was powerless to prevent the entrance of sin.
"This would be a denial of God's Omnipotence and Sovereignty, and would render the objector unworthy of consideration here.
"God's Omnipotence and Sovereignty teaches us that whatever God Permits He Permits because He Wills to do so.
"And since God is Immutable, His Will has ever been the same.
"What He Wills at any time He has Willed from all Eternity.
"Therefore, His Will Equals His Purpose
and His Purpose Equals His Decree.
2. The Law of God and Not His Decree
Fixes Man's Duty and Responsibility.
The Law of God is man's guide and standard.
"This is God's Revealed Will.
"God's Decree is His Secret Will.
"Man has nothing to do with this except to know and acknowledge the facts concerning it.
"The Secret Things belong unto Jehovah, our God;
but Things that are Revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the Words of this Law" (Deut. 29:29).
"3. The Motive Back of Man's Sinning Makes Him Responsible.
"Why does man sin?
"Is it ever because he wants to do the Will of God?
"Nay, never so.
"Why did men crucify Christ?
"Was it because they believed that God
had Sent Him to die as a sin-bearer?
"No. It was because they hated Him.
"They crucified Him through wicked motives.
"It is thus that man always sins.
"Sin proceeds from man's love of darkness (John 3:19).
From: HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY by T.P. Simmons.
But, the problem for us is, are we as humans really capable of truly holding both of those truths at the same time without having our belief of one at least in the back of our minds, intruding into our practical belief of the other.
I say no and therefore like J.C. Ryle I say to people "Christ died for you" and the offer of salvation is there for you in complete honesty.
The Message, for the sake of honestly,
is "Jesus died for sinners like yourself".
I've seen you write for years and every opportunity that presents itself regarding God's Sovereignty and man's Human Responsibility, I see you teaching straight forward Armenian thinking like that, trying to say that we can tell everyone, "Christ died for you", when that is simply not true.
If you profess to be Calvinist?, I'm not sure, but I do know that you always tell Calvinists that they aren't worth a Nickle as a Calvinist, unless everything they teach is strictly, pure Armenianism.
Well if within the limitations of our human tendency to live in real time and within the limitations of the fact that whatever we do, if it is voluntary, is indeed done with the consent or as the result of our will - if you are modifying that truth in any way, even in the back of your mind, or instilling that, even as an afterthought, in the mind of a person you are talking to then yes.
I don't know what you're saying in a lot of these attempts that I know you're trying to explain something you believe.
When you say, "if it is voluntary, is indeed done with the consent or as the result of our will", what are you talking about there? Are you saying that you believe lost souls have a voluntary ability to consent with their will, to be saved?
The truth of those things have no bearing on the free offer of the gospel message.
Again, this wording of "the free offer of the Gospel" makes it sound like you believe there is some teaching in the Bible where someone is supposed to give lost sinners, "the free offer of the Gospel".
I look for those who treat the gospel as having an aspect of invitation and "offer" because that is what is is.
Where do you get that at that "that is what it is", when you know,
that when Jesus "invites" sinners to "Come unto Me", that it refers to those who Come to Christ Aright, who come as sinners, to a Full, Suitable, Able, and Willing Savior; venture their souls upon Him, and Trust in Him for Righteousness, Eternal Life, and Salvation, which they are encouraged to do, by this kind invitation; which shows His Willingness to Save, and His Readiness to Give Relief to distressed minds.
However, it is clear that the persons invited, are not "all" the individuals of mankind, but with this restriction, in the verse,
"all ye that labor, and are heavy laden";
"meaning, not these who are laboring in the service of sin and Satan, are laden with iniquity, and insensible of sin: these are not weary of sin, nor burdened with their sin; nor do they want or desire any rest for their souls;
"but Jesus' Invitation to "Come unto Me", is to those who He says that He is talking about: those who are groaning, being burdened with the guilt of sin upon their consciences, and are pressed down with the unsupportable yoke of the law, and the load of human traditions; and have been laboring till they are weary, in order to obtain Peace of conscience, and Rest for their souls, by the observance of these things, but in vain, not finding relief or Salvation in them.
"Jesus Invitation, there, was specifically to these who are encouraged to Come to Him, lay down their burdens at His Feet, look to, and lay hold by Faith on His Person, Blood, Righteousness, and Sacrifice; when they should enjoy that True Spiritual Consolation, which could never be attained to by the works of the law."
From:
Matthew 11 Gill's Exposition
It is a command, but a joyous command, like a final offer of pardon.
An Easy Believism "offer of pardon"?
Jesus' Command is to the lost sinner to Repent and Believe the Gospel, not "offering" the dead soul a "gift" if they'd care to bother not going to Hell, WHEN THERE IS NO ACKNOWLEGDEMENT OR AWARENESS BY THE LOST SINNER WHERE THEY ARE COMPELLED TO VIEW THE REALITY OF SIN IN THEIR LIFE, FOR WHICH THEY WOULD THEN NEED A SAVIOR.
That is why Edwards, with a deterministic theology, could preach "Christ has died, all is ready for you and all that is needed is your consent.
In error and just old fashion heresy.