I'm neither Calvinist or Arminian. But, I do agree with Ken on the eternal security issue, but possibly not for the same reason. I was raised in a Free Will Baptist Church. I believed completely the false doctrine of "fall from grace". We were taught, that any unconfessed sin, would cause a born again person to lose their salvation. Then I found out, that other Free Will Baptist beileved what they call the "apostasy of the believer". The making shipwreck of ones faith, by returning to a life of sin, and ultimately rejecting God. When neither side could ever produce scripture to validate their doctrinal beliefs, the Lord laid it on my heart to study it out myself. Through prayer and Bible study, I quickly realized that the Arminian position was man made, and was grieving to the Holy Spirit of God. I brought this to many respected people of my church, and asked them to explain to me, using the Bible for authority, their belief. Sadly, for them, they couldn't, because it just ain't there. Everyone of them, gave me the same answer....they feel like a person can lose their salvation, they could never "prove" it in the Bible. I suggest that the vast majority of the people that believe "fall from grace", have never prayerfully studied it out. They accept the teachings that they have always heard. I was one of them, but praise God, he opened my eyes to the truth of his word. I pray that anyone that is under the bondage of the Arminian point of view, will take this as it is meant. Not hurtful, but letting you know that if you will set down with your Bible, and try to leave your preconceptions out of it, God will, through his Holy Spirit, teach you the truth.
