I think that is a good point.
The Arminian position really has no way to argue for OSAS since we believe in Free Will as the model that God has chosen for Creation.
I also believe in free will, but the difference is that I believe we are born again of "incorruptible seed". We are originally born of corruptible seed and can fall in unbelief.
But the new man cannot fall away in unbelief, because his seed remains in him, and he cannot sin.
1 Jhn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
So then for the lost you have "persevere in continuing to try to find salvation" but for the saved you have "a rock is a rock - it will never be anything else - it does not persevere in being a rock".
What then about the Romans 11
20 "Quite right,
they were broken off for their unbelief, but
you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but
fear; 21 for
if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but
to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness;
otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also,
if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for
God is able to graft them in again.
In the actual wording of the text above - I think we can all see how this fits the Arminian POV to the Tee just as it reads.
You and I both would expect that the Calvinists among us would wish to resort to redefining terms and bending the entire text to some direction that is more suitable to their tradition.
1 Jhn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Now, this verse cannot possibly men that a born again Christian can never commit sin, because it is obvious that all Christians do commit sin.
But the born again Christian cannot fall away forever in unbelief,
you take a text that speaks of not committing sin and then contradict the very wording of the text replacing it with words not found in the text at all " the
born again Christian cannot fall away forever in unbelief,"
You make it say
1 Jhn 3:9 (I do NOT say) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and (I do NOT mean) he cannot sin, because he is born of God -- but rather
the born again Christian cannot fall away forever in unbelief,"
I think that exegesis demands that we stay closer to the actual wording in the text than that. What odd denomination on the planet could not thrive if they could just insert any wording they wish into the text and insert "not" in front of any wording actually IN the text?
How could the Protestant reformation ever have gotten off the ground if such methods were viewed as "best"??
Note that your edit does not work in 1John 2:1 "These things I write to you that you SIN NOT - and IF anyone DOES SIN we have an Advocate with the Father".
Now lets replace that idea of "Sin not" with fall away forever in unbelief as you suggest for John in the book of 1John and see what happens to 1John 2
These things I write to you that you do NOT fall away forever in unbelief - and IF anyone DOES fall away forever in unbelief we have an Advocate with the Father".
in Christ,
Bob