I don't think I would use Thomas as an example of being saved. He was a chosen follower of Jesus before Jesus had accomplished his work on the cross and thus the situation cannot be compared to later evangelism.
I have given some thought to your reasoning here Dave and I think this post highlights what is wrong with Calvinism and why it should be rejected as the Christian faith. You have not used your great IQ that God blessed you with to reason out what happened to those apostles on the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
It seems a man like you could follow their thread through the remainder of the NT scriptures and put together an understanding of how they were like the rest of the church and how their ministry was unique. I think wilful ignorance is the culprit in your case. You are too intelligent to be led around by religionists who promote the writings of men, all of which corrupt the sound teaching of the Bible. I am speaking of Calvinism here.
On resurrection day something happened to these 10 men that had happened to no other man except Adam. God, Jesus Christ, breathed the Holy Ghost, Spirit, if you like that better, into their bodies. Now, what ever you think about these men, they were different from that event going forward. You cannot have God indwelling you and be the same. Neither can you expect that these men could have previously had the Spirit dwelling in them if it took the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to accomplish it. The idea is absurd. Then eight days later the one holdout, doubting Thomas, was given the Spirit and it was at this time that Jesus said that he, meaning the Spirit in them, would never leave them nor forsake them and he would always be with them. We know from that statement that they would not be like Adam, who had the Spirit from his creation only to have him depart because he introduced sin into himself and the world. The act of the cross was Jesus Christ, the second man and last Adam putting sin away by suffering the consequences of it, death to the body and death to the soul, the first and second deaths, and then being raised from the dead because he had no personal sins that could condemn him. Sin in them can now be cleansed by his blood and washed away and the body can and does become the temple of the Spirit for the believer. Now, these men will always be 1,2,3, body, soul, and the Spirit of Christ, one in three and thee in one, like unto Jesus Christ and God and in his image.
I have read past these lines, Dave, and the story does not end there. These same men were those chosen to be eye witnesses of his resurrection and those who would be charged to make his death, burial, and incredible resurrection known. They would write about it and all men from that time forward, including you and me, would get their understanding of God's plan going forward.
I have read about these men. There are prophecies and information about these men that is said about no other men in history or eternity. What is said about them relates both to the earthly kingdom of Jesus Christ that is to come when Jesus returns as King of the Jews and by extension the King of the nations. They are also the foundation of the church of Jesus Christ, laid upon him, the chief cornerstone at his resurrection. So, this shows that the kingdom of God is both spiritual and physical but one kingdom in heaven and earth.
Mt 19:27 Then answered Peter (speaking of the band of 12 apostles) and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
The 12 are dead and buried and the regeneration has not happened yet. This means they will have to be raised from the dead if they are really going to sit on twelve thrones of Israel, and so will Israel. Israel was raised from the dead nationally in 1948 AD but they are not saved and Jesus has not returned. We are told they will be saved at his return and every citizen left alive will be born again and those who are not will be killed.
11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman (Jesus) went into a far country (heaven)
to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading..............................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. (Prophetically to inaugurate the kingdom)
What about the church in relation to these political officers of the kingdom of Christ? Take a look.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both (gentile & Jew) one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building (the church) fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
I doubt there ia a Calvinist alive today who believes what we are told about these men because they do not believe the words they read that these men were told by God to write. They are now the foundation of the church and they will be kings over the 12 tribes of Israel when Jesus comes to establish his kingdom. There is no reason to doubt what these men has told us.
I have confidence that you can process this but I am not sure you will.
