>> some who are died-in-the-wood are saved since they are trusting in Jesus <<
Well, I’ve heard Calvinist preachers say time and again that there’s nothing a man can do to save his soul. It’s all up to God. So if these Calvinists are right, then it shouldn’t matter if somebody does or doesn’t trust Jesus. As long as he is predestined, the Unbeliever will be saved just as will the predestined Believer.
Of course, there are those who will argue that the Believer has faith precisely because he IS predestined for salvation, while the Unbeliever lacks faith precisely because he ISN’T predestined. But to me, that’s circular reasoning — not really persuasive.
200 years ago, In America, you couldn’t find a church that didn’t teach what is called “Calvinism” today unless you were catholic. I wonder what went wrong?
Hawthorn, I have heard our friends in the Roman Catholic church state that they are saved (in effect) because they had the good sense to join the winning team. But just because some guy on the internet, nice as he may be, heard pastor so-in-so sermonize the preceived evils of refomed theology doesn’t make “Mr. Internet” correct in his theology and personal faith.
For this student of the Gospel, if the Bible teaches election and or predestination and or once saved always saved then the issue is settled as far as I’m concerned. BTW, you might have missed it but I’m not Presbyterian and certainly if I were I would not at this point in time be anywhere near the liberal PCUSA.