For someone who allegedly spent so much time as an Arminian, or at least amongst them, you sure don't understand it very well.
Just what Arminian denomination was it where you learned such things? Or should I say "didn't learn?"
That is like saying that Calvinists do not place their faith in Christ, but in unconditional election.
The 'logic' of each system, however, does not thankfully hold since most people accept the theological tenets of their particular system already as saved Christians.
The Gospel of the Grace of God is very simple and direct.
***Just what Arminian denomination was it where you learned such things?***
Must have been the same ones I've attended. I remember one in particular, a small Baptist church in rural SC with my best gal, at age 17.....
Actually, I know Arminianism better than Arminians themselves do. This is why I'm no longer Arminian. So, see, when I speak about the finished Redemptive work of God, I literally mean, it is finished. All that remains in Redemptive history is for God to gather the remaining elect before He ends this age.
When Arminians speak about the Redemptive work of God, they can only say that God had done all he can and the rest is up to man. To be true to Arminianism, one cannot have faith directly and solely in the Lord who has wrought a salvation because God hasn't actually wrought that salvation. All that He has done is make a potential salvation for every member of the human race. Making it an actuality is the work of man. Were an Arminian to actually be true to his theology and place his faith directly and solely in the work of the Lord it would be nothing more than to have faith in a possible salvation and that is no salvation at all.
The Arminian must actually place his faith in his decision for Christ. But, that is not the same thing as having faith in what Christ has already done. Unfortunately, when anyone has a misplaced faith, it can't be called a saving faith.
This is why Arminians are inconsistent with their faith. The saved Arminian instinctively knows that he can't believe in his decision for Christ, but must believe solely in Christ. In this regard he joins the Calvinist and all other Reformed believers in the exercise of true saving faith by believing that Christ has appropriated for him personally a completed salvation.
One need look no further for evidence than to listen to Arminian confessions. "Jesus saved me," they'll say. Unfortunately, this is not what his faith teaches. What it actually teaches is Jesus created a potential salvation and I must choose to accept it in order to make it apply to me. But, thank God for inconsistent Arminians.
Another funny way that Arminians expose themselves as not truly believing in their own theology is when they are on their knees. He abandons his "free will" and ability to choose to be saved and discards it like an infected appendix.
In the service of the Lord,
Christian.