You asked about Dr. Dobson's beliefs regarding eternal security. He holds to the classic Armenian view -- that is, he believes God never violates the free will of the individual. ~ From Article.
Thus, salvation is NOT by the grace of God, but by the free will of man. Man wills his own salvation!
He believes it is possible for an individual to remove himself from the grace of God, and exit by the door through which he originally entered -- the will. ~ From Article
Thus, salvation is NOT by the grace of God, but by the free will of man. Man enters into salvation by the force of his own will!
Yet, my Bible says explicitly and unapologetically says:
"By grace ye are saved."
A thesis for your consideration:
The Arminian contends that God has made salvation possible for all men, therefore, for the sake of logical charity, we will concede to the "possible salvation" of all men and examine its characteristics.
It must be stated up front that a "possible salvation" is most definitely NOT an actual salvation; the certainty of the salvation of not one human being is provided for. Before a possible salvation can become an actual salvation something must be done. The Arminian must contend then that man must perform that something for a mere "possible salvation" to become an actual salvation.
Therefore, BY THE VIRTUE OF HIS OWN FORCE of WILL through whatever a man does a "possible salvation" becomes an actual salvation.In order for the Arminian's construct to be proved there then must be some inequality in the mix that will determine the final outcome of either salvation or damnation. If grace is the inequality, then the Calvinist position is correct and Arminianism is overthrown by the concession. If it is in the WILL of MAN through faith that the man supplies, then salvation is not by grace.
The Calvinist maintains that the efficacious and irresistible grace of God saves a sinner.
The Arminian maintains that the inefficacious and resistible grace merely makes salvation possible and the final result of salvation comes NOT from the bestowal of grace but from the VIRTUE OF HIS OWN FORCE of WILL through the generation of his own faith.
Now, please answer this simple question with an "A" or "B". Is the inequality:
the GRACE of God?
the WILL of MAN?
I don't get your multiple choice? We could not save ourselves so by the grace of God (only) and the accomplished works of His Son Jesus we (mankind) could be saved. Let me ask you something . . . when you did Roms. 10:9,10 did you choose to act on your beliefs or were you forced? God bless . . .
No, man believes for his salvation, just as the Lord commanded him to do (1Jn.3:23, Jn.3:16) Grace and faith are not antithetical but complementary. If you are going to prove your 'thesis' that is what you would have to prove. That if man uses his faith, it is not grace. Stating something over and over again does not prove the argument. You have to establish your premise, 'if man uses his own will to believe (faith) it is anti-grace'
Now, since it is works vs grace, and faith is not a work, man using his God-given volition to make a decision does not constitute a work and is therefore not going against the plan of God, but obeying it (1Jn.3:23)
He believes it is possible for an individual to remove himself from the grace of God, and exit by the door through which he originally entered -- the will. ~ From Article
An incorrect view, once you are in Christ, you cannot choose to get out of Him. Once you are 'born again' you cannot be 'unborn again'
Thus, salvation is NOT by the grace of God, but by the free will of man. Man enters into salvation by the force of his own will!
Yes, man's will has a role in the salvation event, so what? Man has to accept the free gift. Now, since Faith is not a work, faith is a part of the grace process. It is man's responsiblity to accept the free gift of salvation through faith(Eph.2:8)
Yet, my Bible says explicitly and unapologetically says: "By grace ye are saved."
Left something out didn't you Woody? It is by grace through faith.
But you guys are always leaving something out of the verses, everytime you quote Roman 8 you always leave out foreknowledge also. Nothing new!
As for your thesis it is utter nonsense. I like how Melanchthon stated it
At last (1535) he openly renounced determinism or necessitarianism, as a Stoic and Manichean error and taught a certain subordinate co-operation of the human will in the work of conversion; maintaining that conversion is not a mechanical or magical, but a moral process, and is brought about by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God, with the consent, yet without the merit of man. The Spirit of God is the primary, the Word of God the secondary or instrumental agent of conversion and the human will allows this action and freely yields to it...He never gave up the doctrine of justification by the free grace and sole merit of Christ through faith, but in his later years he laid greater stess on the responsibility of man in accepting or rejecting the gospel and on the necessity of good works as evidences of justifying faith (Schaff, Creeds of Christendom, Vol.1,p.262-63)