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Where did you get the idea that I was saying that someone was required to believe in hell to be saved? I was just pointing out that a believer who does have access to the Bible should believe in hell because of how clear the concept is in the Bible. Besides, what would a believer say we need saving from if there is no hell?

OK, I guess I misunderstood you. Please accept my humble apology for not understanding what you were saying.

Saying the Sinner's Prayer, or some form of it, is what all of the elect will do per God's ordination.

In some form or another. But the question is - "do all who make the Sinner's Prayer members of the elect"? I agree with what you have said, but that does not lead to the question that I ask.

I thought that the sheep do follow the Good Shepherd because they recognize His voice.

All who follow Christ's voice are not necessarily His sheep. One must persevere and continue to follow His voice. Following it for a few years and then not following His voice does not make you a follower of Christ when Judgment comes.

Regards

But the question is - "do all who make the Sinner's Prayer members of the elect"? I agree with what you have said, but that does not lead to the question that I ask.

I do not think that all who say the Sinner's Prayer are of the elect because only God can determine who His elect are. Nothing we can do will change that. Therefore, some who say the prayer are pretenders.

But that does not seem to match scripture. I would say that the only way it could be possible for anyone to recognize Christ's voice would be through grace. Does this mean that God stops His grace for some, but not others? Or, in the alternative, is God's grace so weak that it can be overridden by man's whim? John 10 does not read like this at all to me. For example:

John 10:8-9 : 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.

Whoever enters will be saved. Therefore, the gate is closed to those who will not be saved. There is no room in Christ's fold for those who are not His sheep. They will not hear His voice because they will never pass through the gate. In addition, if Christ lets those who are not His sheep into His fold for a while, wouldn't that make Him a thief? Shepherds only allow their own sheep into their own pens. One is a thief if he allows other sheep in. Under your system, the analogy completely breaks down here.

John 10:14-15 : 14 "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. (emphasis added)

Problem number 2. Jesus only lays down His life for His sheep, not the pretend sheep who later leave. Clearly, Jesus lays down His life only for the sheep who KNOW HIM.