I think you sidestepped the point. I was not claiming anything about what we can or can not do apart from God. I was making the point that the race is won when we win the race. Not when we decide we are going to train and run the race.
It's not that much to ask, really.
There was a Seinfeld episode where Kramer tells Jerry all about his plan to get rid of all his furniture and build a series of "levels" in his apartment. Jerry bets Kramer that he will never get it done.
Later, Jerry asks about it and Kramer says he decided not to do it, so the bet was off. Jerry points out, to no avail, that that was exactly what he bet on.
All of which is by way of illustration that intentions are not concrete facts. We can intend to live a life of faith and following Jesus, but we can't say we have done so until we do so.
If Kramer had agreed with and partnered with God in regard to his intentions AND God had guaranteed that He and Kramer would fulfill those intentions, then Kramer would know that he (and God) would complete his intentions from the day that God guaranteed it.
This is a major dividing point. Catholics do not say we acheive without God or of our own power. Rather, we recognize our free agency ability to allow God to work through us, or to not do so.
The Protestant idea that we play no part whatsoever in our day-to-day activities and choices just doesn't seem realistic to us. We get up in the morning and we can decide to do God's work (that is, allow God to use us to do His work), or we can get up in the morning and decide to be all for our selves. We really make this choice in a free manner.
Therefore, anything we do of merit is the result of God and us working together. For sure we are the infinitely junior partner, but we do have to give God reign over our will. That is our contribution to the partnership and it is not a trivial thing.
Protestants also believe that we partner with God to accomplish His will in our lives.
Protestants believe that to so partner with God guarantees that our salvation will be accomplished, if only for so long as it is our intention that our salvation be accomplished.
A question for you ... If you truly believe that one can fall away from salvation, how would one go about it ?
As Christians, we have decided, via the use of our free-will, to join up with God at some point in our lives.
Wouldn't it follow that, once we have joined up with God, we would have to make a similar use of our free-will (i.e. decide) to nullify our relationship with Him ?
Or do you contend that such a thing can happen far more implicitly ?
Regarding this, ... how do you interpret the following scripture ?John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.What does it mean when JESUS says that He will not cast out any who come to Him ?
6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
What does it mean when JESUS says that He will not lose any of those which God has given Him ?
Yes, that is your thesis. And IF all of those things are true, I agree with you.
Protestants also believe that we partner with God to accomplish His will in our lives.
I don't hear a lot about this. I usually hear all about how God does everything and we contribute nothing.
Protestants believe that to so partner with God guarantees that our salvation will be accomplished, if only for so long as it is our intention that our salvation be accomplished.
Huh? I am not getting you. It sounds like you are saying if our intention changes, then God doesn't any longer guarantee our salvation. Which is not OSAS.
A question for you ... If you truly believe that one can fall away from salvation, how would one go about it ?
I don't believe one can fall away from salvation. I believe one can truly believe in his heart that he is "Saved," but later his actions will demonstrate that his "assurance" of salvation was false.
The truly saved are saved, no doubt.
It is deciding that we are them, without the benefit of living our lives that is the trouble. If we are them then we will lives our lives accordingly. If we are not them, at some point we will fall.
It does no good to assume you are them, only to discover later you are not. Just persevere every day. That's all we can do.
As Christians, we have decided, via the use of our free-will, to join up with God at some point in our lives.
That is the presumption that I am discussing.
Wouldn't it follow that, once we have joined up with God, we would have to make a similar use of our free-will (i.e. decide) to nullify our relationship with Him ?
Or do you contend that such a thing can happen far more implicitly ?
I don't think a lot of people who believed they were saved but later fell away made a conscious decision to do so. It's just that life and other things start to intrude, bad habits creep in, and before you know it you are living in sin.
SD