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To: drstevej; Matchett-PI
Note in article 1 the Remonstrants base election on the condition of foreseen faith and perseverance to the end!

It appears to me that with a proper understanding of (insert a bunch of stuff here), that Article 1 would be an entirely Calvinistic thing to say. It does seem like Arminius was teaching in 2,3 & 4 that when Jesus died everybody was born again and then had to decide to either remain with Christ or fall away.

I'm not sure what exact phraseology you are looking at to see that Article 1 is talking about foreseen faith.

This implies someone may be truly be a believer and yet not be elect. No elect person, in this view, can be lost. I think their "need for further study" in article 5 was an unwillingness for 2 + 2 to equal 4.

Kinda like ftd's belief that someone may be conformed to the image of Christ and yet still be nothing more than wood, hay, and stubble. It really does seem--considering article 4--that Arminius main goal was I am in control and not you God.

13 posted on 04/25/2002 2:45:37 PM PDT by CCWoody
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To: CCWoody
That God, by an eternal and unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ His Son, before the foundations of the world were laid, determined to save [[ELECTION]], out of the human race which had fallen into sin, in Christ, for Christ's sake and through Christ, those who through the grace of the Holy Spirit shall believe on the same His Son and shall through the same grace persevere in this same faith and obedience of faith even to the end; and on the other hand to leave under sin and wrath [[SINGLE PREDESTINATION]] the contumacious and unbelieving and to condemn them as aliens from Christ, according to the word of the Gospel in John 3:36, and other passages of Scripture.

====

The fact that this is a determination before the foundation of the world, and that saving faith is not irresistable [Pt. 4] the conclusion is that it is forseen faith that is the basis of the eternal determination of God.

However, I do understand your point. Bangs, Arminius shows that Arminius believed that election was based on foreseen faith and perseverance and that a believer may foresake faith but the elect will not. My statement did read his views into the Remonstrances to some degree. The Remonstrances is a cautious document understandibly. Thanks for the question.

15 posted on 04/25/2002 3:22:16 PM PDT by drstevej
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