Hi Soli,

You asked:

> "You give yourself credit for your faith correct?"

No, I do not give myself credit. To exercise saving faith in Christ is to trust in him (Jn. 14:1) as opposed to one's own ability. The apostle Paul goes into great lengths to distinguish "faith" from "works" (Rom. 4). If you believe that Arminians hold to a works-based salvation, then you are ignorant - sorry to be so blunt, but either you purposely misrepresent Arminianism or you really are ignorant.

I have no problem with all the Scripture references you cited. I also believe that we were dead in our sins (Eph. 2:1) until Christ made us alive. It is by grace that we are saved, but it is through faith. And faith isn't something that we can generate within ourselves. Paul says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17). The problem with those Israelites who perished in the wilderness was that although they heard, they "did not combine it with faith" (Heb. 4:2).

Re John 1:12-13: Those who were born of God (regenerated) first believed in his name. Faith first, then regeneration.

Michael