rjskal,
In reply to:

[color:"blue"]You'll notice that I removed "even in one's determination to endure to the end" from your quote, as I don't see where that's a requirement of salvation. Especially given that fact that there's a great deal of Scripture that says or seems to imply that very position.

He may very well be wrong in his belief regarding predestination, but he's still saved.

We must be aware that Romans 10:9 is not to be seen in isolation from the rest of Holy Writ. "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, . . ." is not some magic formula which if recited saves an individual. Knowledge of the person of Christ and what He has accomplished, one's sinful condition, being under the wrath and judgment of God, repentance from sin, etc., etc., is essential to a saving "Confession" and "Belief".

Thus I say again, that the "abandoning of oneself" is part and parcel to true saving faith. So that if one is in any way relying upon "self", whether that be one's "decision for Christ" or "enduring to the end", then the "abandoning" is not genuine but fleshly and salvation is not owned. Any embracing of a "sharing with God" unto salvation is synergism, i.e., faith+works=salvation and indisputable not of GRACE alone.

Your wanting to grant without reservation to JoshT or anyone else without being privy to what the person REALLY believes in their heart is thus unwarranted. What IS true is that anyone who is trusting in ANYTHING other than Christ alone (Solus Christus) by faith alone (Sola Fide) and believes that they are saved is self-deceived and yet dead in their sins and destined to eternal damnation. The salvation of God, which is taught in His infallible Word (Sola Scriptura) is by Grace alone (Sola Gratia) and thus to the Gloria of God alone (Soli Deo Gloria).



In His Grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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