Most of my life, I have been members of Baptist and AnaBaptist. I have struggled Calvinsm and Arminian. In regarding to Salvation....Reading Hebrews 6:4-6, "It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance" helped me understand the balance between Calvinism and Arminian. Calvinsts will view these words differently than the Arminians, at the same time both will be "consciously" reason the verses as how they have been taught. Both do understand the verses exactly what has been taught that they mean. The bottom line is this: The meaning of the verses will appear to them so natural that they will not agree with each other. Which sadly that each will more than likely think the other a hypocrite or heresy that were taught from the devil.
Every Christian must decide whether they will us their liberty to decide on their moral decisions. We are free, but our freedom must prove a source of real temptation of this world. We are free from the chains of sin because by grace we are saved by Christ that we are forgiven. It is God's gift that we have the complete spiritual freedom and loving dependence upon one another. The mystery of our free will is too easy because when God said to Adam and Eve: "Thou shalt not eat from this tree." Here was a divine requirement calling for obedience on the part of those who had the power of choice and will. They had only ONE commandment.
The potter (God) is working with this soft, yielding clay (us). If this clay does not submit, the potter may not be able to do what I should do according to His will. The potter still could make anything except for useful and beautiful (spiritual fruitful) out of an unyielding blob of clay. If God is going to make those kinds of vessels out of clay (us), however, we are going to have to yield to the spiritual law of surrender. Give ourselves to God as a living sacrifice and let Him have us--all of us. Of course at the same time, I understand that God, just because He is almighty, needs no support from me and He is still able to do what He wills to do. Often I noticed that the providential of God leads me to what I call "coincidences" in my life which perhaps God will make sure that His wills will be done at His right time and place. There are two worlds, set over against each other, dominated by two wills, the will of man (me) and the will of God, respectively.
Whose Will have more power?
Of course, God.
He directs our lives no matter what we do.
Sovereign God is the absolute, infinite, unqualified ruler in all realms in heaven, earth and sea. God governs the world (Isa. 40:22-24), the nations (Isa. 40:15-17), and us (Proverbs 16:9). We have freewill completely and God will only interfere when needed simply because God is in control and He will allow us to have freewill only if its according to His will. The "freewill" is always subject to God's sovereignty and His divine freewill. The key is that God is ALWAYS in control even in our own freewill. All circumstances are work for heavenly good and called to His purpose. Even though we can not see the purpose for the trials we are going through, we can trust absolutely that the Lord is in control of all things. Every trial in our life is a furrow being plowed by the Lord, that we grow in faith, and learn to trust ever more confidently in the Lord.
Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?
Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.
Romans 8:27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
The bottom line: I am more into Calvinism theology more than I am into Arminianism theology.
