Arcoe, you didn't acknowledge post #918 so I'll go ahead and repost it for you:
As you see griff, you can't escape synergism, no matter how hard you try.
If you define synergism as "you make a choice to believe" then no, I can't escape synergism.
Show me in any Calvinist writing where it says good works are necessary for salvation. You can start with the Westminster Confessions if you like. I'll be waiting (now where's that Michael Jackson's popcorn picture when you need it?).
Where should I start? I guess the 1689 London Baptist Confession will work:
"Faith which receives Christ's righteousness and depends on Him is the sole instrument of justification, yet this faith is not alone in the person justified, but is always accompanied by all the other saving graces.
And it is not a dead faith, but works by love." - Section 11.2
"Good works, performed in obedience to God's commandments, are these:
the fruits and evidences of a true and living faith. By these believers express and show their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the Gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, Whose workmanship they are;
created in Christ Jesus to perform good works, and to have fruits of holiness which lead to eternal life." - Section 16.2
"Their ability to do these good works does not in any way come from themselves, but comes wholly from the Spirit of Christ. To enable them to do good works, alongside the graces which they have already received,
it is necessary for there to be a further real influence of the same Holy Spirit to cause them to will and to do of His good pleasure. But believers are not, on these grounds, to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless given a special motion by the Spirit,
but they must be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them." - Section 16.3
"We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life from the hand of God because of the great disproportion between our best works and the glory to come, and because of the infinite distance which is between us and God. With our works we cannot profit or satisfy God concerning the debt we owe on account of our sins. When we have done all we can, we have only done our duty, and are still unprofitable servants. And in any case,
in so far as our works are good they originate from the work of the Holy Spirit. Even then, the good works are so defiled by us, and so mixed with weakness and imperfection, that they could not survive the severity of God's judgement." - Section 16.5
"Those whom God has predestinated to life, He is pleased in His appointed and accepted time to effectually call by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death which they are in by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ. He enlightens their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God. He takes away their heart of stone and gives to them a heart of flesh.
He renews their wills, and by His almighty power, causes them to desire and pursue that which is good. He effectually draws them to Jesus Christ, yet in such a way that they come absolutely freely, being made willing by His grace." - Section 10.1
"In this war, although the remaining corruption for a time may greatly prevail, yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ,
the regenerate part overcomes. And so the saints grow in grace perfecting holiness in the fear of God; pressing after a heavenly life in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in His Word, has prescribed to them." - Section 13.3
I hope that clears up your confusion. Ultimately what matters is what Scripture says, and Scripture plainly teaches that a person without good fruit has dead faith that can't save. I honestly have no idea why we're talking about this. I never once denied the necessity of good works, and as far as I know, nobody else did either. Why are you so obsessed with this topic?
Straw man? We are talking of the very essence of salvation. And you admit good works are necessary
What do you mean I "admit" it, as though I have something to hide? Scripture is plain on this matter. Good works are evidence of regeneration. No good works = no regeneration. No regeneration = no salvation.
Actually, the difference is I believe what the Bible says about regeneration, which plainly states to cast away your transgressions to make yourself a new heart.
That is an imperative. That is not the doctrine of regeneration. If you want to know what happens in regeneration, you should read Jer. 32:40 and Ezekiel 36:26. You're confusing a doctrine with a command.
I'm not sure why you prefer man's way of regeneration (which will fail 100% of the time) when we definitely have God's way given to us (which will succeed 100% of the time).
Seriously have no idea what you're talking about. Man's way of regeneration? You know I'm a Calvinist right? I believe any good thing done by any person is a product of God's grace. Man's salvation in no way depends on him. It's all of grace. Salvation is of the Lord.
