May Yeshua bless you and keep you.

From everything I understand about Carlton Pearson, his fall into heresy was not a fruit of being an Arminian. In any case, my point stands about the exaggerated nature of your statement, but I totally concur with you that the only real issue is: What does the Word of God say?

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of G-d our Savior, WHO DESIRES ALL MEN TO BE SAVED and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one G-d and one Mediator between G-d and men, the man Christ Jesus, WHO GAVE HIMSELF A RANSOM FOR ALL…” (1 Timothy 2:3-6).

“FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN, teaching us that, denying ungodliness, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age…” (Titus 2:11-12).

John declared:

“And He Himself (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins, AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY BUT ALSO FOR THE WHOLE WORLD” (1 John 2:2).

Peter wrote:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise… but is longsuffering toward us, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH BUT THAT ALL SOULD COME TO REPENTANCE” (2 Peter 3:9).

It is here that we see an apostolic consistency in declaring that the scope of the cross of Christ is sufficient to save all who would believe. We also see that G-d’s will is not to save a few, but that He would have all people come to the saving knowledge of His Son. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked; hence, it is a distortion of scriptural exegesis to conclude that He unconditionally elects and predestines people to reprobation – without them having the ability (enabling grace) to repent – simply because it gives Him pleasure to do so.

“For G-d so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Shalom

I would say that the Elect One is the Lord Jesus Christ himself, and those who come to G-d through the condition of faith enter into that election; hence, they become the elect. Paul so stated that “Just as He chose us IN HIM before the foundation of the world…” (Ephesians 1:4). I would also like to state that if people are the elect “before” believing in Jesus, then that would conclude that salvation comes another way.

Shalom,
Brian

My point was to say that philosophical objections and testimonies do not solve theological matters. I’m very careful not to object to what I perceive to be philosophical problems with Arminianism, but I have noticed that this tends not to be reciprocated.

As for Arminians who slide into Universalism, it has been my experience that members of the Emergent church have a strong tendency to deny foundational truths and believe strongly in free-will.

As for a prominent example of this: An Arminian Pentecostal leader by the name of Carlton Pearson came to deny the existence of Hell based on its philosophical implications for free-will (blind-spots in missions causing damnation to non-Christians who suffer and die from starvation). He is now a proponent of full-fledged Universalism.
(http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1273)

Forum debates have a degree of vanity to them, as our friend who is involved in debating Zvi would testify. My challenge to my Arminian friends is to do justice to the theme of election in the Bible. Who are the elect?

“Let’s try to stay away from bringing up ad-hominem, shall we? For every personal testimony of Arminianism I can give you two examples of Arminians who became Universalists because they couldn’t comprehend the justice of a holy and righteous God. Ultimately, what matters is what the text of scripture says.”

Whats your point? There are those that can testify that some Calvinist became atheist. Do I assume that their theology lead them to that direction? Of course not. Please support your argument with Scripture instead of “testimonies”.

I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.

Prior to Salvation:

Can a dead man resurrect himself ?

Can a blind man give himself sight ?

We are completely dependent on the grace of God and nothing else.

———-

I also see a recurring theme about God “twisting-arms”.

Examine Jeremiah:

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew [a] you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

You make quite a statement here.

I have known tens of thousands of Arminians through the years, and I do not remember hearing a single testimony of any of them becoming Universalists, yet you are claiming that, based on your own experience, you know many such people. While I absolutely agree that the ultimate question is, What does the Bible say?, I’m curious to hear support for your statement. Are you sure you didn’t engage in some hyperbole here?