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There is confusion of terms. Let me draw an analogy between the Word and medicine. Medicine is efficacious whether one believes it is or not. However, it only becomes beneficial if it is received.

(Fred) I think Pilgrim has already addressed this, but you do have some serious inconsistencies, because on one hand, you want to say that man can do nothing to choose his salvation, but then he cannot benefit from it unless it is received. You want to hold onto man having a choice but still being declared as totally depraved. The Bible teaches that the efficaciousness and benefit of regeneration are not separate. Those given the medicine will receive it because God puts it in their hearts to believe it. That is regeneration according to scripture. By the way, the word "received" implies an action of reason on the part of the recepient and infants cannot do that. Unless of course you strike that up to that supposed mystery that is no where mentioned in the Bible.


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Just the opposite, my concern is that Calvinism is embracing prevenient grace by saying that God delivers salvation in little packets along the order of salvation.

(Fred) Honestly, I am not sure you understand what prevenient grace is. You certainly do not understand historic Calvinism.


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The sinner has no free will either to accept or reject. God's efficacious grace is beneficial when and where it pleases God.

(fred) Hmmm, so here you say that man has no free will except to either believe or reject Christ. Did Luther teach this? I don't recall such a notion coming through his polemics against Erasmus. Sounds like Romanism my friend.

Fred

"Ah, sitting - the great leveler of men. From the mightest of pharaohs to the lowest of peasants, who doesn't enjoy a good sit?" M. Burns