I'm not fully satisfied with the answers, however. I feel as though you danced around the question, but didn't address it full on.
Sorry if you feel I didn't address your question. Perhaps I can do better this time around?
Pilgrim... to sum up and simplify your statement, you're saying (1)The Bible is the only way to heaven. (2) We don't know who is predestined elect or not. (3) Since we are all sinners, we all must repent and believe to be saved.
1. No, saving faith in the Lord Christ is the only means of salvation. The Bible contains all that is necessary for one to know about God, Christ, Holy Spirit, sin, salvation, this faith and practice, etc.
2. Yes, only God knows, because He has so determined by His eternal and immutable counsel, who has been elected to salvation. This is God's "secret will" (cf. Deut 29:29), i.e., that which has not been revealed to mankind. There is no 'list' of those who are to be saved which anyone can read.
3. Affirmed. This is what all of mankind is responsible to do. Ability has no relevancy on man's responsibility.
With the exception of point number 2, which would simply not apply to Arminian theology, the other points are part of basic Christian salvation principles. In fact, when I read your explanation (and perhaps this is just because of my strong Arminian roots) it sounds as if you are saying that it is the responsibility of the sinner to repent.
Yes, it is the responsibility of every individual born of the human race to repent and believe upon Christ.
So I humbly propose this this problematic argument and ask you to respond. My logical argument is A leads to B which leads to C. (A)Calvinism believes that a person is predestined to be saved, regardless of that person's actions or the actions of any other persons. (B)The action that the minister takes of going to witness to the dying man or not will have no bearing on the man's eternal soul. (C) Therefore, there is no point in witnessing to the dying man.
(A) Those who have been predestined to salvation will infallibly repent and believe because the Holy Spirit regenerates their dead soul and enables them to comprehend the Gospel. This new nature is predisposed to hate sin and love God and all that is good, which is antithetical to a person's natural condition.
(B) The minister's bringing of the Gospel is an integral part of the
means which God has ordained to save the elect. I've briefly mentioned this in my first response to you. Again, God has ordained the
means as well as the
end.
(C) As explained in point (B), it is
through the preaching of the Gospel that sinners are saved (cf. Rom 1:16; 10:13-17; Jh 3:16; 1Cor 1:18-24; 14:24,25; Col 1:5,6; 1Thess 1:5; 2:13; Heb 4:12; 1Pet 1:23).
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