Quote
Unfortunately, this "staunch Reformed guy" has adopted an Arminian illustration which Billy Graham often uses. Again, the illustration is inconsistent with the doctrines of the Reformed Faith (Calvinism).
Well, this guy (a friend and super guy) doesn't have an ounce of Arminian in him. He's a 5 point Dutch Reformed, and completely agrees with total depravity. I think he used that illustration because for that conversation, as for this one, the topic wasn't depravity. It was beside the point.


Quote
However, the fact remains that the reprobation of the non-elect is no less decreed; a specific determination of God that certain individuals should not be saved but rather they should receive the just judgment they deserve.
Right. This seems like another way of saying what the op said, and what the poster was struggling with: "If God chooses certain people to save, he chooses certain people to burn in Hell forever"