In order to believe as they do, one must believe that fallen mankind is only partially depraved, but still retains enough merit to exercise saving faith.
Correct, and not only so, but along with this notion of partial depravity, they (Arminians), quite self-consciously or less so, must all believe in Christ's
partial atonement, i.e., bearing some sins of all men, or that Christ did expiate all sins of all men, except unbelief, so that Christ, by virtue of His own cross-work does not atone for the lack of faith, nor positively supply faith for anyone, but is dependent upon the whim of men to believe or not to believe and through this work of faith, to render this atonement either efficient or inefficient in their case, according to their individual response. Hence, Christ's blood is conceived to have been shed for many whom it NEVER profits, and so it is really shed in vain for so many, who, have not added their contribution to an almost complete work of Christ.
This is the most blasphemous consequence of the Arminian heresy - by exalting man, they make Christ a partial savior and, really, no savior at all, for he cannot save anyone, unless they help him...
But faith is not a condition of salvation, but a blessed
means, through which heirs of the promise, enter into a conscious possession of their inheritance in Christ. And Christ supplies the means as well as the substance of the things promised - as was shown, He supplies BOTH repentance AND forgiveness of sins for His people. Indeed, being the Fountainhead of salvation, He is the Author and Finisher of OUR faith (He.12:2). Faith, being also a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Ga.5:22), is produced by God Himself. It is the means whereby He purifies our hearts: And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as [he did] unto us; And put no difference between us and them,
purifying their hearts by faith (Ac.15:8,9). God is the One, Who does this purifying by faith. Again, this faith is in no wise of ourselves, it proceedeth from God, a faith, "which is BY HIM" (see Ac.3:16). That is why the whole salvation by grace through faith is "not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works,
lest any man should boast"(Eph.2:8,9).Yet, according to Piper and his Arminian brethren, "by grace you can be saved IF you supply faith" and so some of it is of yourself, that is of works, so you have somewhat to boast of.
This is the ultimate Arminian perdition - pride...They must have somewhat to boast of. There is something in them, which they have not received (their faith by their own free will). This makes them to differ from other men. God made it possible for all men if they but fulfill a condition. Many don't, but I have. My good choice of free will has made me to differ. It is not Christ Who saves after all. Christ does not save anybody, indeed He cannot, unless they cooperate. As they love to say, 'God is not forcing anyone into heaven - He is giving all an opportunity to come of their own free will'. And so they worship their Ashtaroth of Free Will and their teraphim of false christ, who is but partial universal savior.
Just is their judgement, if they repent not of peddling another gospel:
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed (Ga.1:6-9).
