<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]Again notice, that Spurgeon is conveying the idea of the renewed will verses self-will.</font><hr></blockquote><p> Again, you greatly err. Please read more of Spurgeon. You can begin here: God's Will and Man's Will<br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]This is to me the difference of calvinism and [color:red]armenianism</font color=red>, where calvinism of course is always trying to be a control-freak and make man a zombie.</font><hr></blockquote><p> Yes, you would like to control God for this is where your theology naturally leads. You say I WILL be saved and thus say a “magical prayer” and expect God to jump out of a magic lantern and save souls as invoked by your words or the words of another. But, the last time I read the Bible it still says God is in full control and not man thus He is not a genie, He will not be summoned by your will against His own and if you are not elect, it is against His will.<br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]Dead meaning nothing of oneself can receive the truth but only that which is of God and that is a spark of truth which yet remains from the grace of God-given free-will before the foundation of the world and shown exercised in the Garden and throughout the centuries in men with a will under God or under Satan that man having that will originally righteously untouchablly unmanipulated and unimpeded. </font><hr></blockquote><p> Well the Greek word for [color:blue]dead</font color=blue> in Eph 2:1 is [color:blue]nekros</font color=blue> meaning [color:blue]dead</font color=blue> or [color:blue]without life</font color=blue> (Kittle, it is also used in other verses of man’s state: Matt. 8:22; John 5:25; Eph. 2:5; 5:14; Phil. 3:11; Col. 2:13; cf. Luke 15:24). If there would have been a “spark” as you say Paul could have used another term such as [color:blue]hemithanes</font color=blue> meaning “half-dead” (used in Luke 10:30). Apparently, Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit chose the term that best fit the state—that of being DEAD, without life, to God. Thus, your argument is against Scripture not me or other Calvinists? You wrestle with the Scripture (2 Pet 3:16). [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/heavy.gif" alt="heavy" title="heavy[/img]<br><br>And to prove you are a "god" unto yourself you are so bold to say:<br><br><blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]Though I have not said it yet, [color:red]my conclusion is that less than 5% of calvins are saved</font color=red> because of this messed up cause and effect relationship that produces a pride, though they obviously cannot see it, in being the stick men that stand up preselected and premanipulated and predetermined, which of course I find quite sick and demented like a cult. </font><hr></blockquote><p> Indeed, my conclusion is less than 5% of Arminians can spell [color:red]armenianism</font color=red>, though they claim to embrace it? [img]http://www.the-highway.com/w3timages/icons/drop.gif" alt="drop" title="drop[/img] Of course, your statement does make me wonder why you embrace gnosticism (a measure of Arminian knowledge/doctrine) vs. grace alone for salvation.

Reformed and Always Reforming,