Thank you each one for your replies. I’m not very good at writing and even if I was, I think it is almost an impossible task to hash out theological differences on a message board. So that is not really my objective. I’m not here to persuade anyone or to make this an attack on you or what you believe. <br><br>If I was to put a label on myself, I suppose I am about as Armenian as one can be, though I really know nothing about the guy or read anything he wrote. This question came to me after reading Pink’s commentary as I said. Having just a little understanding of how a Calvinist rationalizes a Christian can never be lost, it seems even more confusing to me than it did before I read it. <br><br><br>Dave wrote:<br>Granted, these are difficult verses, but as I have stated before concerning other difficult verses this would be a rather nebulous way to teach such an important doctrine.<br><br>I think these verses are difficult for a Calvinist but for the Armenian the understanding seems to naturally flow from what the text says.<br><br>I just want to know what a person who is not saved can fall away from. The unsaved can benefit from the atonement indirectly in several ways but that's not something they are in danger of falling away from that I can see. ALSO - IF this text is written to unbelievers, it is the only text in the Bible of its kind.<br><br>The only way I can see this is that they would be falling from a bad place in Hell to a really bad place.<br><br>In the Armenian view, these believers had reached a great height having been enlightened, partakers of the Holy Spirit, etc. Granted they had only "tasted" of the heavenly gift and the word of God and that is why they are warned and two paths are set before them. Fall away and lose everything irrevocably or press on to maturity.<br><br>It seems there is a great contradiction in Calvinism. According to limited atonement, only certain ones are to be saved and it is completely out of their control to be lost but "they have to make every effort to make their calling and election sure. (See 2 Peter 1:2-11)"<br><br>Is there - or is there not - a human side to salvation?<br><br>Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. <br><br>These believers had fallen, but not fallen away and they are also warned to repent.
