Examining the Scriptures one Passage at a time.
Reasoning from the Scripture
God established a salvation process where human free will chooses to believe the truth. Unconditional election and irresistible grace are invalid because Scripture shows that damnation and hell come directly from unbelief, indicating that faith must come before the Holy Spirit’s sealing. Since God offers redemption to everyone, grace is applied based on an individual’s choice to accept the word, not a pre-temporal selection of specific people. Election belongs only to those in Christ through faith. Therefore, the Spirit’s sanctification works hand in hand with human belief, opposing Calvinistic ideas of pre-regeneration and supporting the view that personal faith is what leads to eternal life.
The Argument
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A: God preordained a salvation process requiring human belief of the truth.
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B: Unbelief is what condemns a man, proving salvation depends on choice.
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C: The Holy Spirit seals and sanctifies the believer subsequent to personal faith.
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D: Election applies to those in Christ, refuting unconditional election and irresistible grace.
Therefore, Salvation hinges on human belief preceding the Spirit’s sanctification, disproving Calvinistic pre-regeneration.
Wide Margin Note
Unbelief damns; belief precedes the Spirit’s sanctifying seal.
(cf. 2 Thess. 2:12-13; John 16:9; Eph. 1:13; Rev. 21:8)