Matt 18:4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Col 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time

If you "ride" with the posse of JD and Mike, - then you are travelling the path of arminian/synergist/freewill.

I am not on that UNBiblical route.

May I offer you the same advice, viz...

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness

Romans 11:25 "For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in."

Not again!!!
Over the last 3 years we have debated predestination to and fro.

I know that you shouldn't answer a question with another question. (But I am a sinner)
What is so difficult for you to accept predestination in an omniscient God who foreknows -
"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate" Ro.8
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father" 1Peter 1.

Is God's foreknowledge limited to the extent that HE can't apply it to
a] Knowing His created being and his characteristics thoroughly?
b] Knowing the power and extent of sin and it's effect upon His created being?

I mean JD;

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

JD
Your
"How can one make his calling and election sure seeing it happened before time as you say? What is this calling"

The above verse 10, is part of the statement made from verse 5.
"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge"

Overall the statement is advice to the Christian not to succumb to the power of iniquity within,(eg: Rom 7:14f) but struggle diligently at being a believer and witness in the world.
This responsibility of the believer follows the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which enables us to be servant of Christ by grace, and a new man with obviously a new witness to portray.

Whatever doctrine we all follow, - none of us deny the fact of the responsibility we have to Christ.

YOUR
"Why is "calling" before "election" in this usage?"

It's to provide the arminian with a question to ask in relation to their salvation by works. (oops sorry I've been facetious)

You are still concentrating on that old heretical dogma.

1] HE saved "us" identifying specific people.
2] NOT our "works" - viz nothing of human effort or input.
3] ONLY HIS purpose/grace qualifies unto salvation.
4] GIVEN "US" - in Christ.
5] WHEN??? - Before the world began.
*] Again?? - BEFORE the world began.
*] One more- Before the world began.

2Tim 1:10 But is NOW made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought LIFE and IMMORTALITY to light through the gospel:

# And especially for you JD

* a. Rom 8:30; 11:7; Eph 1:10-11.
• b. 2 Cor 3:3, 6; 2 Thes 2:13-14.
• c. Rom 8:2; Eph 2:1-5; 2 Tim 1:9-10.
• d. Acts 26:18; 1 Cor 2:10, 12; Eph 1:17-18.
• e. Ezek 36:26.
• f. Deut 30:6; Ezek 11:19; 36:27; Phil 2:13.
• g. John 6:44-45; Eph 1:19.
• h. Psa 110:3; Song 1:4; John 6:37; Rom 6:16-18.

JD, You can't understand these either, but they are nonetheless true.

Matt 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but FEW CHOSEN.

Matt 22:14 For many are called, but FEW ARE CHOSEN.

Mark 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, WHOM HE HATH CHOSEN, he hath shortened the days.

God does not elect just on to the team.
He does not elect - Then drop them from the team - Because HE made a mistake.

God elects only unto salvation.

1Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Yamil and I have been debating on here for over three years now. Our witness statement has been inculcated many times over.

Don't forget cowboy, that only those who have received the Gift of Faith, can provide the witness of Faith.

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

What? Does human confession change your life.
Is that all there is to your religion Abigail?
Once again you exclude the Lord!!!!

Does *HE* have ANY part to play in YOUR plan of salvation Abigail???

"rejected the offer of salvation"
This is the arminian/synergist/popish teaching of man's influence over God's purpose unto salvation.

2] "Many claiming OSAS have never been saved because they have not repented and turned to Christ with their whole heart."
((First let me state I am NOT an OSAS advocate it is NOT Calvinism))

But to take your words Abigail "because they have not" - Again you are placing the ability for salvation with the mortal, who cannot do these things because as you have pointed out yourself before, dead in sin-enmity with God precludes the natural person from that ability.

_______________________________

Query
1] The Invisible Church.

Remember salvation by human works - doesn't work. All mortals are too depraved to be able to come to Christ without divine input.

However God states.....

1John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous

5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Christ teaches us to look at the "fruit" of the person. He does this that we may perceive our brothers/sisters in Christ, who are in faith and in truth. Matt 7:16.

Can you demonstrate the "good" aspect AND the "bad" aspect of Hopalong Cassidy please?

There is no doubt as to the centrality of what Paul states in these verses.
But equally I'm sure both Paul and Yourself would agree, that there is more in The Bible than these four verses.

"When the English Reformers began to read the Bible, like their friends on the continent they discoverd God's way of salvation - faith alone, in Christ alone by grace alone. It revolutionized their understanding of the "gospel" and transformed the priorities of their ministry. Having received the grace of Christ themselves and come to trust in Him as their only Saviour, they became passionate about sharing that discovery with others. It was on this question above every other that the Reformers staked their lives." (A. Atherstone)

This is about the 16/17th century Reformers of whom many were martyred at the burning stake. They preached and died to bring this Gospel to the people. From young ladies to aged bishops. One thing in common they had is the Reformed Doctrine.