Randy Hartman,

I thought I should give an answer to the question you asked of us at Sovereign Grace Chapel on our Guest Book. I would begin by saying, simply stated, that the answer to your question is, NO! Your question was: "Do you believe that those who hold to the doctrine of the free will of Arminianism and believe that as TRUTH [your capitalization] [are -- my addition for clarification] saved? Arminian belief in the free will of man is of no value and it certainly saves nor reveals the salvation of no one. Those who hold to free will as the TRUTH have missed HIM who is the truth -- Jesus Christ our Lord. My Lord, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn. 14:6). Men and women, whether young or old, do not come unto the Father by free will but "by me" [that is, Christ] (Jn. 14:6).
Moreover, on the unfailing word of my Lord recorded in John 14:6 I do not believe that men and women, young or old, are saved by Calvinism, that is to say, they are not saved by a rejection of the doctrine free will. Those whom God is saving are taught of God (Jn. 6:45) and they hear God's words (Jn. 8:47) and they seek to honour His Christ (Jn. 8:49, cf. Jn. 6:47, 51a, 57; Jn. 8:42 etc.). But here is a question I ask you and myself: Do we always honour Christ? or, do we always reject free will in every form? The fact is we do not always reject it! Do not some Calvinistic preachers preach and teach that the elect are regenerated by gospel preaching? Yes they do. But that doctrine is a lie and based upon free willism! Do not some Calvinistic preachers preach and teach that only those who hold to the five points [T.U.L.I.P. -- I am persuaded you know the meaning of these] are the only saved persons? Yes they do. But there is no direct basis for this belief in scripture. Again, I answer your question -- those who hold to free will are not saved when the basis, or experience, of their salvation is free will rather than Christ Himself in His person and work. But I must add -- Does Calvinism [T.U.L.I.P.] answer, or, have the answer to, all the vital questions of "Who is a Christian?" Is a Christian defined only by
his or her belief in the five "GREAT" doctrines of free grace? And great doctrines they are indeed! My answer to this is, No! Does not free grace give a belief in the bodily resurrection of Christ and His people? Yes it does! Those who reject this, and some Calvinists do, are without truth. Does not free grace give a belief in the inspiration of all scripture? Yes it does! But not all rejecters of free will [Calvinists] hold to this. Does not scripture teach the impeccability of the Christ of God? Yes it does. But not all of those
whom I hold as my brethren in Christ believe this! Can a person be of free grace persuasion in doctrine and yet be one who walks with no change of nature in this life? Yes they can. Thus the answer to your question is, No! Those who hold that they have been saved by free will are not saved, but neither is someone certainly saved who professes they have been saved because they reject free will as playing a part in their
salvation.
Your question [and it is one I have asked myself many times] has not even one verse in all scripture which directly answers it without the need for further light. It is a good question, but it is also one which must be answered with far more than a yes or no. All whom God saves are Arminian by nature, and even after God has saved us we have the Arminain [fleshly] nature which lusts [battles] against the Spirit (Gal. 5:17). Here is the vital question? Are you saved because of what you believe, or, do you believe as you do because God has saved you by Christ? The first is Arminian doctrine based upon works; the second is the TRUTH backed up by scripture. I could easily condemn all Arminians
but I must be true to scripture in that, "...all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags... (Isa. 64:6). My HOLDING to free grace [and as God's Spirit is my witness I loath free will] is of no merit before God Almighty. Is our merit Christ Himself or is it what we believe? It is
indeed Christ Himself, and because God the Father will honour Christ we who are saved are being taught the TRUTH to reject free will.

Walter A. Pendleton
Elder at Sovereign Grace Chapel
www.sgchapel.com