"Christ came to seek and save that which was lost. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did, ad you will be saved." I wouldn't say "Christ died to save you" in those words.
I meant, what would you say to the preacher who considered it wise to preach Paul's Corinthian Gospel VERBATIM so that he (the preacher) could never fall foul of Paul's curse?
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." What are they believing? That Christ paid the penalty for sin. That all who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved. That when He saves us, we become a new workmanship, a new creation.
I can tell an unbeliever all of that.
No, if Christ didn't die for them then they are unable to believe because they wont be regenerated. They're stuffed aren't they?
That is why the gospel message is given universally. The only point I'd disagree on is that "Christ died for your sin." It is true of everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, but I've no idea which person that is. God is not willing that any should perish. We can both give the message as we understand it, and I think the sinner will know what it means to be saved.
But, de facto, it's a different Gospel. Under inquiry, you'd be forced to admit that Christ did not die for all. That is totally different.
It is looking back from the 'end of history' as it were at all "who were saved" thus were called "the elect." Even Arminians hold to this kind of notion, they are seeing God as foreknowing who will come. Calvinist's go further and say God is more tenacious than that. He will even compel those resistant, like Saul2Paul to come.
Paul could have resisted. Acts 26:19.
There aren't many that do. Fewer, I think, however. are those who have animosity toward us. Well, at least that's what I thought before I became one. I had a few friends who were Calvinists. They didn't shove it too hard. Just told me to read scriptures, perhaps read a few who I admired and call to personal attention that they were all Calvinist. I was actually surprised how many I liked that were Calvinists like J.I. Packer, Charles Spurgeon, Stephen Charnock, Busewell (systematic theology) and John Piper.
Ok.
Some Calvinists are more Calvinistic than others. It is, I think, important to realize even among us, we don't all agree. There is a scripture: Matthew 5:45 Act 4:11 Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:7-9 Then also John 3:19-21 Our Lord Jesus Christ came and I think both the Calvinist and others describe these scriptures the same way. In a sense, we are discussing and categorizing what God knew, how He knew it, and when He knew it and why. Most of us aren't debating that He does indeed know who, what, when, where, and why.
Actually, Dort has it that God did not elect because he foreknew:
Article 9: Election Not Based on Foreseen Faith
This same election took place, not on the basis of foreseen faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, or of any other good quality and disposition, as though it were based on a prerequisite cause or condition in the person to be chosen, but rather for the purpose of faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, and so on. Accordingly, election is the source of every saving good. Faith, holiness, and the other saving gifts, and at last eternal life itself, flow forth from election as its fruits and effects. As the apostle says, “He chose us” (not because we were, but) “so that we should be holy and blameless before him in love” (Eph. 1:4).
