I believe that Jesus taught that all men who are saved go through a John 16:8-11 experience. I am concerned that too many folks make an intellectual decision and never experience the heart felt conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment that Jesus spoke of in John 16. This is my major concern about the Calvinist theology of election.
Only God can judge but I believe that God gave us His word to bring us to Christ. We cannot come to Christ until we see our need of forgiveness. Forgiveness through grace not election or works of righteousness done by our hand.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
You make valid points, and I'm certainly not going to judge the hearts of men for salvation or lack thereof.
This is my experience. I absolutely confessed that I was a sinner and absolutely knew that Jesus is the Son of God, God in the flesh, and that He was crucified, died to pay my sin debt, and rose on the 3rd day.
But I didn't have an instantaneous lifestyle change. Many of the old sins were not totally put away. At this time I thought that if I sinned too much that I would lose salvation. I tried very hard to stop doing various bad behavior. The more I tried, the more entangled I seemed to get.
After yrs in this battle, I very suddenly had the overwhelming thought and feeling that I was lost and no longer saved.
I felt huge condemnation. So much so, that for the better part of a decade I wanted nothing to do with Church, God, the Bible etc... Because all the condemnation came back when I did.
But once again, the Lord eventually drew me back and retrieved me from that awful life. Why? Because I am His Child! He left the 99 and went and got me.
I can look back now and literally see Romans 8:28 at work. I KNOW now that I am forever His, and the incredible thing is that revelation has done infinitely more for me to walk in the Spirit and not sin, then all my struggle and effort!
So I understand your concern about an intellectual assent, and not a true conversion. I will leave that issue dealing with others to the Lord. He will NOT lose a single one of His sheep. I believe Him.