On one of the discussion boards there is a thread making some rather rash statements regarding what Arminians believe and adhere to regarding the eternal security of the believer. The author of the thread stated the following that I thought was rather telling of his particular ignorance in this matter.
How does an Arminian have a true-pure-peace of mind knowing at any moment one could lose his/her eternal life and become damned?
Arminians believe salvation is lost depending upon what one does, or doesn't do. How can an Arminian have any peace knowing his/her salvation rests upon what they do, or don't do?
Arminius addressed these matters in his Nine Questions as noted below.
May everyone who is a true believer be assured in this life of his individual salvation; and is it his duty to have this assurance?
Does justifying faith precede, in the order of nature, remission of sins, or does it not? And can any man be bound to any other faith than that which justifies?
ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION
Since God promises eternal life to all who believe in Christ, it is impossible for him who believes, and who knows that he believes, to doubt of his own salvation, unless he doubts of this willingness of God [to perform his promise.] But God does not require him to be better assured of his individual salvation as a duty which must be performed to himself or to Christ; but it is a consequence of that promise, by which God engages to bestow eternal life on him who believes.
