The error of Arminianism is not that it holds the Biblical doctrine of responsibility but that it equates this doctrine with an unbiblical doctrine of “freewill” and preaches the two things as though they were synonymous. The truth is that man’s will is always exercised in harmony with his nature and, as his nature is at enmity to God, so is his will. Rom.8:7 “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Man being fallen, his will cannot be neutral or “free” to act contrary to his nature. Freewill has carried many souls to hell, but never a soul to heaven.
Man’s spiritual inability is due solely to his sin and therefore it in no way lessens his responsibility. That man must be able to believe and repent in order to be responsible for unbelief and impenitency is a philosophical conception nowhere found in Scripture. In fact it is directly contrary to Scripture because, if responsibility were to be measured by ability, then it would mean that the more sinful a man becomes the less he is responsible!
When theologians speak of man’s free-agency, which is essential to moral responsibility, they mean that man’s will is “free” from any external compulsion to sin. In this sense man has a free-will (which is obviously different from the Arminian usage of the term) and it makes our position one of terrible personal accountability for our actions.
See: Iain Murray, The Forgotten Spurgeon, (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1994), pp. 61, 62.
Salvation “is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God who showeth mercy” (Rom.9:16).
“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Jn.1:13).
“In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Eph.1:11).
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Rom.8:7).
“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Cor.2:14).
So pray ——-
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” (Eph.1:17-19).
Christ Rescued Me! 