Can the Unconverted Elect Respond to the Gospel Call with Confidence?

Here's another example of the brilliant arguments against Calvinism that Arminians endorse:

"Without realizing it, the Calvinist is finally saying that repentance and faith (as the gift of God in the salvation “package”) are being offered to all who will repent and believe, when in fact none can do so. This reduces to pure tautology and is no offer at all. (Grace, Faith, Free Will, pp. 117, 118, emphasis his)"

But this is really strange because the Calvinist does realize that no one can believe. That's why without irresistible grace no one actually does believe.  (John 6:44, 65; John 3:3-8). And since Calvinism does not "offer" salvation to the reprobate, I fail to see how this constitutes a tautology. God's purposes are always accomplished through His appointed means and even the Arminian allegedly believes in the preaching of the Gospel to all indiscriminately.   (Matthew 22:14).

The article is arguing against a straw man since consistent Calvinism does not teach that salvation is offered. No, Calvinism distinguishes between the general call of the Gospel and the effectual call.  And non sequiturs abound as well:

"If not all who hear can respond to the gospel, as the Calvinist insists, then only those given repentance and faith can do so. In consequence, no person who hears the gospel can do so with any confidence that he can respond."

This does not follow since the Calvinist position is that God keeps His promises to save those who are given the grace to believe. The person who believes responds precisely because God works faith in his heart in the first place:

NKJ Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Pro 21:1 NKJ)

If the person has no confidence that he can respond and in fact does not respond, that person is placing himself in the reprobate camp by default. He is without excuse according to Romans 1:18-32. A person who does respond can be confident that God always keeps His promises to save those who believe:

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (Rom 10:9-13 NKJ)

The text does not express contingency. It does not say that whoever believes might or could possibly be saved. That's the Arminian view! No, it says they "shall be saved." What part of shall be saved does the Arminian not understand?


Here's the link to the Arminian page in question:

Does the Gospel According to Calvinism Offer Salvation to Anyone At All?