I wrote a Letter to my Free Will
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In this matter of choice, Jesus Himself defined what whosoever means. (John 3:16)
And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And the one hearing, let him say, "Come!" And the one thirsting let him come; the one desiring, let him take freely the water of life. Revelation 22:17
There is nothing in scripture to indicate that salvation is forced, or that anyone receives the Holy Spirit prior to accepting the gift of God, salvation through His only Son, or that God turns anyone away. Salvation is not offered to a certain 'elect' group.
ALL who accept Christ understand that this is given through the grace of God and salvation is not close ended to people defined by some as 'elect'. God does not send pre-saved people to earth as some have suggested....if not in this thread, than certainly in others with the same topic
And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And the one hearing, let him say, "Come!" And the one thirsting let him come; the one desiring, let him take freely the water of life. Revelation 22:17
There is nothing in scripture to indicate that salvation is forced, or that anyone receives the Holy Spirit prior to accepting the gift of God, salvation through His only Son, or that God turns anyone away. Salvation is not offered to a certain 'elect' group.
ALL who accept Christ understand that this is given through the grace of God and salvation is not close ended to people defined by some as 'elect'. God does not send pre-saved people to earth as some have suggested....if not in this thread, than certainly in others with the same topic
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I get worried when I know I am reading answers that come from a doctrinal viewpoint, vain repetition. If we took every verse that God said about Himself and compared to doctrine, we would see the evidence of making God into an Idol. Which is conforming God to our own understanding of what we read, not what the Word of God and God Himself has claimed about Himself.
The fact is, those I invite to church typically come because I say we're having a dinner and this is a good chance for a meal they haven't had in some time. Pride could keep them from showing up and need from hunger is what makes them show up. But in the mixture of the two it's free will that makes them decide. Only 1 in 5 who show up, sit through the Gospel of Christ, get a meal and will later on return. Only 1 in 3 get saved in the moment while hearing the Gospel. And sadly, most of them struggle with some form of mental illness that keeps them hiding from society.
But putting food into their bellies is the ultimate driving force. No one is making them come. They decide and show up because they have chosen to do so. If you have ever operated a church, you would see "free will" so many times you could only deny it existed by lying about it. When I see a discussion like this and so many who oppose free will. I know I am reading someone who has no clue to what they're even saying. They're literally giving answers based off their doctrine. Which is Idol worship.
The fact is, those I invite to church typically come because I say we're having a dinner and this is a good chance for a meal they haven't had in some time. Pride could keep them from showing up and need from hunger is what makes them show up. But in the mixture of the two it's free will that makes them decide. Only 1 in 5 who show up, sit through the Gospel of Christ, get a meal and will later on return. Only 1 in 3 get saved in the moment while hearing the Gospel. And sadly, most of them struggle with some form of mental illness that keeps them hiding from society.
But putting food into their bellies is the ultimate driving force. No one is making them come. They decide and show up because they have chosen to do so. If you have ever operated a church, you would see "free will" so many times you could only deny it existed by lying about it. When I see a discussion like this and so many who oppose free will. I know I am reading someone who has no clue to what they're even saying. They're literally giving answers based off their doctrine. Which is Idol worship.
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7th Moon I still see that you are unsure of your 'spiritual status' on your profile. The offer of salvation extends also to you. It is between God and yourself but His love for you is measured in the death of His Son who took our place to pay for what we can never ever pay for.
Forgiveness of the fact we try to live independent from God and think somehow to make up for our wrongs ourselves.
Sadly, this thread does not honor a proper biblical definition of what salvation is or to whom it is available. In the end, what actually matters is what tree we each eat from ourself. The tree of life was also in the Garden. Choose that tree by choosing Jesus.
Forgiveness of the fact we try to live independent from God and think somehow to make up for our wrongs ourselves.
Sadly, this thread does not honor a proper biblical definition of what salvation is or to whom it is available. In the end, what actually matters is what tree we each eat from ourself. The tree of life was also in the Garden. Choose that tree by choosing Jesus.
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Again with regards to choice, in John 3, v. 14-15, Jesus relates His own death on the cross with the 'fiery serpent' Moses lifted up in the wilderness.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
This is not 'trick' wording that must be interpreted to fit a narrative or belief. This is the gospel as presented by Jesus Himself!
In Numbers 21, we can read the story of the serpents for ourselves and see that EVERYONE who looked upon the brass serpent was healed. The healing was not for a select group of Israelites. It was for ALL.
And that is the illustration Jesus is giving. Salvation is for ALL. (and lest someone decide I am trying to create a case for universalism...please spare me. )
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
This is not 'trick' wording that must be interpreted to fit a narrative or belief. This is the gospel as presented by Jesus Himself!
In Numbers 21, we can read the story of the serpents for ourselves and see that EVERYONE who looked upon the brass serpent was healed. The healing was not for a select group of Israelites. It was for ALL.
And that is the illustration Jesus is giving. Salvation is for ALL. (and lest someone decide I am trying to create a case for universalism...please spare me. )
No. I thought I chose Christ when I was a little boy. However, my lifestyle as an adult proved that I was not saved. It wasn't until the Lord found me in the Arizona desert and Powerfully Circumcised my heart and Filled me with the Indwelling Holy Spirit. I did not choose God. He chose me, even though I was a liar as a little boy. I never believed it, for immediately after my baptism, I was sad that my father didn't baptize me as he did my older brother, so with my hair still wet from my Baptism, I stole a bag of rubber bands from 7-11.
My whole life, though, I was allowed to believe that I was saved, when there was absolutely NO POSSIBLE WAY that I was. After my experience with God, I took to the Bible to find out what happened to me. The Bible explained it all, and at this point in nearly fifty years of living, I was upset to find out that there is a complete subset of Scripture that the church does not teach.
Have a great day!
My whole life, though, I was allowed to believe that I was saved, when there was absolutely NO POSSIBLE WAY that I was. After my experience with God, I took to the Bible to find out what happened to me. The Bible explained it all, and at this point in nearly fifty years of living, I was upset to find out that there is a complete subset of Scripture that the church does not teach.
Have a great day!
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live
Resurrection = the Promise from God for the afterlife.
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live
Resurrection = the Promise from God for the afterlife.
Sorry. I missed this part!
A Spiritual Nature that is alive to death means that we're not free. Satan is the Ruler of death.
2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT - "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."
If Satan has blinded the Spiritual eyesight of his evil minions, how can they be free? They're not, for they are controlled by their Father, the Devil.
John 8:44 NLT - "For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies."
We either belong to the Devil or Christ. We do not belong to ourselves.
A Spiritual Nature that is alive to death means that we're not free. Satan is the Ruler of death.
2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT - "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."
If Satan has blinded the Spiritual eyesight of his evil minions, how can they be free? They're not, for they are controlled by their Father, the Devil.
John 8:44 NLT - "For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies."
We either belong to the Devil or Christ. We do not belong to ourselves.