Do We Choose Him or Does he choose us?
I have gotten a debate in person and online recently about this.
Do you believe we are predestined to be saved, as if God chose us before our existence and planned to save us or do you believe it's up to us alone to choose him or do you believe he tries to choose us but leaves the final answer up to us?
With whatever you believe, there are these common sayings I get in response when they debate.
if you believe he chooses in us and we can't avoid him and being saved because we are predestined, then isn't us choosing him forced on us and not wanting him by free will and doesn't that seem like he didn't really die for everyone because he isn't choosing the rest of the world to save them?
if you believe it is entirely up to us, then does that mean in our sinful nature we have good desires to do what is right without God in us to give us those desires before salvation?
Or if you believe he makes us want to as if he gives us the strength and desires to want to be saved, but we can still choose to live in sin and not be saved? That it is up to us in the end?
I have not given my answer here on this poll, but I'd like to hear yours and I may share mine.
I have gotten a debate in person and online recently about this.
Do you believe we are predestined to be saved, as if God chose us before our existence and planned to save us or do you believe it's up to us alone to choose him or do you believe he tries to choose us but leaves the final answer up to us?
With whatever you believe, there are these common sayings I get in response when they debate.
if you believe he chooses in us and we can't avoid him and being saved because we are predestined, then isn't us choosing him forced on us and not wanting him by free will and doesn't that seem like he didn't really die for everyone because he isn't choosing the rest of the world to save them?
if you believe it is entirely up to us, then does that mean in our sinful nature we have good desires to do what is right without God in us to give us those desires before salvation?
Or if you believe he makes us want to as if he gives us the strength and desires to want to be saved, but we can still choose to live in sin and not be saved? That it is up to us in the end?
I have not given my answer here on this poll, but I'd like to hear yours and I may share mine.
The way I can understand it is God chose us through Jesus and we can accept that or refuse.
When referring to the 'chosen ones' God chose Israel as His firstborn to be a nation that would be blessed and bring glory to Him. Through Israel and the line of Judah Jesus the messiah came, as he is Gods only begotten son. JEsus extended this invitation to gentiles when Judah (jews) rejected him as not all Israel is saved. So we believers are all chosen in Him.
Our ability to choose is only between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of satan which is all the kingdoms of this world. Joshua demonstrated to the israelites that they can actually choose who they will serve. But if we are adopted into Jesus family by accepting his sacrifice, we no longer will be satans children.
There is a difference between the old and new covenant, but dont forget God did choose Israel first to inherit the blessings, and gentiles are grafted into this family through Jesus.
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