If a person never accepts Jesus as their Savior, they will never receive salvation from Christ. The Lord wants all people to place faith in Him. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him. Jesus replied, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. How can someone be born when they are old? Nicodemus asked. ESV Expository Commentary With contributions from a team of pastors and scholars, this commentary through 9 of Paul's letters helps students of the Bible to understand how each epistle fits in with the storyline of Scripture and applies today. So Romans 9:14 asks, What shall we say then? Paul provides the first of four main reasons believers are to praise God: because he chose us. Furthermore Paul said that God wants all men to be saved (Romans 11:32; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; 2 Peter 3:9). Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. 2) The man can untie the boy and ask him if he wants to be taken away or not. But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, Who is on the Lord's side? Or is God in control? Please feel free to ask any more questions if that still hasnt helped Its a mind-blowing concept, I know!! They point to passages which speak of people resisting Gods desires for them (Matthew 23:37; Acts 7:51; 13:46), and to other passages which warn us not to resist God (2 Corinthians 6:1; Hebrews 3:8,13; 12:25). Acts 13:46 Since you reject it (Gods word) we now turn to the Gentiles. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace. If you are reading this today, know that God chose you and He dearly loves you. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! Both before and after the flood, Gods analysis of the human heart is that it is only wicked all the time (Gen. 6:5; 8:21). In its simplest sense, there are only three choices. 4 responses If you are a Christian, this is precisely what God has done for you. (Romans 11:33-36). Is the language here being used as we would use it today? It is clear that Jesus is the Savior of the world (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14), and that He died to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29; 1 John 2:2). Let me show our listeners from Romans 9:23 how I approached the chapter, and I think theyll see it. The Answer Is. Box 1353 |Nampa, ID 83653 USA1-800-803-8093, He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation. Share (1) Is God in control of everything? Copyright 2023 RealFaith by Mark Driscoll, Colossians 2:13: When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. What Does Nehemiah's Life Teach Us about Following God? What does it mean that the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment? Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. Therefore, in Romans 10:13-14 Paul writes: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? God Saves. Likewise in salvation, when regeneration is present, faith is the result. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. God did not create us as robots because he wants us to come to accept Him freely. With our free will, we can choose either to make the right decision or the wrong decision. The what if is asking, What if he did it can any legitimate reaction be raised? And he answers no. If God sees Christians as if they are sinless, then why do we try to stop sinning? The Bible has revealed Jesus to us in a way that we can know Him. 1 Peter 1:2 [Christians] have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. So that is my first message: God's purpose in the salvation of his people is invincibleit cannot failbecause it is based first not on our choosing God but on God's choosing us. The point of Romans 9 is that it is Gods sovereign choice who he will have mercy on. All rights reserved. Do We Choose God? Does God Choose Us? The Answer Is - The Blazing Center But other Christians think that all men means every single person. Although God calls all men, only believers can properly be called chosen. (Both meanings are possible in the Greek3 text.). The Spirit and the Bride say, Come. And let the one who hears say, Come. And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Believers are representatives of Christ to the lost world. Check that out. So Im going to say it again: verses 22 and 23 are Pauls most and I would say the Bibles most ultimate answer for why God does what he does in choosing one and not another. 2:23 NASB). Vivian Bricker Contributing Writer Feb 18, 2022 The concept of whether God chooses us can be quite sticky for some people. Being born again is the same. Because your birth was something doneforyou, not doneby you. God chooses us, but we have to also choose Him. Well, perhaps just to encourage those who struggle with the message of Romans 9, let me give a little autobiography. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master's degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. If I think I have chosen God but God hasnt chosen me then I surely I cant change Gods will ? Many Christians point out that God is all-powerful. Picture a boy tied by the side of a road. How deep is His wisdom and knowledge! Its not feasible to take the words that way. Report, March 13 2018 I had been there about six years, so it was time. Is God's Election of the Faithful Unconditional? 0 responses Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.. Report, February 27 2014 Heres what that says: For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills (Romans 9:1718). How God Speaks Today In Hebrews 1, we see that God spoke in two phases: long ago, by the prophets, and now, in these last days, by his Son. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Vivian Brickerloves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. FAQ: Does God choose us or do we choose God? - Guilt-Free Christianity I mean if Jews and hes not talking one or two, but most of them have a veil over their face, then theyre not seeing Jesus as their Messiah. Those are usually the two reasons people give for saying, No, you shouldnt use Romans 9 to talk about individual election or predestination.. So God is free to have mercy on whom hell have mercy. G Let me explain. Like he does in Romans 9:18, when referring to Pharoah, and elsewhere in that chapter, Paul draws this distinction. predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" ( Ephesians 1:4-5 ). The question youre asking basically asks two things: This is the very sentence that Aaron asked about. Did God choose us or did we choose Him? | Talk Jesus 83 Bible Verses about God Choosing Us Not Us Choosing Him - OpenBible.info 22 responses Who are we to resist the creator? K J In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16). There is a fundamental principle about God that should always be kept in mind and helps us understand Romans 9. Gods will is such a mystery! It is used in the context of God sovereignly determining who will be predestined to be saved (Romans 8:29). Does God choose who will be saved and who will be lost? We are chosen because of Gods deep love for us. Share Paul points out these two thoughts when he writes: work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13). In Romans 9:16, Paul emphasizes that Gods choice does not depend on mans effort or desire, but on Gods mercy. God is in control, not man. It appears in the context of God planning (Acts 2:23) that Jesus would be executed. We also get other terms like chosen (Eph 1:4, 11, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)), predestined (Eph 1:5, 11; Romans 8:28-29) or appointed (Acts 13:48) to refer to those who are given the gift of eternal life. Jesus said that the disciples did not choose Him, but that He chose them to go and bear fruit (John 15:16). If the boy does nothing, he will be carried off. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. E We might be tempted to think better of ourselves, and look down on those who reject Christ. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. by Matt Slick | Apr 1, 2023 | Questions, The Occult. EN. They believe that God chooses only some people, not everyone, to be saved; God chooses the rest to be destroyed. U If God chose me, does that mean that I don't have any free will? There is nothing better than spending forever in paradise with God. Two: we choose for ourselves, so everyone goes to hell, as Romans 3:1011 says, There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. Three: God chooses us, then we choose God in response. So we cannot boast (Eph 2:9), because salvation is purely an undeserved gift (Eph 2:8). In the New Testament, Jesus said that if anyone chooses to do Gods will, he will recognize Gods teaching (John 7:17). All Three are Distinct Persons, yet one God. Paul understood his sufferings for the gospel as an essential means to bring about the salvation of the elect. And I will raise him up on the last day. Is that a feasible interpretation? No, God did not choose us based on foreseen faith. Were on a mission to change that. This should not surprise us because Jesus tells us to consider the costs of following Him (Luke 14:25-33). The Biblical Pictures of Salvation. By no means! John 3:16 and Man's Ability to Choose God It is ironic that in the same chapter, indeed in the same context, in which our Lord teaches the utter necessity of rebirth to even see the kingdom, let alone c According to the third viewpoint, God does all the choosing for salvation, but man can resist and choose damnation. Some are chosen by God, some are not. Does the Bible Advise Us about Dealing with Grief? God the Holy Spirit does all the work of spiritually birthing a child of God, and once brought forth spiritually alive, they cry out to God. All rights reserved. John 7:17 If any one chooses to do Gods will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God. There is a mystery in how all this works but the Scriptures are clear. Romans 9:11-16. Of course, the biggest place where we see Gods sovereignty and human responsibility together is at the cross. This represents the viewpoint of those who believe that God first frees us so that we can make the choice for either salvation or damnation. This means that we have the freedom to make choices. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is. God chooses us, but we must choose Him too by placing faith in Christ. Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Joshua 24:15 choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. So was God sovereign over what Pharaoh did? I think Romans 9 really addresses the eternal destinies of people, not just historical roles. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/Jirsak. If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word. "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be" ( Romans 8:6-7 ). But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because. Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mothers womb to be born! Jesus answered, Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 3) The man can untie the boy after placing him in the cart. John 3:16 and Man's Ability to Choose God - Ligonier Ministries Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone. 9:7 NASB), and Zerubbabel (Hag. Share Therefore, we see that Christians have given three main answers to this question: 1) man has no choice in his salvation or his damnation; 2) man has a choice in both; 3) man cannot choose salvation, but after God calls him he can then resist Gods call and choose damnation. The point of Ephesians 2, is that we are dead (Eph 2:1), unable to help ourselves, without hope (Eph 2:12) but God graciously chose us (Eph 2:4). This type of fruit is not fruit that you consume, but rather the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Please consider the following Scriptures: What Does the Bible Say about Visiting Graves? Throughout the Bible, translators consistently use the word choose as an alternative. Iraneous, (130-200, Against Heresies), "God made man a free agent from the beginning, possessing his own soul to obey the behests of God voluntarily, and not by compulsion of God. So the question addressed in this chapter is, Has Gods promise to Israel fallen? They went along because they were Gods chosen people. Nobody deserves it, and God is not unjust to give it freely to whomever he will, and not to another. Predestination means we can have greater assurance because if God is for us and has already decided we will be His, then nothing any person can do can take that away. But if he resists, God will not force him to be saved, and thus he will be damned by his own choice. Why did God choose me? | GotQuestions.org In other words is God sovereign. What Does It Mean That God Chose Us before the Foundation of - Crossway If there is something different in us which caused God to choose us, then we have a reason to boast. Sometimes we read that Pharaoh hardened his heart (8:15; 8:32; 9:12 ), sometimes that the Lord hardened Pharaohs heart (4:21; 7:3; 10:1; 10:20; 10:20) and sometimes simply Pharaohs heart was hardened(7:13; 8:19; 9:7; 9:35 ). No other reason. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.. Born again It was not so that everyone could understand and turn to him, in fact it was the opposite! But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord ." Deuteronomy 30:19 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful At first glance, it looks as though these two things don't go together. This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent, it has been granted for Christs sake, not only to believe in Him, If you have any issues, please call the office at 385-246-1048 or email us at. Calvinism holds that anyone who is not among God's elect cannot choose to place faith in Christ and be saved, and Jesus did not die for them. . Now in the Greek it is just if, but what if is okay because we should answer the what if question by saying, Well, no legitimate objection can be raised. Ill come back to that. It is always there to comfort us (e.g. Q The point of Ephesians 2, is that we are dead (Eph 2:1), unable to help ourselves, without hope (Eph 2:12) but God graciously chose us (Eph 2:4). God chooses us and those He chose He calls. There are many false gods in the world, such as Allah, Krishna, and ourselves; however, the only true God is the God of the Bible. Being made spiritually alive, or born again, is something that God does for us. Do we choose God or does he choose us? He represents God, who wants to bring men and women to salvation. He did it. Do we choose God or does he choose us? 4 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. S It is Gods choice and directing of the net. And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? They are perishing. The Bible often uses this history as a parable of our experience of salvation. What Does the Bible Say About God Choosing Us? - OpenBible.info I've heard very convincing arguments for full Calvinism and full Arminianism, but haven't really "chosen a side" on what I believe exactly. Jesus was crucified because of the evil intent of wicked men. We are unable to do anything else. Being born is something we have no choice in. We are chosen because of God's deep love for us. Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. But to be elected means to be chosen by God (Ephesians 1:4-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). In other words, Paul answers the problem precisely by pointing out that individual lost Israelites are not really part of the Israel who inherits the promises. In love John 15:16 ESV / 16 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful Jeremiah tells us that The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9). CARM |P.O. These Christians believe that God chooses who will be saved, and then gives the ability to repent (2 Timothy 2:25) and believe (Philippians 1:29) only to those who are chosen. (Romans 9:19-21). Do you remember the details of the day you were born? Geocoding Paul had a horrific past of persecuting Christians, yet God chose Paul to take His name to the world (Acts 9:15). It is a deep understanding because he has determined in himself exactly what we are going to be like and what we will do. Is the god of this world Satan or Jesus in 2 Cor. How can I accept the kingdom as a little child thinks? But even in their wickedness, these men cant escape Gods will (Acts 2:23). Yes. So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. People want to come up with a system that will get God off the hook, so to speak, as if he needs our help in that way. Topic: Predestination Why do you believe it is so important to understand that, in regards to salvation, God chose us first? This would be a logical necessity rather than a temporal one. Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4-14). If God is as sovereign as you say, Piper, how can man be accountable for his sin? And eventually in these discussions, I would go to Romans 9 as part of my answer. Even if you have a bad past, know that God still loves you and chooses you. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. I dont think Romans 9 is up for grabs though. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. We are to shine His light to the world as Jesus tells us. Pauls answer comes in Romans 9:6: It is not as though the word of God has failed. Then he gives his basic answer why: For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. Thats his basic answer. We do not choose him, we respond to him as he enables us. By nature, we are evil. Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. They believe that God wants the good news of Christ spread to the whole world, but that He gives the gift of faith only to a few from each group. Judas is not present for this portion, as he was on his way to betray Jesus ( Jn 13:21-30 .) One comes first . All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. I wont get into these here because it can be quite lengthy. D We were on the wrong side, serving the wrong ruler (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:20). The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God had been given to the disciples, but the others were not to see or understand. We are commanded to repent (Acts 2:38) and to believe (Romans 10:9-10) in order to receive salvation. Thank you for your interest in supporting CARM. The Jewish people in the Old Testament, although chosen by God through no merit of their own, apparently were given a choice whether to follow God or not (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15). Come to me. And all the sons of Levi gathered around him. God Has Chosen Us in Him Before the Foundation of the Earth 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, so they will not see the CARM is a nonprofit, non-denominational, multi-staffed Christian Apologetics Ministry that supports evangelism, radio outreach, and provides full-time support for several foreign missionaries. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. It's a sticky question - one that has divided people for centuries. The concept of whether God chooses us can be quite sticky for some people. He chose us out of His love and mercy, and for His glory. F All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. (Romans 3:10-12). Vote Up Because God means to get all the glory for our salvation. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:12-13; 3:5-8). If the boy chooses to be taken away, the man places him in the cart and drives off. But in spite of that, many other Christians believe that God has given us freedom of choice. September 12, 2007 Why Is It Important to Know That God Chose Us First? Romans 11:32 God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all. Throughout the New Testament we have this term elect being used. 1 Peter 2:9 says, But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, Gods special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.. In *The Break Up*, Jennifer Aniston's character tells Vince Vaughn's character in one telling scene that she wants him to *want* to do the dishes. If God looks into the future to see who will choose him, then we are saved by our own effort, our own good work of choosing to turn to Christ. If He did, then God will be showing partiality by making choices based on what He foresees people will do. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh (Romans 9:23). L And you were dead in the trespasses and sins. And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? How do you explain this conjunction and its implications?. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. If the idea that God knows beforehand who will choose him and on that basis elects them holds true, then there are two major consequences: In this view, ultimately it is our decision whether we are saved or not. Jesus said, You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
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