I have been recently talking with a friend about whether or not one decides to be saved. His position is that we are elected to salvation and that, as such, we believe when we hear the gospel. He claims that it must be that way otherwise it becomes something we do in order to be saved.
I am inclined toward the election possibility but I am not dogmatic about it. It might be that even if we are elected it may be up to us as to when we believe.
I am also aware that I might be dead wrong about election and that it is up to everyone who hears the gospel to choose to receive eternal life or not.
I invite your (respectful) thoughts on the matter.
Thank you.
We choose to be saved,for if we did not then God's kingdom is not true love,for the people had no choice but to accept God seeing no other alternative,and God is not evil to condemn people that have no choice in the matter for they did nothing wrong for they have no choice but to be lost with no fault of their own.
If God chooses who will be saved and not saved in the beginning,then it goes against His kingdom that is true love,and against His nature that He is love,which should throw up a red flag right there with the proper attitude,I will see in to this and find out the truth,for there cannot be contradictions in the Bible,especially concerning the nature of God.
Only by us having the choice in our salvation is God's kingdom true love,and He can judge those that reject the truth and not be evil.
Also add to that,all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,and there is no one that does good,no,not one,and what makes you to differ from another person,and if you think you are something when you are nothing you deceive yourselves,and God said the inhabitants of the earth are as grass hoppers,and less than nothing,and there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile,and if you break the least of the commandments you are guilty of all which applies to all people.
So all people are in the same boat,on the same level,as sinners,so why would God choose some and not other without their choice in the matter.Again it goes against the nature of God,and does not make sense.
Also add to that,Jesus is the Savior of the world,that takes away the sins of the world,and lights every person that is born in to this world,which means everybody has the chance to see the light of Jesus and be saved,and the darkness does not comprehend it,and God commands all people everywhere to repent and come to the truth,so why would He command all people to repent if he choose who would be saved and not saved,and God said He wants all people to repent,come to the knowledge of the truth,and be saved,and the Spirit and bride say,Come,and anybody that wants that salvation can have it,and the Lord is not willing that any perish,but all come to the truth and be saved.
God plainly stated He wants all people to be saved so He did not choose who will be saved and not saved without their choice in the matter.
Also add to that,many are called but few are chosen,so if God chooses who will be saved and not saved without their input then why would He be calling people on earth that cannot be chosen,and if He chooses who will be saved without their choice then all He called would be chosen.
But it is many are called but few are chosen,which means God does the calling and choosing on earth.
But even though we have a choice in our salvation God gets the glory,and He chose us we did not choose Him.
No person comes to the Son unless the Father draws them,and no person says Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost,and Peter claimed Jesus as the Son of the living God,and the Christ,which Jesus said flesh and blood did not reveal that to you but My Father in heaven.
Many are called but few are chosen,and not many noble,not many wise after the flesh,not many mighty,are called,and that is because their heart condition is too arrogant.
God knows the condition of the heart,and will call those whose heart condition is right,and will work with them to get them to the truth,but when they get to the door of truth they have to push it open,but God gets the glory for they would of not gotten to the door of truth if God did not intervene in their life.
So God chose us we did not choose Him for without God intervening in our life then we would of not gotten to the door of truth,because no person comes to the Son unless the Father draws them.
Many are called but few are chosen for many people do not open the door of truth going that far when God called them,but God did not give up on them,and will keep working with them to get through the door of truth.
And to open the door of truth is to confess Christ,and allow the Spirit to lead you,and realize that we have to abstain from sin by the Spirit,and sin does affect our relationship with God.
Which many people do not realize that when they confess Christ,but they have a form of godliness,but deny the power thereof,ever learning and never able to come to the truth,and then points out it is their sins,for they think they are alright despite holding unto sins,which a big one is the neglect of the poor and needy,and going by their wants,which Paul said they are nothing,and have erred from the faith,and James said their faith is dead,and John said the love of God does not dwell in them,for love is the fufilling of the law,and that includes helping people with their needs,whatever that many be,but mainly it would mean financially,but many people want to enjoy the world somewhat,and money and material things for their wants,and fall victim to the love of money is the root of all evil,for it neglects the poor and needy which is what it is all about,love.
Which the Bible says the Lord knows them that are His having this seal,let everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity,and if you are saved and do not continue in the goodness of God you will be cut off,and do not depart from the living God by the deceitfulness of sins.
But some people did not even start out right when they confessed Christ not walking through the door of truth.
But some people think they are alright despite holding unto sin especially believing God blesses with money and material things for their wants,which Paul said if they teach that withdraw yourselves from them.
So many are called but few are chosen because not everybody walks through the door of truth.
Which there is no excuse why we cannot abstain from sin for a Spirit led life will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh,for they have crucified with flesh with the lusts and affections,and show the ways of the Spirit,which there is no fleshy ways there,and God will not allow them to be tempted what they are able,so the temptation is light,and will give them an escape from the temptation so they can bear it.
We cannot abstain from sin does not apply for nobody forced us to sin,but we did it on purpose,and we can have the Spirit,and if we hate sin,and do not want sin,then by the Spirit we can abstain from sin.
The thing is they sin on purpose and enjoy it,and then they want an excuse that they cannot abstain from sin,when they are doing it on purpose.
The Bible says God is not mocked for whatever you shall sow you shall reap,whether to the flesh,sin,to corruption,or the Spirit,abstaining from sin,not corruption,so do not be deceived.
And if a person willingly sins after having the knowledge of sin,holding unto sin,then the blood of Christ cannot wash it away,and it is on their record,for God will not take away what we hold unto.
All sin can be forgiven,and the healthy attitude when we sin is to know that we wanted to enjoy it,but by the Spirit we can abstain from sin,and sin does affect our relationship with God.
But many people say they cannot abstain from sin,and sin does not affect their relationship with God,and have the improper attitude,and will hold unto sin for the flesh will take advantage of that relaxed attitude concerning sin.
Those that have walked through the door of truth,and led by the Spirit,might sin,but they will not hold unto it,and repent of it,and mean it,and move forward,but those that have not walked through the door of truth will hold unto sin and think they are right with God.
Many are called but few are chosen.
Also people that believe that God chose in the beginning who would be saved and not saved without their choice,and quote the saints were predestined to salvation it does not mean that.
The Bible says that God calls things that have not happened yet,as though they already happened,for if it is a plan of God to happen in the future it is the same as it happened in the beginning,for it will surely come to pass with no hindrance.
Which the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world,although it was a future event,and the prophets blood was shed from the foundation of the world,although it was a future event,and the kingdom was prepared for them from the foundation of the world,although Jesus said to the disciples that He goes away to prepare the kingdom for the saints.
God had the plan to give mankind salvation before He laid down the foundation,so it is the same as if the saints have that salvation in the beginning,but this is to whoever chooses salvation in the future when the Lamb is slain,for God calls things that have not happened yet,as though they already happened,and the Spirit and bride say Come,and anybody can have that salvation.
Many are called but few are chosen,for not everybody called walks through the door of truth,because they will not let go of the flesh,and allow the Spirit to lead them,but want to enjoy sin and believe they are right with God,and have a form of godliness,but deny the power thereof.
You will know the saints by their lifestyle,and he that does not do righteousness is not of God.
Many people are relaxed in their walk with Christ,and many have not walked through the door of truth,all the while they think they are right with God.
We have a choice in our salvation for God's kingdom is love,and He is not evil,and all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,and anybody can have that salvation,and God gets the glory for us being saved,and He chose us,we did not choose Him,for no man comes to the Son unless the Father draws them.
But we have to walk through the door of truth,and they need to have the proper attitude and say,I will see in to this matter,and find out what the scriptures are saying,and let the ways of the flesh go thinking they are alright with God.
Many are called but few are chosen,and Jesus lights every person that is born in to this world,and God wants all people to come to the knowledge of the truth,and be saved.