Do we decide to be saved?
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From the foundation of the world, a man's name was written in the book of life for believing God or rejecting Him. If one believes, His name is added. If one rejects God, His name is not added. There were instances before the seal of the Holy Spirit where a man could have his name blotted out of the book of life.
That would be a NO! What it demonstrates is that before the world began there were names written in the book of life and there were names that were not written in the book of life and that by God's choosing before the world even began. And those whom He chose, foreknew and predestined and those He predestined, He called and those He called, He justified and glorified.
You're missing the point! It states that there were names that were not written and that before the world even began. God chose those whom He was going to save before the world ever began and wrote their names in the book of live, again, before the world began. And as the scripture states, there were names that were not written in the book of life before the world began. The key here is that the writing of names and those left out, took place prior to the world even came into existence.
Yee men of Galilee are arguing over nothing really, because both positions are true. Man is bound by time so at a certain period in time, man has to make a decision as they are moved in their heart after the gospel is witnessed to them. It is the gospel that saves or condemns a man. However, God is not bound by time and whatever decision man makes is nothing new to God. To Him the end and the beginning are one- He even calls believers the elect. IOW, the will of God happens as He desires, we can't change it.
If you come to know how God created, then maybe you'd understand what this is all about- all i can say is that yee are all gods.
If you come to know how God created, then maybe you'd understand what this is all about- all i can say is that yee are all gods.
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There's also this after the holy spirit was first given.
But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothing, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. The one who conquers in this way will be dressed in white clothing, and I will not blot his name from the book of life, and I will declare his name before my Father and before his angels. Revelation 3:4-5
And your answer, is why I also included the following in my first post:
"It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
You see that part above that says, "It does not therefore depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy?" It means that mankind didn't have anything to do with God's decision making, but it was according to His good purpose and will.
To be clear, God did not look ahead to all the future generations to see who would receive Christ or have faith and then write their names in His book. But He chose who He wanted to save, based on His sovereign election, according to His will and purpose and wrote their names in His book before the world began.
"It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
You see that part above that says, "It does not therefore depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy?" It means that mankind didn't have anything to do with God's decision making, but it was according to His good purpose and will.
To be clear, God did not look ahead to all the future generations to see who would receive Christ or have faith and then write their names in His book. But He chose who He wanted to save, based on His sovereign election, according to His will and purpose and wrote their names in His book before the world began.
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
The word is "from" the foundation of the world, not before. This means since the foundation of the world man's names have been kept in the book. When a man believes, his name is written.
The word is "from" the foundation of the world, not before. This means since the foundation of the world man's names have been kept in the book. When a man believes, his name is written.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
God will give mercy upon His terms, man can't will it any other way. If man wants to receive God's mercy, man must do it the way God has provided and that is through His Son Jesus Christ. Man cannot will it any other way. If you reject God's way, then God will harden your heart to things of Him.
God will give mercy upon His terms, man can't will it any other way. If man wants to receive God's mercy, man must do it the way God has provided and that is through His Son Jesus Christ. Man cannot will it any other way. If you reject God's way, then God will harden your heart to things of Him.
Thank you all for your thoughtful (or at lease, honest 
) replies. There have been good responses on both sides of the discussion.
My personal feeling is that I am inclined toward election, but, just in case I am wrong, I want to make sure people have an opportunity to decide to believe the gospel.
The Gospel (as I understand it):
1) Believe that Jesus of Nazareth is God's one and only human born Son.
2) Believe that this Jesus was was crucified on the cross in my/our place.
3) Believe that three days later, God rose Him from the dead.
I also like to include that one should ask Jesus, God's Son, to come into their life and grant them eternal life.
I am inclined to think that if one is elected, one may choose to accept this earlier or later in life.
But, what if I am wrong about election? I want to make sure that I have the gospel message ready on my tongue to offer to those who choose to be saved.
One can argue the ins and outs of election versus free will until they die. But I am convinced that we should be ready to present the gospel whenever God gives us a chance to do.
) replies. There have been good responses on both sides of the discussion.My personal feeling is that I am inclined toward election, but, just in case I am wrong, I want to make sure people have an opportunity to decide to believe the gospel.
The Gospel (as I understand it):
1) Believe that Jesus of Nazareth is God's one and only human born Son.
2) Believe that this Jesus was was crucified on the cross in my/our place.
3) Believe that three days later, God rose Him from the dead.
I also like to include that one should ask Jesus, God's Son, to come into their life and grant them eternal life.
I am inclined to think that if one is elected, one may choose to accept this earlier or later in life.
But, what if I am wrong about election? I want to make sure that I have the gospel message ready on my tongue to offer to those who choose to be saved.
One can argue the ins and outs of election versus free will until they die. But I am convinced that we should be ready to present the gospel whenever God gives us a chance to do.
E
God will not force a person to recieve somethign they do not desire to have.
God did the work of salvation (the cross)
He did the work of drawing us to him
he does the work of helping us understand the gospel.
but in the end, We have to chose to say Yes Lord I want this gift, Or no thank you Lord. I want to continue to do it my way.
God did the work of salvation (the cross)
He did the work of drawing us to him
he does the work of helping us understand the gospel.
but in the end, We have to chose to say Yes Lord I want this gift, Or no thank you Lord. I want to continue to do it my way.
D
Strange, since that's a letter from someone who already was saved to someone who already was saved. And, might I say, excellent advice for the saved.
Again, not against choices. Very pro choices. I just can tell the difference between making a choice and getting pushed into a choice. I chose to move to Philadelphia. I never chose to have a bad back. Either way, both things happened. I never chose God. He chose me, and because of that I chose him now.
Again, not against choices. Very pro choices. I just can tell the difference between making a choice and getting pushed into a choice. I chose to move to Philadelphia. I never chose to have a bad back. Either way, both things happened. I never chose God. He chose me, and because of that I chose him now.
D
As Christians, we talk about love, because love is a theme in the Bible and talked about often.
We talk about following the Lord often, because following is a theme in the Bible and talked about often.
We talk about God's glory and glorifying him because his glory is a theme in the Bible and talked about often.
Why do you talk about "free will?" I see that as the antithesis of the Bible and never talked about.
We talk about following the Lord often, because following is a theme in the Bible and talked about often.
We talk about God's glory and glorifying him because his glory is a theme in the Bible and talked about often.
Why do you talk about "free will?" I see that as the antithesis of the Bible and never talked about.