Do we decide to be saved?

[Blik]

So many people think that being saved by the Lord is something that we do but it isn't at all. If we could save ourselves or anyone we would have the power of God and we don't. When the Lord saves us it is a free gift that we are given that we did not earn. We can't earn it because the knowledge of sin was brought to us.

We can, however, damage ourselves to we are unfit to receive salvation.

When we labor to live without sin we are blessed. As the Jews have proven it makes us smarter, wealthier, better educated, helps our families be stronger, and gives many blessings. But it does not earn us salvation, that is God's gift to us if God chooses to give it to us.

 

[carl11]

I'll never understand the way a Calvinist mind thinks.

Why would you want to understand their mind ? I would prefer to understand the mind of God a lot better.

To fully understand about this idea of being dead, look at the parable of the dry bones. Ask yourself what did they do to have life ?

Read Ezk. 34:11-31 and just read it slow and look at whose action is in view in these verses.

 

[seed_time_harvest]

John 6:42-45
King James Version(KJV)


42.) And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

43.)JESUS therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44.)No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45.) It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of GOD. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
+++

GOD Is a SPIRIT and must be worshiped our spirit to HIS SPIRIT and In TRUTH meaning a person can't decide to get saved because there Is a girl at church that they are trying to Impress or repeat some words after the preacher to get saved because they want to Impress their parents but If they come to JESUS they have to be sincere,

GOD looks at the heart,man looks at outward appearances.

 

[followjesus]

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

All men are drawn, but only those that believe are saved. Over and over Scripture says to believe. Believe upon the name of the Lord...if God has chosen those to believe, then the individual had no choice in the matter, thus it is not the individual believing upon the gospel.

Thus salvation is Not offered to all people, Jesus did not die for the sins of all the World, thus there really is no justice in God punishing any Person for any sin ever, because God willed every event that Happened from the beginning of time. if Man has No choice the Bible Makes no sense whatsoever when a person Just reads it, lol and doesnt do the 1 scripture then " My explaination of what this One scripture says" instead of hmmm what does the Bible teach about free will? maybe theres other information in the Bible that says we do Have choice clearly and that Gods will was Not for cain to Kill abel He gave cain a choice, He saw Cains countenance and Jealousy, so He corrected Him and warned Him of sin trying to get into Him, and He had to overcome sin.......


then cain goes and Kills abel. so what was Gods will? it is what He said to cain God told Him " Just do what is right and you will be accepted"

its No different Now God has said

acts 10.....to the gentiles peter says the same thing God said to cain ...."Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. "


to cain, the first Man ever Born

genesis 4:7 " If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But >>>>if you<<<< do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but >>>>you must rule over it."<<<<


we receive the spirit in order to rule over sin and put it to death. God always says " If you" that proves that the person Has a choice. He is giving Man 2 paths always, we can Believe Him, or we can Not Believe Him and Believe another we will follow who we Believe is speaking the truth. its why Man Fell

" God said "you are free to eat of any tree, but you must not eat this poison tree.... you will die if you do"

satan said " you will not surely die, God knows if you eat it, you will be as gods knowing good and evil"


eve then sees that the fruit if good, desirable for gaining wisdom and she takes it and eats it Based disbelieving Gods Word, and Believing satans word. she saw the fruit as good because He told her it was. she had Gods Word, and His. she chose wrong.

We Have Jesus, or the World. we choose Jesus.

 

[followjesus]

Why would you want to understand their mind ? I would prefer to understand the mind of God a lot better.

To fully understand about this idea of being dead, look at the parable of the dry bones. Ask yourself what did they do to have life ?

Read Ezk. 34:11-31 and just read it slow and look at whose action is in view in these verses.

thats awesome, check this Out


ezekeil 37 " Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. 12Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

13And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, 14And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD."



john 5 "For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."


ezekeil 37 "Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. ...And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: 23Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God."

john 10 " And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. "

ezekeil 36 : 25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. "

John 15 " Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you......If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."


john 14 " If ye love me, keep my commandments.16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. ....v23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."


will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: ....Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

A new heart also will I give you,.....

"we Love Him because He first Loved us" the Love of God poured into Our Hearts....( a New Heart)

and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

 

[followjesus]

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,[Eph. 2:1]

The Greek word for ‘dead’ is nekros means someone who has breathed their last breath, a literally dead corpse. Ppl inwardly, are dead corpse whilst lost. Dead ppl don’t reach out and grab.

and then He raised them from the dead. that Person Has a responsability to walk in New Life, and Not continue on the dead Mans path. God will Not ever force us to do anything, He enables us with what We need, to do it. Our will has to conform to His will, we have to submit Our will to Him Because we confess not the cross, but "Jesus as Lord" Our Lord Lives, the cross is a memory of His victory, Our Hope and Faith is all in the One who rose up and walked out of the empty tomb. the cross, the Blood, and the empty tomb equals a Living savior who is still working on Our Behalf, and has given us all we Need in the Knowledge He gave us to do the things were called and ordained to do. simply the right things.


were taught things Like this, to give us the Knowledge we Need to do the things were supposed to its all of God But He made us able

2 Peter 1 " Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


"If you" but if you lack these things......theres always a choice the Holy spirit Makes us able God has given His spirit to us, thats How He has saved us, the Holy spirit WE have to follow and be led.

 

[John146]

Was the one who saved all others also saved? Was the one who did not earn the wrath of God saved from God's wrath?

And Jesus Christ is God's elect unto salvation. When a person hears the gospel, believes that gospel and is saved, that person becomes part of God's elect. They are in Christ, God's elect.

 

[garee]

Spiritual death means separated from God. Stop trying to relate it with Physical death. A spiritualy dead person can still chose A physically dead person can not.

Jesus told the people they were in danger of committing the unpardonable sin. They were in danger because they could still chose to repent

The who bible has a message of repent. In order to repent. you must be able to chose to repent.

The bible also says he who believes is not condemnd, he who does not believe is condemned already. One must be able to chose to believe or reject. or these words are meaningless

To be spiritual dead is to be physically dead. We live in a body of death, it is what we are delivered from.

Christ suffered the second death as we are informed in Col1:22.

In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Col1:22​

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the" body of this death"? Roman 7:24
​

Christ does all the work to include comforting ourselves called repentance .If he does not do the first work of turning by the hearing of His word no man can repent ease oneself.

If any man has not the born again Spirit of Christ living in them than neither do they belong to Him.

I would suggest dead men cannot chose.

It is the work of God working in us that we can believe God. No work of His faith as a labor of His love, no God.

He must perform the first work.

Galatians 4:9 King James Version (KJV)

[SUP]9 [/SUP]But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?​

 

[eternally-gratefull]

To be spiritual dead is to be physically dead. We live in a body of death, it is what we are delivered from.

Christ suffered the second death as we are informed in Col1:22.

In the ​

bodyof

his flesh through ​

death

, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Col1:22​

​

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the ​

bodyof

this ​

death

? ​

Roman 7:24

Christ does all the work to include comforting ourselves called repentance .If he does not do the first work of turning by the hearing of His word no man can repent ease oneself.

If any man has not the born again Spirit of Christ living in them than neither do they belong to Him.

I would suggest dead men cannot chose.

It is the work of God working in us that we can believe God. No work of His faith as a labor of His love, no God.
He must perform the first work.

Galatians 4:9 King James Version (KJV)

[SUP]9 [/SUP]But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
​

A physically dead person can not move, He can not do good, he can not do evil. He can not chose to believe, He can not chose to reject. He can not do good works, He can not do bad works. He is done.

A person who is incarcerated in prison is DEAD to freedom. it can not relate to the outside world. He is not free to c=do what he so chose, he must be redeemed if he is to regain his or her freedom. Yet even if they are redeemed. they must chose to make a decision to become free. or remain in prison.

I know you may think it may be ODD people would chose to stay in prison. But many people think it is a better life in prison. And even after they get out. commit crimes on purpose to go back in.

While your right, No man can repent if not given another option. And God must give them that option (which he did by the cross) man must still make the decision to repent.

John the baptist was not wasting his breath telling people to repent. Peter did not waste his breath Repent and believe.

 

[garee]

A physically dead person can not move, He can not do good, he can not do evil. He can not chose to believe, He can not chose to reject. He can not do good works, He can not do bad works. He is done.

A person who is incarcerated in prison is DEAD to freedom. it can not relate to the outside world. He is not free to c=do what he so chose, he must be redeemed if he is to regain his or her freedom. Yet even if they are redeemed. they must chose to make a decision to become free. or remain in prison.

I know you may think it may be ODD people would chose to stay in prison. But many people think it is a better life in prison. And even after they get out. commit crimes on purpose to go back in.

While your right, No man can repent if not given another option. And God must give them that option (which he did by the cross) man must still make the decision to repent.

John the baptist was not wasting his breath telling people to repent. Peter did not waste his breath Repent and believe.

The body we live in is a body of death. It has already been determined in dying a person will die. No one has the promised incorruptible body and the corruptible does no inherit the incorruptible .We are given a new spirit that will never die.

Even the Son of man said His flesh profit not

John the Baptist and Peter repented as God turned them, repentance is the first work of God who works in us to both will and do His good pleasure as a imputed righteousness. If he does not do the work of turning hearing His voice no man could comfort themselves/repent.

He does the work of chastising just as well as turn towards His voice. He must do the first works, as our first love... the hearing of His faith

Jeremiah 31:17-19 King James Version (KJV)

And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border.[SUP]18 [/SUP]I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.[SUP]19 [/SUP]Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.​

 

[eternally-gratefull]

The body we live in is a body of death. It has already been determined in dying a person will die. No one has the promised incorruptible body and the corruptible does no inherit the incorruptible .We are given a new spirit that will never die.

Even the Son of man said His flesh profit not

John the Baptist and Peter repented as God turned them, repentance is the first work of God who works in us to both will and do His good pleasure as a imputed righteousness. If he does not do the work of turning hearing His voice no man could comfort themselves/repent.

Jeremiah 31:17-19 King James Version (KJV)

[SUP]17 [/SUP]And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border.[SUP]18 [/SUP]I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.[SUP]19 [/SUP]Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.​

A man or woman still must chose to say yes or no.

A dead person (physically) can do neither

Thats why scripture says we are in danger and still have a chance to repent. A criminal repented as he was dieing, One next to him did not. He chose to still reject.

He had, as do we, until we die, to repent.

 

[EarnestQ]

Dear Friends,

Please treat one another with respect. Insulting others and judging their character is, in my opinion, ungodly.

Yes, I know that Jesus insulted the Pharisees. None of us here are God's perfect Son, Jesus.

In the context of Christian Chat, we do not demonstrate God's love for others in our lives when we insult or criticize the character of others.

Thank you for your thoughtful replies.

 

[garee]

A man or woman still must chose to say yes or no.

A dead person (physically) can do neither

Thats why scripture says we are in danger and still have a chance to repent. A criminal repented as he was dieing, One next to him did not. He chose to still reject.

He had, as do we, until we die, to repent.

I would offer a man or woman must hear the voice of their salvation before they repent. If they do not hear the voice who will they turn to? Themselves

 

[eternally-gratefull]

I would offer a man or woman must hear the voice of their salvation before they repent. If they do not hear the voice who will they turn to? Themselves

I would agree.. You can not repent again as I said unless you heard the word.

As scripture says.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

 

[peacefulbeliever]

The body we live in is a body of death. It has already been determined in dying a person will die. No one has the promised incorruptible body and the corruptible does no inherit the incorruptible .We are given a new spirit that will never die.

Even the Son of man said His flesh profit not

John the Baptist and Peter repented as God turned them, repentance is the first work of God who works in us to both will and do His good pleasure as a imputed righteousness. If he does not do the work of turning hearing His voice no man could comfort themselves/repent.

He does the work of chastising just as well as turn towards His voice. He must do the first works, as our first love... the hearing of His faith

Jeremiah 31:17-19 King James Version (KJV)

And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border.[SUP]18 [/SUP]I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.[SUP]19 [/SUP]Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.​

​

How did God "turn them"? How did God "chastise them"? All scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, reproof and correction and training in righteousness . . . Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

2 Kings 17:13 The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: "Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees . . . 14) But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the LORD their God. 15) They rejected his decrees and statutes . . .
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways . . .
Zechariah 1:3,4 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Return to me," declares the LORD Almighty, "and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices." But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD.

God tells man to "turn from their evil ways" but YET HE does it? We hear the word of God and we either turn and repent or remain stiff-necked, not trusting God. That is our choice.

Repost from another thread:
Here's the thing: John 3 talks about being born again. Within the context (and I believe the way to be born again) God lays it all out - He so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. Whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. . . . whoever believes in him is not condemned but whoever does not believe stands condemned because they have not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son . . .

(v19) THIS IS THE VERDICT: (of what was previously stated concerning those that are condemned) - they prefer to stay in the dark with their deeds hid. BUT those who live by the truth (those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ) come to the light (by believing in Jesus Christ) so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done (believe in the name of Jesus Christ) has been done in the sight of God. . . .

So wouldn't the choice be - to believe unto eternal life or to not believe and stand condemned?

No one can choose to believe in the name of God's only begotten Son?

 

[garee]

I would agree.. You can not repent again as I said unless you heard the word.

As scripture says.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Yes the faith to believe God comes from God .The new faith of Christ.


It is His faith that works in us both to will and do His good pleasure as we work with Him .Not a faith coming from the imaginations of one heart that scripture calls "no faith".

Faith without Him working it in us is dead.

James 2:19-21 King James Version (KJV)

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.[SUP]20 [/SUP]But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?[SUP]21 [/SUP]Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?​

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Yes the faith to believe God comes from God .The new faith of Christ.


It is His faith that works in us both to will and do His good pleasure as we work with Him .Not a faith coming from the imaginations of one heart that scripture calls "no faith".

Faith without Him working it in us is dead.

James 2:19-21 King James Version (KJV)

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.[SUP]20 [/SUP]But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?[SUP]21 [/SUP]Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?​

You had me up until your comment about Gods faith and James 2.

Faith is not Gods faith, it is our faith in him (His work, His promises, His everything).

James 2 just says If I claim to have faith in him, yet never do what he says, all I have done is prove I had no faith in him to begin with. ie, my faith was lifeless or dead (I may have believed, but I had no faith whatsoever)

 

[Depleted]

And Jesus Christ is God's elect unto salvation. When a person hears the gospel, believes that gospel and is saved, that person becomes part of God's elect. They are in Christ, God's elect.

Watch it. You can't be all agreeing with me and everything.

 

[7seasrekeyed]

how can we decide to be saved if we do not know what saved is?

I believe salvation consists of 'whosoever will may come' and the response, God knowing before time who will and who will not

I find that the scripture is reconciled in that way

I do not believe in being unable to accept God's gift of salvation or helpless to do anything BUT accept; I believe God knows the future and exists outside of time

He could not be all knowing otherwise

 

[followjesus]

[/LEFT]
How did God "turn them"? How did God "chastise them"? All scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, reproof and correction and training in righteousness . . . Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

2 Kings 17:13 The LORD warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: "Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees . . . 14) But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked as their ancestors, who did not trust in the LORD their God. 15) They rejected his decrees and statutes . . .
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, "As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways . . .
Zechariah 1:3,4 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Return to me," declares the LORD Almighty, "and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices." But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD.

God tells man to "turn from their evil ways" but YET HE does it? We hear the word of God and we either turn and repent or remain stiff-necked, not trusting God. That is our choice.

Repost from another thread:
Here's the thing: John 3 talks about being born again. Within the context (and I believe the way to be born again) God lays it all out - He so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. Whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. . . . whoever believes in him is not condemned but whoever does not believe stands condemned because they have not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son . . .

(v19) THIS IS THE VERDICT: (of what was previously stated concerning those that are condemned) - they prefer to stay in the dark with their deeds hid. BUT those who live by the truth (those who believe in the name of Jesus Christ) come to the light (by believing in Jesus Christ) so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done (believe in the name of Jesus Christ) has been done in the sight of God. . . .

So wouldn't the choice be - to believe unto eternal life or to not believe and stand condemned?

No one can choose to believe in the name of God's only begotten Son?

john 7 " Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. 17Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.