(poll) Do We Choose Him or Does he choose us?

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Do We Choose Him or Does he choose us?

  • He chooses us by predestination

    Votes: 31 64.6%
  • He gives us the strength and desire, but the choice is up to us in the end

    Votes: 16 33.3%
  • It's completely up to us without his strength or given desires by him

    Votes: 1 2.1%

  • Total voters
    48

Lillywolf

Well-known member
Aug 29, 2018
1,562
543
113
#42
God chooses us.
John 6
65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

Acts 16
13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.



Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
 
Aug 12, 2013
306
75
28
#43
God chooses us.
John 6
65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

Acts 16
13 And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.



Ephesians 1:4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
That is correct
 
Aug 12, 2013
306
75
28
#45
We must be Calvinists. ;)
heh well I don't really label myself by a title like that, I just do my best to obey the Lord, understand what he has for me to believe and do, and live by Him and his word for him and his glory.
So I just know that is the truth by his word and him giving understanding by the spirit
 

Deuteronomy

Well-known member
Jun 11, 2018
3,192
3,507
113
67
#47
Do we choose Him or does He choose us?
*(Blind post)

This verse comes to mind concerning Who does the choosing:

.........Acts 13
.........48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord.
.........And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.


~Deut
 

Epiales

Junior Member
Jan 21, 2018
291
205
43
davidclark.hearnow.com
#48
Well, I was going to respond to the subject, but after reading, I see that the question wasn't something someone was literally interested in. This was a misleading thread, and I just wanted to make my opinion known. No bother to reply, as you won't get a response. You should be ashamed of yourself. Next time, try and appear that you are even slightly interested in other people's thoughts.
 

Angela53510

Senior Member
Jan 24, 2011
11,780
2,938
113
#49
"But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Sinners are dead people! Dead people don't make choices!

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!—" Eph 2:4-5

Only God can save and raise up dead people!

As for "free will," please feel free to post the verses with that phrase in it! I won't hold my breath waiting, since I have read the Bible enough to know that the words are not there!
 

Epiales

Junior Member
Jan 21, 2018
291
205
43
davidclark.hearnow.com
#50
My thoughts on this are like the thoughts of many, they go on and on. I think the answer, like all other answers, is found in Him....

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/1co.1.30.NASB
So you know, here's the better translation sis:

1Co 1:30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.

People love to use the translation that says " BUT BY HIS DOING "... yeah... it fits their theology. Whatever! They wanna claim God chose SOME to be saved while not giving the choice to others.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,417
3,468
113
#51
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.
The Holy Spirit calls many but only those who do not resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit and embrace the Way of salvation are chosen..

Matthew 22: KJV
14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

God has foreknown since the foundation of creation who will respond to the moving of His Holy Spirit and who will resist and reject that conviction.. And from this foreknowledge He already knows all the people He is going to transform on the day of the reasurection into the image of our Glorious LORD Jesus Christ..

Romans 8: KJV
29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,094
113
#52
The Holy Spirit calls many but only those who do not resist the conviction of the Holy Spirit and embrace the Way of salvation are chosen..

Matthew 22: KJV
14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

God has foreknown since the foundation of creation who will respond to the moving of His Holy Spirit and who will resist and reject that conviction.. And from this foreknowledge He already knows all the people He is going to transform on the day of the reasurection into the image of our Glorious LORD Jesus Christ..

Romans 8: KJV
29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
didn't He also create those whom He foreknows?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,530
13,094
113
#53
didn't He also create those whom He foreknows?
what i mean is, does God foreknow because He happens to have a crystal ball to see your future with, or because He made you and also all things for His purpose?

is God in charge of the universe or is He just really knowledgeable about it?
 

Grandpa

Senior Member
Jun 24, 2011
11,551
3,188
113
#56
When I first was coming to Christ it seemed like I was making all the choices and doing all the work.

But when I looked back I realized I could never make that many SUPER good choices all in a row to lead myself to needing and wanting the Lord Jesus Christ.

But He still brought me to Himself in a way that wouldn't hurt my fragile feelings and belief in "free will".

Why did I start reading the bible in the first place?
Why did I feel compelled to start doing the things it said to do?
Why was I praying to the Lord Jesus Christ even before I knew He was God?


It's like Eternally Grateful said. We make the choice for Christ when we are weak. I would say we make the choice when there are no more choices to make. The Lord Jesus Christ is the only option available.

And even then I didn't understand the magnitude of what I would be given in Christ. I had to be shown what He does for us.
 

NayborBear

Banned Serpent Seed Heresy
#57
what i mean is, does God foreknow because He happens to have a crystal ball to see your future with, or because He made you and also all things for His purpose?

is God in charge of the universe or is He just really knowledgeable about it?
IMHO?
Just because God knows the end, from the beginning? Doesn't mean that it is "His WILL", that it happens that way! :)

I don't recall God saying, like He had concerning other things?

Ezekiel 24
14 I the Lord have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord God.

Jeremiah 4
27 For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

This is the reason, that just a wee bit of knowledge, in the wrong hands? CAN be a dangerous thing! As indeed, it has become!

Because, His children, have long since reconciled themselves, and CAVED in, to believing this end! And, living their whole christian lives in a cowardise fashion! Meaning? NO "Push back!" (as in) "I'm not going to war against powers and principalities, nor forces of darkness, nor spiritual wickedness in high places!" "NOTHING, I DO?" "Is going to change ANYTHING!" "It SEZ SO, in the back of the book!" "God sez, is going to be this way?" "SO BE IT!" "I'm just going to believe, and be RAPTURED!"

Doesn't that make these people, JUST AS COMPLICIT, with the ones whom they believe, are "the enemy?" :unsure::unsure:
 

NayborBear

Banned Serpent Seed Heresy
#58
before or after He foreknew?

i.e. did He know what He was creating ;)
Nah! He just made a "hobo stew." Threw in a carrot er 2, greens and all, a turnip, coupla parsnips, an old worn out boot, for color and flavor?

And annonced? "IT'S WHAT'S FOR DINNER!" :p:p:p
 

Hevosmies

Well-known member
Sep 8, 2018
3,612
2,631
113
#59
"its completely up to us" has no votes?

I know some of you believe that. Just vote it.
 
E

eternally-gratefull

Guest
#60
So when God said Jacob, he wasn't literally referring to Jacob? And the same with Esau? If God loves anything or anyone more than something else, it shows he has favoritism for something then, right? What would make him love Israel more than Edom? The plants? The animals there? The shape of the country? Or the people there? Or he just chooses to for no reason?
Mal 1: 1The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi.
I have loved you,” says the Lord.
“Yet you say, ‘In what way have You loved us?’
Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?”
Says the Lord.
“Yet Jacob I have loved;
3 But Esau I have hated,

And laid waste his mountains and his heritage
For the jackals of the wilderness.”
4 Even though Edom has said,
“We have been impoverished,
But we will return and build the desolate places,”

Thus says the Lord of hosts:

They may build, but I will throw down;
They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness,
And the people against whom the Lord will have indignation forever.
5 Your eyes shall see,
And you shall say,
‘The Lord is magnified beyond the border of Israel.’


Here we see the context of Pauls quote of this passage in romans 9

God is not talking about two kids (jacob or Esau) he is talking to the nation of Israel about 1500 years after they had died.

God told Isreal. I love you
Israel asks back, but what about Esau (Edom)

Gods reply?

Jacob (You Israel) I have loved, But Esau (edom) I have hated (literally loved less)

If Malachi is not talking about two kids, Paul can not be talking about 2 kids. So to say in romans 9 God condemned Esau and saved or chose Jacob before they were born, would be taking the whole saying out of context. Not only this, There is no proof in Genesis Esau was even lost or will be in hell. Most likely he as well as his brother Jacob (who was acutally quite anrighteous dude his whole life) will most likely both be in heaven. And we will all be laughing at the conversation we re having now with them when we all meet.