The Incredible Power of Choice

Today Series | 6-15-04 | Jeff Floyd

[Frapster]

Choose wisely. :-)

[Frapster]

My apologies for the bad code.

[redeemed_by_His_blood]

John 1;

9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.[2] 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13children born not of natural descent,[3] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

"I chose you, you didn't choose Me."---Jesus Christ

Thanks be to God for His Merciful choosing of His Own Will, Purpose and Pleasure.

[Frapster]

did you even read the article?

[Colonel Kangaroo]

John 1:12-13: God gives power to become the sons of God to those who choose to receive the Son of God.

John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you..." The context of this verse must be understood. Jesus was only speaking to the eleven remaining apostles. (Luke 22:14) He was not speaking to the world or even disciples in general-only to the eleven. Jesus was saying that He had chosen and ordained these men for their apostolic office and they had no part in elevating Him. This passage has nothing to do with a selection to salvation.

Revelation 22:17 "...WHOSOEVER WILL let him take the water of life freely"

The message throughout the Bible is that God chooses those who chooses to obey Him.

[Kitty Mittens]

Bad choices: we are responsible. Good choices: Enabling grace. To our God Alone be the glory!

[redeemed_by_His_blood]

John 1; 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.[2] 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- 13children born not of natural descent,[3] nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

The children of God are born of God(regenerated from the spiritual death that resulted from Adam's sin.), not of human decision but by God's decision.

Romans 9

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion."[1] 16So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

It's not of human will or decision, but God's Mercy and God's Will to have mercy on whomever He chooses to have mercy.

[redeemed_by_His_blood]

The message throughout the Bible is that God chooses those who chooses to obey Him.

Wrong, the message throughout the Bible is that man is fallen and estranged from God, in bondage to his sin nature, hopelessly lost and without the ability to make himself right with God, but that God has chosen, set apart a people to Himself, who are Redeemed by the Precious Blood of Christ.

You can't choose to obey God until God gives you a new heart.

Pelagius would have loved you.

Romans 3

For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.
10As it is written:

"There is none righteous, no, not one;
11There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one."[2]
13"Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit";
[3] "The poison of asps is under their lips";
[4] 14"Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."[5]
15"Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17And the way of peace they have not known."[6]
18"There is no fear of God before their eyes."[7]

That is what God thinks of your false notion that you choose to obey Him, and thus save yourself.

[stuartcr]

Being all-knowing of the past, present and future...doesn't God already know what our choices are going to be, even before we are born?

[Frapster]

Yes.

[Frapster]

Nice thread hijack.

[stuartcr]

How can it be a choice, if it is known beforehand?

[Frapster]

Tell you what - when you and I can exist outside of a time-space continuum then maybe we can have this dicussion. In the mean time you choose whether or not you want to respond to this post and I'll just rest in comfort knowing that God will be there regardless.

[stuartcr]

I realise it's a pretty tough question, thanks anyway.

[Frapster]

I see you made a choice. :-)

[stuartcr]

As God directed.

[RnMomof7]

As God directed.

And desired and ordained.

Hey stu good to see you

[Frapster]

If I stand at the finish-line of a 40 yard dash and am able then to relate to each participant what went on through the course of the race does that imply in any fashion that I have determined the outcome of the race once the race is over?

Let me ask you a question and I would like you to answer it hypothetically. Will you do that for me? I'll ask the question once you choose. ;-)

[redeemed_by_His_blood]

I see you made a choice. :-)

Men can and do make choices, such as choosing what clothes to wear, what to have for dinner, what stocks to invest in, etc.

However, due to Adam's fall whereby sin entered the world and so twisted the will of man towards slavery to sin, succumbing man to total depravity, man, of his own will, of his own nature being a sinful nature, has not the ability within himself to consistently choose good, nor has the ability to choose God, who is Good.
Jeremiah 17:9; "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

It takes God regenerating the will of man with a bent towards God, through the gift of a new heart by God before man can freely choose God.
Jeremiah 32:
38They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.

[redeemed_by_His_blood]

I see you made a choice. :-)

Men can and do make choices, such as choosing what clothes to wear, what to have for dinner, what stocks to invest in, etc.

However, due to Adam's fall whereby sin entered the world and so twisted the will of man towards slavery to sin, succumbing man to total depravity, man, of his own will, of his own nature being a sinful nature, has not the ability within himself to consistently choose good, nor has the ability to choose God, who is Good.
Jeremiah 17:9; "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

It takes God regenerating the will of man with a bent towards God, through the gift of a new heart by God before man can freely choose God.
Jeremiah 32:
38They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.