And what would you say if I told you that I agree with this statement?
We do have the "freewill" to accept or deny God. We are free to do exactly as we want in this regard. However, none of us will ever choose to accept Him, or do any act pleasing to Him, except that He first give us new hearts that want to do so. There are none righteous, no not one, there are none who seek Him. We need to be born again.
Welcome to the party? :-)
We do have the "freewill" to accept or deny God. We are free to do exactly as we want in this regard. However, none of us will ever choose to accept Him, or do any act pleasing to Him, except that He first give us new hearts that want to do so. There are none righteous, no not one, there are none who seek Him. We need to be born again.
Yes and no. At some point we have to say "I choose to follow your will, not my will God." God can sit there all day and night drawing us toward him, but as long as we resist, we resist. We need to give up self-determination and submit to God. At that point, God can begin to work his work in us.
Choice is not determined by want. If it were, it would not be choice. The choice to obey God has nothing to do with what we want or desire. In fact, that choice is meaningless unless it is against our wants and desires.
This confusion of "desire" and "volition" (what Calvinists sometimes mean by "will") is a great mistake. You and I make choices all the time that have nothing to do with what we want, but only to do with what we know is right. At least, I do.
Hank