A description of the importance and power of choice
Jan 18, 2023 15:31:03 GMT -8
leatherneck0311 likes this
Post by SteveB on Jan 18, 2023 15:31:03 GMT -8
As C&A, and its variants appear to be about the matter of choosing, I responded to a poster earlier today who appeared to be dragging the topic towards the issue of the inability to make a choice regarding the gospel.
Remember, I was accused of being something known as a molinist. Aside from never having heard of it before, I thought it strange the length to which people will go to pigeonhole their antagonists.
Poster:
OK, so you do affirm man is dead, unable to come to Christ on his own. For some reason I thought that you had rejected that, apologies.
Me:
I think that you are trying to exclude ideas that don't fit a preconceived notion about salvation and the Grace of God in Christ.
God didn't hold me down, twisting my arm until I said- I give up! You're too strong for me. I can't fight you and win.
I find it curious that God and Jacob actually did have such a contest, Genesis 32:24-30.
Even after God tapped Jake's hip he wouldn't give up, and said "not until you bless me." Gen. 32:26
Several bible teachers I've heard have said that God wasn't going to let Jake lose in a conventional sense.
Jacob became Israel that night, and we read,
Gen 32:28 WEB He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
So, there's clearly a lot more going on than modern calvinism wants to consider.
My conflict was nothing like that which Israel/Jacob experienced.
God invites, we have a choice to respond with a yes, or no.
Otherwise I highly doubt that repentance would be a consideration.
God's Word is empowered by Him. Isaiah 55:8-11, 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, 2:5, Hebrews 4:12.
Inherent in the word of God is the power to choose life or death.
We see this in Deuteronomy 30.
Deu 30:11-20 WEB 11 For this commandment which I command you today is not too hard for you or too distant. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up for us to heaven, bring it to us, and proclaim it to us, that we may do it?” 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go over the sea for us, bring it to us, and proclaim it to us, that we may do it?” 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. 15 Behold, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and evil. 16 For I command you today to love Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances, that you may live and multiply, and that Yahweh your God may bless you in the land where you go in to possess it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away and worship other gods, and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you will surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you pass over the Jordan to go in to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
God's Word is his commandment. His commandment is life.
Joh 12:50 WEB I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”
So, yeah, I'm thinking that the problem here is that you're not taking into account the full counsel of God in Christ.
Sin does indeed kill. Genesis 2:17, Romans 6:23, John 8:34-35, Ephesians 2:1.
God's Word gives life. And in the giving of life, he empowers us to choose, knowing our state.
Joh 12:50 WEB I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”
An element of life is the power of choice.
Keep reading the bible. It's in there.
Remember, I was accused of being something known as a molinist. Aside from never having heard of it before, I thought it strange the length to which people will go to pigeonhole their antagonists.
Poster:
OK, so you do affirm man is dead, unable to come to Christ on his own. For some reason I thought that you had rejected that, apologies.
Me:
I think that you are trying to exclude ideas that don't fit a preconceived notion about salvation and the Grace of God in Christ.
God didn't hold me down, twisting my arm until I said- I give up! You're too strong for me. I can't fight you and win.
I find it curious that God and Jacob actually did have such a contest, Genesis 32:24-30.
Even after God tapped Jake's hip he wouldn't give up, and said "not until you bless me." Gen. 32:26
Several bible teachers I've heard have said that God wasn't going to let Jake lose in a conventional sense.
Jacob became Israel that night, and we read,
Gen 32:28 WEB He said, “Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
So, there's clearly a lot more going on than modern calvinism wants to consider.
My conflict was nothing like that which Israel/Jacob experienced.
God invites, we have a choice to respond with a yes, or no.
Otherwise I highly doubt that repentance would be a consideration.
God's Word is empowered by Him. Isaiah 55:8-11, 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, 2:5, Hebrews 4:12.
Inherent in the word of God is the power to choose life or death.
We see this in Deuteronomy 30.
Deu 30:11-20 WEB 11 For this commandment which I command you today is not too hard for you or too distant. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will go up for us to heaven, bring it to us, and proclaim it to us, that we may do it?” 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go over the sea for us, bring it to us, and proclaim it to us, that we may do it?” 14 But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. 15 Behold, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and evil. 16 For I command you today to love Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways and to keep his commandments, his statutes, and his ordinances, that you may live and multiply, and that Yahweh your God may bless you in the land where you go in to possess it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away and worship other gods, and serve them, 18 I declare to you today that you will surely perish. You will not prolong your days in the land where you pass over the Jordan to go in to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants, 20 to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
God's Word is his commandment. His commandment is life.
Joh 12:50 WEB I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”
So, yeah, I'm thinking that the problem here is that you're not taking into account the full counsel of God in Christ.
Sin does indeed kill. Genesis 2:17, Romans 6:23, John 8:34-35, Ephesians 2:1.
God's Word gives life. And in the giving of life, he empowers us to choose, knowing our state.
Joh 12:50 WEB I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”
An element of life is the power of choice.
Keep reading the bible. It's in there.