God chooses Israel and ultimately Jesus, and this results in the exact opposite of God favoring one group to the exclusion of all others. Paul said that God chose us in him before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), and that He predestined us to be adopted as his sons (Ephesians 1:5,11). Your email address will not be published. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. No one comes unless the Father draws them (John 6:44). When I was teaching Bible and Greek at Bethel College from 1974 to 1980, virtually every class brought up the problems of the sovereignty of God vis--vis the will of man. The Answer Is. Romans 9:10-24 (especially verse 18) According to His own will, God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Let me show our listeners from Romans 9:23 how I approached the chapter, and I think theyll see it. For many people, such as those coming from other belief systems, following Christ will come with many costs. Matthew 23:37 I (Christ) have longed but you were not willing. Pauls overall point in this section is that God is just in having mercy on whom he will (Romans 9:14). Amongst Christians there is confusion and debate about how people come to faith in Jesus. While I believe God is sovereign, I can't help but take into account Paul's 'what if' statement at the beginning of verse 22. Thus, God chooses us, but we must choose Him too by placing faith in Christ. None. Are REPENTANCE and FAITH things we choose to do, or are they things that God chooses to produce in us? These Christians point to Jesus statement that many are invited, but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14), and to Pauls statement that certain vessels are prepared for destruction while others are prepared for glory (Romans 9:22-23). Report, March 16 2018 All are worthy of death (Romans 3:10-12; 6:23). He forgave us all our sins., Ephesians 2:1: You weredead in your transgressions and sins.. A. Does God choose us or do we choose Him? Place faith in Jesus and you will never have to fear death or separation from God ever again (John 3:16-17). Y Does God want every single person to receive salvation, or only some? In fact, God made Himself knowable to us in the Person of Christ. Vote Up What Does the Bible Say about Visiting Graves? 2 Peter 1:10 make your calling and election sure. T We'd love to keep you up to date with what is happening at CARM. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. It is important to note that even though God has chosen all people to be saved, it is up to each person to choose God. Community answers are sorted based on votes. All Three are Distinct Persons, yet one God. And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. J The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. Picture a boy tied by the side of a road. You cannot serve God and money. Acts 13:46 Since you reject it (Gods word) we now turn to the Gentiles. Because your birth was something doneforyou, not doneby you. Does God choose me or do I choose God? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. God had decided to rescue them. It doesnt matter what we look like or what we accomplish in order for God to choose and love us. In its simplest sense, there are only three choices. Visit the Bible online to search for words if you dont know the specific passage yourre looking for. How have you seen God change your thoughts and desires? (Romans 9:19-21). Please consider the following scriptures. Many Christians point out that God is all-powerful. Heres one of them, a recent email from a listener named Aaron. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Vote Up Its the lostness of individuals that creates the problem its not imposed on this chapter. Some believe that we go searching for God. When we choose to place faith in Jesus, we are given eternal life with Him forever. D If God looks into the future to see who will choose him, then we are saved by our own effort, our own good work of choosing to turn to Christ. For by grace you have been saved through faith. These Christians believe that God first calls us, but that we can resist Gods call and salvation. Some will have you believe He chose us only because we first chose Him but that flies in the face of everything Scripture has to say on our fallen nature. But to be elected means to be chosen by God ( Ephesians 1:4-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ). True Identity: Finding Significance & Freedom Through Who You Are in Christ by John Majors. Even faith is God's gracious gift to His elect. I was reading Romans 9 today and came across what is known to be a very hard-to-swallow passage and doctrine. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Or did it have some other explanation? H Or is God in control? Could you please explain to me how the general predestination thing about Christianity works ? Everybody should put their ears up when I say that. How do I know when God is drawing me to himself. The New Testament also testifies to God's sovereign . We were not created to go about this life apart from relationship with fellow children of God. In Romans 11:7 we get both of these terms used in the one verse: What then? I feel like Romans 9 is a watershed of how you view God. Thats verse 23, and thats the ultimate goal of the universe. Jesus was crucified because of the evil intent of wicked men. Publisher: OpenBible.info. When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? The questions asked in this article are hard ones. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Geocoding 12:3334). And all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because. And this is what we see with the use of this term. C The Father also "in love . Jeriel Mitchell. Both before and after the flood, Gods analysis of the human heart is that it is only wicked all the time (Gen. 6:5; 8:21). The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. Here is what the sentence says: What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory? John wrote: We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). (John 1:12-13; 3:5-8). The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Who does God choose? Those vessels of mercy are prepared beforehand by God for glory. O We are chosen because of Gods deep love for us. They really did want to do Joseph harm, and so are still responsible for their actions. No matter how small that contribution is, that is the turning point. Therefore they believe that God does all the choosing for salvation, but man does all the choosing for damnation. We were on the wrong side, serving the wrong ruler (Romans 5:10; Colossians 1:20). Those are usually the two reasons people give for saying, No, you shouldnt use Romans 9 to talk about individual election or predestination.. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. A good answer provides new insight and perspective. The term implies that the Jewish people have been chosen by God to worship only him and to fulfill the mission of proclaiming his truth among all the nations of the world. We currently have 150 emails now about Romans 9, by far the most asked-about chapter in the Bible in the inbox. John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. An analogy can be found in the lightbulb. He came to Jesus at night and said, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. Hello, Pastor John! AndI willput my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws you will be my people, andI willbe your God. G We go through the process, but we are pushed through the birth canal by our mother. They believe that God wants the good news of Christ spread to the whole world, but that He gives the gift of faith only to a few from each group. How should we live our lives in light of our identity in Christ? 22 responses Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. Romans 8:29 is the pivotal verse in this discussion, where the apostle Paul affirms, "whom he [God] foreknew he also predestined." The Arminian argues that in this statement Paul specifically affirms that election is grounded in foreseen . They believe that God chooses only some people, not everyone, to be saved; God chooses the rest to be destroyed. How could a prostitute be considered righteous (James 2:25)? Paul understood his sufferings for the gospel as an essential means to bring about the salvation of the elect. The Jewish people in the Old Testament, although chosen by God through no merit of their own, apparently were given a choice whether to follow God or not (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15). Paul writes, The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to Gods law, nor can it do so. Yes. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. We see examples of God opening peoples hearts to see and understand in Luke 24:45 and Acts 16:14. Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Report, March 13 2018 He upholds his glory. What does the Bible say about witchcraft? There is not a limited number of spaces available for individuals as God wants us all to come to know Him. So whats he saying? The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. So we cannot boast (Eph 2:9), because salvation is purely an undeserved gift (Eph 2:8). F Our election is according to Gods foreknowledge (Romans 8:29-30; 1 Peter 1:2). That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ.
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