“…it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
It is interesting to me that some otherwise intelligent Christians actually think God gave humans “free will” in regard to their eternal destiny. And have the foolish idea that if He did not, then humans are merely automatons. They speak of “free will” as if it is a doctrine found in Scripture and yet cannot produce one verse which says so.
God is the only being with absolute free will. Those who believe God gave mankind “free will” or “free moral agency” in relation to eternal destiny do not believe God…they prefer to trust men.
Now let’s get something clear. By “free will” I am referring to “self-determination” which means being free to choose without regard to ANY outside influence.
Tell me, you who think you are saved as a result of your “free will”, did you get up one day, and apart from any influence whatsoever, just decide to ask God to save you. Of course not, you were influenced to become a believer by God’s Spirit….and to think it was your own self-determination or the influence of others would make you or someone else your savior…yet the Bible says that Jesus is the Savior of the world.
God “gives” the faith to believe that your ultimate salvation is a result of what God has done through the His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. It is God at work in mankind “both to will and to work for His good pleasure"….and His pleasure is to save mankind…all of them.
It does not matter what your so called “free will” decides about the matter, influenced as it is by the false teaching of men…He is going to save you anyway….might as well believe Him and rejoice!
“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” (1 Timothy 4:9-10)
NOTE: it says God “IS THE SAVIOR OF ALL MEN” ….not “offers” to save, or will save if we “choose” to allow Him to do so by our “free will”. Believing is important for when we believe God has and will save us, we have JOY and PEACE...which is special.
It is interesting to me that some otherwise intelligent Christians actually think God gave humans “free will” in regard to their eternal destiny. And have the foolish idea that if He did not, then humans are merely automatons. They speak of “free will” as if it is a doctrine found in Scripture and yet cannot produce one verse which says so.
God is the only being with absolute free will. Those who believe God gave mankind “free will” or “free moral agency” in relation to eternal destiny do not believe God…they prefer to trust men.
Now let’s get something clear. By “free will” I am referring to “self-determination” which means being free to choose without regard to ANY outside influence.
Tell me, you who think you are saved as a result of your “free will”, did you get up one day, and apart from any influence whatsoever, just decide to ask God to save you. Of course not, you were influenced to become a believer by God’s Spirit….and to think it was your own self-determination or the influence of others would make you or someone else your savior…yet the Bible says that Jesus is the Savior of the world.
God “gives” the faith to believe that your ultimate salvation is a result of what God has done through the His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. It is God at work in mankind “both to will and to work for His good pleasure"….and His pleasure is to save mankind…all of them.
It does not matter what your so called “free will” decides about the matter, influenced as it is by the false teaching of men…He is going to save you anyway….might as well believe Him and rejoice!
“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” (1 Timothy 4:9-10)
NOTE: it says God “IS THE SAVIOR OF ALL MEN” ….not “offers” to save, or will save if we “choose” to allow Him to do so by our “free will”. Believing is important for when we believe God has and will save us, we have JOY and PEACE...which is special.