SavedByGrace
Well-Known Member
The Sinners Ability to CHOOSE
There are some who pervert the plain teachings of the Holy Bible, in denying that God Created humans with the ability to CHOOSE, either to ACCEPT, or REJECT the Gospel Message for the salvation of their souls. It is argued, that this ABILITY for the sinner to REPENT and BELIEVE, and become BORN AGAIN, is a Gift from God, and limited to the ELECT. This teaching is what the Apostle Paul calls in Galatians, “another gospel, which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (1:6,7). Those who suggest that this is the Bible’s teaching, will ignore all passages from the Bible that very clearly show that it is NOT Biblical, and must be rejected as a man-made error, which is held by a few, who suppose they know better than the Lord Himself!
Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, taught very clearly in the Bible, that it is sinful humans, who REJECT the Gospel Message for their salvation, and NOT because God only WILLS that the ELECT, which is few in number, are saved.
In Matthew chapter 23, Jesus speaks some very hard words against the “scribes and Pharisees”, who were perverting the simple Message of the Bible, as some do today. To these Jesus says:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (verse 37)
Clearly that Jesus DESIRES that these same people who He is pronouncing Judgement against, would accept salvation for their souls. But they were NOT WILLING! Not only did these have a FREE WILL, but were ABLE to REJECT salvation!
In John chapter 5, Jesus is speaking to the Jews who were trying to murder Him, for claiming EQUALITY with God the Father, and working on the Sabbath Day. He says to these Jews:
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO COME to Me that you may have life” (verses 39-40)
Like Matthew 23, here we have the Gospel Message for their salvation, being REJECTED by these Jews.
In Matthew chapter 22, we read of the Parable of the Wedding Feast, where those originally INVITED, made excuses, and REJECTED the INVITATION. (verses 1-7). In verses 8-10, we read:
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests”
Clearly that the OFFER of salvation is an INVITATION for ALL SINNERS, and NOT just the ELECT, as is FALSELY taught by some!
In Acts chapter 7, we read of the great Sermon by Stephen, the first Martyr of the Christian Church, those who were present, were told by Stephen:
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always RESIST the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (verse 51)
Yet some teach that God’s Saving Grace in salvation, is IRRESISTIBLE! Yet another FALSE teaching!
In Acts chapter 13, we have Paul and Barnabas who were trying to share the Gospel with some Jews, of whom we read:
“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul” (verse 45)
To these same Jews, who were BLASPHEMING and OPPOSED what Paul was saying to them, Paul says,
“Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you REJECT it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles” (verse 46)
Not only did these Jews REJECT the Gospel, but they CONSIDERED THEMSELVES UNWORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE, it was NOT God, because they were NON ELECT, Who so considered them!
In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul tells us,
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because THEY DID NOT RECEIVE the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (verses 9-12)
This is what Paul means in Romans 9, “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens” (verse 18).
It is because sinners REJECT the Gospel Message for their salvation, that God will REJECT them for salvation. To say that God only INTENDS to save SOME, and REJECTS the greater majority, is a LIE! These passages from the Holy Bible, show that this teaching is FALSE.
There are some who pervert the plain teachings of the Holy Bible, in denying that God Created humans with the ability to CHOOSE, either to ACCEPT, or REJECT the Gospel Message for the salvation of their souls. It is argued, that this ABILITY for the sinner to REPENT and BELIEVE, and become BORN AGAIN, is a Gift from God, and limited to the ELECT. This teaching is what the Apostle Paul calls in Galatians, “another gospel, which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (1:6,7). Those who suggest that this is the Bible’s teaching, will ignore all passages from the Bible that very clearly show that it is NOT Biblical, and must be rejected as a man-made error, which is held by a few, who suppose they know better than the Lord Himself!
Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, taught very clearly in the Bible, that it is sinful humans, who REJECT the Gospel Message for their salvation, and NOT because God only WILLS that the ELECT, which is few in number, are saved.
In Matthew chapter 23, Jesus speaks some very hard words against the “scribes and Pharisees”, who were perverting the simple Message of the Bible, as some do today. To these Jesus says:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (verse 37)
Clearly that Jesus DESIRES that these same people who He is pronouncing Judgement against, would accept salvation for their souls. But they were NOT WILLING! Not only did these have a FREE WILL, but were ABLE to REJECT salvation!
In John chapter 5, Jesus is speaking to the Jews who were trying to murder Him, for claiming EQUALITY with God the Father, and working on the Sabbath Day. He says to these Jews:
“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO COME to Me that you may have life” (verses 39-40)
Like Matthew 23, here we have the Gospel Message for their salvation, being REJECTED by these Jews.
In Matthew chapter 22, we read of the Parable of the Wedding Feast, where those originally INVITED, made excuses, and REJECTED the INVITATION. (verses 1-7). In verses 8-10, we read:
“Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests”
Clearly that the OFFER of salvation is an INVITATION for ALL SINNERS, and NOT just the ELECT, as is FALSELY taught by some!
In Acts chapter 7, we read of the great Sermon by Stephen, the first Martyr of the Christian Church, those who were present, were told by Stephen:
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always RESIST the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you” (verse 51)
Yet some teach that God’s Saving Grace in salvation, is IRRESISTIBLE! Yet another FALSE teaching!
In Acts chapter 13, we have Paul and Barnabas who were trying to share the Gospel with some Jews, of whom we read:
“But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul” (verse 45)
To these same Jews, who were BLASPHEMING and OPPOSED what Paul was saying to them, Paul says,
“Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you REJECT it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles” (verse 46)
Not only did these Jews REJECT the Gospel, but they CONSIDERED THEMSELVES UNWORTHY OF ETERNAL LIFE, it was NOT God, because they were NON ELECT, Who so considered them!
In 2 Thessalonians 2, Paul tells us,
“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because THEY DID NOT RECEIVE the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (verses 9-12)
This is what Paul means in Romans 9, “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens” (verse 18).
It is because sinners REJECT the Gospel Message for their salvation, that God will REJECT them for salvation. To say that God only INTENDS to save SOME, and REJECTS the greater majority, is a LIE! These passages from the Holy Bible, show that this teaching is FALSE.
