Evanhnous:
Well, let’s take a look
at choice. Put it this way, when God created man
he was created with a free will. He has an inherent
ability to choose and to make his own choices.
Man governs his own decisions through his mind.
Thirdly, Predestination is like settling in the
notion that something made a particular way to
achieve your desired result. The great misconception
of the above views is so far from the truth of
what Salvation is and also who God is. From the
beginning, the scriptures have clearly declared
that God is a God of covenant. He is a God of
love, mercy and truth. He is also a God of righteousness
and of justice and judgment. Since the beginning,
the scriptures also show us that man has been
and continues to be a covenant breaker and a neglector
of his responsibilities. We read in Genesis chapter
2 that after creating man, God made a covenant
with him by giving him dominion over every other
creature. He was given one command not to eat
of the particular tree. If he did, hardship and
death would be his rewards. What did man do? He
broke the covenant. When questioned, he failed
to take responsibility; instead he shifted the
blame and so it has been through the ages. God
is still a God of covenant today.
In a covenant there must be at
least two parties. God has extended His arm to
save us in that He gave us His “only begotten
Son that whosoever believes in him should not
perish but have everlasting life” (John
3:16). The word “whosoever” signifies
that this is an open offer. God has extended his
grace to everyone under the heaven. Everyone that
is born into this world has this gift offered
to him or her. It is one’s choice to accept
or deny it. God has done his part. The question
is, “Does man have a part to play?”
Certainly! Man has a responsibility to respond
to that offer by coming forward and accepting
it. The Bible states that “Whoever comes
to God, He will in no wise cast him out,”
John 3:16. He also asks that we come in faith
believing. As he clearly states in the scriptures,
he that comes unto God must believe that He is
and he is the rewarder of those that diligently
seek him,” (Hebrews 11:6). All through his
word, the print of his covenant is plainly displayed.
After man accepts the call in faith, God now takes
him up and shows him all his rebellious ways.
Man now has to show willingness to turn away from
all his wicked devices through repentance. God
then purifies and sanctifies him. He now becomes
one of God’s elect, (ST. John 14:21). Man
has now come in communion with God. Out of communion,
man becomes friends with God. A new relationship
is born. Man is now ready to comply with his Maker’s
terms of the covenant.
In the new covenant Jehovah is
His God and Christ is his Lord and Savior, (1Corinthians
6:15). His life is not his own. He is now a purchased
possession of God therefore he cannot do as he
pleases. He has to answer to God. So he is expected
to walk according to the statutes and laws of
that covenant found in Exodus chapter 20, while
God provides him daily with that Grace to do so.
In all of His dealings with man, God has always
maintained his integrity in that He has given
man choices and the freedom to select. As I said
earlier, He created man as a free agent. This
is the reason why we are created as robots. As
a loving Creator, He asks mankind to choose life.
The argument that one’s salvation is predestinated
is a bogus one that the scripture does not support.
God has always placed life and death, blessings
or curse, redemption and damnation (Deuteronomy
30:15). The decision is left to man.
Many have made the wise choice
and have chosen life. Many others have made the
unwise choice and have chosen death. Failing to
accept God’s plan of salvation, they choose
death. Some choose death not because they were
predestined to end up this way. Death and destruction
were reserved only for Satan and his fallen angels.
The great truth is that light came to man but
man has rejected light. (VERSE). Man has no excuse.
When God made man, he had one purpose in mind
to complete His portrait family: God, His Son,
the Angels, and man. Man would live in communion
with his God throughout his eternity. After the
fall, God’s plan for man did not change.
He made a way to restore man by coming to Earth
in the person of the Lord Jesus to bring man back
to him. The scripture states that His hand has
brought us salvation, (Isaiah 59:16). Sad to say,
because of man’s continued defiance of God,
there will be some that will not move unto glory
while some will. Saved By Grace. It is the only
choice. The opportunity is yours. You can accept
or reject it. Pray to God and choose life!
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