Where to begin...
Oh, yes, free will.
As most of you know, I believe strongly in this. I believe that God created man, and his path. This path has two directions. He shows us f the right way, and warns us of the wrong way..and it's consequences. However, being a just God, He gives us a choice. We can either go our own way, and face what's in the end. Or, we can choose to go the right way. God's way.I know there is much debate in this. I know we are indeed a fallen nature, and when given the choice, we lean towards sin... But, if we have Jesus in our heart, He helps us overcome sin/temptation. However, we have to choose to have Christ come into our heart. Which goes into the next part.. Does God choose who gets saved and who doesn't? The answer? No. At least, I don't believe so. I don't believe God goes through us one by one saying, 'Okay, you get to believe in me, you don't..Hmm...He does, she does...Nah, he doesn't, he has a funny nose. Umm...' (Just kidding, but you get the point.)
God's desire is for everyone to be saved. However, He isn't going to force His salvation onto anyone. He's not a tyrant or dictator. He gives us freedom. Which gives us a choice. I've always heard it as..'God is a gentleman. He won't interfere unless asked, cried out to, or called upon.' Now, bear with me. I do not use this as a dead set point. More like...a general analogy. I am fully aware, and not against the fact that sometimes God intervenes, and sometimes He doesn't. However, I see it as 'Really, we aren't waiting on God. It's God who is waiting on us.' I know that God does do things like this. He intervened and blinded Saul, who by this miracle, turned into Paul, one of the strongest Christians ever.
Sometimes by our own cry, sometimes by others,and sometimes by His own will. God works in mysterious ways. We don't know why he does what He does. But, He does. To go along with this is Psalm 115:3, 'Our God is in the heavens, and He does whatever He pleases.' Well, I believe this verse is taken out of context. (I also believe this is where Christian and I had the mis-communication about the 'gentleman' thing.) Indeed, he can and will do whatever He wants to. But, I don't see where/how that says He suddenly starts picking favorites out of all the earth.
Do I believe He chooses who He wants to work through? Yes. I do.But, do I believe that means He chooses who does and doesn't believe?No. I'm trying to recall any other scripture other than this verse to back this idea up with... None really comes to mind. Yes, He does what He wants. But, it says in His word that He wants what's best for us, and for us to follow him. But, that doesn't mean he's going to force his salvation on us. It's a gift. We can choose to accept it, or deny it. Some examples of choices in the Bible...
'God tells Adam and eve not to eat of the forbidden fruit, they choose to anyways, God punishes. God tells Jonah to teach in Ninevah, Jonah tries to flee, God punishes, Jonah sees his error and goes to teach, is still apart of, and repeats error, God punishes. God tells Noah to build the ark,Noah starts working, though he could have stopped at anytime, and the ridicule was unbearable, He chose to keep his hearts on God, and keep working.'
There are so many stories like these... However, I don't recall any for the other idea. Now, here's the thing I really want to get across.. Do I believe that God has NO say in our choice to believe? No. Of course he does. He can and does work in small and in large. Sometimes he really hits us with grand, obvious style, to show who He was, is, and is to come.And, sometimes He just chooses to influence us in the little things... Like the cool breeze on a midsummer's day, or a gift from a friend.
Does He have a say in our choices? Yes. He is the only way we can do right! Man is basically evil, we cannot do any good 'on our own understanding'. But, if we choose God, then in Him we can do all things. I'm not saying that I don't think God works on our hearts at all. In fact, it's just the opposite! I just think that in the end, you're responsible for your own actions. It's your choice. We also have the promise of second chances.
Hmm... Second chances... That seems to be a good place to start on my next topic...
Did Jesus die for everyone? My answer? Yes. My question from before was, "Why, if God created men who could never do anything but sin, would Christ have to die on the cross in the first place"? If there would be people who "God keeps" from believing, why then, would Christ have to shed His blood and take the punishment of sin for all? My received answer? Jesus didn't die for all, just His people. Um... What? I'm sorry, but I'm puzzled as to how this works... "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. That whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." Hmm... Not seeing any 'Except Hitler' 's in there... How about any 'Except Terrorists' 's? No, not there... 'Kidnappers' 's? Again, no.
And why? Because, Jesus Christ, in His never ending grace, love, compassion, and mercy, came down to earth.
Though He could have made a grand 'I Am' entrance, He didn't. He humbled Himself, and came in the most fragile form of all, in the lowest place of all. He grew, and went, and taught everyone. Not jut those random few He chose out of the lot. Even thought He could have walked with royalty, he stayed with the poor, He dined with tax-collectors, He walked with the low. Then, in these things and more, He shed His blood on the cross, and made a way into Heaven... If we choose to believe.
On the third day He rose again, and is now seated upon His throne where He shall reign forever. If you want to ask questions like, "Why would Christ take the punishment of someone like Hitler who was just going to end up rotting in Hell anyways? It just doesn't make sense!" Well, if you want to get technical about it, why would Christ die for any of us? Why would He take the punishment of someone like us who should be rotting in Hell? It doesn't make any sense either! But, that's just it... That is what Salvation is all about. Grace, love, hope, compassion, mercy, and second chances. Yes, second chances. =) Well, what do you guys think? Let's talk it up! =D (Not to sound like Pound Foolish.......
)(Oh, and Christian, I hope you don't take anything I've said offensively or as if I were trying to attack you. This was not my intention in the least, and I will gladly edit/re-write anything I've said that you might feel is that way. =)
We exist for the glory of God. If He decided that the man who represented us in Eden was to plunge us all into a state of sin, with no turning back, apart from His saving grace, I hate to say it, but that's His perogative. He does whatever He wants. Some people will glorify God forever by exalting His power and justice in Hell for eternity. Only God can ultimately choose who He will spare that punishment.
