Question for Christians: do you have a choice?

Question

This is a question for Christians please.

Do you believe that God saves some and doesn't save others? Do you believe that people have a choice to accept Jesus and be saved, or does God choose who will be saved? If you believe God chooses, do you believe the "unlucky ones" are just doomed from birth?

I ask this because I'm a member of a Baptist Church that is currently divided over this issue.

Answer 1

I'm sorry your church is divided over Calvinism and free will.

This probably won't be the exact answer you are looking for, but here goes:

We as baptists believe the bible...no more no less. The bible says in Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with they mouth teh Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." and in Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the lord shall be saved."

Note that those passages deal with salvation, but it doesn't add in there.."the elect". The scripture says WHOSOEVER...

There is also a part of scripture that says we are the elect. That's what Calivinism is built off of...predestination.

God sent Christ down to die for us and offer salvation to everyone in the world. His elect..are those who follow Him and become saved. We are given a free will to turn it down...we don't HAVE to get saved...but we're idiots if we don't. Calvinism says only a select few will go to heaven and the rest are out of luck...which is wrong. It puts glory on man..."I'm one of the elect, I'm going to heaven, you're going to hell" type attitude. And this belief stops people from going out to the world and sharing Jesus with those who need Him. The bible tells us to go spread the gospel to all who will hear. Many people get saved every day...and become part of the elect.

Don't fall for the Calvinism stuff...it is built on glorification of man, not of Jesus. There is a church in Kansas that is heavily into that and they are so depraved they picket military funerals and call ALL soldiers who die fags and other hatefilled names. Don't sink to that level..stand for what the bible says....whosoever...not "whosoever of the elect"... Stand for the bible, not Calvin's doctrines. Jesus's teachings far out live Calvin's...go by His word. ;)

Answer 2

I understand how thing can be when belief is not clear and keeps changing. Let me say what hasn't changed.

The Catholic Church teaches and has always taught

1. God wishes all to be saved. However, He will not save you if you do not co-operate with His grace. God predestines all to heaven, but sends to hell those who wish it or act like it.

2. Salvation is different from Justification in Catholic theology. "Are you saved?". The Catholic should reply: "As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13)." That is why we say "salvation through faith and works" because it is an on going process. Justification occurs at baptism when the individual is reborn through the waters of the Holy Spirit, is transformed, and has the stain of original sin removed.

3. God gives enough grace to every single person to be saved, that is to live in accord with the knowledge of the good that they have. God may choose, if He wills, to give grace that prompts the will even stronger and prepares the way for salvation. For example being privileged to be taught correctly about Christ is a great grace. Some individuals are more convicted that Christ is God than others due to the working of the Holy Spirit on them, but all individuals have enough conviction to recognize Christ. However, any grace can be resisted and rejected. Habits and sin make it easier to resist grace even to the point where the choice for God is barely noticable.

4. No, the "double predestination", that is God chose some to go to hell, has been condemned from the beginning. For example, the Church teaches that Judas did not have to betray Christ, he could have chosen not to (Christ knew that Judas would betray him but that knowledge didn't make Judas do it).

Answer 3

I believe that God has elected those who will be saved based upon His sovereign choice. I personally do not believe that man has a "free will" that is not taught in the Bible only certain churches teach it and it is normally based on a notion that God doesn't want a bunch of robots. When you base what you believe on the Bible these things seem pretty clear.
The "unlucky ones" as you call them are never really mentioned in the Bible as such and so I don't know to say on that issue.

Answer 4

Linda S,

God’s will is that none should perish. He knew before the world was created who would choose to be saved by faith in Jesus’ sacrifice and who would not. The church is responsible for the souls of this generation. God answers prayer, so if the church remains lukewarm and prayerless, then many people will be lost. If the church would begin to follow Jesus’ example and preach the gospel and love people outside of the walls of the church then our nation would change.

It takes prayer to get God involved, and it takes Christians willing to tell the lost about Jesus to bring in the harvest of precious souls.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus showed an attitude of faith when he said that the harvest is plentiful. He didn’t call them lost or sinners, He called them the harvest which means that He sees them saved. We need to pray for the blindness and the darkness to be removed from the eyes of the lost and then give them the gospel. Then we will see the harvest that Jesus predicted.

Christianity is not about you and me. We’re already saved. We know Jesus. It’s all about introducing as many people as possible to Jesus. It’s all about ministering to the lost and the dying – for they will surely die without our witness.

Two Moravian missionaries felt that God wanted them to reach hundreds of slaves on a remote island with the gospel; however, the slave owner wouldn’t allow any Christian witness on his island. The two young men sold themselves to the slave owner, and with the money, the missionaries bought 2 one-way tickets to the island. As the ship was leaving, their brokenhearted families shouted to them, “Why are you doing this?”

One of the young men shouted back, “To gain for the Lamb the reward of His sacrifice!”

God bless.

Answer 5

no, God's word say his will is that all would be saved.

yes, we have the choice to accept Jesus and be saved, however, God seeks you, not the other way around.

God doesn't choose who gets saved in the sense of a lottery or anything ilke that. God chooses who gets saved based on who Messiah presents as worthy. you gain worthiness by accepting the sacrifice performed on the cross, and beginning the walk to conform your heart to that of Messiah.



are you a Calvinist, or do you attend a Presbyterian church?

Answer 6

Have You Been Saved?
... What We Must Do to Be Saved
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1996/2/1/have_you_been_saved.htm

Read:
Mark 12:28-31
John 4:23

Does that sound like fatalism to you?

Answer 7

God does choose or elect His people. However He does not force people. He works in the elect to believe and come to Christ with out forcing them and those who reject Him do so willingly. Those who are "doomed" as you put it choose that path themselves. The command and promise of God stands true that any who repent and believe will be saved.

Answer 8

God gave us free will in the beginning. BUT....I believe he expexts us to use it wisely. We have a choise to accept Jesus.

NO ONE is doomed from birth. At birth, we are all untouched & innocent....Once we are old enough to choose sin, that is when the choice is most important & must be wise.

But, Jesus will always be there when we screw up & realise it. & He will always be ready when we call out to him & he will come, if, our heart is pure & honest.

Answer 9

You have to believe that Jesus died as asacrifice to God to cleanse you of your sins so that you can appear perfect before God No other way you choose. God already knows your choice but you choose, he didn't choose for you.

Answer 10

NIV
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God wants ALL to repent, BUT saddly some will not no matter what God does . God still use's them to fulfill His purpose. So it is NOT that they are lost by God, it is that THEY chose to be without God
I have written some brief articles
http://ca.geocities.com/rbmath2000/christianity.html