Is Salvation due to a choice on our part or a calling from God?

Question

Many are called but few are chosen. Where does our chosing come in?

CMW: What part then do we play in making our calling and election sure?

CMW; I am not working today, other than my "honey do" list which will get me in enough trouble if I don't get it done........

Hope; So you are saying that everything comes from God? The calling the choosing the election the hope the faith, everything? What then is our part in our salvation?

CMW; Wow! I'm impressed! You read all that fine print just to answer me??:)

Just because I use a site does not mean I agree with everything on it. For instance, I totally disagree with the old Worldwide Church of God and most of it's offshoots, of which this is one, about predestination and to an extent, free will.

I appreciate you answers they are always well thought out and informative.

Hope: I love that hymn. However, I still do not see what you think our part in our salvation is. I am assuming from your answer that we have no part.

CMW: Do you think that the things written about in Revelations can be averted if everyone in the world suddenly, on their own, decided to seek God? Is such a thing even possible?

CMW: BTW, if I used that website in this discussion on free will I apologize, I have been purposly avoiding using them, and I don't think I did. The websites that I use do have things I absolutely agree with. If you agree with every thing on any given website then, well, good for you.

Answer 1

Salvation is of the LORD.

Romans 9:15-16
For He (God) says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy

Romans 8:30
Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

If one responds to God's call, it's only because they have been chosen by God and enabled by God (born again) to do so.
Edit:
Yes, that's what I'm saying- It's by God's grace alone that we are saved and all that He requires of us, (faith, trust, love,obedience, etc.) He enables and empowers us to do.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come.
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

And when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the vail
A life of joy and peace.


When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first begun.

Hallelujah!
To God alone be the glory!

Edit:
Lone Ranger,
God works in us (in sanctification) and we also work, but the relation is that BECAUSE God works, we work.

Answer 2

Many are called, few are chosen is not an isolated sentence. It's part of a parable. I'll cite from "Jewish New Testament Commentary" by David H. Stern of Jerusalem. He not only translates from Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic, but his study has been immersed in the idiom of 2000 years ago, as well as the culture in which the NT authors wrote.

"Kings would sometimes give banquets for their subjects and invite them all, regardless of status, providing suitable clothing for those unable to afford it. Therefore the one not wearing what the king had provided was without excuse."

The clothes were provided. You either put them on or you don't, but they were provided.

Edit: This parable does not mean that God calls a lot of people, picks over them, and keeps only a few. If that were true, the middle of the parable would have no meaning. It means that God calls everyone and gives them the power to respond—but to be chosen, we must respond to the call, using the power God gave us for that purpose.

Edit #2: Obedience. Again, a choice. You started out the day with angels. Satan rebelled. He refused to obey. Rebellion, obedience all these are words that mean you chose to do something or not.

I'd love to continue chatting, but I'm working. (I'm freelance, so no, I don't take pay for answering Q at Yahoo. I turn off the clock. That's my choice, too. I think it's dishonest to answer at Yahoo, while taking pay for your time.)
:-)

Final Edit: Yikes, I must work. I did go to one of the websites that you always use, and thus agrees with you. See page 1, "What must we do? To have Jesus Christ as your Savior you must acknowledge that you have sinned, that your sins have placed you under a sentence of death and that you need forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice. You must then accept Jesus as your personal Savior, recognizing that He died for you." Key word "accept."

EDIT: Okay, then delete your website (I mean I don't read it, I got it from you.) The meaning of the parable is still clear, as I said above, and:

Ezekiel 18:31-32 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD, so turn, and live. .... why say it if it's impossible?

Ezekiel 18:23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? ... why say he can turn, if he can't?

Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. ... Why say it if it's impossible?

Does God lie or hold out false hope? Does he deceive? I think not.

Answer 3

but accoding to this verse God wants all to come to repentance and recieve salvation

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


Jhn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.


Jhn 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Answer 4

>> Is Salvation due to a choice on our part or a calling from
>> God?

        Both. God calls us all (for He is not willing that any should be lost [2Peter 3:9]), but we have to choose to be there -- and that choice cannot only be made once. We must choose anew every day.

"But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]." (1Cor. 9:27 AMP)

        Even then, there has to be proof of that choice -- just as the fig tree was cursed by Jesus because it had the outward sign of fruit (leaves) but no fruit.

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:26 For as the body without the [breath] is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

God bless.

Answer 5

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:16 The preached gospel is God calling.

Answer 6

We are all called, but not all of us choose to obey that call. 2 Peter 3:9, says that God doesn't want any to perish. If that is His wish then obviously He would have made it so that it would happen 1 Peter 3:18 for we were all unjust, Romans 3:23. God chooses to give us the the tools to choose Him. He calls us to obey Him, but it is up to us to make that choice or not. Look at James 1:13-15 about whose choice it is to not obey.

Answer 7

You bring a a subject that has been debated by theologians for eons. There is scripture that supports both views. Here are some words of wisdom given by Solomon concerning topics like this.

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (NIRV)
It's good to hold on to both of those things. Don't let go of either one. A man who has respect for God will avoid going too far in either direction.

Answer 8

Both.

Eph 2:8-9
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.

You can see directly from the Bible that it is God's gift, free, without strings - but saving grace comes from God as does the faith to accept it. There are those who choose not to accept.

I had a pastor once who put it this way:

It's like a doorway - on the outside is a sign - "All are welcome", but with a sign on the inside that says "You have been chosen". It is your choice to walk through that door.

Answer 9

Both. God calls out to us, but it is up to us to accept that calling, and meet the standards of that calling. The Apostle Paul did not take his salvation for granted...

1 Cor. 9: 27 But I keep under my bbody, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Answer 10

lone ranger good question its both . GODhas called all of the world to his banquet table and he has provided the garments too we should put on,, . he sent JESUS who was god and who was also man to die for us , not only that he provided away that noone has to lose out on eternal life and join him in the kingdom..
he is not a dictator though that will chosse for you like some seem to think with once saved always saved doctrine. paul stated in galations we are to die to self and taht is not a choice many are willing to make,, luicifer once a powerful angel next tothe throne of GOD HIMSELF thought his beauty and his decisions were to be valued higher THAN HIS CREATORS HE CHOSE to rebel and 1/3 of the angelic host too went with him a billion or so angels that were in GODS PRENCE were so easily decieved how can mere mortals comprehend this if they dont submit to the full love and authority of the creator..
yes God calls us but its our free will that has to allow that love to be instilled in us that we would rather perish then disobey GOD.
ONLY THEN WILL WE BE SAFE FOR THE UNIVERSE when we die to self desires and allow love to rule supremely in our heart and actions
thinkabout it ,, bro murray