Does a person exercise "free will" to receive Christ before becoming a Christian?
John 1:10 - 13
ESV - 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
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Asked November 01 2013
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Anthony Clinton
Supporter
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
darrell Powell
I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy.
If God is not sovereign over man's salvation then He is not sovereign.
Danny Hickman
Amen, darrell Powell.
The fact that we have "free will" is confusing for many believers. It's as if God can renew us but only if we have a "free will" that's up to par, functioning properly. Our "free will" is what stands between a life with Jesus in the light, or death in a fiery lake. I don't think so. Ezekiel prophesied:
"I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26)
God did that for me! My "free will" was a part of the package that was renovated when I got my new heart. (I ain't talking about my blood pump, and neither was Ezekiel). I wasn't asked before the spiritual surgery took place. I heard the gospel and it SOFTENED something within me. It was my "heart." I'm gonna take God's word for it!!
I believed what was preached! I'd heard the gospel many, many times! Why was this time life changing? I didn't get a "free will" check-up before I got to church. No, I came with the same free will I'd had all 35 years of my life. I had something added to me that Sunday that canceled my free will (addiction to self-determination); something I needed to begin the transformation from sinner (unbeliever) to saint (soldier). FAITH!
"Your faith has made you whole." (Mt 9:22, Lk 8:48)
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed.. Jer 17:14
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
Come, buy, and eat.. without money (Isaiah 55:1).
Danny Hickman
Continuing,
When Jesus told the Matthew 9 woman (with the blood disorder), and the Luke 17 leprous Samaritan, "Your faith has made you whole," He wasn't giving them a good reason to boast, He was affirming the supremacy, the superior power of Faith. That was His intention.
When He speaks a word of encouragement to the Matthew 8 centurion who told Jesus, 'You don't need to come to my home to heal my sick servant, "just speak the word"', Jesus said the centurion's faith was the strongest He'd come across (vs 10). He was declaring the strength of the man's faith, not the man's strength. There's a tendency to celebrate the soldier instead of the Provider of the faith that the soldier only put to good use.
Why are we prone to do that?
PRIDE!! We want to believe that there's at least a little good in us. We want to believe that we prayed for someone and that someone got healed (saved) because of our efforts. If the whole thing depends on God alone, then why should we preach, pray, etc? We want to believe in ourselves!!
There's no greater proof of out-of-control PRIDE than that! Our prayers are of great value TO GOD!! (James 5:16)
Our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3).. IN GOD!
I don't know what tomorrow will bring. God knows, and has a plan for it. (I know the plans I have for you... Jer 29:11). That Scripture has never made me withdraw from praying about our tomorrows! Why?
My relationship with God ain't about ME! I WANT TO HONOR HIM! He is OUR Glory!