Well sir, if you keep saying I take everything out of context, HOW will we ever discuss your theology?Believers are saved by grace, Ephesians 2:8-10. You on the other hand think you merited salvation by choosing. You should congratulate yourself.
I've provided scripture denying this in the past, but you reject contextual scripture. John 1:13 is just one example, but you'll find a way around it, and pit a verse or several, out of context of course, against said truth. You believe you saved yourself by choosing, which is merit, and can never be grace, which is unmerited. But you don't believe nor do you understand the Gospel, you think it's about what you did to get into heaven.
You believe in monergism.
I believe in synergism.
This does not mean I SAVED MYSELF.
Jesus saved me because He is our Savior.
Our difference is that you believe God picked YOU...
I believe God revealed Himself to me and I CHOSE to believe in Him.
The reason you have a problem with this is because you do not believe in free will. Perhaps we could discuss free will?
In the meantime I offer the following:
Luke 6:47 JESUS:
47“Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:
EVERYONE WHO COMES TO ME.
Mathew 4:17 JESUS:
"Repent for the Kingdomof heaven is at hand."
Jesus tells us to repent...not to wait till God picks US.
Mathew 5:20 JESUS
"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
Why would Jesus teach HOW TO BE SAVED, IF it did not depend on our decision to comply with His laws?
Mark 12:17 JESUS
"Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's."
Why render anything to God? What satisfaction could there be on God's part since in your theology it is GOD that predestined what you are to render to Him?
No satisfaction at all. Why would Jesus even say such words?
I could go thru the whole of the N.T. and come up with plenty of scripture.
NOW to YOUR verses:
John 1:13
13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Speak of context! John is talking about Jesus being the light and coming to man.
Although Jesus made the world...the world did not recognize Him. In this case, the world means those that Jesus came into contact with.
Only a few received Him,,,but to all that received Him, He gave the right to be called children of God. Please notice...TO ALL THAT RECEIVED HIM...He gave the right to be called Children of God. Again John tells us HOW to be saved..by RECEIVING JESUS.
John 1:11-12
ALL THOSE who RECEIVED Jesus became born again...
NOT OF BLOOD.....which is a physical birth
NOT OF WILL OF THE FLESH....which is a physical birth
NOR OF THE WILL OF MAN......which is a physical birth wanted by man
BUT OF GOD...(or BUT BY THE WILL OF GOD)......our rebirth is by the will of God and not of natural birth.
NOR BY THE WILL OF MAN
BUT OF GOD
Ephesians 2:8-10
I agree totally.
But, of course, you didn't exegete.