You are so busted! You, yourself, chose Christ according to your own will! The only thing necessary was for you to know the gospel of Jesus Christ "for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes…" (Ro 1:16) The gospel empowers the will so that it CAN choose, AG!
This is such a foolish argument to be having b/c if you didn't choose to believe, then there is no way you can be saved. You had no more "special power" to receive the gospel than any of the rest of us, AG! That's a fantasy born of the false "doctrines of men". I just marvel at the arrogance of those who say that they were able, above most men, to understand the gospel. Perhaps that is just a notch above Eve — you won't "be as God" .. you ARE as God before even hearing the gospel!
skypair
Are you questioning my salvation? The Bible teaches that we are all born in sin and therefore not capable of accepting the gospel.
Romans 5:12English Standard Version (ESV)
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Genesis 6:5English Standard Version (ESV)
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Psalm 51:5English Standard Version (ESV)
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 58:3English Standard Version (ESV)
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb;
they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
Ecclesiastes 9:3English Standard Version (ESV)
3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead.
Jeremiah 17:9English Standard Version (ESV)
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
Romans 3:10-12English Standard Version (ESV)
10 as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
Isaiah 53:6English Standard Version (ESV)
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Proverbs 14:12English Standard Version (ESV)
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
John 8:43English Standard Version (ESV)
43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
Romans 8:7English Standard Version (ESV)
7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
No doctrines of men. It's all from the Bible.
Here is more:
John 15:16: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."
John 1:12,13: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Acts 13:48: "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and
as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
Romans 9:15-16: "For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
Romans 9:22-24: "What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"
Ephesians 1:4-5: "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"
Ephesians 1:11: "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"
Philippians 1:29: "For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;"
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5: "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake."
2 Thessalonians 2:13: "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"
2 Timothy 1:9: "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"
Ephesians 2:8-10 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God
John 6:37 - All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
John 6:44 - 4 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
1 Peter 1:2 - Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
A lesson for us all:
Ephesians 4:29King James Version (KJV)
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
