(savedbygrace57;22899)
kriss saysDo you believe men are free from the sovereignty of God ?
It is a fact Jesus said, “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him”? We are sinners, none seek after God, yet because of His abounding grace, Jesus did say, with reference to His crucifixion, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” John 12:32. Now when we remember that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,” and that it was “by the grace of God” that Jesus tasted “death for every man” (Heb. 2:9), we can see that it is Christ who is drawing all men to Himself.God is Sovereign; He alone has decided all can be saved if they choose. Quote: The Word of God is not divided against itself. Read the passages in which this statement is found (Matt. 20:1-16 and 22:1-14), and it will be apparent that those who are not chosen are those who themselves do not choose to accept the terms of salvation. That is the whole of the matter. Election means choice. The free choice is given to all. “Choose life, that both foul and thy seed may live.” Deut. 30:19. “Choose you this day and who eat will serve.” Joshua 24:13. Whoever chooses salvation, or, in other words, elects to be saved, is one of the elect. The non-elect are, of course, lost, but it is of their own choice. Of those who are lost, the Spirit of God says, “For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; they would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.” Prov. 1:29-31. When the Jews at Antioch “spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming,” the apostle said, “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you; but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.” Acts 13:45, 46. They judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life, by refusing to receive it. It was indeed given to them, and they put it away from them. Note that it was all in their own hands; they were made judges in the case. And so it is with all men; each of man determines his own worthiness or unworthiness. Whoever will receive the eternal life, is counted worthy of it. Each man judges of his own fitness, and he elects himself. Surely God could not possibly deal more fairly with mankind. End Quote"And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judgeth him in the last day." John 12:47, 48. It is Christ that came to save the world, but many will reject the words that He "came to save the world." The redemption price has been paid by Christ for the human race. 2 Corinthians 5:14-21. He did not "offer" redemption (salvation) but "gave" the gift to humanity. Romans 5:12-18. Jake