Subject: do we have any free will? |
Bible Note: Dear zach†, Greetings in the name of Jesus! I am not Calvinist (or at least the Calvinists wouldn't accept me! :-)), but I cannot agree that we make the choice to be saved or not. You wrote "He chose us. He is the author of our salvation." The key would be that *us* and *our* would be impersonal terms, denoting that God chose everyone, but it didn't become personal salvation until we (personally, individually) received Him. I believe that He knew *me* (not *us*) and called *me* to His feet, and THAT is salvation. I prefer to put that eternal decision (judgement) in God's capable hands. Honestly, I *choose* not to get into a more detailed explanation than that. :-) Just a thought. The *church* (ecclesia) is the 'called out' assembly. This, IMHO, denotes that Someone did the calling out from the 'crowd' of potential candidates (the lost). To me, God called me personally, not generally. Otherwise, the church would be the 'deciders' or the 'chosers' or the 'receivers' or the 'confessors' of God. I do believe that we must confess Christ, and live in Him in order that His sanctification would continue to work in our lives until we meet Him. But my salvation rests solely on His personal choice of me. Now I serve Him. I can never 'return the favor!,' but I want to please my Savior! One man's opinion. In Christ Jesus, charis |