Does Mankind Have An ABSOLUTE Free-Will Regarding His Salvation?
If ALL mankind is devoid of individual Free-Will, and therefore one man is PREDESTINED (Made) of God to Eternal Life, while another is PREDESTINED (Made) of God to Sin and Eternal Damnation, then God would indeed be the author and creator of both RIGHTEOUSNESS and UNRIGHTEOUSNESS - Eternal Life and Eternal Death. I do not know how much more clear God would have to make it to men, than the CONDITIONAL REQUIREMENT of FAITH regarding INITIAL Salvation (New Birth), other than in Acts 16:30.
In the below cited Passages, when Apostle Paul and Silas had been thrown into jail for their FAITH, and while they were singing praises unto God, a great earthquake fell, shaking the very foundations of the prison where they were being kept. The KEEPER of the prison, seeing that the doors of the prison and all prisoner bands had been loosed, drew out his own sword and MADE the CHOICE to COMMIT SUICIDE, except for the CRY of Apostle Paul. As such, calling for a light and thrusting himself into where Paul and Silas were imprisoned, the Keeper fell down TREMBLING before them, from the fear of the majestic events that he had just experienced, He thus brought Paul and Silas out and asked the ALL important question, "WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?" Please note the use of the greek words in this Passage, dei (G1163) translated as MUST, the personal pronoun I (G3165 - me), and poieo DO, (G4160). To this end, the KEEPER wanted to know what ACTION he himself, NOT GOD or PREDESTINATION, MUST DO in order to be SAVED, with Paul and Silas declaring Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be SAVED...
If God PREDESTINES (Makes) UNRIGHTEOUS Vessels of Wrath...then why are those who are made to be "objects of His wrath" in this life, still judged in His 'JUDGMENT'? We as individuals are 'Formed' and 'Fashioned' by God in direct response to how we exercise our individual God GIVEN Free-Wills in Faith Believing, of and towards His Word. Many suggest the implied Calvinist view of 'free-will' vs. 'free-choice'... Calvinists typically hold that we are incapable of doing anything good by our own natural powers (subsequent to and because of the original Sin). As such, we have the freedom to choose between alternatives such as (eating apple pie or drinking milk), etc., etc. Meanwhile, Calvinists teach that it is not God's will to Save ALL Mankind, but only the ELECT and that Christ died only for the ELECT and not for EVERYONE, and therefore, election is unconditional and not based on any foreseen merits. However, with respect to our ABSOLUTE God given FREE-WILL, to either accept or reject, God's PREORDAINED / PREDESTINED Plan of Salvation in the Blood of Yeshua Jesus, I humbly submit the following support.
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
John 3:16 (KJV) 6 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1 Timothy 2:4 (KJV) 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Revelation 22:17 (KJV) 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. In addition, Jesus came FIRST unto the Jews [the ELECT - His own] who WILLFULLY rejected Him.
John 1:11 (KJV) 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Please note in 2 Peter 3:9 above, that it is NOT the WILL of the Lord that ANY should perish, but that ALL should repent. Therefore, this begs the question, IF man does indeed 'perish' (is LOST) because of his UNBELIEF, then just whose WILL actually is it - the Lord or man himself? Meanwhile, with respect to Matt. 22:14 and 26:16, "For MANY are CALLED but FEW are CHOSEN," how can MANY be CALLED if the PREDESTINED are the ONLY ones ELECTED/Made to be SAVED? Likewise, Jesus declared in Lk. 10:2, "...The harvest is GREAT but the laborers are few, PRAY therefore that the Lord of the harvest will send laborers into the harvest." If Jesus was not concerned that the potential harvest would spoil in the field, then why PRAY for more laborers?
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John 1:10-13: He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, not of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God!
John 3::3: Jesus declared, I tell you the truth, NO ONE can see the kingdom of God UNLESS he is born again!.
John 14:6: Jesus says, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father EXCEPT through Me!!"
John 15:9,10,14; "Jesus says, "As the Father **LOVED** Me, so I have **LOVED** you!! Now remain in My **LOVE**. "**IF** YOU OBEY MY COMMANDS** you will remain in My love...Your are my friends **IF** you do what I command!"
John 14:21,23,24: Jesus says, "Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who **LOVES** Me! He who loves Me will be **LOVED** by My Father, and I will **LOVE** him. **IF** anyone **LOVES** Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will **LOVE** him, and we will come to him and make Our home with him!!" He who does not **LOVE** Me will not obey My teaching.
John 12:48: Jesus says, "There is a Judge for the one who rejects Me and does not accept My words. That very word which I spoke will condemn him at the Last Day!"
I John 2:3-5: We know that we have come to know Him {Jesus) ***IF*** we obey His commands. The man who says, "I know Him," but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But **IF** anyone obeys His Word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him!
And so no one will see the kingdom of Heaven UNLESS they receive Jesus as their Savior and as their Way and Truth and LIFE and are born again and then will try to do what Jesus commands and who seek to obey His teaching. And accoring to John 12:48 all who reject Jesus and who do not accept what He commands will be condemned on the Last Day!
This would include Muslims, Buddhists and Roman Catholic popes etc; even if they follow the golden rule. Jesus did forgive those who crucified Him but He will not forgive those who do not accept Him as their Lord and Savior and seek to obey his teaching.
Matthew 28:18-20: Jesus says, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations... Teaching them to obey *EVERYTHING* I have commanded you!!"
AND ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS GOD'S SAINTS DO WHAT THE NEW COVENANT SAYS IS BECAUSE OF THE COUNTLESS ETERNAL **REWARDS** THEY CAN *EARN* FOR OBEYING WITH LOVE AND GOD'S HELP THE APPROXIMATELY 400 COMMANDS OF THE NEW COVENANT!!!
One of the many problems with the Calvinistic Tulip is that of emphasis. Most Calvinists talk of the perseverance of the saints and never talk about the many eternal rewards a saint can **EARN** rather they say all our good works are all predestined for the glory of God and we will all get the same eternal rewards.
2 Peter 1:5-11: Make every effort to add to you faith {A FREE GIFT-Eph 2:8,9} goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and **LOVE**. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective...and will make your calling and election sure...and you will receive a *RICH WELCOME* into our Eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ!
By saying *REWARDS* are not *EARNED* by the saints contradicts over 50 passages from the inspired Words of God and removes one of the most important incentives for obeying all of the NT commands with love with the hope countless eternal *REWARDS* for faithful and loving service!!
Daniel 12:3: Those who impart wisdom {NIV} will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness. like the stars for ever and ever!
Revelation 2:18; 3:21: Jesus says, "To him who overcomes I will give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it....And I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
Jesus says, "At the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne...Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive 100 times as much !!" Matthew 19:28,29
SALVATION IS 100% FREE BUT HEAVENLY REWARDS ARE 100% EARNED:
Hebrews 11:1,6: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see....And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He **REWARDS** those who earnestly seek Him!!
Ephesians 6:8: Serve wholeheartedly , as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will **REWARD** everyone for what ever good he does!.
Revelation 22:12 Jesus says, �Behold I am coming soon! My **REWARD** is with Me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done!�
Matthew 16:27: Jesus says, �The Son of Man is going to come in His Father's glory with His angels and THEN He will **REWARD** each person according to what he has done!�
2 Corinthians 5:9,10: We make it our goal to please Him... for we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15: His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives , he will receive his **REWARD**. If it is burned up he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
Colossians 3:23-25: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, siince you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a **REWARD**. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his wrong, and there is no favoritism.
How to Win Heavenly CROWNS:
I Corinthians 9:24-27: Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes in to strict training. They do it to get a **CROWN that will not last; but we do it to get a **CROWN THAT WILL LAST FOREVER! Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly. I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize!
2 John 1:8: Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be **REWARDED** fully!.
Revelation 3:11: Jesus says, �I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your **CROWN!�
2 Timothy 4:7,8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the **CROWN of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,will award to me on that day�and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing!
The **CROWN of Life for those who persevere under trials and persecution:
James 1:12: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the **CROWN OF LIFE that God has promised to those who **LOVE** Him!
Revelation 2:10 Jesus says, �Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer... Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the **CROWN OF LIFE!�
Matthew 5:11,12: Jesus says, �Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, beacuase great is your **REWARD** in heaven!�
Hebrews 10:32-36: Remember those earlier days after you had received the Light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of sufferin. Sometimes you were publicaly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly **REWARDED**. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you receive what He has promised!
However faith and eternal life is a free gift and only after we have been born from above do we have a free will in order to gain these eternal heavenly rewards:
Ephesians 2:8-10: For it is be grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the **GIFT** of God--not by works, so that no one can boast
John 6:37,39,44: Jesus says, "All that the Father gives to me will come to Me, and whover comes to Me I will never drive away...And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all He has given Me, but raise them up on the Last Day...No one can come to Me UNLESS the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise them up at the Last Day!!"
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that NO MAN CAN COME UNTO ME, EXCEPT IT WERE GIVEN UNTO HIM OF MY FATHER
This why we are to pray for God to open the eyes to see, the ears to hear , and to prepare the hearts of those we pray for and minister to.......for them to be able to receive the message in a heart prepared by God as "good ground" ready for the seed of the Word of God to fall upon
It is God that calls a sinner to repentance and salvation........... not the other way around !!!
2 Corinthians 7:10
FOR GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE TO SALVATION NOT TO BE REPENTED OF: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
