election/freewill- GOT IT !!!!

[woundeddog]

after much debate in my head about Calvinism and Armenianism- I think I have got my head around the topic

[Neighbor]

About as good an explanation as any I have read! 

 

 I just state that I am a freewill Calvinist and let the other ducks in the pond quack and shake their tail feathers.

[woundeddog]

24 minutes ago, Yowm said:

So God saw something 'good' in us as a basis for picking us? The 'good' being our good sense in seeing and being 'impressed' by the truth.

I don't think anywhere in the Bible it says there is any innate "Good" in us-

[woundeddog]

37 minutes ago, Yowm said:

That was my point, but to say 'we were impressed' seems to leave room for boasting, when compared to those who weren't impressed.

Yowm-- come on-- if I fully understood this Id be up there with the Lord-- this is the best I can do with my old mind--- lol

[Neighbor]

3 hours ago, Yowm said:

That was my point, but to say 'we were impressed' seems to leave room for boasting, when compared to those who weren't impressed.

 Seems to me there is humility there that leaves no room for boasting.

I too was impressed. I recognized the emotion being expressed in that statement immediately.

Must say I don't know how one would not be impressed when the Holy Spirit makes the specific call to one's salvation. It's pretty humbling, crushing all self-pride, tearing out resistance in a flash, and welcoming into a new profound peace never before even understood never mind obtained.

Awesome God is indeed most impressive.

 

[ghtan]

I find it easier to think that all who are in Christ are chosen/elect. But it is our choice whether we want to be in Christ, hence the freewill.

[warrior12]

Pharaoh  did not stand a chance , but was assigned his part in the life he lived.  He had no choice in the matter.  He was raised up for a specific purpose.  Sounds unfair, but it is the word.  Where is the free will then.  

Once i asked a pastor about predestination and free will, and he said, it is like two trains on tracks running side by side.  Hmmm.   

[ghtan]

Everyone has a choice. Even Pharoah did. He chose to oppose God. But faced with the choice of losing a 600,000 slave workforce, he would hardly be expected to readily agree. No need to force him to say no.

[ravindran]

It is God who makes us 'freely' choose Him. Due to original sin, our inclination was to reject Him. We rejected Him freely. We were spiritually dead. It is God who regenerates and revises us spiritually. In regenerate state, we 'freely' choose Him. Which is our faith in Christ.

[warrior12]

56 minutes ago, ghtan said:

Everyone has a choice. Even Pharoah did. He chose to oppose God. But faced with the choice of losing a 600,000 slave workforce, he would hardly be expected to readily agree. No need to force him to say no.

This is a profound statement from the Lord.  Maybe, i am not interpreting it correctly.  Explain to me these words.

Exodus 9King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

 

I also see in the OT, that the Lord had CHOSEN, Isarel as his people and told them when they go into the promise Land, they were to wipe out the Philistines and other pagan tribes there.  Was not this God choosing directly a people for himself ?.    It is the pattern here i am looking at.