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Why do we accept or reject Christ Jesus?

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I'm told a person has the ability to choose or reject Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

My question is, what is that choice based upon? What factors run through a persons mind allowing them to accept Jesus or walk away from Jesus?

When we are looking for a car we have a filter in which we run our likes and dislikes about a particular car through so we make the best possible decision. There is reasons why we want a 2 door or a 4 door. A chevy or a Ford. A moon roof or no moon roof. Life's situation, our needs and desires, where we're at go into the decision. I have AWD's because I have a hill I need to get up when it snows.

Now, Choosing Jesus isn't like choosing a car...I understand that....but when we apply what I'm told is our free-will what is the basics for our choice to accept or reject Christ Jesus?

Thoughts???
 
Is there a theological point to this or are you just looking for idle chit-chat?
 
I'm told a person has the ability to choose or reject Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

My question is, what is that choice based upon? What factors run through a persons mind allowing them to accept Jesus or walk away from Jesus?

When we are looking for a car we have a filter in which we run our likes and dislikes about a particular car through so we make the best possible decision. There is reasons why we want a 2 door or a 4 door. A chevy or a Ford. A moon roof or no moon roof. Life's situation, our needs and desires, where we're at go into the decision. I have AWD's because I have a hill I need to get up when it snows.

Now, Choosing Jesus isn't like choosing a car...I understand that....but when we apply what I'm told is our free-will what is the basics for our choice to accept or reject Christ Jesus?

Thoughts???

Please bear with me. You are asking for discussion on how Almighty God stands daily like a beggar hat in hand hoping He will be chosen?
As if some post-modern 'shopper' is trying decide whether to purchase an iOS or Android device?

Instead of what is considered a surrendering of the will to the Will of God?
 
Please bear with me. You are asking for discussion on how Almighty God stands daily like a beggar hat in hand hoping He will be chosen?
As if some post-modern 'shopper' is trying decide whether to purchase an iOS or Android device?

Instead of what is considered a surrendering of the will to the Will of God?
I don't know if standing like a beggar is what I had in mind...but some might think so. Some people use John 6:44 in this beggar fashion when they say....."No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Some act as if the drawing is like whooing a person...here kitty kitty style.

As to "considered a surrendering of the will to the Will of God" not being like a post-modern shopper in my OP I said, "Choosing Jesus isn't like choosing a car". Im simply asking why an individual would or would not surrender their will to the will of God. What is that. decision based upon. The car was only use as an example of a thought process to make a decision. What is the thought process to make a decision for christ? Can you help fill in the blank?
 
I don't know if standing like a beggar is what I had in mind...but some might think so. Some people use John 6:44 in this beggar fashion when they say....."No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
Some act as if the drawing is like whooing a person...here kitty kitty style.

As to "considered a surrendering of the will to the Will of God" not being like a post-modern shopper in my OP I said, "Choosing Jesus isn't like choosing a car". Im simply asking why an individual would or would not surrender their will to the will of God. What is that. decision based upon. The car was only use as an example of a thought process to make a decision. What is the thought process to make a decision for christ? Can you help fill in the blank?

Fill in the blank? Frankly I can't. Perhaps we think we choose, but as you pointed out the drawing is a Sovereign act of God.

Perhaps you were referring to this choosing as 'the will of man.' For that I can only find our 'will' is either in bondage to sin and death or in bondage to God's righteousness (alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord).

Romans 6: NKJV

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
 
If the Car is fiery red or the Car is gleaming white?
The Red Car is a Fast Sports Car that I can pick up chicks in?
The White Car is a Minivan style that I can pick up wife/kids in?
The reason we make a choice for either Car changes with time & circumstance.
Just because God knows every single choice we will ever make has no bearing on the choices we do make?
We are all accountable for our choices?
What more does God have to do?
Luke 16:19-31
 
Fill in the blank? Frankly I can't. Perhaps we think we choose, but as you pointed out the drawing is a Sovereign act of God.

Perhaps you were referring to this choosing as 'the will of man.' For that I can only find our 'will' is either in bondage to sin and death or in bondage to God's righteousness (alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord).

Romans 6: NKJV

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Thank you for that reply. I was mainly interested in salvation and why the free-will theologians chose to accept or reject.
Once saved....we choose to sin or not sin. Often sin wins out.
 
If the Car is fiery red or the Car is gleaming white?
The Red Car is a Fast Sports Car that I can pick up chicks in?
The White Car is a Minivan style that I can pick up wife/kids in?
The reason we make a choice for either Car changes with time & circumstance.
Just because God knows every single choice we will ever make has no bearing on the choices we do make?
We are all accountable for our choices?
What more does God have to do?
Luke 16:19-31

Yes, true, but I was kinda leaning towards does the free-will theologiana believe a man may choose Christ because he just heard a real moving convincing evangelist....and accepted Jesus... or just heard a real moving convincing atheist college professor who convinced him Jesus wasn't real.....and he rejected Jesus.
 
John 3:19-21 "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Here, Jesus explains why people will come to him. Those who LOVE sin don't want to change, they love the darkness. Those who want to do the right thing...........will come to him.
 
John 3:19-21 "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of the light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Here, Jesus explains why people will come to him. Those who LOVE sin don't want to change, they love the darkness. Those who want to do the right thing...........will come to him.
Thanks for the reply.
Just clearing up a few concepts....are you saying this verse tells us some people like their "evil" while some people like the light of the truth?
If that be the case, why do some people like evil and some people the truth? Was the one who likes evil filled with hate propaganda while the one who likes the truth not filled with hate propaganda?
Just asking.
 
Yes. That is a good observation about hate. They live on their hatred and that's how they like it.

Those who can't love and stir up hatred, will not be in heaven.
 
A free-will theologiana will present the Gospel to more sinners & will produce more fruit?
A non-free-will theologiana will not present the Gospel to more sinners & will produce less fruit?
Who is doing the Will of God?
 
A free-will theologiana will present the Gospel to more sinners & will produce more fruit?
A non-free-will theologiana will not present the Gospel to more sinners & will produce less fruit?
Who is doing the Will of God?

How can you make that statement? It's absolutly false.
Many non-free-will theologians have presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people and seen God use them as a tool of presentation to save an individual.
 
Maybe it's both. God has to draw us, just as scripture states, but we have to submit to Him, want to be led by Him, and want to be molded and in doing so our will becomes like His.

Like livethroughdove said, some people like the darkness and the world more, they like to feed their flesh more.

A person has to be willing to sacrifice their bodies..we are a living sacrifice, and be willing to surrender our whole lives to Christ, we were bought with a price.
If you aren't willing God isn't going to take your free will away.
 
Maybe it's both. God has to draw us, just as scripture states, but we have to submit to Him, want to be led by Him, and want to be molded and in doing so our will becomes like His.
Thank you for replying DavidC.
In a sense I agree, but my question is why would a person want to or not want to?
Like livethroughdove said, some people like the darkness and the world more, they like to feed their flesh more.
Pretty much the same question...why do some people LIKE and others not LIKE?
Maybe it's both. God has to draw us, just as scripture states, but we have to submit to Him, want to be led by Him, and want to be molded and in doing so our will becomes like His.

Like livethroughdove said, some people like the darkness and the world more, they like to feed their flesh more.

A person has to be willing to sacrifice their bodies..we are a living sacrifice, and be willing to surrender our whole lives to Christ, we were bought with a price.
If you aren't willing God isn't going to take your free will away.
I feel I may have worded my question badly...as so far no one is really addressing the issue.
I'm intersted in the decision process. What goes through a persons mind when they choose to accept or reject....There are reasons why a person would choose a particular college over another. What are the reasons why a person would choose Christ or reject Christ.
 
Thank you for that reply. I was mainly interested in salvation and why the free-will theologians chose to accept or reject.
Once saved....we choose to sin or not sin. Often sin wins out.

To be more precise Biblically I would offer what Paul taught later in Romans 6:

Romans 6: NKJV
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And this:

Romans 8: NKJV
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The above is probably one of the most sobering passages in the NT. We are either alive in the Spirit (born again--regenerated) or we are not. Those who are born again---regenerated--according to the Spirit--to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

The above passage really puts to rest arguments that 'works' our actions no matter how good contribute to our salvation. It also puts to rest the other end of the spectrum that we can 'do what we want and still be saved.' One passage right up there in Romans 8 puts to rest the heresies of Pelagianism/semi-Pelagianism on the one hand; and antinomianism on the other. Do we stumble and sin. Sure I think that is a given and the apostle John tells us when we do we have an Advocate in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1). As believers we are betrothed to Christ and we should conduct ourselves as such in purity. We can burn the pot roast but cannot take Christ with us into a brothel.

Notice the call to purity John says in 1 John 2:

1 John 2: NKJV
2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

The apostle Paul makes this clear as well:

Ephesians 2: NKJV
2
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

1 Thessalonians 4: NKJV
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.
 
Yes, true, but I was kinda leaning towards does the free-will theologiana believe a man may choose Christ because he just heard a real moving convincing evangelist....and accepted Jesus... or just heard a real moving convincing atheist college professor who convinced him Jesus wasn't real.....and he rejected Jesus.
What does the Bible teach?

Romans 10: NKJV
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?" 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
 
Thank you for replying DavidC.
In a sense I agree, but my question is why would a person want to or not want to?

Pretty much the same question...why do some people LIKE and others not LIKE?

I feel I may have worded my question badly...as so far no one is really addressing the issue.
I'm intersted in the decision process. What goes through a persons mind when they choose to accept or reject....There are reasons why a person would choose a particular college over another. What are the reasons why a person would choose Christ or reject Christ.
Hi,
I guess I thought I did answer, or maybe you are looking for a predestination/election type answer, but Jesus died for the whole world,

Maybe the decision process is different for everyone, I have heard miraculous salvation stories, people being in near death situations and God revealed himself to the person and they knew that they knew, for others, they grew up in the church and have never not believed. For others maybe God worked in their lives for many years and they just didn't want to give up the ways of the world, maybe others decided on their death beds, every person has a different salvation story as far as I can tell.

Personally, I grew up in the church and have never not believed and about the age of 9, I saw what God had done in the lives of those around me, the only thing I knew I had to do was follow him.

Others like to be of the world, they chose to live a life apart from God. Why? Because they like to feed their flesh, they like to do all those things that Paul says are not edifying, they want to be the king of their lives. Their choice is their own because God has given each of us the knowledge of him so no man will have an excuse.
 
God recealed hiself to the person and they knew that they knew

"God revealed hiself to the person and they knew that they knew"

I think there is a lot of truth to that.
I see Romans 3:11 There is no one who understands; no one who seeks God....as key. If God doesn't reveal himself to you, you won't get saved.
 
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