Chosen III

Chosen III

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

1 John 2:2 NIV

Yesterday we looked at God’s choosing of the elect before the foundation of the world.  So if God chose us what does that mean for things like personal responsibility and free will?

Personal responsibility is closely related to the principal of, “reaping what you sow”. (Gal. 6:7-8) The Bible is full of examples were people are held responsible for their actions and sins. (Gen. 4:7, Joshua 7:14-15, Num. 18:5, 2 Thes. 3:10, I Tim. 5:8) 

20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

Romans 1:20

Here and in other places we see that on the day of judgement no one will have an excuse.  Each person will be held accountable for the decisions that they make. (Deut. 24:16, Ezekiel 18:20, Matt. 12:37, John 9:41). So then in our lives each person must make their own decision to either except or reject God.  We are all free to choose.

So what does it mean to have free will and do we truly have freedom?

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

John 8:31-36 NIV

Jesus tells the Jews that if they follow Him they will know truth and be free. The Jews object and claim that they are free people. Remember that Jesus is speaking spiritually but the Jews are thinking earthly. Those who have not chosen Jesus are dead and slaves to sin. Before our regeneration we were all slaves and there was nothing good within us. (John 3:19, Jer. 17:9, Mark 7:21-23)

“As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.””

Romans 3:10-12 NIV

So, then do we have freedom? Yes, we are free to chose to do all the evil our hearts desire. We are in bondage to sin and it is all that we know. Sin is our master, the desires of our flesh control us. Even if we do not act out all of our minds desires the thoughts our still within us. It is only after salvation that we can know the truth of our past depravity and then be free. With the power of the Holy Spirit we are free to live new lives. Let us then live in a way that is worth and brings honor and glory to our God