What a strange disconnect in Naaman, who knew what he needed to do to be cleansed from his leprosy, but refused to do it because he had his own idea of what would make him clean.
Ye have NOT chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and foreordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. John 15:16
RE: It is a matter of choice whether or not we choose to believe the words of Jesus. If someone knew they were dying of something that kills both body and soul, why would they choose not to follow the commandment of God?
Question: How is it possible that “we” sinners, being spiritually dead in SIN, are bewitched to think we are not dead in SIN but have been made alive with the Serpent’s gospel carnal knowledge of good and evil; and it is a matter of choice whether or not we choose to believe the words of Jesus? If someone like Lazarus, who lay dead for three days in his tomb, knew they were held captive in the darkness of spiritually death, why would they think they have a living free-will that can autonomously choose whether or not to obey the sovereign LORD’S regenerating commandment to come forth from the tomb?
The degenerate flesh’s self-righteous choice to place Its carnal-minded faith in Jesus’ words is a false faith from the deluded self-willed sin nature. Foolish virgins from Christ’s Bride vainly attempt to religiously build upon the sinful intellectual foundation of their ‘old wineskin’ heart’s carnal-minded faith, which is as unstable as shifting sand. Daily deciding whether or not to believe in certain words of Jesus, is a never-ending carnal-minded decision-making matter of the flesh, that ultimately leads to perdition.
The wise virgins in Christ’s Bride were foreknown and chosen before the creation of time, and were predestined to be regenerated (Holy Spiritual Baptism) with a repentant ’new wineskin’ heart that is obediently driven by the indwelling Spirit (i.e. New Wine) of His most holy faith.
Thanks for the comment, John. Why did Jesus teach about the wise and foolish virgins at all if it weren't an instruction of matter of choice to prepare (why say Matt. 25:13 if watching is pointless)? The Calvinist view, as it appears you have taken, teaches choice is an illusion and Christ's teaching about the desire, choice, denial, and death in following Him is just cruelty for those who never had a choice at all (Luke 9:23). By the way, how do you know what you just said in your comment is not the result of your own deception by "the Serpent's gospel carnal knowledge of good and evil?" Seems like you could be deceived about what you're saying as much as I could. Thank God for His truth that can be learned and obeyed (2 Tim. 2:15). The Bible compels us as Joshua did, "choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15).
But, Andy, if the LORD has not chosen to know you, and it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then your carnal-minded self-willed sin-nature is free to choose between two Satanic idolized evils for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house who God has graciously chosen to save, we will serve the LORD!”
And Jesus said, "He [whoever desires it] that believes and is baptized [makes the choice to submit to Him through obedience to the gospel] shall be saved."
Ye have NOT chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and foreordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you. John 15:16
RE: It is a matter of choice whether or not we choose to believe the words of Jesus. If someone knew they were dying of something that kills both body and soul, why would they choose not to follow the commandment of God?
Question: How is it possible that “we” sinners, being spiritually dead in SIN, are bewitched to think we are not dead in SIN but have been made alive with the Serpent’s gospel carnal knowledge of good and evil; and it is a matter of choice whether or not we choose to believe the words of Jesus? If someone like Lazarus, who lay dead for three days in his tomb, knew they were held captive in the darkness of spiritually death, why would they think they have a living free-will that can autonomously choose whether or not to obey the sovereign LORD’S regenerating commandment to come forth from the tomb?
The degenerate flesh’s self-righteous choice to place Its carnal-minded faith in Jesus’ words is a false faith from the deluded self-willed sin nature. Foolish virgins from Christ’s Bride vainly attempt to religiously build upon the sinful intellectual foundation of their ‘old wineskin’ heart’s carnal-minded faith, which is as unstable as shifting sand. Daily deciding whether or not to believe in certain words of Jesus, is a never-ending carnal-minded decision-making matter of the flesh, that ultimately leads to perdition.
The wise virgins in Christ’s Bride were foreknown and chosen before the creation of time, and were predestined to be regenerated (Holy Spiritual Baptism) with a repentant ’new wineskin’ heart that is obediently driven by the indwelling Spirit (i.e. New Wine) of His most holy faith.
Thanks for the comment, John. Why did Jesus teach about the wise and foolish virgins at all if it weren't an instruction of matter of choice to prepare (why say Matt. 25:13 if watching is pointless)? The Calvinist view, as it appears you have taken, teaches choice is an illusion and Christ's teaching about the desire, choice, denial, and death in following Him is just cruelty for those who never had a choice at all (Luke 9:23). By the way, how do you know what you just said in your comment is not the result of your own deception by "the Serpent's gospel carnal knowledge of good and evil?" Seems like you could be deceived about what you're saying as much as I could. Thank God for His truth that can be learned and obeyed (2 Tim. 2:15). The Bible compels us as Joshua did, "choose this day whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Josh. 24:15).
But, Andy, if the LORD has not chosen to know you, and it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then your carnal-minded self-willed sin-nature is free to choose between two Satanic idolized evils for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house who God has graciously chosen to save, we will serve the LORD!”
And Jesus said, "He [whoever desires it] that believes and is baptized [makes the choice to submit to Him through obedience to the gospel] shall be saved."