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= salvation for the self-righteous only.Dave,
If God wrote the names of the saved in the book of life before the foundation of the world and he made his decision based on those who accepted his grace in Christ and who chose His offer of eternal life, then those who have the free will to choose - given to them by God - are born again / saved.
The nature of human free will or of human free choice is, according to Norman Geisler, ‘the power of contrary choice’ (Geisler 2003:444). I agree with this position as I see it through both OT and NT.
This is a basic and simple definition that I accept as being consistent with the biblical revelation: ‘Free will or free choice is the power of contrary choice’ and it is not taken away from human beings by God’s sovereignty, even though they are sinners.
This was the power of free choice in the beginning of the universe when Adam & Even were given the ability of free will, the power of contrary choice, when God said they could choose to eat or not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil:Gen 2:15-17 ; 3:2-7 NLT)
That free will, the ability to choose between alternatives, was not taken away after sin entered the world. Joshua 24:14-24 (NLT) confirms this.
We know salvation is from God and God alone (Eph 2:8-9 NIV), but this salvation for individuals happens when they believe. We know this from passages such as Acts 16:31 where the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas, 'What must I do to be saved?' 'They replied, “[You] Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household" (NLT).
'Believe' is an imperative verb; it's a command for the jailer to choose to believe. He and his household could have chosen not to believe.
Paul and Silas did not say,
'There is nothing for you to do because God has predestined you to salvation, unconditionally, and irresistible grace has been extended to you so you cannot reject God's offer. You are guaranteed salvation because you were placed in the elect before the foundation of the world - by God. Those not in the elect are predestined to damnation. You are among the "lucky" ones whom God showed favouritism towards and you have been chosen for eternal life'.
To be 'dead in sin', as the Philippian jailer and household were (Eph 2:1 NIV), did not prevent them from using their free will in regard to salvation - they could choose between the alternatives of eternal life or eternal damnation.
See my articles dealing with this topic:
What is the nature of human free will?
Salvation by grace but not by force: A person chooses to believe
This is not Pelagianism or semi-Pelagianism. It is biblical free will as we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is provided by God, but not on a basis of being forced into the Kingdom without a choice - through unconditional election, limited atonement and irresistible grace.
Oz
Works consulted:
Geisler, N 2003. Systematic theology: God, creation, vol 2. Minneapolis, Minnesota: BethanyHouse.
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