Free Will...Proverbs 16:9

Proverbs 16:9 

The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord shows him what to do. 

If "free will" means that God gives humans the opportunity to make choices that genuinely affect their destiny, then yes, human beings do have a free will. The world's current sinful state is directly linked to choices made by Adam and Eve. God created mankind in His own image, and that included the ability to choose.

However, free will does not mean that mankind can do anything he pleases. Our choices are limited to what is in keeping with our nature. For example, a man may choose to walk across a bridge or not to walk across it; what he may not choose is to fly over the bridge"his nature prevents him from flying. In a similar way, a man cannot choose to make himself righteous"his (sin) nature prevents him from canceling his guilt (Romans 3:23). So, free will is limited by nature.

This limitation does not mitigate our accountability. The Bible is clear that we not only have the ability to choose, we also have the responsibility to choose wisely. In the Old Testament, God chose a nation (Israel), but individuals within that nation still bore an obligation to choose obedience to God. And individuals outside of Israel were able to choose to believe and follow God as well (e.g., Ruth and Rahab). 

In the New Testament, sinners are commanded over and over to "repent" and "believe" (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Acts 3:19; 1 John 3:23). Every call to repent is a call to choose. The command to believe assumes that the hearer can choose to obey the command.

Jesus identified the problem of some unbelievers when He told them, "You refuse to come to me to have life" (John 5:40). Clearly, they could have come if they wanted to; their problem was they chose not to. "A man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7), and those who are outside of salvation are "without excuse" (Romans 1:20-21).

But how can man, limited by a sin nature, ever choose what is good? It is only through the grace and power of God that free will truly becomes "free" in the sense of being able to choose salvation (John 15:16). It is the Holy Spirit who works in and through a person's will to regenerate that person (John 1:12-13) and give him/her a new nature "created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:24). Salvation is God's work. At the same time, our motives, desires, and actions are voluntary, and we are rightly held responsible for them.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for us. For the ability to choose and know what Love really means. We are grateful for your tender mercies and long suffering patience. May your will be done through us. In Jesus name, Amen!

Commentary by qotquestions.org

Wonderfully Crafted...Psalm 139:13-14

Psalm 139:13-14 

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my bodyand knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 

We call them exceptional children. Special needs children. Disabled. Handicapped. Whatever the term, the challenge is enormous for a parent gifted with such a child. But this much is clear: every child is perfectly made by God. God is sovereign over all the earth, including the womb. He has superintended our very conception and existence, and every child born is fearfully and wonderfully crafted by Him.
Scripture is actually filled with those who are physically handicapped. Jacob walked with a limp for the rest of his life after his midnight wrestling match with an angel. Mephibosheth’s body was hopelessly twisted and crippled. King Jereboam had a withered hand. Namaan was a leper. Even Paul suffered from an unnamed “thorn” in his flesh.

In addition to their challenges, all of these had something else in common: not one of them was miraculously healed. So many times we gravitate toward the miracles of the Bible, and there were many. But there were many more who lived day to day with all kinds of indignities, pains and disabilities. A lot of people live without a miracle. But who is to say that the power of God cannot be even more dramatically displayed in the life of one who struggles, but remains steadfast…who seeks to make sense of what appears as nonsense? I believe the power of God is displayed all around us, in the lives of exceptional people who never experience a life-changing miracle. They are not changed. They change us.

Father, thank you for creating me the way you intended me to be, thank you for loving me so. Empower me to do your will and shine your light for all to see. May they see you in me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen!

Commentary by Dr. Ed Young

Savior as well as a Servant...Isaiah 53:3-4

Isaiah 53:3-4 

He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,a punishment for his own sins! 

Jesus was everything and became nothing for us. Yet most of the people who were on earth that he came to save didn't know him or accept him. The crowds just assumed he deserved what he got. Most did not repent. But there was something about that sacrificial story that has grabbed hearts over the years and called God's lost children home. In our journey home, we find him to not only be a Savior, but a servant for our salvation as well.

Matthew 25:21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’  May we always remember our humility by the blood of Jesus and be the servant he has asked us to be in His name!

Heavenly Father, we ask that you teach us your will through your Holy Spirit and help us to utilize the gifts we each have been given. We praise your name always! In Jesus name, AMEN!

Slavery...become holy...Romans 6:19

Romans 6:19 

Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. 

When we reflect on our past in this country, the word "slave" has a very specific meaning. Derogatory in nature. So many people have lost their lives because of what this word means. The civil war almost destroyed this country. Slavery continues to exist in the continent of Africa as well as others. The worlds view of slavery is one associated with injustice and inequality, hatred and disrespect, bigotry and evil. Why then does Paul call us to be slaves? 

I believe to graphically prove a point that we are to be something that is completely opposite of what the world believes a slave to be. According to Paul, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, In order to be holy, we must surrender ourselves completely to righteous living. To be a slave to God's will, His purposes His plan. These are examples of slavery for what is RIGHT! What we have experienced in human history is an example of what is WRONG! Romans 6:19-21 ..Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. 

There is nothing wrong with being a slave to what is right and true, to this I boldly refer to our creator, our Father, our Redeemer, His Truth through His Word, His Son, His Spirit! Paul often began his letters referring himself as a bond slave of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 

 

The gift of free will has empowered us to choose. Romans 6:16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 

When we accept Jesus as our savior, the gift of the Holy Spirit helps us see this Truth and leads us to follow & obey God. Being a slave is not bad, its what you're a slave to that makes the difference.

Romans 6:17-18 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. 

Thank you Father for your wisdom in understanding the difference between right and wrong throught Jesus and the Holy Spirit which lead me in serving you. Allow me to be your bond slave and serve you with all that I am. With all my praise, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN!

Who Created God?...

Who created God?

A common argument from atheists and skeptics is that if all things need a cause, then God must also need a cause. The conclusion is that if God needed a cause, then God is not God (and if God is not God, then of course there is no God). This is a slightly more sophisticated form of the basic question "Who made God?" Everyone knows that something does not come from nothing. So, if God is a "something," then He must have a cause, right?

The question is tricky because it sneaks in the false assumption that God came from somewhere and then asks where that might be. The answer is that the question does not even make sense. It is like asking, "What does blue smell like?" Blue is not in the category of things that have a smell, so the question itself is flawed. In the same way, God is not in the category of things that are created or caused. God is uncaused and uncreated"He simply exists.

How do we know this? We know that from nothing, nothing comes. So, if there were ever a time when there was absolutely nothing in existence, then nothing would have ever come into existence. But things do exist. Therefore, since there could never have been absolutely nothing, something had to have always been in existence. That ever-existing thing is what we call God. God is the uncaused Being that caused everything else to come into existence. God is the uncreated Creator who created the universe and everything in it.

Thank you Father for your exisence and for creating me through Love. I am blessed just because! May you always be Blessed! In Jesus Name, AMEN!

Commentary by GotQuestions.org

Good News...Romans 10:9

What is the gospel of Jesus Christ?

The word gospel means “good news,” so the gospel of Christ is the good news of His coming to provide forgiveness of sins for all who will believe (Colossians 1:14; Romans 10:9). Since the beginning of time when the first man sinned, mankind has been under the condemnation of God (Romans 5:12). Because everyone breaks God’s perfect law by committing sin (Romans 3:23), everyone is guilty (Romans 5:18). The punishment for the crime of sin is physical death (Romans 6:23) and then an eternity spent in a place of eternal punishment (Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:46). This eternal separation from God is also called the “second death” (Revelation 20:14–15).

The fact that all are guilty of sin and condemned to spend eternity in a place of torment is very bad news. But God, because of His love for the world, has made a way for man to be forgiven for their sins (John 3:16). He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the sins of man on Himself through death on a cross (1 Peter 2:24). In placing our sin on Christ, God ensured that all who will believe in the name of Jesus will be forgiven (Acts 10:43).

This is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news that God provided the way for man to be freed from the penalty of sin (John 14:6: Romans 6:23). But not all people will be saved from hell; only those who place their faith in Jesus will go to heaven when they die (Acts 4:12).

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the best news anyone will ever hear, and what a person does with this news will determine where he or she spends eternity. God is calling you to choose life. Call on the name of the Lord and be saved (Romans 10:13)!

Commentary by Got Questions.org

Hall Pass...Romans 6:15

Romans 6:15 

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! 

Many people struggle with this verse. The understanding of what God's grace is and what it means. Ephesians 2:8-9 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. If you have genuinely surrendered your life to Jesus and made him your savior, you then follow him because you WANT to, not because you HAVE to. That's an example of love. What do you mean want to? I'll compare this to a marraige. When a man and wife are in love and get married, they choose to act a certain way that has been outlined in the God's Word. Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-40. You act and behave in love because you want to, not cause you have to. When you choose Jesus as your savior, its the same act of love, in that you will follow Him & obey Him. Jesus didn't sin while he was on earth. If he's asking you to follow Him, why would you do otherwise? What gives you the right to go on sinning when Jesus tells us to sin no more. John 8:10-11 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” 

In order to have salvation, you need to surrender yourself to Jesus, GENUINELY! You have to mean it and you have to WANT Jesus, Not because you selfishly want something for yourself. Romans 10:9-10 You should want to cultivate and maintain a loving relationship with Jesus as you would a family member you truely love. When you love somebody, you will do things you never thought you'd do, you'd go out of your way for them. In some cases, die for them. Thats what Jesus did for us, DIED for us on the cross. Thats Love!

You want salvation? You want the benefits of heaven when you die, turn to Jesus, BUT check yourself before you wreck yourself! Are you turning to him selfishly because you want something for yourself? HEAVEN? This is your sin nature at work. Romans 6:16-18 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. 

Hebrews 13:4 Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery. 

Thank you Father for your Love for us in that you sent your only son to die in our place so that we who choose Jesus as our savior would have eternal life with you in heaven forever! Thank you so much for loving me more than I deserve! I pray in Jesus name! Amen!