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ELECTION: DID GOD CHOOSE ME, OR DID I CHOOSE HIM?

Did God elect me before the foundation of the world, based upon His fore-knowledge of my faith and/or works, Or upon His good pleasure, without consideration of my faith or works? Have at it!

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Permalink Reply by Jack on July 21, 2008 at 11:26pm: Gina; I do not "Struggle" to be conformed to the image of Christ. I feed myself on God's Word, and then it is God Who worketh in me both to will and to do His good pleasure. And He that hath begun a good work in me will continue to do so until the day of Chist Jesus. Brother Jack

Gina Mosko said:
If you think that one can be conformed to the image of Christ in completely passive fashion, well I don't know. It has always seemed like very hard work to me. But perhaps that's why I'm not a Calvinist.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gina on July 22, 2008 at 9:34am: Jack,
We obviously come to such texts with our own preconceptions.

I think denying that to live an authentic Christian life is a struggle is self-defeating. There are a lot of Christians out there wondering "what's wrong with me," because they've been promised virtual sanctification and then find they actually have to choose every day to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's work. For most of us, unformed as we are, those choices are very difficult. Our Lord struggled in His humanity- fasting forty days, spending hours in prayer, agonizing in prayer such that He sweated blood- and we are not above our Teacher.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jack on August 6, 2008 at 2:57pm: Seraphim; I see God, only, working out His previous plans...Nothing whatever of man responding. Is it possible that you imported this from your understanding of other passages. Love, Jack

Seraphim Walters said:
Jack said:
Seraphim; Did you say that Rom 8:28-30 IMPLIES that We must answer the phone?
Brother, Jack

Seraphim Walters said:
Laurel Esser said:
Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to THEM WHO are called according to His purpose, 29 For WHOM He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren. 30 Moreover, WHOM he did predestinate, THEM He also called: and WHOM He called, THEM He also justified: and WHOM He justified, THEM He also glorified."

It doesn't say - "but if you have to work with the Holy Spirit or God doesn't actually do all of those things."

however it is implied you have to answer the phone when he calls...

Tis how I interpret it, yes.; ▶ Reply to This