Matthew 19:26
God gets the glory when a person turns to him. Without God’s working in our lives we would never come to him on our own. The word Jesus uses here cannot be softened. He says it is impossible for salvation to come about without God being involved. This only makes sense, though people try to use this fact to support many unhealthy ways of thinking.
For one, people often will say that God decides who is going to be saved and who is not. So, they say, we can’t change it even if we try. If a person is meant to get saved, they will get saved. This is quite absurd. To make an observation on the relative effectiveness of our witness to another person is to presume to know all that the Holy Spirit knows. We don’t and cannot know that much. Jesus has specifically told us to witness to others. If a person will never respond to the gospel message that is God’s business. We cannot know that.
Also, people have said that this means we are completely incapable of being saved. They say we do not have the capacity to do it. We are completely and totally depraved, and thus it is utterly impossible for us to choose salvation. Well, answering this is quite easy. We have two legs, but we are, in relation to Almighty God, incapable of walking down the street. So even though we have the capacity to walk, God must allow us to do so. He could very well prevent us at any time from exercising this ability. Beyond this, he is the one who gave us the legs to use to walk to begin with.
So, even if we say that we have the capability to choose salvation, this will have been obtained from God. And, without his consent, we will find ourselves unable to use the ability we have. Therefore, though I agree with the idea that man is totally depraved, deprived of any good thing within us on our own, I would have to say that that does not keep us from having the ability to choose salvation if God allows us to have that choice. Indeed, please remember that the choice to be saved is really just the choice to obey, to yield to command of Almighty God. So, arguing about whether a person is able to choose is useless. Without God’s permission we can do nothing, whether we are able or not. And, if we are able, that ability will have itself come from God.
Bible Reading: John 17:1-18:40
Scripture Memory: 1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for yet another lovely day to serve You. Everything I see around me, all of the amazing wonders of life, are Your handiwork. Your world excites me because I know I can grow to what I am meant to be in your kingdom. Christ has put me, by the power of his resurrection, into the great position of being one of Your children. I just cannot hardly contain myself when I think of all the wondrous things You are capable of. And, I know that You have determined to share Your creations with us. Wow! I am so excited about heaven. I am so excited about what You will do in this life. Thank You! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.
Prayer Requests: Pray for a couple that was just in a serious accident. Pray for a boy with strep throat. Pray for a family that recently lost a loved one.
Journal Entry #14048