I have been reading a history of theology and came across the issue of predestination versus free will and human effort. There are multiple scriptures to support each view. If we are corrupted by sin and the work of salvation is totally dependent on God, is there any human effort involved in our salvation? Is there anything we can do to ensure our salvation or is it totally in God's hands? People who believe in predestination will say there is nothing we can do and people who believe we have free will and can choose our destiny will say we can expend human effort to effect our salvation. what do you think?
related issue: what is the relationship between predestination and freewill? if people choose to be saved and are predestined to make that choice, was it really free will?
5 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness; 7 and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,* be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. 11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
5 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness; 7 and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,* be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. 11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Yes, and you must be productive. It you are not producing fruit, you will be pruned and thrown into the fire. And you must feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, visit prisoners, welcome strangers into your home. If you do not, you are a goat. You will be thrown into the everlasting fire. And you must believe on Jesus. If you don't, you are condemned already.
This may not be a complete list.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
5 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness; 7 and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,* be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. 11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
i am not denying that we can expend human effort, but how does that human effort relate to the issue of predestination? if we are predestined there is no need for human effort. if we can expend human effort then how do we deal with all of the verses that teach predestination?
Oh, and you have to forgive. If you don't forgive, you won't be forgiven.
Don't forget, Repent and be Baptized in Jesus' Name for the forgiveness of sins and receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
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Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4)
Scripture is its own interpreter. Nothing can cut a diamond but a diamond. Nothing can interpret Scripture but Scripture" Thomas Watson.
i am not denying that we can expend human effort, but how does that human effort relate to the issue of predestination? if we are predestined there is no need for human effort. if we can expend human effort then how do we deal with all of the verses that teach predestination?
Everyone is doing what they want to do. If one is not elect you could not do anything to force him to serve God right. They don't want to.
5 Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control perseverance; and in perseverance godliness; 7 and in godliness brotherly affection; and in brotherly affection, love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, they make you to be not idle nor unfruitful to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,* be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. 11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
mtd, v10 proves predestination and that human effort will be expended to ensure our predestination, not that human effort in any way decides our salvation. we are predestined based on god's foreknowledge of our freewill choices and we are called to be holy, Ephesians 1:4
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
4 just as he chose us in Christ[a] before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.
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