Faith Is A Choice

[Taylor Seraphim]

Either you're not reading the replies from people or are simply so ignorant that it's not worth even trying to explain things to you: Evidence of God's existence is all around you, then when you believe His words & recognize His existence will you be able to accept those evidence until then you can't expect anything from Him. God doesn't work the way you want Him to, sorry. You'll get your ultimate proof once you die, however then some things will be hard to fix & trust me you'll be very aware of that then.

You have yet to show a single piece of evidence from the world around us that can SOLEY be explained by his existence.

Would you care to try again?

 

[Raahim]

You have yet to show a single piece of evidence from the world around us that can SOLEY be explained by his existence.

Would you care to try again?

No, because I have better things to do today & as long as you keep being so ignorant you won't be able to see anything. The whole universe, every single atom & parts of it can solely be explained by his existence - that everything was made out of randomness & nothingness is simply not logical. He's using the things we can explain as His tools to carry out His will, is that really so hard to understand?

 

[katiemygirl]

Faith is not a choice.
How it is used is a choice.
Faith is a gift, when it is used, it grows.

Faith can be used for anything.
Those that put their faith in things of the flesh will reap what they have sown.
Those that put their faith in the things of the spirit will reap the rewards.

Yes, it is a gift, but that gift. Like any gift, we can accept or reject it.

God provided a way for us to receive His gift. Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God.

 

[katiemygirl]

"HeironymusJones, post: 4722788, member: 59703"]Katie, my dear, methinks you have a somewhat vague idea of what constitutes faith, or the definition thereof. Faith, how you see it, is actually the secondary definition of the term. The primary definition of “faith” is: complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

My definition of faith comes from Hebrews 11:1.

Now, with that in mind, some, many folks have redirected their faith into an organized religion of some sorts, as you have done with regard to Christianity. In short Katie, your faith is natural. Your faith in God and Jesus, however, is both part choice, part indoctrination. No word (if any word even exists) from God (if such an entity even exists) is necessary

There may have been some indoctrination early on in my life, but once I was able to read and understand, my faith was built on God's Word.

I have spent years proving or disproving the teachings of men by studying the Bible, both Old an New Testaments.

I question what your standard for right living is? If not the Word of God, then what? Yourself?

 

[james2ko]

Faith is something we choose to have.

Faith is taking Jesus at His word, and obeying what He says.

We get faith by hearing God's Word.

Not every human gets to choose to have faith/belief. Faith is a choice only for those whom God chooses not to blind and harden:

Romans 9:18 So then, he has mercy on whom he wants, and he hardens whom he wants. (CJB)

Joh 12:39-40 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. ​

 

[katiemygirl]

Not every human gets to choose to have faith/belief. Faith is a choice only for those whom God chooses not to blind and harden:

Romans 9:18 So then, he has mercy on whom he wants, and he hardens whom he wants. (CJB)

Joh 12:39-40 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. ​

Sorry James, but we've been down this road b4. What you have stated is Calvinism. We will have to agree to disagree here.

God does not pick and choose to save some and condemn others to eternal hell fire. He wants all men to be saved. He has given each of us the ability to choose or reject Him.

The verse you quoted is out of context. If you'd back up a little bit, you will see that John tells us,

"But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they would not believe in Him." It seem as though they rejected God's drawing them to Him repeatedly. In the end, God confirmed the hardening of their hearts. He turned them over to their own wickedness and let them have their way.

Hebrews 3:7-11 supports what I am saying.

7Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,
“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,

8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME,
AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,

9 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me,
AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.

10 “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION,
AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART,
AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’;

11 AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,
‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’”

Paul clearly tells us in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 and Romans 1:18-25 that God can give us over to depravity, and from that point on He lets us have our way. Yet, in the instance of Pharaoh, God gave him chance after chance to turn to Him and let His people go.

God hardens hearts all over the Bible (Isaiah 6:9-10, 63:17). Hardening hearts has to do with sin, justice and punishment, and not God picking and choosing particular people to save or condemn.

 

[james2ko]

Sorry James, but we've been down this road b4. What you have stated is Calvinism. We will have to agree to disagree here.

1. It's about time for a refresher. Not for you, your mind is obstinately made up, but for those who aren't sure what the bible has to say about the topic.

God does not pick and choose to save some and condemn others to eternal hell fire.

2. That is not what I'm advocating:

Joh_12:47 And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.​

The passage indicates those whom God has blinded in this age (unbelievers) will not be judged. They will be judged or evaluated when they live again, after the 1,000 yrs are finished (Rev 20:6, 11-12), with the rest of humanity who did not get a fair shot at salvation. After God unblinds and unhardens their heart (Isa 25:7) and they still refuse to believe, then they leave God no choice but to condemn them to gehenna (aka lake of fire-Rev 20:14-15). This scenario reconciles many scriptures.

He wants all men to be saved.

3. That is His desire. But the question is--does He want them all saved in this age? The answer is clearly no. Those whose hearts have been opened by God (Act 16:14--the church) are the only ones being judged in this age (1 Pe 4:17). The rest, who have been blinded, will get their chance after the 1,000 yr reign of Christ (Rev 20:6,11-14).

He has given each of us the ability to choose or reject Him.

4. Yes. Each Christian has been given the ability to choose or reject Him. But not everyone. God kept Abimelech from making his own choice to sin (Gen 20:6). Pharaoh had no choice (Rom 9:17-18). Neither did the Canaanites (Jos 11:20) nor will the Ten end time kings (Rev 17:17). King Sihon's heart was hardened. The Hebrew verb is in the Hifil stem meaning someone other than himself caused him to make this choice. God even tells us why He did so (Deu 2:30). Although not the norm, there are many other examples where God sovereignly steps in and forces us to choose His will.

The verse you quoted is out of context. If you'd back up a little bit, you will see that John tells us

"But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they would not believe in Him." It seem as though they rejected God's drawing them to Him repeatedly. In the end, God confirmed the hardening of their hearts. He turned them over to their own wickedness and let them have their way.

5. It's in perfect context with my conclusion. God can and does blind the hearts and minds of men so they refuse to listen (Rom 9:18-19 NLT). John is merely making a direct statement of unbelief. He then goes on to tell us why they could not believe (Joh 12:39-40).

Hebrews 3:7-11 supports what I am saying.

7Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, 8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, 9 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. 10 “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART,
AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’; 11 AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’”

6. All this tells us is after a believer's mind has been opened, we can also harden our own hearts. The Greek verb is in the active voice, meaning the people are choosing to harden their own heart. The same verb in Act 19:9 is in the passive, meaning someone other than themselves ---God--- is choosing to harden their hearts so they won't believe.

Paul clearly tells us in 1 Timothy 4:1-2 and Romans 1:18-25 that God can give us over to depravity, and from that point on He lets us have our way. Yet, in the instance of Pharaoh, God gave him chance after chance to turn to Him and let His people go.

7. In both passages, the context is clearly referring to believers who depart from the faith. This supports what I've been stressing. Believers can harden their own hearts and "......depart from the faith" (1 Ti 4:1). Rom 1:21 states Paul's audience "knew" God. Unbelievers don't know God, so he had to be speaking of former believers who fell away.

God hardens hearts all over the Bible (Isaiah 6:9-10, 63:17). Hardening hearts has to do with sin, justice and punishment, and not God picking and choosing particular people to save or condemn

8. Yes. Thanks for bringing that out. The bible clearly tells us He has the right to harden the hearts of unbelievers, as well as believers, in order to accomplish His sovereign will, which does not automatically sentence them to gehenna. That is not Calvinism. That is scripture:

Romans 9:18 So then, he has mercy on whom he wants, and he hardens whom he wants.
​

The simple answer to your OP is no. The bible clearly indicates not all people in this age get to choose faith. But it also indicates all those who do not initially choose faith in this age are not automatically condemned.

 

[Subhankar Zac]

Depends on how you define God.
Faith isn't the problem as living souls and the cosmic world together makes God. Though he's beyond the perception of the 5 senses, some of his energies make up the cosmos.

Faith is needed, but only if one uses their intelligence to sought out the truth of the self.

 

[katiemygirl]

Depends on how you define God.
Faith isn't the problem as living souls and the cosmic world together makes God. Though he's beyond the perception of the 5 senses, some of his energies make up the cosmos.

Faith is needed, but only if one uses their intelligence to sought out the truth of the self.

GOD, which is a title, represents the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That is how the Bible defines GOD. The title GOD is applied to all three persons. GOD is a triune GOD. Without faith, it is impossible to please GOD (Hebrews 11:6). Man chooses whether or not to have faith in God. Faith is a choice!

 

[Subhankar Zac]

GOD, which is a title, represents the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That is how the Bible defines GOD. The title GOD is applied to all three persons. GOD is a triune GOD. Without faith, it is impossible to please GOD (Hebrews 11:6). Man chooses whether or not to have faith in God. Faith is a choice!

The bible is invalid for me. N it's Hebrew, not Hebrews. Lol.
Language isn't in plural tense.
"Abandon all varieties of Dharma and just surrender yourself onto me. I'll protect you from all sins, do not fear"
-BhagAvad Gita 18:66
So, no bible n faith without reasoning is evil

 

[katiemygirl]

The bible is invalid for me. N it's Hebrew, not Hebrews. Lol.
Language isn't in plural tense.
"Abandon all varieties of Dharma and just surrender yourself onto me. I'll protect you from all sins, do not fear"
-BhagAvad Gita 18:66
So, no bible n faith without reasoning is evil

It is called "The letter to the Hebrews."

The letter was written to the Hebrew people, of which there was more than one. It was not written to a language.

God has given you the choice to accept or reject Him and His Holy Word. You have chosen rejection.

There is no common ground for you and I to debate.

I wish you the best.

Katie

 

[Subhankar Zac]

It is called "The letter to the Hebrews."

The letter was written to the Hebrew people, of which there was more than one. It was not written to a language.

God has given you the choice to accept or reject Him and His Holy Word. You have chosen rejection.

There is no common ground for you and I to debate.

I wish you the best.

Katie

God or a fake God?
God spoke the Gita 5000-7000 years ago, while some men wrote a random story just 1900 years ago.
Hope you get out of your delusion and ignorance n see the truth of Krishna whos the creator of infinite number of universes.

Wish you truth and knowledge.