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Is our salvation more a result of our free will choices or the sovereign work of God in us?
To what degree is our free will really free if the bible says we are "slaves to sin" or "slaves of righteousness"? I.e., is our free will absolutely free, or is it hemmed in within certain limitations, either within the spiritual realm of sin or the realm of righteousness?
9 Answers
- Annsan_In_HimLv 76 years agoFavorite Answer
Only after a person has been saved can they begin to realize the extent to which God was sovereignly at work in them. Hindsight is a great thing! Well, this subject is complex so here are the relevant scriptures to help you work the process of salvation out.
Justification is spoken of in the Bible in Romans 4:25 & 5:16 & 8:33 and Galatians 2:16 & 3:11. Sanctification is dealt with in John 17:17 and 1 Corinthians 1:30 and 1 Thessalonians 4:3 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13 and 1 Peter 1:2 and Hebrews 10:10. Full redemption of the body is in Ephesians 1:7 and Hebrews 9:12 and 1 Corinthians 15:44 and 2 Corinthians 5:6. You would need to study all those passages of scripture to get an understanding of the differences and the inter-relatedness of those three biblical teachings.
Justification has to happen first, otherwise there will be no on-going process of, and final receiving of salvation, which culminates in the redemption of our bodies – when we receive a glorified body just like Jesus’ glorified body that was redeemed from the grave. It is a legal standing that is conferred on a repentant sinner who places all their faith in Jesus. It happens in a moment of time, at the point of being born from above by the Holy Spirit. God pardons the sins of that person due to what Jesus accomplished on their behalf. That person is then sanctified, which means ‘set apart for holy use’. Their whole life is then a process of becoming more and more sanctified as they learn to live for God and no longer for self.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. “ Romans 12:1-2
Righteousness; Romans 1:17 - "For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by FAITH FROM FIRST TO LAST [not works] just as it is written, 'The righteous will live by FAITH'."
Romans 3:20 - "Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in God's sight by observing the law; rather, through the law ewe become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ... For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart fro observing the law...To the man who trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." (4:4)
They ‘receive’ sanctification when Jesus returns in glory and their bodies are redeemed from corruption by being incorruptible bodies. Just as Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by the power of God the father, so also every believer in Christ is left with the promise of being raised from the dead some day into an incorruptible, indestructible, immortal glorified resurrection body like the body of the Lord Jesus Christ.
That’s it in a nutshell, but you really need to spend time studying those scriptures (which don’t constitute a complete list, by the way. There’s much more!)
- 6 years ago
Salvation is entirely the work of God. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)
We respond to His call to salvation, in faith, but faith itself is a gift from God.
As for free will...our will is not free at all. We have SEPARATE wills from God and others, but all will is constrained by reality (ie we can't fly through air by will alone) and by God's sovereign will. Now, our actions can fall outside God's permissive will, His ideal wish; we can this sin and we are responsible for our choices, and they matter in thee world around us. But God has planned and accounted for our choices, and so what ever choices we make fall within His plan, His sovereign will. We can do nothing God does not permit and have a plan for. Nor can we choose salvation. But we are responsible for our choices, and will answer to God for them eventually.
- 6 years ago
Our salvation is a result of God so loving the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.
It was 100% because of God's love. Missing it is 100% the fault of the one that misses it. Kind of hard to break that down in to percentages, isn't it?
- PamelaLv 76 years ago
The Bible says it is not Gods desire that anyone be lost. He loves the unbeliever just as much as He loves me. The difference is our willingness. He forces no one. As a loving parent- God can more easily move for, work with and bless a child who wants Him in their lives as opposed to a child who is constantly rebelling, disobeying and ignoring His efforts.
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- Anonymous6 years ago
The first. A person can have the grace to do what is necessary to accept salvation if he or she daily and carefully says the rоѕаrу.
- PaulCypLv 76 years ago
Both. It is by our free will that we choose to allow God's grace to work in us.
- Averell ALv 76 years ago
Our salvation is by God's grace alone, but we have to respond to God's initiative by faith alone.