Free will, predestination, etc...

[smartinez1984]

Probably beating an old horse to death here but just wanted to get some feedback on the info found on this website:

http://www.goodnewsaboutgod.com/freewill.htm

God Bless,

-Samson

[Psalm 119]

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." John 15:16

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethern. Moreover who He predestined these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified" Romans 8:29-30

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44

From my understanding....all the prophets and apostles, and all believers were/are chosen by God. "There is none righteous, no not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God." Romans 3:10-12 (Ps. 14 :1-3, 53: 1-3, Eccl 7:20)

It's only by God's grace, with His Holy Spirit convicting of us of sin, that we are able to come to Him.

A good word study to do is on choose, chosen, etc.

Psalm 119

[Ralph]

  Smartinez: the article you asked about--near the end of the article, he turns out to be a universalist. He denies that man is a truly volitional creature. But man does have free will except that apart from Christ, man's will is in bondage to sin, unable--literally unable--to do that which is right. God's restraint upon man's bent to evil through giving to man a measure of common grace is the only reason he can function
as a moral being. God's purposes and ways are always holy and just. He can with holiness purpose that which evil men
desire to enact out of evil motives. When God removes His restraining hand, that swiftly sink to the level which His restraint allows. In either scenario, man is functioning as a free will creature, only UNABLE to do that which is right. Those who say they don't need Christ because they are as moral as anyone else don't realize that God is restraining their
natural bent to evil. When they enter eternity without Christ,
they will be utterly seperated from all common grace and shall plummet for eternity through the bottomless pit where they shall find no place of standing in any degree of moral integrity.