Is belief a choice?

[Carbon]

Content does not birth your spirit, the word confirms this...our spirit must be Born Again to see the Kingdom Of God...we are Born Of The Spirit the exact way that Jesus explains to Nicodemas.

Also what seed have you been Born Again of and by whose Living testimony?..

No one can say that that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit...the Holy Spirit resides in my heart only he can testify of who God and Jesus are to my spirit....how do you know that Jesus is who the Bible says he is....because the Bible tells you so....afraid you need much more than that, you need God’s Living Witness..only he can birth our spirit into his..Spirit gives birth to spirit...which means what?

No one here is denying these truths that are found in scripture.

 

[Ritajanice]

Oh come now, @Ritajanice, you should know us better than that.

Not really...I will stay around and give you the benefit of the doubt,lol.

 

[Carbon]

According to you and obviously others on the forum...no one could possibly know for sure whether Calvin was one of God’s elect...unless I read that he was in Gods word...which I’m afraid isn’t there....if it was only then would I believe it...always check with scripture as you say...I see nothing in the word regarding Calvin, unless of course I missed it?

No one said John Calvin is mentioned in the word.

 

[Ritajanice]

No one here is denying these truths that are found in scripture.

That’s good to know then.

 

[Carbon]

When I became Born Again it was the beginning of my new life in Christ.....the Spirit will teach us anew and all that the world taught us will be undone, but, only in Gods timing.

Well, that's one way of saying it. I suppose

 

[Ritajanice]

No one said John Calvin is mentioned in the word.

You said that he was one of God’s elect..how have you come to that knowledge,if it’s not in Gods word?

 

[Arial]

I can’t explain to you how the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are Gods children, as it would be impossible for you to understand, if the Spirit has not testified his truth to your heart/ spirit...Spirit gives birth to spirit...try explaining that..you can’t...it’s between the Spirit and the Born Again.

Well, Rita, I do have the Spirit indwelling me. I have been born again. So give it a try---answering my questions, which were not general, but specific to you.

.but, I’m here to post Gods word on how he births us in the Spirit...the Spirit wont let me deny Gods truth...he is my Living witness/ testimony.....not John Calvin...if this is a John Calvin worship forum.

How did Calvin get into the conversation? I know I never mentioned him. You say you are here to preach God's word on how he births the spirit. The OP is actually not about that, it is dealing with the question of whether or not belief unto salvation is a choice. So my inquiry would be, if you are only here to preach God's word, does that imply that you have all knowledge and are not willing to listen and learn?

No one on here worships Calvin and the accusation is simply a diversion.

No I did not find the words in the Bible..that the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are Gods children...it came from the Living testimony of God..the Bible confirms how the Spirit testifies with our spirit...

The Bible does not and cannot birth our spirit..that is an act that only God can perform.

Well, you quote them from the Bible. But what then is the purpose of the Bible? Do you believe it is the inerrant word of God? What does this passage IN the Bible mean from the HIgh Priestly Prayer of Jesus? John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

The Bible does not and cannot birth our spirit..that is an act that only God can perform.

No one you are engaging with disagrees with that. But we are born again from something TO something. Faith in the person and work of Christ. Where does it tell us about Christ and his person and his work? The natural man is born in Adam. The new man is taken out of Adam and born into Christ. Faith comes with that. By grace you are saved through faith. It is not just our hearts that are involved, but also our minds. Our mind is not to be disengaged from our faith, nor can it be.

..it’s our spirit that is reconciled back to God...

It is our whole self that is reconciled to God.

 

[Carbon]

You said that he was one of God’s elect..how have you come to that knowledge,if it’s not in Gods word?

Do we both agree on what elect means? This may be the problem? What is your definition of elect?

 

[Carbon]

@Ritajanice

However, you should know, all these 5 points are taught in scripture.
T: Total Depravity
U: Unconditional Election
L: Limited Atonement
I: Irresistible Grace
P: Perseverance of the Saints

 

[Ritajanice]

Do we both agree on what elect means? This may be the problem? What is your definition of elect?

God chooses his elect before the foundation of the world....we were already in Christ before we were born....in Gods timing we become his elect and there is no free will in choosing God either...he chooses who are his, we have no say in the matter..that is my belief.chosen and predestined to become Born Again.

 

[Ritajanice]

@Ritajanice

However, you should know, all these 5 points are taught in scripture.
T: Total Depravity
U: Unconditional Election
L: Limited Atonement
I: Irresistible Grace
P: Perseverance of the Saints

Yes, they are , but, not everyone would agree..many out there believe that they can choose God...I don’t believe for one minute that it’s possible to choose God..each to their own though...I wish someone on here could explain how they chose God, they keep saying that God would never force himself onto us..I have no understanding of that whatsoever.

 

[Arial]

Content does not birth your spirit, the word confirms this...our spirit must be Born Again to see the Kingdom Of God...we are Born Of The Spirit the exact way that Jesus explains to Nicodemas.

I did not say that content births our spirit did I? Content is vital to understanding what GOD means in his word. It is vital to interpreting his word correctly.

No one can say that that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit...the Holy Spirit resides in my heart only he can testify of who God and Jesus are to my spirit....how do you know that Jesus is who the Bible says he is....because the Bible tells you so....afraid you need much more than that, you need God’s Living Witness..only he can birth our spirit into his..Spirit gives birth to spirit...which means what?

No one you are engaging with disagrees with that. A bit of tilting at windmills. Nevertheless, it is the Bible that tells us who Jesus is, isn't it? And who Jesus is is what the Spirit testifies to our heart AND mind. So having the Spirit testify to our spirit without the Bible would be him testifying to nothing but 'you are a child of God'. In which case, one can just go on their merry way and never bother to pick up the Bible.

I know you do not believe that. What you say in addition to a dismissal of the Bible as not the first cause of our regeneration, shows you do not believe that it is unnecessary. And what I mean as the Bible not being the first cause---well no one you are engaging with is saying that it is a first cause of regeneration. So straw man. We are saying, the Bible is necessary along with regeneration.

 

[Carbon]

God chooses his elect before the foundation of the world....we were already in Christ before we were born....in Gods timing we become his elect and there is no free will in choosing God either...he chooses who are his, we have no say in the matter..that is my belief.chosen and predestined to become Born Again.

Well, I agree with that.

 

[Carbon]

God chooses his elect before the foundation of the world....we were already in Christ before we were born....in Gods timing we become his elect and there is no free will in choosing God either...he chooses who are his, we have no say in the matter..that is my belief.chosen and predestined to become Born Again.

Since we are in agreement. How can you be sure John Calvin was not one of God's elect? And what is the harm in believing he is?

 

[Carbon]

Yes, they are , but, not everyone would agree..many out there believe that they can choose God...I don’t believe for one minute that it’s possible to choose God..each to their own though...I wish someone on here could explain how they chose God, they keep saying that God would never force himself onto us..I have no understanding of that whatsoever.

I agree with you.

 

[Ritajanice]

I did not say that content births our spirit did I? Content is vital to understanding what GOD means in his word. It is vital to interpreting his word correctly.

No one you are engaging with disagrees with that. A bit of tilting at windmills. Nevertheless, it is the Bible that tells us who Jesus is, isn't it? And who Jesus is is what the Spirit testifies to our heart AND mind. So having the Spirit testify to our spirit without the Bible would be him testifying to nothing but 'you are a child of God'. In which case, one can just go on their merry way and never bother to pick up the Bible.

I know you do not believe that. What you say in addition to a dismissal of the Bible as not the first cause of our regeneration, shows you do not believe that it is unnecessary. And what I mean as the Bible not being the first cause---well no one you are engaging with is saying that it is a first cause of regeneration. So straw man. We are saying, the Bible is necessary along with regeneration.

No Arial..the Bible didn’t tell me who Jesus is...the Living Holy Spirit did that act.when he testified with my spirit that I am Gods child, he also testified to my heart/ spirit the death and resurrection of Jesus..the Bible confirms the truth that the Holy Spirit testifies to our heart/ spirit.now Arial...I am going to leave it at that..enjoy the rest of your day.

 

[Ritajanice]

Since we are in agreement. How can you be sure John Calvin was not one of God's elect? And what is the harm in believing he is?

I can’t be sure that he wasn’t one of God’s elect..it’s not really my place to say who he was in Christ..only God knows the answer to that question...of course I pray that he was and that he is with God in heaven..

 

[Carbon]

No Arial..the Bible didn’t tell me who Jesus is...the Living Holy Spirit did that act.when he testified with my spirit that I am Gods child, he also testified to my heart/ spirit the death and resurrection of Jesus..the Bible confirms the truth that the Holy Spirit testifies to our heart/ spirit.now Arial...I am going to leave it at that..enjoy the rest of your day.

I think you both are not understanding each other. Believe me when I tell you, @Arial has a great understanding of soteriology; you will see that in time. We may not all explain things the exact same way, and we should have some grace in that.

 

[Ritajanice]

I think you both are not understanding each other. Believe me when I tell you, @Arial has a great understanding of soteriology; you will see that in time. We may not all explain things the exact same way, and we should have some grace in that.

Dear Carbon...it is the Holy Spirit who has all knowledge...never pat someone on the back for their knowledge....their is no knowledge in us....all of our knowledge comes from the Holy Spirit.....yes, we should show Gods Grace when conversing...unfortunately pride and ego can get in the way...I pray that the Spirit humbles us all more and more..in Jesus Name...Amen!...

All knowledge comes from the Holy Spirit...all Praise goes to the Lord and thank you Father God for your Holy Spirit...I only praise my Father in Heaven...

 

[Arial]

No Arial..the Bible didn’t tell me who Jesus is...the Living Holy Spirit did that act.when he testified with my spirit that I am Gods child, he also testified to my heart/ spirit the death and resurrection of Jesus..the Bible confirms the truth that the Holy Spirit testifies to our heart/ spirit.now Arial...I am going to leave it at that..enjoy the rest of your day.

Are you saying that you had no knowledge of Jesus, none, prior to whatever this testifying of the Spirit to your spirit that you are a child of God took place?