Our Lord has made us competent as ministers of a New Covenant — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Deuteronomy 30:19 ~ This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.
Good health does not happen by chance. It happens by choice. So is life... therefore choose life and trust in His amazing grace, the unearned, unmerited favor of God!
Alan,
ReplyDeleteWhat's up dude? I don't think I ever posted on your blog. SO I will say that I never liked the "it's a choice" method of geting believers to obey GOd. Yes it does say in His word that life and death are put before us so we may choose life. But it's also in the old covenant. In the new covenant, doesnt God say He is at work in us both to "do and to will for His good pleasure?" Now don't get me wrong ,we are faced with decisions where we can either obey God or not. But even that is somehow linked with his sovereignty. The bible even says in Romans that salvation is NOT by will of man. I guess what I'm trying to ask is, does God give us the "it's a choice" card everyday of our life or is it HIS LOVE for us that motivates us to obey?
Alan,
ReplyDeleteOne more thing for you... John 15:16 "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
Hi Jordy,
ReplyDeleteJesus said He is the way, the truth, and the life... (Jn 14:6) and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (Jn 8:32). The choice here Alan was talking about is the choice between the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life.
If we were to debate on "By Chance or by Choice", we have fallen back to the tree of knowledge of good and evil (the law) which has no life. But if we seek Him first from the tree of life, we'll have life and peace and you'll understand what Alan's meant by choice and not by chance. Shalom.
Great post - short and sweet!!!
ReplyDeleteHey Jordy ~ we can choose to believe the Good News, that we have resurrection life! It is a choice! Or we can choose to remain under that law, which brings curse and sickness. This is not us 'doing' anything per se, or trying in any way, but simply resting in what Christ has already done for us. Giving us salvation - sozo - healing, wholeness, preservation, provision!!!
He most definitely chose us, and wooed us and we respond to Him, by believing!!! Peace brother!!