There was a time in my life where my soul was saved, but I couldn’t quite put into words what came over me for that to happen. After much studying and encouragement from a sister in Christ, I finally realized what a gift of God salvation actually was.
Yes, I believed on Jesus Christ and yes, I believed in the Word of God, but how did this happen to me? Was I saved because I reached out to God through my own free will? I never exactly had the answer to this, until I was pointed to certain scriptures.
Below is a passage from Romans Chapter 9, that highlights a key component of Christian faith. Verse 11-13- referring to Jacob and Esau:
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
If you rely on the Word of God as your source of truth, then just read the scripture, Christian. If you came to the Father through the Son, that means He called you to Him and it was none of your doing. It simply could not have been, because God elects his children before they're born.
There are many verses to support this, but the simplest and clearest is Ephesians 2:8-9, which oddly enough, is used by many people who refuse to understand sovereign election. But read the words for yourself:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
I'd always felt the pull of sovereign election deep in my soul, but I was never fully comfortable with the idea that something happening in my life might not be the result of my free will.
Yes, I did ultimately submit to God's will, but only because he selected me to do so, for HIS glory and not my own. Understanding this is the key to understanding true Christianity.
The scripture is clear: If you have a penitent heart and a regenerated soul, it is only by God’s grace that you do. Understand how greatly God has blessed you and seek to use your gifts to serve Him in all capacities.
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