Can We Really Choose God?

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ffahj6jvsd0

In this episode, Brian and Pastor Jay discuss human will, grace, and whether sinners can choose God apart from God’s work in them. They look at John 6, Ephesians 2, Joshua 24, and Ephesians 1 to explain how people really do believe in Christ, while God is the one who opens blind eyes, renews the will, and brings the dead to life.

Scripture mentioned:

John 6:44 (ESV) - No one comes to Christ unless the Father draws him

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/jhn/6/44/s_1003044

Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV) - Dead in sin, saved by grace through faith, not our own doing

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/eph/2/1-10/s_1099001

Joshua 24:15 (ESV) - Joshua calls the people to choose whom they will serve

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/jos/24/15/s_211015

Ephesians 1:5 (ESV) - God predestines his people

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/eph/1/5/s_1098005

Ephesians 1:13 (ESV) - Hearing the gospel and believing in Christ

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/eph/1/13/s_1098013

Luke 17:10 (ESV) - Unworthy servants doing what they were commanded

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/luk/17/10/s_990010

Philippians 1:6 (ESV) - God will complete the good work he began

https://www.blueletterbible.org/esv/phl/1/6/s_1104006

Other sources:

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 9: Of Free Will

https://thewestminsterstandard.org/the-westminster-confession/#Chapter%20IX

Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling

https://thewestminsterstandard.org/the-westminster-confession/#Chapter%20X

Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, “the human mind is... a perpetual forge of idols”

https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.iii.xii.html#:~:text=Hence%20we%20may%20infer%2C%20that%20the%20human%20mind%20is%2C%20so%20to%20speak%2C%20a%20perpetual%20forge%20of%20idols.

Augustine, Confessions, Book 2, pear theft

https://ccel.org/ccel/augustine/confess.iii.iv.html

Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 31: What is effectual calling?

https://thewestminsterstandard.org/westminster-shorter-catechism/#Q31:~:text=Q.%2031.%20What%20is%20effectual%20calling%3F%0AA.%20Effectual%20calling%20is%20the%20work%20of%20God%E2%80%99s%20Spirit%2C%20whereby%20convincing%20us%20of%20our%20sin%20and%20misery%2C%20enlightening%20our%20minds%20in%20the%20knowledge%20of%20Christ%2C%20and%20renewing%20our%20wills%2C%20he%20doth%20persuade%20and%20enable%20us%20to%20embrace%20Jesus%20Christ%2C%20freely%20offered%20to%20us%20in%20the%20gospel.

Links:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnTheLanePodcast?sub_confirmation=1

Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-7820594

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7GbmsVVjTryD5F0pAaNaKc

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-lane/id1805279371

Carriage Lane Presbyterian Church: https://www.carriagelanepres.com/

Sermon Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@CLPCWorship/streams