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Ron Writes

“Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Peter was calling on his audience to choose. He is asking them to make a decision. He wanted them to act. 

There are those who claim that not everyone can make this choice. They say that only those “predestined by God” or “the elect” can respond. Of course, predestination and election are mentioned in Scripture. Ephesians 1 is rich with these terms, such as “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (1:4). One phrase repeated over and over in this chapter is “in Him.” Election is only “in Christ.” There is no election outside of Christ. What God predestined is that only those “in Christ” could be part of the elect. You should choose to be “in Christ” since only those “in Christ” will be saved. “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Sometimes we hear “but Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (Jn. 6:44). Their interpretation is that only those who are predestined can be drawn to God. Yet in the very next verse Jesus indicates how God draws us to Him. “It is written in the prophets, “And they shall all be taught of God.” Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me” (6:45). Jesus says we are drawn to God by being taught about God. 

Those who hear the gospel can make a choice – to either accept it or reject it. It would be a callous God who presents hope to the whole world when He knows only some can respond while the rest He has destined for hell. When Jesus returns, He will deal out retribution to those who do not obey the gospel (2 Th. 1:8). What a cruel God He would be to punish those who could not obey the gospel. If it’s not possible to obey the gospel you cannot disobey it because disobedience is an act of the will. If men are responsible to obey the gospel, certainly they must be able to make that choice. 

Choose to follow Jesus – it’s the only way!