Spiritual Regeneration-Part 3 The Balance of His Will, and Our Free Will

Then the LORD said to Moses: "How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them? Numbers 14:11 (NKJV)

In Part 2 of this devotional series on Regeneration we looked at James 1:18.

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. James 1:18 (NKJV)

We learned our Regeneration or being "Spiritually Reborn" is done "Of His (Gods) own will." We learned we did not choose Jesus, but He chose us, and we further learned He chose us before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4-5).

So, Jesus chose us, and Jeremiah 24:7 tells us that God is going to give us a new heart - and that is how we are regenerated.  But this in no way takes away mans freewill!  

• Man is given freedom to receive God's free gift of Salvation - or to say, "no" to it (Prvb. 1:22-27; Mat. 23:37-39; Acts 7:51-53).
• Man is given freedom to receive God's will for his life - and to choose whether he will follow God's will, or follow his own desires and feelings (Dt. 30:11-13; Jn. 14:15; 2Tim 2:21).
• Man is given freedom to think upon whatever thoughts he chooses - we are not marionette puppets being controlled by strings (Phil. 4:8).

"If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15 (NKJV)

There is - and always will be a balance between the Sovereignty of God, and the freewill of man.  We see this in Scripture as well as were told in John 3:16, "Whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," and in 2Peter 3:9 we're told God is "longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but have everlasting life."

Notice those verses say, "Whoever" believes, and not willing that, "Any" should perish.  Jesus died for all sin, and it is His desire we all come to repentance and believe.  But not all people will - in their freewill most will say, "No" to this free gift.  But God knows who will say yes, and in His foreknowledge, He chooses those before they were every born, and He predestines them to be conformed to the image of His Son.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Romans 8:29 (NKJV)

This simply means He is fully responsible for our being regenerated - restored Spiritually.

Q:    So what is our responsibility after regeneration - are we responsible for our life and our actions, or does God do this too?

A:    It is important to remember, we were never created to be independent of God.  Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing on our own.  So it is important to have an abiding relationship with Him.

 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 (NKJV)

As we abide in Christ, and He in us, we are empowered to change.  As we read the Word of God, our minds are renewed and we know His will for our life (Rom 12:2).  We must now take each thought captive and make wise decisions as to how we will live.  And our living is different than what it was when we were unregenerated. 

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:17-24 (NKJV)

So, we can see regeneration is done by God, and yet we have been given freewill to say yes or no to whether we will accept His free gift, and whether we will choose to walk in an abiding relationship.  As I said, we can do nothing apart from God, but with Him, all things are possible.  

Hey Christian, I want to encourage you to walk in the power of God today.  Make good choices - ones leading to good fruit from your actions.

STUDY QUESTION: According to the Scriptures contained within this devotional, what can we learn about God's will, and man's freewill?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you using your freewill to choose to abide in the Lord and to follow His ways?

APPLICATION: Seek God today - ask Him to guide you and lead you in all understanding.  Read your bible and pray for God to show you the truth.