I agree that there are a great many more scriptures speaking of these things than the one I gave. The topics of faith, knowledge, experience as revealed in God's word are huge topics that one could literally spend days talking about and sharing scripture. In a short post one can only try to share a bit of what they can.
I also have come to perceive God through his word. God graciously gives each of us his Holy Spirit so that we can have understanding which begins with knowledge. Through the Holy Spirit we grow in our ability to put individual scriptures and passages together into at first the context of chapters, books and eventually the whole of the Bible.
Sometimes when sharing scripture, the background context is implied. We really don't know though one another's understanding of a subject matter nor the connections made.
I asked in part, what is the different after receiving the Holy Spirit because, I'm confused with this concept of choosing that is mentioned. Yes we all have free-will, but who has really done the choosing? Is it really us? If so, then the flesh and blood can come to God, but in my life experience I battle the flesh which as God tells me
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (KJV)
So God is telling me that this carnal mind or fleshly mind fights against God, hates God. How then might I have chose God if God had not given me his Holy Spirit. So I realize that it was not me that chose God, but that it was God who brought me at the appointed time to him.
Some other scriptures you can look at.
Rom 7:5,18
Rom 8:5
Rom 8:8-13
For me I realize that I could not of my own accord choose God. This realization is humbling and gives me pause daily as I recognize that it is God that lives in each of us as Christians. God opens our eyes when he knows it is best for us, at least this is what I have come to believe as I have studied God's word.
I agree. People may not always be pleased, but if I'm following God, acting in faith and love, I don't let it trouble me. Sometimes though my flesh gets in the way, but thankfully the Holy Spirit in me is leading me away from my fleshy carnal mind, that old man. So, I draw comfort in that I walk with God. I may stumble and have stumbled, but God is always there.
I also agree that none of special. I'm reminded of the apostles when this is brought up. When they asked who was the greatest among them. Christ told them the greatest are those that are servants to others ( a wholly different attitude than the world's view)
You are right when you speak about the topics that could be talked about for days, and shared by scripture. You are right about God is able to give his holy spirit to us, that we can grow in wisdom, and spiritual understanding, and even come to an understanding of God's will by using the bible.
You said they are you are confused by the method of choosing, in the case of Adam and Eve, they could have chosen to listen to God rather than Adam blaming his wife, and Eve blaming the serpent.
If you believe God brought you to himself at the appointed time and it was not your choice, *in my mind -> you chose to believe in the promises of God because of God's persuasion towards you through the Lord Jesus Christ, and the promises offer, thus you placed your faith towards Him, in which believers are saved by God's grace through choice, of deciding -> Hmmm is the Jesus Christ guy someone that can be trusted -> Those who believe say yes. Those who do not believe say no -> That guy was a lunatic and has nothing to offer me.
You can see this played out a lot in the gospels. Many people still today, have the same view, some say yes, some say no.
Hopefully that helps you more understand the method of Choice.
When it comes to choosing between our fleshly ways and the ways of the spirit -
Is like this -> say you are wanting to order a meal at the Cheeseburger Shop. You have a lady in-front of you and she is taking all day and a hay bale delivery to get her order out. You start festering up, inside of yourself (your fleshly carnal mind) and get angry, and start to get impatient.
Your flesh is starting to take control, when you come to realize and notice this, you can choose to say wait a minute hold on now, this is not something God would desire me to do, lets pray and thank God for this day of life, let me pray and ask him to give me patience instead of getting angry at this woman.
Now in this life we can have fun, we enjoy dancing, singing, some like video games, or watching movies, it doesn't always have to be dull boring kind of life you can still enjoy yourself in the flesh -> As long as you aren't using the flesh in the ways of maliciousness, hatred for others, non-loving way, but enjoy yourself in the flesh by the spirit, in thankfulness towards God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We will all mess up from time to time, but that is when you are able to take a time out and reflect, and decide was that way the right way, and overall God's way will always be the right and best way by the spirit.
Also do agree with you God does bring people to himself through the Lord Jesus Christ
by 4102 pístis (from 3982/peithô, "persuade, be persuaded") – properly, persuasion (be persuaded, come to trust); faith.
Faith. Have made a lesson at the bottom of my signature if you are interested in learning more.
Thank you for explaining a little bit more of your understanding, and hope this helps a little bit more when it comes to choosing. You may disagree with it, or you may agree with it, would like to know what you think of this proposal, because do enjoy trying to help and encourage people in the faith and the understanding of God, and the understanding of how we as humans are.
May grace and peace follow you and may God help you understand in wisdom, spiritual understanding and growing in the knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the will of God.
Thank you so much for your reply.
