Can You Make a Decision for Christ? (A Bible Study)

About this sermon

"Have you made a decision for Christ?” One often hears this question from radio and television preachers, or even from our friends and family. “Have you invited Jesus into your heart? Have you received Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? Have you dedicated your life to Christ?” Many churches have a “Time of Decision” at the end of their services, with altar calls and emotional appeals for the person to respond. All of these questions rotate around this same premise: the unbeliever has the ability and responsibility to choose Jesus. But is this what the Bible teaches? Can the unbeliever make a decision for Christ? Read more, including all the Bible Passages here: http://www.wolfmueller.co/can-you-make-a-decision-for-christ/ The bookstore (where almost everything is free): http://www.wolfmueller.co/books/ To sign up for Pastor Wolfmueller's free weekly email of theological awesomeness called "Wednesday What-Not", visit http://www.wolfmueller.co/Wednesday. All the theological awesomeness ends up on the blog: http://www.wolfmueller.co More from the article: What Can We Do? St Paul speaks of our conversion as a move from death to life. “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” [Ephesians 2:1, see also 2:5 and Colossians 2:13]. Dead in trespasses and sins. Not sick, not crippled, dead. We are, says St Paul, dead in our sins, completely unable to choose or decide anything regarding Jesus. Again, St. Paul, “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” [1 Corinthians 2:14]. The things of the Spirit of God, this certainly includes the truth of Jesus and His cross and death for us, all these things are unknown and unknowable to the natural man, the mind of flesh. The Gospel is “foolishness” [1 Corinthians 1:23,25] to those who do not believe. How, then, could we invite the unbeliever to make a decision for that which is foolish? It cannot. Again, St Paul says, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do” [Galatians 5:17]. Far from accepting the good news of Jesus, our sinful flesh fights against it. As Stephen, the first martyr after Jesus’ Ascension, preaches to the Jews in Jerusalem, “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you” [Acts 7:51]. Such accusation stands over all the unbelieving world, “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart” [Ephesians 4:18]. Far from having a free will to choose or make a decision for Jesus, the Scriptures speak of the natural condition of man as an enemy of God. Far from having a free will to choose or make a decision for Jesus, the Scriptures speak of the natural condition of man as an enemy of God. “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot” [Romans 8:7]. The fleshly mind “does not” and “can not” submit to God’s law. Such sure testimonies should answer the question “Can we make a decision for Christ?” The Scriptures plainly tell us “no”. St Paul quotes from the Psalms, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” [Romans 3:10-12]. And the Lord Jesus testifies, “The light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” [John 1:5]. Conversion: God’s Work The Bible says that we cannot choose or turn to God, that we are completely helpless when it comes to heavenly things. How, then, are we to believe? Conversion, turning from death to life and from the devil to God is a work of God Himself; a work of God alone. We call this the teaching of monergism, God alone is the cause of our salvation; He creates faith [see Ephesians 2:8-10] and gives repentance as a gift. Such is the testimony of the Scriptures. When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life” [Acts 11:18]. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul, [Acts 16:14]. Jesus says, “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him” [Matthew 11:27]. And again, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given” [Matthew 13:11].

Topics

• Bible Study
• Jesus Christ