Re: AvgJoe
You missed the entire point. The bible is written to believers, most of the books of the new testament start out "to the believers".
Daniel 4:35 -- All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing:he doeth acording to his will in the army of heaven and amoung the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, what doest thou?
will - Hebrew: tseba - to perform in the sense of summoning ones wishes; to please.
stay - Hebrew: mecha - to strike in pieces; to arrest, hinder, or restrain
Romands 9:19 -- for who hath resisted his will
James 1:18 -- of his own will begat he us --
will - Greek: boulomai - to will deliberately; to purpose.
John 1:12, 13 -- as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God -- which were born (spiritually), not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor or the will of man, but of God.
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God has chosen and predestined his people from the foundation of the world, according to the good pleasure of his will (Eph. 1:5,9,11). Paul said that none has resisted his will (Rom. 9:19). Daniel says no one in heaven or earth can stop Gods hand from doing his will. Paul said that there is none good, there is none willing to seek after God (Rom. 3:10-12). Man is never willing by his own will to come to God. By his sinful nature he is only willing to sin. God must cause man to be willing to say "I will". David said, "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power -- (Psalms 110:3). It is only of the will of God, when any man comes to Christ. God gets his will. Jesus said, -- "no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father", (John 6:65). God does not save his people against their will. He causes them to be willing by his power. He is not willing that any of his people should perish (II Peter 3:9) -- and they will not perish. Quicken in the Greek means to "make alive" or to cause to come to life. Jesus said, "even so the son quickeneth whom he will (John 5:21)." And you hath he quickened (resurrected) who were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1). Dead men cannot make living or life decisions. It is not by the will of the child that brings him to life. God resurrects us, whom he hath chosen from the biginning (II Thess. 2:13). Only then are we willing, by the power of the resurrection (gospel) in us, to call him Father. "Whosoever will" is only those whom the Father has made willing.
You say you believe in the soveriegnty of God but then you negate it by your very words.