Any time you introduce the will of man into the salvation process, you reduce the supremacy of God. How disastrous that modern evangelicalism has bought into the lie that man must “choose God” to be saved. The Bible says no one can choose God (Rom 3:11) because no one has the ability to choose Him (John 6:44, 65). The natural man is hostile to God (Rom 8:7), unable to hear the word of God (John 8:43, 47), unable to accept the Spirit of God (1Cor 2:14), and in constant darkness under the dominion of Satan (Acts 26:18).

Nowhere does Scripture show that man has the ability to respond to the gospel. In fact, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1Cor 1:18), and that because “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2Cor 4:4).

The unregenerate sinner is in perpetual bondage to sin. It is only when God regenerates the sinner’s heart that he can truly believe, be saved, and have his will set free. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36; cp. John 5:25). Notice it is the Son that sets the sinner free; no one can choose to set themselves free.

If you are born again, praise God and rejoice in your calling. Election should be a source of rich comfort for believers who understand that salvation does not depend on the will of man and his inability to obey the gospel, but on the unchangeable purpose of God who gives life to the dead.

“God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist” (Rom 4:17).