The Power of Choice

by Jerry Senn

The very essence of God’s image within the human experience is seen in our ability to choose and be held accountable for our thoughts and actions, in our relationship with Him. Animals function on instinct, humans are volitional, given a choice in moral and spiritual matters (1 John 3:4).

God is more interested in our humble, contrite and thankful hearts, than in outward, external, and traditional conformity to religious rites and ceremonies (See Psalm 51:17). 

Of the Jewish legal religious system, the inspired apostle Paul wrote: “A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew (accepted by God) who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God” (Romans 2:28, 29).

“Without choice there is no goodness, and without choice there is no love. A coerced (forced) goodness is no goodness: and a coerced love is no love. A coerced goodness is not real goodness, and a coerced love is no love at all. If men deliberately choose to turn their backs on God, and [even] after God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world, not even He can do anything about it. When Paul speaks of God abandoning men…that word has no anger irritation in it, but sorrowful regret, as a lover who had done all He could do, no more—as a father of a prodigal son” (Anon).

God’s grace is counted (reckoned or imputed) to us on the basis of our faith (Romans 4:5). Faith is trusting our sinful lives to the promise of justification through Jesus’ blood shed for sinners. 

The letter to the Romans sets forth when ”justification by faith” is initiated based on our faith (See Romans 6:1–4). I encourage my church family to read and reread Romans 4-6 as preparation for our series of sermons now underway. Grasping these concepts will lead to a promised transformation of our hearts and minds (Romans 12:1, 2). 

Let’s boldly choose to “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and to the day of eternity” (2 Peter 3:18). Amen!!!