Free will : i.e., man’s ability to choose between right and wrong.
One of the important factors that man must take into account as he considers his relationship to other people, the government, his family, his relationship with God, etc. is his built in capacity to choose between right and wrong. Every person has the ability to choose between good and evil when they reach the age of accountability -cf., Ezekiel 18:20-21:
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. <> But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.“> ASV
The two verses listed here indicate that everyone will be responsible for their own personal conduct some day as they stand before God to be judged. Since everyone will be personally responsible for their sin it is imperative that each person seek and do whatever is essential so that they will be pleasing and acceptable to God when their life ends here on this earth – see Revelation 2:10 following, and notice especially the last part of the verse:
“Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” ASV
At some time in our life we need to get serious about the reality of God and our need to make that personal decision about our sins. Sins do not just go away, we must decide to eradicate them ourselves from our life – we must be born again (i.e., become a Christian). The choice to become a Christian or to remain in our sins is our personal decision to make, how long do you intend to delay before you do what you know you need to do about sin in your life? God tells us via His Written Word that “Today is the acceptable day, today is the day of salvation.” – cf., 2 Cor 6:2, <“(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):”> ASV Will you make that personal decision? I know that there are many of you that are reading this bulletin that know that you should serve the Lord, I know that you intend to do what is right some day but please, don’t wait too long. You see, we do not know when the last day of our life will come so let us be wise and make things right with God today.
Don’t wait too long to make the decision about your eternal state. God is indeed very patient, delay no longer! God Loves you.
John 3:16-“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.” ASV
Yes, God does love mankind and this great love is sometimes misunderstood, some people think that God’s wrath (i.e., judgment of the wicked) is inconsistent with the concept of God’s love. The Bible clearly states that God is a God of Love but to suggest that God’s love excludes responsibility and consequence as it relates to God’s instruction is without Biblical support. Please read the following Biblical references in this matter:
John 14:15 – If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. ASV
John 14:23-24 – Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me. ASV
John 15:10 – If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. ASV
Heb 10:24 – and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;
1 Peter 3:10-11 – For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: And let him turn away from evil, and do good; Let him seek peace, and pursue it.
1 John 5:3 – For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. ASV
2 John 6 – And this is love, that we should walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, even as ye heard from the beginning, that ye should walk in it. ASV