I did not say we had power over God. I said we must choose. He gave us the ability to choose; it is the basis of why we are here. He already had the angels, who are obedient without choice. We are special because we can choose to not follow. And before you go there, yes, God gave Satan the power to choose, knowing full well what the choice would be. That was all part of the plan. Sin had to enter in to the Universe and God doesn't sin. Satan was the vehicle.
Just thought I’d offer, FWIW, my own little story.
I for one know that I did not choose. I was a “procrastinator”, for over 30 years I thought I was a “good person”, had never studied Scripture seriously, sort of thought that I would one day. I kind of “knew the Bible was true”, felt like I would get to studying it some day when I had some time to set aside. I was not a “bad guy” I reasoned, how could I not go to heaven ? I understand “lukewarm” Christianity because that was me, idiot that I was.
I had a failed marriage to a professing but rather lax Christian a few years ago. This kind of got me thinking a bit about “getting around to” studying the Bible and trying to get right with God. But of course, I did nothing. I did not study the Bible, I did not attempt to attend a Church.
I was researching my ancestry about a year later, not thinking at all about the Bible. I was supposed to be part Armenian. I found that to be wrong after researching; there simply was a woman named Arminia and miscommunication; this was confirmed by other researchers. When we are children sometimes we don’t quite understand things older folks are saying; by the time we’re old, sometimes we’ve completely confused what we “remember”. Family stories have a way of “Elizabeth Warrening” out of control. But I digress...
One thing led to another in my ancestry research and soon I was touching on parts of European history that I found interesting. I started reading about the Reformation and found myself getting drawn into reading about theology and history of the Reformation. It’s not that I wanted to do this, but I could not stop from reading about it. I had remembered from my youth I had once thought that to truly profess Christ would be the most serious profession; even as a child I realized that much, that it seemed to be an “all-or-nothing” proposition, since denying Christ is such a grave sin. So my study prompted me to try attending a few Churches, looking for one that had some kind of Reformed doctrine. I began to really study the Bible. I became severely distraught over my past sins. This started to very much impact my ability to function in life in a negative way. I gave up and simply agonized for a few days. Finally it dawned on me that this was the idea, that the “good person” needs Christ for salvation; the total depravity started making sense. But still I hesitated. I had learned enough to know that I must not lie and profess faith if I do not truly understand and mean what I am professing; I knew that this was a no-going-back idea, that if I, in the future, slid back into my old ways, or ever denied Christ, even in a life-and-death situation, then I would be back to questioning myself.
Truth be told, I did not really “decide” anything. I never really did. I noticed that I had really changed my ways. What I knew now to be sins that I used to be unable to resist I now was disgusted by the thought of. I found myself praying daily and studying Scripture several days a week. Over the next few weeks it became apparent that my “professing” was done. I simply was changed. I knew I was certainly not relying on msyelf to avoid sin, and I found such continual joy in the Bible. Many things make me miserable, afraid, etc., even more so than ever, but I just daily am aware of Christ and God’s Word and it comforts me to the point of happiness. I just don’t see how at any time I said to myself “It’s now or never, I’ve got to get right with God”, or something like that. I came to understand just how weak a man is, that there’s no way I could rely on myself to resist temptation. It’s just a different situation now; sins that used to be tempting to me are now repugnant. Of course, now that I’m reading the Bible - the bar is raised a bit. So I always seem to find some way to fall short which, of course, requires repentence.
I don’t see any rational “earthly” explanation for a person to change so dramatically. These were changes that I never set out or intended to have happen. What’s even more amazing is that they took no effort on my part. I really had lost control instead of gaining control. It’s analagous to a person with a half dozen lifetime addictions one day just finding them all disgusting and quitting them all cold turkey. No way Dr. Phil is going to get that done in a few months. Prior to my conversion experience, for the good things I had done, they were far more offset by my sins. If it were purely up to me I would not have the goodness and strength within me to choose righteousness on my own; instead, I would be taking the easy way out, living for the here and now. Yet now it continually is impressed on my conscience that I am bought with a price. I can only give all credit to God for anything and for everything good that becomes of me from here on.
Now in terms of the doctrine of free will, all along, of course - I was completely aware of the Bible. I had a brain, I could read and think and I had, all along, every mental and physical capability to make the right choice. So I have no excuse for not reading, trusting in and obeying God’s Word many years ago.
Perhaps we are on the same page.
I searched the Bible for the word “chosen”, came up with a few pertinent verses:
2 Thessalonians 2:13
“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:”
Ephesians 1:4
“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
James 2:5
“Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”
2 Timothy 2:1-4
“1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
1 Peter 2:9
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”
Grace and Peace, Texan !