FREEDOM of CHOICE                 	    Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  4-19-98 A.M.     	 Joshua 24:14-16  	  A:\JOS24-16 
	Freedom of Choice... WOW  what a great privilege... 
      but also what an Awesome Responsibility... 
      Were you ever in a group... and it's time to stop for lunch.. 
      and ask them.. "where would you like to eat?"  "Oh.. anyplace.. 
      you decide." Well... there is more to it than that...
I.  GOD HAS GIVEN US FREEDOM of CHOICE.. 
  A. He didn't make us as "robots"
  B. He Did Make Us As "Free Moral Agents"  ... in two forms... 
    1. The ability to carry out the dictates of one's nature 
	- the holy, unfallen nature... 
	- the unholy, fallen, sinful being 
    2. The ability to act contrary to one's nature.. 
	- originally creatures had freedom in both forms..
	- the ability both.. not to sin or to sin
	- with the "Fall" man lost the ability "not to sin" 
         (Gen.6:5; Job 14:14; Jer.13:23;17:9;Ro.3:10-18) 
	- now man is free only in the sense that he is able to do as his
        fallen nature suggests. (he does do some noble things)
	- man does have the ability to accept or reject Jesus Christ... 
  C. He Did Allow Adam & Eve To Disobey.. 
    1. Man has a "Fallen" nature..
	- his heart is deceitful above all things and is desperately wicked.."
        Jer.17:9 2.
	- Man thinks his own ways are right.. Is.53:6; 56:11
	  - "There is a way that seems right unto man.." Pro.14:12; 16:25
	  - "Every way of man is right in his own eyes.." Pro.21:2 
	- And.. man thinks he has the moral integrity & judgment to make
        correct choices... 
 ** God Gave Adam & Eve the ability to choose to obey or disobey! 
II.  GOD HAS GIVEN US THE FRAMEWORK for CHOICE.. (Guidelines, Warnings) 
  A. To Adam & Eve.. 
    1. Everything in the garden is for you... 
    2. Everything but One.. the tree of the "Knowledge of Good & Evil"
  B. To All of Us...  How About The Ten Commandments.... 
    1. Choose the True God to Worship..
    2. Choose The Right Way to Worship 
    3. Choose the Right Language...
    4. Choose One Day for Worship..
    5. Choose to Respect Parents..
    6. Choose To Respect Life..
    7. Choose to Respect Family..   
    8. Choose to Respect Property..
    9. Choose to Respect Truth..
    10 Choose to Respect Your Neighbor  
 ** To Obey or Not Obey... That is the Question...
III.  GOD HAS GIVEN US THE FACULITY to CHOOSE.. 
  A. He Won't Stand In The Way of Your Wrong Choices.. (Usually) 
    1. He Did for Balaam..  Numbers 22, 23, 24 
    2. He Didn't for David .. 2 Samuel 11, 12
  B. He Won't "Zap" You (Immediately) for Your Wrong Choices (Usually) 
    1. If You don't get "zapped" you think it's OK .... BUT.. 
    2. If It violates God's rules... It's WRONG & You Are Responsible
  C. He Won't Accept Excuses for Wrong Choices.. 
  D. He Makes It Possible for Us To Know The Right Choices.. Ro.12:1,2 
  E. He Calls Upon Us to Make The Right Choices.. 
    1. Therefore Choose Life.. Deut.30:19 
    2. Choose ye this day... Jos.24:15 
    3. Moses Chose to suffer.. rather than...  Heb.11:25 

OH.. WE HAVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE.. BUT BY OURSELVES... WE LACK THE MORAL 
HONESTY AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE WAY TO MAKE A WISE DECISION. THE FIRST 
CHOICE WE HAVE TO MAKE... RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS LORD & SAVIOR.