Predestination or Free Will

so which is it to be?

Has god already decided what is to happen to us before time or do we live complelty by free will, because one of these has to be true.

If things have been decided before hand, then am I wasting my time doing this course or looking for a job, because God already knows what's the outcome is?
Did god know before time that I would sit at my computer and be writing this, or did I just decide to do this, off my own back? Do I then have any control over what I say and do because God has already decided for me. Can I change God's mind? That doesn't sound very free to me!

or is it a case that I am a complete free being, free to choose and act as I wish, with no concern for God. So am I free to throw my computer out the window when it is being unbelievably slow, or free to eat all of my house mates food when she is away, or free to jump into someone's car and drive away, even though I don't have a license to do so?

well, technically I am free to do all of the above (although I wouldn't throw my computer out the window, even if I really wanted to!) why? Because all those things don't benefit me of anyone else.

no one is completely free, even if they think they are.

we are all bound by the rules of the land, we shouldn't steal, we shouldn't kill people, we shouldn't destroy property. We are free to do those things but there are consequences.

At the Christian Union we are going through the book of Romans, we have done 1-8 so far, but then comes some of the most difficult passages in scipture. The people of Israel being chosen by God to get into heaven, the destiny of the unevanglised and predestiantion. Topics that are rarely taught in the church. I have picked up study guides that go through 1-8 then 12-16. Completely missing out 9-11. Why, well I reckon not many people can answer why it seems that God is against some people and for others. Why God hardens peoples hearts, and what happens to those people who have never heard of Jesus?

Pauls argument is split into 4 sections 1-4, 5-8 , 9-11 and 12-16

Paul has a real passion for the Jewish people, being a Jew himself, but also has a passion for the gentiles. I believe Pauls letter is not just about Grace and Justification (as Luther wanted us to believe) but is about the divide of the Jewish people and the 'others' the Gentiles. The Jews thought they were in the club, in with God with thier good works, but they were wrong.

Now I'm gone stop because this is very hard to get into by typing it, it may sound like I'm being anti-semantic, but I'm not.

The gospel is for all.

If you think you have understood it, you haven't, we have only scraped the surface!

Mary riding on a donkey, the 3 wise men and 3 gifts, Jesus being born in a stable... All lies!!

read it for yourself!

Mary was NOT on a donkey

we don't know how many people can to see him, were not told that they are men, we don't know how many things they gave Mary.

STABLE!! What stable?!

for centuries this story has been told to our children, but have we actually looked into it.

there's so much more to this man Jesus than we can even begin to understand.

If you think you are part of the inheritance, look again!

Your not in if you think you are a Jew, or have a Jewish family, its not by works that we are saved, its not by our family that we are saved!

Show me your works and I will show you my faith.

I reckon if Christians really understood what Grace was, our church's will be overflowing with people!

Nuff said!