FreeInChrist
Active Member
Means
God graciously gives people the opportunity and privilege to believe in Christ, and those who freely respond may also be called to endure suffering as a consequence of choosing loyalty to Him.
“Granted” (charizomai) means graciously allowed or bestowed, not imposed.
How this is done is by God offering Christ through the gospeland this alloows us to retain the real ability to accept or reject that offer
Belief is possible because God makes it available, not because He overrides the will
What does this mean?????? Faith is enabled, not compelled.
In Philippians 1:29 Paul assumes the Philippians chose to believe. The verse does not say God believed for them or instead of them.
This is backed up with.......
“Whoever believes” (John 3:16)
“You were willing” (Matt 23:37)
“You believed when you heard” (Eph 1:13)
Here. suffering is mentioned because of belief, not as its cause.
Choosing Christ places a person in conflict with the world. Surly you have seen and experience that somewhere along in your life.
God does not need to predetermine suffering simply because opposition naturally follows allegiance
Paul does encourage them by saying..... "your hardship is not random; it flows from your free commitment to Christ". That is free will..
To belong to Christ is to share His path.......Belief begins the relationship.......and suffering may accompany faithfulness
Showing Paul’s point is relational, not mechanical:
Both are “granted” in the sense that God counts them as privileges within the relationship, not as irresistible decrees.
Philippians 1:29 teaches that God graciously opens the way for people to believe in Christ, and those who freely choose Him may also experience suffering as part of faithful discipleship...without negating real human choice.
