Then explain John 3:16, brother; if the question is "how do you get there from here?" that one verse pretty much lays it out...I know I'm not the sharpest tool in the Christian toolshed, but even I look at that and know that whether or not one becomes a Christian, it is a choice one must make of their own free will.
It cannot be forced on you, it cannot be given to you because of what or who you are; you must take the first step. You, the individual.
Best example that I can think of offhand, MennoSota, is that of Joshua in the Book of Joshua when he says to the people of Israel, Now where in that does it says that we are chosen by God? Hint: nowhere; as Joshua puts it, "You can either serve God or you can serve the idols of where you're living, either one." That, sir, is a choice...and to make a choice requires free will.
Suffice it to say, we agree to disagree, but this is a question I definitely plan to ask my pastor over the weekend.
I've actually explained both passages on this forum before.
John 3:16
God has every right to hate all humanity and justly condemn everyone to hell immediately. But he loves his creation and thus anyone who believes will not perish, but have eternal life. Who then will believe? In John 6, John 10 and in John 17 we see that those who believe are those whom the Father has given Jesus to believe. Therefore the belief in John 3:16 is not a belief coming from free will, but coming from God lovingly choosing those who will believe.
John 3:19 tells us that men love darkness rather than light. God must do to us essentially what he did to Paul when He saved Paul on the road to Damascus.
Joshua 24 is a great example of the foolishness of people who imagine they can follow and serve God in self-righteousness. Joshua tells these self-righteous people what will happen since they have declared that they will (by their own will) serve God.
Joshua 24:19-21 But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” And the people said to Joshua, “No, but we will serve the Lord.”
See...there is no grace available for the self-righteous person's who declare that they will serve God. The person, chosen by God, recognizes his depravity and submits himself to the fact that if God chose not to graciously redeem him, he would be utterly doomed.
So, neither John 3:16, nor Joshua 24 teach free will salvation. In fact, they support the truth that God, from the fall in the Garden to the end of the world, chooses whom He wills to be saved and decides who will remain dead in their sins. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
