Gods will vs mans free will

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,709
29,057
113
Adam and Eve were fallen creatures in need of salvation.

We are fallen creatures in need of salvation.

How many ways can man be saved?

We have to do exactly the same thing Adam and Eve had to do to be saved............Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and YOU shall be saved.
They were not fallen to start out with. God described them as good, and very good. They did have access to the Tree of Life but chose the forbidden tree instead, and after that the way to the Tree of Life was guarded and they were expelled from the garden = access denied.
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
747
285
63
Eve was influenced from without by the evil one but not from within her own nature. (Conversely all her offspring come into this world influenced by their evil nature, by the evil one and the world But Adam was not influenced from without; for the devil did not tempt him. This is what made his transgression so egregious and why Adam has the very dubious distinction of being contrasted with Christ in the scriptures. There is nothing ever positive said about Adam in the bible.

The only place in the bible where a positive statement about man's spiritual condition is stated is right after creation of our first parents. God created them "very good". You will be very hard pressed to find this kind of statement about mankind after the Fall.
Adam and Eve were no longer "very good" after they fell.

They were fallen creatures, just like us. And in need of salvation. There is only ONE way to be saved.Not one for Adam and Eve and another for us.

Acts 16:31
 

Rufus

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2024
2,234
237
63
Adam and Eve were fallen creatures in need of salvation.

We are fallen creatures in need of salvation.

How many ways can man be saved?

We have to do exactly the same thing Adam and Eve had to do to be saved............Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and YOU shall be saved.
But they didn't come into world as fallen creatures. A&E didn't need salvation until after they sinned. And so indeed, God did freely and sovereignly choose to save Eve, while passing over Adam.

P.S. And not only did they not come into this world as fallen, but Adam for certain came into this world in the state of spiritual life since God breathed his Spirit into him when He created him. But none of us come into the world alive unto God!
 

daisyseesthesun

Well-known member
Aug 23, 2024
575
298
63
All I have been saying for months now on various threads is that just like the physically dead have no power to do anything in temporal reality, likewise the spiritually dead have no power to make choices contrary to their evil nature. The Israelites had no power to escape from their BONDAGE to Pharaoh; likewise the unregenerate man has no power to escape from the power of sin, from the power of the devil, from this world system. Since the volition resides in the heart of man, and the hearts of men are desperately wicked, sinful and deceitful, then obviously the volition, along with the other three faculties, is corrupt. You do understand that the hearts of men are filled with evil, right? There is nothing spiritually sound in man!

Isa 1:5-6
5 Why should you be beaten anymore?
Why do you persist in rebellion?
Your whole head is injured,
your whole heart afflicted.
6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head
there is no soundness —
only wounds and welts
and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged
or soothed with oil.
NIV

Paul basically said the same thing more succinctly:

Rom 7:18
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh ,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

KJV

If man's heart were spiritually sound, then why does God promise in the New Covenant to give new hearts to his people?

“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
 

HeIsHere

Well-known member
May 21, 2022
5,724
2,234
113
And do you have a problem with what I bolded above?

And as you rightly said, God chooses to leave many to their own evil devices. God doesn't have to work evil in anyone. Man's heart naturally overflows with evil. Man drinks evil like water (Job 15:16). That's how natural it is to all in Adam.

If you really believe God with hold's grace and gives it only to His special chosen I feel sorry for you too.
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
747
285
63
They were not fallen to start out with. God described them as good, and very good. They did have access to the Tree of Life but chose the forbidden tree instead, and after that the way to the Tree of Life was guarded and they were expelled from the garden = access denied.
There is only ONE way to salvation. Not one special way for Adam and Eve and one special way for us.

Act 16:31
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,709
29,057
113
There is only ONE way to salvation. Not one special way for Adam and Eve and one special way for us.

Act 16:31
Not sure why you are being so argumentative. Are you denying that the Tree of Life would have given them life ever after?

I don't know why you would do that, either. It was for that very reason God barred the way, after they sinned.
 

HeIsHere

Well-known member
May 21, 2022
5,724
2,234
113
"We rejoice in the biblical clarity which reveals God's sovereignty in majestic terms. We rejoice in the knowledge of divine mercy and grace that go to such extremes to redeem the elect. We rejoice that God's glory and honor are manifested both in His mercy and in His justice."

Soli Deo Gloria.
https://www.the-highway.com/DoublePredestination_Sproul.html


He forgot to mention the denied un-redeemed.
There is no glory to God in this at all. None.


 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
747
285
63
But they didn't come into world as fallen creatures. A&E didn't need salvation until after they sinned. And so indeed, God did freely and sovereignly choose to save Eve, while passing over Adam.

P.S. And not only did they not come into this world as fallen, but Adam for certain came into this world in the state of spiritual life since God breathed his Spirit into him when He created him. But none of us come into the world alive unto God!
Your getting the word salad going.

You said:
You're tone deaf, aren't you? A&E were the only human beings to truly have "free will" because they were created "very good"; and therefore, were free FROM all evil influences and a sin nature, thereby having no excuse to not freely choose to trust and obey God. But this is not so with Adam's progeny. Adam's sons and daughters come into this world as spiritual stillborns, having no spiritual ability to choose contrary to their sinful nature -- to choose to become something they are not, e.g. righteous.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~End quote~~~~~~~~~
There is only ONE way to salvation. And if Adam and Eve could freely choose to trust Christ, we can freely choose to trust Christ.

There is no special way for one group.

Acts 16:31
 

daisyseesthesun

Well-known member
Aug 23, 2024
575
298
63
" the way is narrow. He calls many, but even those who are called, not all will go. but "Proverbs 4:26: "Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil" As a follower of Christ, his will is also ours.
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
747
285
63
Not sure why you are being so argumentative. Are you denying that the Tree of Life would have given them life ever after?

I don't know why you would do that, either. It was for that very reason God barred the way, after they sinned.
You probably didn't read the post I was responding to. So I can see the confusion.

He said that Adam and Eve could freely trust God after they fell.

So here is my point~~~~there is only ONE way to salvation, if Adam and Eve had the ability(After they fell) then we most assuredly do.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
8,345
2,156
113
this is sad....

In the Reformed view God from all eternity decrees some to election and positively intervenes in their lives to work regeneration and faith by a monergistic work of grace.

To the non-elect God withholds this monergistic work of grace, passing them by and leaving them to themselves.

He does not monergistically work sin or unbelief in their lives. Even in the case of the "hardening" of the sinners' already recalcitrant hearts, God does not, as Luther stated, "work evil in us (for hardening is working evil) by creating fresh evil in us."
https://www.the-highway.com/DoublePredestination_Sproul.html
I can wholeheartedly agree with scripture - God works out everything according to the council of his will (not mans). That of course is just after we are told 'in Him' we have been predestined.

So the queation really is not that we disagree with predestination for it is biblical.. But rather as sproul states 'what exactly does the biblical concept of predestination mean?'

Would you say that God is unjust to pass over his enemies while he shows mercy to those whom from all eternity he has devided to save? For it is by sheer amazing grace that God would choose to save any at all, we all deserve to be passed over and face the consequences of our sin and rebellion against our creator.

Or would you say man has the deciding factor by his own will? I will choose if i will make Christs atonement effective in my life?
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,709
29,057
113
You probably didn't read the post I was responding to. So I can see the confusion.
Too funny and it is obviously you who are confused because you were responding to my posts... I was talking to you after you responded to me jeepers what kind of craziness is going on around here? In other words it seems you were arguing with me for no good reason.
 

cv5

Well-known member
Nov 20, 2018
22,604
8,155
113
He also says God is a rapist and kidnaps people against their will
No.....thats what YOU have said. And you know what I'm gonna do?
Find that old post of yours and paste it. So that everyone can see it for themselves.

I knew it would need to happen eventually. Hope to get to that little job tonight.
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
747
285
63
Too funny and it is obviously you who are confused because you were responding to my posts... I was talking to you after you responded to me jeepers what kind of craziness is going on around here? In other words it seems you were arguing with me for no good reason.
I wasn't arguing with you. I was just sticking to my original point.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,709
29,057
113
No.....thats what YOU have said. And you know what I'm gonna do?
Find that old post of yours and paste it. So that everyone can see it for themselves.

I knew it would need to happen eventually. Hope to get to that little job tonight.
That's just more of your lies like your original lies saying those things are what I believe ... they are your statements. I have never said any such thing except to repeat what you said because it's so disgusting people ought to be aware.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,709
29,057
113
I wasn't arguing with you. I was just sticking to my original point.
Your attitude was definitely belligerent as if you were addressing things I had said which I had not. You were arguing with me for no reason whatsoever.
 

HeIsHere

Well-known member
May 21, 2022
5,724
2,234
113
Would you say that God is unjust to pass over his enemies while he shows mercy to those whom from all eternity he has decided to save?
Your question is loaded with presupposition.

by sheer amazing grace that God would choose to save any at all
It is His amazing Grace, He would never act ungracious, you have it backwards.
 

Kroogz

Well-known member
Dec 5, 2023
747
285
63
Your attitude was definitely belligerent as if you were addressing things I had said which I had not. You were arguing with me for no reason whatsoever.
You should scroll back sister.

All of my posts pertain to this:
From Rufus.
You're tone deaf, aren't you? A&E were the only human beings to truly have "free will" because they were created "very good"; and therefore, were free FROM all evil influences and a sin nature, thereby having no excuse to not freely choose to trust and obey God. But this is not so with Adam's progeny. Adam's sons and daughters come into this world as spiritual stillborns, having no spiritual ability to choose contrary to their sinful nature -- to choose to become something they are not, e.g. righteous.
END QUOTE

If Adam and Eve could freely choose Christ. And there is only ONE way to salvation.............then we can freely choose. Acts 16:31.

IMO, you can see the simple truth in this so you have to cast me off as some crazy nut job.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,709
29,057
113
You should scroll back sister.

All of my posts pertain to this:
From Rufus.

IMO, you can see the simple truth in this so you have to cast me off as some crazy nut job.
Anybody can look and see that you were responding to posts from me.