Why do some people believe and some do not?
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That is not the meaning of "free will" at all. Have you ever read Greek philosophy, your concept of free will is hilarious.
you agree it's constrained by nature, then?
good, we can move on to talking about that nature.
Nor do we need to look very far any more to see how the natural man believes he can do the very thing some say
he cannot such as change his sex, and that is the type of insanity that comes from people believing they are free.
You don't know what free will is, since you believe the natural man is in possession of it. Just like
you are completely ignorant of what inability is, believing it exclusive to Calvinism when Arminius
taught it, and so does Molinism, because it is what the Bible actually teaches as well...
Oh, I see the problem now~ you adhere to Greek philosophy and not the Bible.
The point is that Romans 9 is butchered by the Calvinites.
And there is waaaaaay more going on in this chapter than the Calvinites even begin to comprehend.
What they do is torture it until it is 100% heresy.
BTW, Reformed theology is so chock full of rubbish that it needs to be REFORMED. Again.
LOL. No. It is the CALVINITES who are the keystone cop pseudo-sophists.
Its there in every one of their posts. Drooling and muttering while they ponder their navel.
In fact you're doing it right now lady!
Its all a joke.
I agree you have ill defined the concept of "free will" for some reason.
You mean our beloved post does not adhere to Greek philosophy over what the Bible teaches - like you do.
We know you would prefer others do as you do and put that above what the Bible has to say on the matter.
Perhaps if you make a modicum of effort to align your thinking with what the Bible actually teaches, you could
also tackle your idea of God being unfair, as that is quite against what the Bible actually teaches as well.
There you go lady. Calvinites are waaaaayyyy into the weeds.
Its just vain sophistry with a sprinkle of Scripture. Totally useless and sinister to boot.
In both his philosophical and theological reasoning, Augustine was greatly influenced by Stoicism, Platonism and Neoplatonism, particularly by the work of Plotinus, author of the Enneads, probably through the mediation of Porphyry and Victorinus (as Pierre Hadot has argued). Some Neoplatonic concepts are still visible in Augustine's early writings.
Paul correctly declares that "Greek wisdom" is.....USELESS as regards Biblical matters. Totally useless.
And I agree. Wholeheartedly.
My point is that is not how "free will" has been defined/ understood by anybody, it is never meant one can defy the laws of gravity.
The underlying problem or premise is the Augustinian view of human nature.
He is making an analogy to laws of nature which is not a serious argument.
They always want to confuse/obfuscate the result ( not our work, salvation, the Gift) to receiving the Gift.
Just a lack of necessary nuance which of course is how the tenets of Calvinism work.
Augustine promoted free will. Yes, it is problematic. Perhaps some day, God willing, you will agree.
Since you always confuse what the natural man is capable of in ascribing to him abilities possessed only by the spiritual man.
Plus, you mock and scorn personal revelation, though it is a promise made by God.
You claim God is unfair for revealing Himself in personal ways, as if He were not a personal God.
Much is off in your theology. I pray you meet the Living Lord. It will change your life... and beliefs.
“Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:21-22 KJV
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him:
he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. ….. he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.”
Isaiah 42:1, 3-4 KJV
“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. …..But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:10, 12-13
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ….And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Galatians 3:26-27, 29 KJV
it's easy to accuse people.
how about we read what he had to say and evaluate that on its own merits?
On Grace and Free Will - Augustine
"But since there are some persons who so defend God's grace as to deny man's free will, or who suppose that free will is denied when grace is defended.."
seems like bro is not as extreme as he is painted
I refuse to admit that Jesus lied when he said, "Seek/ask/knock and you will find, etc.?" (MT 7:7)
(Apparently, you acknowledge he did :^(
What people mean by it is the ability to choose between life and death as God tells us to do. You can choose to do evil or good, obviously you cannot choose to fly or choose to live without drinking water.
Frankly, not interested. A little leaven......
BTW, the remarkable thing about Romans 9 is its JEWISHNESS.
Super duper mega Jewishness.
So little wonder the Calvinites haven't the slightest idea of what Paul is talking about.
In fact the Calvinites think that Romans 9 is ALL Greek Reformed Calvinite sophistry. The whole thing man.
Abraham, the Exodus, Jacob and Esau, the law. They say that all of it is spooky Twilight Zone reality warping stuff.
You should hear what @Rufus has to say about the Exodus and wilderness wanderings.
This guy drones on and on ad nauseum about how ALL OF IT is Greek Reformed Calvinite-ism.
That right. His commentary declares that the Exodus is actually a tome on Greek philosophy.
Same goes for basically the entire OT. Its all Greek to them.
It that cool? Or is that a tragedy of epic proportions?
Actually, both are explained by admitting that man's will regarding salvation is limited to beginning by seeking God or salvation, which God enables although not irresistibly, and by acknowledging that God's Way of salvation (The Elect/Christ) or grace is accepted by non-meritorious faith. IOW, seeking will and saving faith are effectively the same.