Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
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See, this is why i can say you and your trolling buddies, have really lost the plot when commenting. You make it all about bigging up yourselves, being argumentative and competitive with other commenters, rather than discussing the truth and wisdom of what God teaches us.

Nothing you said there relates to me at all, it's just the usual wind inducing word salad, you lot conjure up, hoping it makes you look wise. It doesn't, i find it nauseating now, tried to help you stop being so silly but will now just call you out.
And, you are innocent of such actions with your buddies....
 
May 20, 2025
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The fact that Freewill exist, means it can be used. The problem which arises is; how to use It correctly. Each One of US can use free will. However; using It wisely is another matter!
DeepSeeker
 
Sep 29, 2024
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Have you ever thought about this path ?

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭

Do you think there’s anything to what Jesus is saying there ?

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.

But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh;

rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

are we able to choose between those two things ?
I do love chatting with you friend, you seek wisdom too, we have much in common and can discuss things we differ on amicably. Yep, those scriptures are ones which mean so much to me too friend, my recent turning to Christianity has set me free so from many fears and worries i had about the future of my children in particular.

I notice you too conflate qualities/abilities i see as separate, choice and will aren't a single characteristic, they're components which can be combined at times. However, we don't have free will because we need the cooperation of others to impose our will, it's a vanishingly rare achievement unilaterally, unless it's insignificant to others. Personally think the wicked ones who the whole world lies in the power of, love it when people believe these lies they try to indoctrinate us with, know satan is our accuser before God etc.

My little cat wants some playtime before bed, all that's good for now. :giggle:
 
May 20, 2025
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From The Amplified Bible this is given for Genesis 1:1 .

In The Begining God (prepared, formed , fashioned, and created THE HEAVENS and The earth.
I like This translation; for IT explains in detail how The Creation was put together.

1-Formed 2-Fashioned, and The Heavens, plural, were all put together to form This Creation.

Notice that The Command: "Let there be light", comes last. It appears then, that what is being told here in Genesis 1:1 is how This Creation came to Be! It was A THOUGHT BROUGHTFORTH IN A REALITY!

A man named, Edgar Casey once made The Statement: "Thought are things." Indeed, thought became things in Genesis 1. Some times it really pays to; THINK ON WHAT IS BEING SAID ! Let It become a REALITY!

I Hope that this very short statement helps many.

DeepSeeker
 
Sep 29, 2024
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SECOND THOUGHT !

If there is no Free Will, how can You post here ? ?
Glory! As if that hasn't already been said ad nauseam in this post but there's always someone else who thinks they're the first ;)

Simple, i want to, have the means to and can do so unilaterally as it's insignificant enough not to need approval or help from others. As i've said many times, we have choice and will for sure, what we don't have is free will as we have to take the needs of others into account very often. Personally think the only person who can always impose his will unilaterally, is the big guy upstairs :love:
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
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You know lately I have been pondering how all through out my life no matter what I did which way I went my life never seemed to be in my control, if free will does exist and God knew every move move I was going to make then why did it not seem to matter what I did no matter which way I went nothing ever seemed to be in my control?

Thinking about it maybe that is all the more reason to not beat myself up for every screw up every sin every mistake and to trust him all the more because I was always going to make those mistakes yet he loves me unconditionally anyways.
perhaps I was predestined to make them? what about this post here? was I always going to make this post? was it even my will to do so?
 
Sep 29, 2024
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You know lately I have been pondering how all through out my life no matter what I did which way I went my life never seemed to be in my control, if free will does exist and God knew every move move I was going to make then why did it not seem to matter what I did no matter which way I went nothing ever seemed to be in my control?

Thinking about it maybe that is all the more reason to not beat myself up for every screw up every sin every mistake and to trust him all the more because I was always going to make those mistakes yet he loves me unconditionally anyways.
perhaps I was predestined to make them? what about this post here? was I always going to make this post? was it even my will to do so?
Blessings and hugs friend, think you and i are the type who really feel gutted if we fall below the standards we expect of ourselves. I'm a new believer but think God is more forgiving of me than i am, when i mess up. Meaning i can get so low, i become my own worst enemy for a while.

Think you might understand what i mean, thank the Lord for his love, mercy and grace, blessings and hugs for now.
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
4,817
845
113
The fact that Freewill exist, means it can be used. The problem which arises is; how to use It correctly. Each One of US can use free will. However; using It wisely is another matter!
DeepSeeker
The answer is as follows....

And be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To Him be the glory both now, and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

How do we grow in knowledge of Jesus Christ?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

grace and peace ............
 
Sep 29, 2024
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And, you are innocent of such actions with your buddies....
Yes my dear, i am innocent of such things, stimulating, thoughtful discussion with others floats my boat. The type where you can learn from and teach each other, share interesting news etc. Not the type where you argue over a penny on the floor to try and be top dog, which is what i've seen you lot do so often.
 

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
21,100
3,430
113
Blessings and hugs friend, think you and i are the type who really feel gutted if we fall below the standards we expect of ourselves. I'm a new believer but think God is more forgiving of me than i am, when i mess up. Meaning i can get so low, i become my own worst enemy for a while.

Think you might understand what i mean, thank the Lord for his love, mercy and grace, blessings and hugs for now.
I would say we are the same in that regard but it also is a good thing to think on that if he already knew we would fall short then that is all the more reason to trust him and rest in his love and mercy because we were already going to fall short yet he loves us the same.

Also welcome to the family of the Lord my friend may he bless you with much wisdom and love in your heart
 

Genez

Junior Member
Oct 12, 2017
4,817
845
113
Sep 29, 2024
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Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
21,100
3,430
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perhaps free will exists before salvation if it exists at all but for sure once we come to salvation since we have surrendered our will to our king no free will exists for such a believer they go where the wind takes them
 
Oct 24, 2012
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The choice to believe something, or not....
Is still a product of human volition.

Where certain Calvinists get tripped up is to broad stroke our absolute inability to live righteously,
to overflow into having an absolute inability to choose between good and evil.

Adam and Eve were instantly thrown into a world of having to decide and choose between good and evil!
They had fee volition concerning what God decreed was to be man's area of choosing.

They just went too far with total depravity.
Found friends that agreed with them.
And, then chose comradery with likeminded souls,
over Truth that demands a cross to be alone with that which we choose.
So, we have religions.
Religion = what am I or the many in a group doing to get God to be pleased, Good luck?
God= creator, where I see to not create and respond to God in thanksgiving and praise, he took all Sin away for me and everyone else in his Son's one time willing death, no flesh fight back, and is risen forever for us to be alive too, right now presently. God gives new life in his risen Son's Life (The two as One, Won) and Get loved and love all truthfully as a response, not to create other things as man continues to do and I see stop, ask God and see new in the risen Life in God Father's Spirit and Truth only, thank you John 10:10
 
Sep 2, 2020
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I do love chatting with you friend, you seek wisdom too, we have much in common and can discuss things we differ on amicably. Yep, those scriptures are ones which mean so much to me too friend, my recent turning to Christianity has set me free so from many fears and worries i had about the future of my children in particular.

I notice you too conflate qualities/abilities i see as separate, choice and will aren't a single characteristic, they're components which can be combined at times. However, we don't have free will because we need the cooperation of others to impose our will, it's a vanishingly rare achievement unilaterally, unless it's insignificant to others. Personally think the wicked ones who the whole world lies in the power of, love it when people believe these lies they try to indoctrinate us with, know satan is our accuser before God etc.

My little cat wants some playtime before bed, all that's good for now. :giggle:
yes your a good discussion partner I’ve found that often times we learn the most from a conversation where two people actually don’t agree on every thought and point . Sometimes we’re wrong and without those types of discussions we’ll never realize it . And if we can’t be peaceable even as we disagree we’re just spinning wheels in the mud so I truly appreciate folks like yourself and the time you share with me in discussion of course in good spirit which always matters a lot


“I notice you too conflate qualities/abilities i see as separate, choice and will aren't a single characteristic, they're components which can be combined at times. “

^^^This is why I was trying to ask about how you would describe what is a persons Will ? Remember ?

I was trying to determine what exactly your seeing as “ will “ but I never really noticed an answer . Or I’m not smart enough to grasp it lol I’m. Ot sure which .

I’m not sure you remember what I was saying but i hadn’t made this point that they are a single characteristic at all

“choice and will aren't a single characteristic”

Can we go back to my original question ? I think it would help a lot

If I were to ask you genuinely as if I had no clue what it was ……what is a persons will ?

how would you explain what a person Will is to me ?

before we get into “ free Will “ I really would like to get on the same page as to what we’re meaning by the term “will “

ps lol my cat is hating me currently I have to give him eye meds three times a day I’m the enemy currently in his little world
 
Oct 12, 2017
4,817
845
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I do love chatting with you friend, you seek wisdom too, we have much in common and can discuss things we differ on amicably. Yep, those scriptures are ones which mean so much to me too friend, my recent turning to Christianity has set me free so from many fears and worries i had about the future of my children in particular.

I notice you too conflate qualities/abilities i see as separate, choice and will aren't a single characteristic, they're components which can be combined at times. However, we don't have free will because we need the cooperation of others to impose our will, it's a vanishingly rare achievement unilaterally, unless it's insignificant to others. Personally think the wicked ones who the whole world lies in the power of, love it when people believe these lies they try to indoctrinate us with, know satan is our accuser before God etc.

My little cat wants some playtime before bed, all that's good for now. :giggle:

You are not free to do everything you want to do.
If you could?
Would that be free will to your way of seeing free will?
 
Jun 7, 2025
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Many have probably realised i don't think we can exercise free will, even think it's impossible for us to. Won't explain why i think it's an impossiblility for us yet, think it's useful for some to express why they think it exists first.

I have no doubt we have and can make choices throughout life, however, think our options are far more restricted than most realise. What do you think?
If we did not have free will then how did anyone sin.

Lucifer was created perfect in his ways until iniquity was found in him but if he did not have free will then how was iniquity found in him when he was created perfect in his ways.

Adam and Eve were created in the image of God an innocent nature in flesh with no sin on their record so if they did not have free will how did they sin.

Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

If Adam and Eve did not have free will that would mean that God wanted them to fall which goes against His nature of being good and wanting us to be good.

God does not want us to sin so He is not going to cause us to sin.

If we did not have free will then God's kingdom is not true love but robotic love and God is not evil to condemn people that do not have a choice but to not accept the truth because they do not have free will.

If God did choose in the beginning who will be saved without their choice then what is the purpose of the earth.

God could of made them to be with Him and cut out the earth and the result would be the same for they do not choose their salvation.

The Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world for God calls things that have not happened yet as though they already happened.

The saints are predestined to salvation means that God had the plan to give mankind salvation from the foundation of the earth and this salvation is to whoever wants it.

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.

Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

God wants all people to be saved so we have free will to choose salvation or reject it.