Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[cv5]

Total inability does not exist in scripture.

Pharaoh had more than enough ability to repent and believe. And more than enough evidence.

But he CHOSE to "hold on" to Israel despite the full knowledge of his own recalcitrance and intent.

Things did not end well. And yet God was exceedingly longsuffering and merciful to all parties involved thru the entire debacle.

 

[Magenta]

Total inability does not exist in scripture.

You should read the Bible. The world cannot receive the Spirit of Truth. That is Scripture.

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." John 6 verse 44 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2 verse 14 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8 verse 7-8

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

Pharaoh had more than enough ability to repent and believe. And more than enough evidence.

But he CHOSE to "hold on" to Israel despite the full knowledge of his own recalcitrance and intent.

Things did not end well. And yet God was exceedingly longsuffering and merciful to all parties involved thru the entire debacle.

Yes. Pharoiah hardened his heart. and died for it he lost his whole army in the process

 

[BillyBob]

Yet we are only instructed to just believe. I understand your meaning but believing is actually the most difficult part of the battle.

Jam 2:19

 

[cv5]

Christ didn't die for the fallen angels, yet they're going to stand before Christ and be judged. And all unrighteous sinners will have no excuse because they all know they are guilty. The works of the law written intuitively on their hearts and their own consciences will bear witness to this fact (Rom 2).

What you stated above clearly implies that God wouldn't be able to judge any human being for their personal sins if he hadn't "given them a way out". What if God had passed over the entire human race the way he did with the fallen angels, providing no salvific remedy whatsoever? God's hands would be judicially be tied in terms of judgment for what reason specifically?

But God DID provide a "way out" (in eternity past) and immediately implemented the ways and means for Adam and the Woman.
And by extension to everyone.

So your argument is moot.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Yet we are only instructed to just believe. I understand your meaning but believing is actually the most difficult part of the battle.

It’s a matter of what we believe were meant to believe the gospel as the lord presented it . Because if we do believe the gospel it’s going to bring us to repentance and obedience to Christ

Gods grace doesn’t reject his judgements and claim they don’t apply

 

[Genez]

You mean like Jesus "dominated and oppressed" the helpless blind man in Jn 9, or the way the Good Samaritan "dominated and oppressed" the helpless half-dead crime victim whom he rescued? Or the way God through Moses "dominated and oppressed" the helplessly enslaved Israelites in Egypt when He came down to rescue/redeem/deliver


But He doesn't give the entire human race a "way out". There's no text in scripture that says God is merciful and compassionate to all mankind w/o exception. Rather his mercy and compassion is limited according to His purpose and will. God has mercy and compassion on whom HE WILLS to have mercy and compassion. He didn't have mercy and compassion in Rom 9 for Ishmael, Esau or Pharaoh.

Proverbs 12:1 states, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid."

 

[Genez]

@Genez

This man is a top drawer Hebrew scholar. His grasp of the proper Hebrew meanings of Psalm 103 is superb and enlightening.

The Holy Spirit must reveal that to us.

God has provided for those whom He has designed the provision for.

 

[Rufus]

He is not indebted to the sinner but He LOVED the world enough to give everyone a way out. Hell was not made for people it was made for the devil and his angels, thats what the bible teaches.
Of course God can do what He wants.


In calvinism, yes. He predestined all of their sins to occur. But dont worry ive read the confession double speak already. "God caused it but didnt cause it, but He did cause it through secondary means so technically the sin isnt on Him"

Very slippery.

God's removal of his restraining grace, to which no one is entitled, simply gives man over more deeply to his depraved sin nature according to God's purpose. Remember Joseph? Pharaoh?

 

[Rufus]

Proverbs 12:1 states, "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid."

So what does Prov 12:1 have to do with the price of rice today? Those whose hearts are Darkness itself do not love discipline or knowledge. In fact, they hate such things.

 

[Genez]

Christ didn't die for the fallen angels, yet they're going to stand before Christ and be judged. And all unrighteous sinners will have no excuse because they all know they are guilty. The works of the law written intuitively on their hearts and their own consciences will bear witness to this fact (Rom 2).

Fallen angels are not spiritually dead.
Fallen man is spiritually dead.
Fallen angels can understand spiritual realities far greater than you can now.

Jesus died for mankind as to bring man into a spiritual state to compete and overcome fallen angels in their thinking.

Don't be a sucker.

 

[HeIsHere]

Wrong! God is totally unable to sin, just like man is totally unable to not sin! And what accounts for this inability is not volition but NATURE, as Cam has recently pointed out! Can the leopard change its spots? Do you think, like Studier does, that spot changing is a merely a matter of will or is it a question of ESSENCE/NATURE? Leopards are carnivores because of an act of their will or because eating flesh and blood inheres in their nature? Do leopards become carnivores after they kill and eat, or do they kill and eat because their own nature compels them to do so?

Likewise, God cannot sin, cannot lie, cannot deny Himself because His HOLY nature compels him to do only what is right, holy and good. Likewise, sinners cannot not sin because their sinful natures compel them to sin.

I am quite sure you know that the doctrine of "total inability" is in reference to humans not God.

 

[Rufus]

HeIsHere said:


I agree, but we must also realize the simple complete Gospel is rarely preached, instead we hear a lot of false Gospels like
"turn from sin."

That is not the Gospel.

So sinners don't have to repent of their sin? Repentance isn't part of the "complete Gospel"?

 

[Rufus]

Fallen angels are not spiritually dead.
Fallen man is spiritually dead.
Fallen angels can understand spiritual realities far greater than you can now.

Jesus died for mankind as to bring man into a spiritual state to compete and overcome fallen angels in their thinking.

Don't be a sucker.

Fallen angels are spiritually dead because they are SEPARATED from God in the same way sinners are separated from Him! I believe the fallen angels were cast out/driven out of heaven away from God's presence -- just like Adam was cast out of the Garden away from His holy presence.

You clearly have been sucked into a great number of lies.

 

[Rufus]

I am quite sure you know that the doctrine of "total inability" is in reference to humans not God.

Yeah....and your point??? In whose image are humans made into: The man in the moon, Popeye, the Tooth Fairy...?

 

[Magenta]

So what does Prov 12:1 have to do with the price of rice today? Those whose hearts
are Darkness itself do not love discipline or knowledge. In fact, they hate such things.

And they have no fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom. Not worldly wisdom. Godly wisdom.

Proverbs 9:8 + 18:2 ~ Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion

 

[lrs68]

To another point did the prisoner accept Christ before breaking the law or after once in prison?

Many come from homes where they were raised in the Church and always believed in God. Most African Americans were Baptist Reformed Believers.

 

[lrs68]

Jam 2:19

Demons should believe they once were in Heaven with the WORD before becoming flesh.

 

[Rufus]

Pharaoh had more than enough ability to repent and believe. And more than enough evidence.

But he CHOSE to "hold on" to Israel despite the full knowledge of his own recalcitrance and intent.

Things did not end well. And yet God was exceedingly longsuffering and merciful to all parties involved thru the entire debacle.

Not according to the Exodus narrative. Besides...God had OTHER plans for Pharaoh, so he turned the king's heart as a channel of water in His hand (Prov 21:1). And don't you know that God even makes the wicked for the day of evil (Prov 16:4)?

 

[lrs68]

It’s a matter of what we believe were meant to believe the gospel as the lord presented it . Because if we do believe the gospel it’s going to bring us to repentance and obedience to Christ

Gods grace doesn’t reject his judgements and claim they don’t apply

Amen!