Can We Really Exercise Free Will?
- Thread starter LifelongLearner
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You only cite part of the verse, which is possible to interpret as "Those God foreknew [would choose to accept Christ] He also predestined [planned from the beginning] to be conformed to the image of His Son [to become morally perfect in heaven]...".
And this understanding jibes perfectly with Scripture teaching that all sinners may (MFW) accept Christ or not--and experience God's preplanned just consequence for rejecting His love/grace.
Too easy.
right ... the fact that God allows mankind to suppress the truth in unrighteousness does not in any way, shape or form negate or affect the sovereignty of God.
Those who believe satan is more successful in hiding the gospel than God is in revealing the gospel show their weak faith in Lord God Almighty.
Something I've been pondering is that the value of an item is determined by what one is willing to pay for the item. So God paid the highest price for those who are unregenerate (and those who were children of disobedience ... children of wrath prior to being born again).
What is the value of the gift of God ?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Those who believe the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ excludes those who will find themselves thrown into the lake of fire due to rejection of God's wonderful gift ... have not considered that the value of the gift is more than sufficient to pay for the sin of every single human being descended from Adam ... all humanity who has ever lived ... who is living now ... who will be born in the future ... that is the precious value of the life of the Lord Jesus Christ ... beyond measure ... beyond our ability to comprehend the preciousness ...
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Can you show that from scripture? That's not stipulated in Deuteronomy 7.Reminder to Cameron: >>> chooses for SERVICE.
calvies John 3:16
For God had affection on @Cameron143 that He Sovereignly chose @Cameron143 ...........
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.
Read it for yourself. It says He chose them because He loved them and would keep the oath He had sworn.
World there means what? Every single person who ever existed? Don't think so. The word is kosmos. The connotation is of the whole of creation existing well ordered and harmonious.
In the old testament the sacrifices were to lead isreal to the idea of a savior. Lamb of God is one reference to Jesus.
Ok once a year the high priest sacrificed a lamb without blemish (no spots=no sin ) so God would forgive ALL the sins of isreal. So how would Jesus's sacrifice not be for the whole world. When that yearly sacrifice represents what He would become.
Ok once a year the high priest sacrificed a lamb without blemish (no spots=no sin ) so God would forgive ALL the sins of isreal. So how would Jesus's sacrifice not be for the whole world. When that yearly sacrifice represents what He would become.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
The Lord Jesus Christ helps us with our burdens ... He doesn't add to our burden ... He yokes up to us to help us through burdensome times ...
James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
"draw near to God and He will draw near to you" ... wonderful promise ...
1 Peter 5:6-11 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
When we're going through times of trial, we are so focused on what we're going through that we do not realize what God is working in us as we resist steadfast in the faith ... God is perfecting, establishing, strengthening, settling us as we endure.
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Some are here just to make Christians to regret being Christian.
Important point!
But, rather.
"does not in any way, shape or form negate or affect the INTEGRITY of God.
There is a difference.
Its for the benefit and training of those whom God wants to bring to full maturity in Christ, because they desire it to be so.
I do love how you minimize the practical implications of God's choosing some for salvation and not others.
You express such deep and profound devotion to the God of Narrow Unconditional Salvation Selection.
So inspiring!
Why fuss, my thought as well, I mean the others fit themselves for destruction right?
You make it seem so wondrous, now that is a true gift, cheers to you, you have really come out of your shell .... keep up the good work!!
Do you know what is truly weird coming from these free willing folks? Is that in their haste to mock
and scoff all Scriptural truths that do not align with their pet man-exalting precept which they teach
as doctrine, they deny being called out of this world. If they were not chosen and called out of the
world then they do not belong to the body of Christ. It is a very serious self-defeating stance they take.
I get it. It doesn't fit well with who you think God is. Even when the scripture suggests God is different than you think, that man is different than you think, it doesn't matter. So since I shared scripture you couldn't refute, you make it seem like revealing God and man as the scripture ascribes them is a bad thing.I do love how you minimize the practical implications of God's choosing some for salvation and not others.
You express such deep and profound devotion to the God of Narrow Unconditional Salvation Selection.
So inspiring!
Why fuss, my thought as well, I mean the others fit themselves for destruction right?
You make it seem so wondrous, now that is a true gift, cheers to you, you have really come out of your shell .... keep up the good work!!