Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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1 Corinthians 1 v 30-31 ~ It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus, Who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
 
I dont think they are acknolwedging what the gospel is

I KNOW they are not acknowledging what the Gospel is. It is the Power/Grace of God unto salvation to ALL who believe.

They have spent post after post trying to convince us that Satan has more power to keep us in darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ and His light can't quite overcome the power of satan.
 
I KNOW they are not acknowledging what the Gospel is. It is the Power/Grace of God unto salvation to ALL who believe.

They have spent post after post trying to convince us that Satan has more power to keep us in darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ and His light can't quite overcome the power of satan.
Can you show the post where this is stated?
 
well said some people hear about God and they don’t believe he exists others believe other versions they hear of god other religions like rome at the time they had tboer own dieties they worshipped and had faith in they prayed to offered to ect so they here and comprehend the message they just reject it when they hear it .
right ... if we believe what some claim ... then there would be no ancient idols by which pagans worshipped their "gods" ... there would be no unbelievers sitting in the pews of churches.

Idol worship results from a selfish desire to approach God in a manner other than how God has instructed He will be approached (think about Cain ... the first religious one) ... or the idolator believes lies told to him or her about God.

Unbelievers are sitting in church pews because they see the eternal power and Godhead revealed in nature ... or they hear something about God ... and want to know more. Hopefully unbelievers are sitting in church pews where the gospel of Christ is accurately taught and the pastor points to the Lord Jesus Christ ... but seeing the state of churches these days ???

Another reason unbelievers are sitting in church pews is because they think that's what they have to do to get to heaven ... they live however they want Monday - Saturday ... Sunday they go to church and that's it (they think). These are the "Lord, Lord" folks (Matt 7:21-23).

Then you've got some folks who go to church on the "important" days ... Christmas and Easter ...
.
 
You have the power to clear it up.

Clear it up for us.
I'll be happy to do that right after you show me the post after post that says what you stated. You made the claim. Post after post shouldn't be hard to find.
 
@Pilgrimshope don't get me wrong, we are on the same page. But the calvies have a point about our fallen nature and hard hearts.

They overlook the FACT that God did something about it....


When He(the Holy Spirit) comes He will/convince/convict/ judge sin. And Sin? Because they don't believe in Him.

We never had "inability", The Lord Jesus Christ FIXED it way back with Adam and Eve. He even had it fixed before the foundation of the world.
Come to think of it God "guarded" the way to the Tree of Life (see Youngs literal translation).....which of course is Christ Himself ultimately. To make sure that it is always available for the progeny of Adam and Eve.

Arguably the same idea can be said of the "narrow gate" gate. If you really want to dig in to the Greek terms that is.
 
Hardly matters what you say or how you say it once they brand you a Calvinist.

They'll lie their faces off and then tell you you are not acting like a Christian.

Makes you wonder how they think a Christian is supposed to act.

Because they find their false accusations and blatant lies acceptable to tell in the first place.

And you will find that some prefer to blaspheme God than ever admit they are wrong.
Don't get upset if people aren't buying into this pre-birth lottery shotgun wedding business.
It sounds awful because it is awful.
 
I guess we have changed from ping-pong to dodgeball!
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From 2 Timothy 1 verses 8b-9 Join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
:)
 
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From2-Timothy1-8b-9.png

From 2 Timothy 1 verses 8b-9 Join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.
:)
The early verses of Ephesians 1:3-14 proclaim the same truth. And they also tell us that He has a chosen people according to the counsel of His will. Nothing earned or brought about by MFW..
 
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I KNOW they are not acknowledging what the Gospel is. It is the Power/Grace of God unto salvation to ALL who believe.

They have spent post after post trying to convince us that Satan has more power to keep us in darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ and His light can't quite overcome the power of satan.
Well I think they believe he’s able to do it but only does it for the “chosen ones “ but not completely sure. These conversations get hectic sometimes hard to follow everything . Which is why the salt advisory on my words lol

it seems like if someone’s position is the gospel saves anyone then suddenly they don’t believe Godnis who saves people . I’m not sure of some of the logic in the responses but my brains old n tired so lol
 
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right ... if we believe what some claim ... then there would be no ancient idols by which pagans worshipped their "gods" ... there would be no unbelievers sitting in the pews of churches.

Idol worship results from a selfish desire to approach God in a manner other than how God has instructed He will be approached (think about Cain ... the first religious one) ... or the idolator believes lies told to him or her about God.

Unbelievers are sitting in church pews because they see the eternal power and Godhead revealed in nature ... or they hear something about God ... and want to know more. Hopefully unbelievers are sitting in church pews where the gospel of Christ is accurately taught and the pastor points to the Lord Jesus Christ ... but seeing the state of churches these days ???

Another reason unbelievers are sitting in church pews is because they think that's what they have to do to get to heaven ... they live however they want Monday - Saturday ... Sunday they go to church and that's it (they think). These are the "Lord, Lord" folks (Matt 7:21-23).

Then you've got some folks who go to church on the "important" days ... Christmas and Easter ...
.
Yeah I think some are looking at the term “ believers “ as if this is a chosen and ordained group by god who have no choice but to believe and be saved they’re just going to because god wills it . And others they can’t be saved because they’re already non believers from the beginning ect

i look at it like everyone is bound to death and hell because of our sins no exception left . And so we all need to hear the gospel first that god sent out from Jerusalem in order to be saved as a result of that . As if everyone’s lost until they accept Jesus and the gospel

abut that’s just my own thinking about it and I think fundamentally some of our beliefs in the forum are quite different
 
The early verses of Ephesians 1:3-14 proclaim the same truth. And they also tell us that He has
a chosen people according to the counsel of His will. Nothing earned or brought about by MFW..
It is mind-blowing how many Scriptures they contradict and outright deny. They boast in men. Just bizarre!

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1 Corinthians 3 v 19-21a, 1 Corinthians 1 v 19 ~ The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” Therefore, stop boasting in men. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”
 
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I guess we have changed from ping-pong to dodgeball!
Come on. You guys have spent 1000's of posts trying to convince us and the readers that we are in total darkness, cannot see,cannot hear,cannot respond to the Gospel Of the Lord Jesus Christ....We are in total inability.

Is it satan or the Lord Jesus Christ keeping us in this darkness? You WILL answer Satan......The Light of the Lord Jesus Christ just can't quite overcome this all powerful force of the evil one. The Gospel will remain hidden to unbelievers by the power of satan and unbelievers will remain in their INABILITY to believe His Gospel....According to the calvies.
 
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So, in that regard, we either believe information provided to us or we don't.

Agree 100%

Believing the preaching of the cross is what separates the believer from the unbeliever.

Yes I missed the word, that is important, lol

Paul indicated the problem in the church at Corinth which resulted in carnality was their tendency to follow man rather than the Lord Jesus Christ.

There were problems in the church and yes that was part of the problem.

However that is an aside, Paul goes on to say...

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
1 Cor 1:21


My point was that those who are perishing are the ones who did NOT believe the Gospel.

It is NOT as some beleive that they could NOT believe the Gospel because it is foolishness and the only way they could believe the Gospel is be regenerated first/given special unique intervention and then they would have the ability to believe.


Paul is not making this argument ^^^^ so I was just breaking your post down a bit more.

I believe faith is inherent within all descendants of Adam.

I am not understanding this idea, is this some supernatural substance or is the same kind of faith as expressed and exercised in a spouse or a friend for example?
:unsure:
Can you clarify?
 
Agree 100%

Yes I missed the word, that is important, lol

There were problems in the church and yes that was part of the problem.

However that is an aside, Paul goes on to say...

For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
1 Cor 1:21


My point was though that those who are perishing are the ones who did NOT believe the Gospel.

It is NOT as some beleive that they could NOT believe the Gospel because it is foolishness and the only way they could believe the Gospel is be regenerated first/given special unique intervention and then the would have the ability to believe.

Paul is not making this argument ^^^^ so I was just breaking your post down a bit more.

I am not understanding this idea, is this some supernatural substance or is the same kind of faith as expressed and exercised in a spouse or a friend for example?
:unsure:
Can you clarify?
The gospel is hid to those who are perishing. Another FACT you deny.

Just as you claim all hear. Jesus said otherwise.

Those of the world are blinded. Yes, the whole world.

If you are not called out of the world that includes you.

Blinded, under the power and influence of Satan.
 
Come on. You guys have spent 1000's of posts trying to convince us and the readers that we are in total darkness, cannot see,cannot hear,cannot respond to the Gospel Of the Lord Jesus Christ....We are in total inability.

Is it satan or the Lord Jesus Christ keeping us in this darkness? You WILL answer Satan......The Light of the Lord Jesus Christ just can't quite overcome this all powerful force of the evil one. The Gospel will remain hidden to unbelievers by the power of satan and unbelievers will remain in their INABILITY to believe His Gospel....According to the calvies.
And yet, Jesus said He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Jesus isn't hampered in any way in building His church. That's how I know no one has said as you stated.
 
Come on. You guys have spent 1000's of posts trying to convince us and the readers that we are in total darkness, cannot see,cannot hear,cannot respond to the Gospel Of the Lord Jesus Christ....We are in total inability.

Is it satan or the Lord Jesus Christ keeping us in this darkness? You WILL answer Satan......The Light of the Lord Jesus Christ just can't quite overcome this all powerful force of the evil one. The Gospel will remain hidden to unbelievers by the power of satan and unbelievers will remain in their INABILITY to believe His Gospel....According to the calvies.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:3-4‬ ‭

If we hear the gospel and reject it not believing it there’s nothing left but darkness and blindness . He’s saying those who don’t believe the gospel thier minds are blinded because they e rejected the truth that saves
 
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬


“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:3-4‬ ‭

If we hear the gospel and reject it not believing it there’s nothing left but darkness and blindness . He’s saying those who don’t believe the gospel thier minds are blinded because they e rejected the truth that saves
"blinded the minds of them which believe not"

Another super-determinist boondoggle laid to rest. But then again, cause and effect never did matter in super-determinist mythos.