Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[cv5]

More lies by you! Who here has said that? Regeneration is the process that leads to the New Birth (salvation!), for it is this birth -- this new creation that makes one aware that he has become a child of God.

And the Word also says, "He who lives and believes" (Jn 11:26).

Answer this question if you can: What is the essence -- the warp 'n' woof of Eternal Life?

Oh.... I'm sure that the board will hash it out eventually. I mean facts are facts right?

 

[Rufus]

Rahab wisely RECEIVED the two witnesses. Her choice.

The Gibeonites wisely SOUGHT the covenant of life and peace. Their choice.

The Ninevites wisely RECEIVED the prophet. Their choice

And in the above examples, ALL THEIR WAYS were in the hand of God (Prov 16:1, 9, 33; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1; Isa 46:10; Jer 10:23; Dan 5:23; Act 4:23-28; Rom 9:14-18)! So, did you have a point you were lamely trying to make?

 

[Rufus]

Oh.... I'm sure that the board will hash it out eventually. I mean facts are facts right?

No answer to my question concerning eternal life, heh? You haven't received revelation from God yet?

 

[reneweddaybyday]

(nephesh) is breath life.

I do not know where you got that from.

Strong's:

From naphash; properly, a breathing creature,​

Brown-Driver-Briggs:

נֶ֫פֶשׁ756 noun feminine ... soul, living being, life ... ​

​

1 = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being = ψυχή, anima, the soul, the inner being of man​

What was used in Genesis concerning the breathing into the nostrils was "neshamah."

Yes, God breathed the breath of lives (plural) into Adam ... and Adam became a living nephesh:

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed [Heb = nāp̄aḥ] into his nostrils the breath [Heb = nᵊšāmâ] of life [Heb = ḥay]; and man became a living soul [Heb = nephesh].

The word "life" is plural in the text ... more than one life was breathed into Adam ... one breath with more than one life ... life which made alive the soul (which functions within the body and brings breath life to the body) / life which made alive the spirit (which was to function within the soul and which was to bring spiritual life to the soul).

Genesis 35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul [Heb = nephesh] was in departing, (for she died) ...

when we take our last breath, the soul departs and no longer makes the body alive.

when Adam sinned, that which brought spiritual life to the soul of Adam was no longer present ... Adam was still physically alive due to his soul still being in his body, but the close, personal relationship with God was drastically changed.

Only four verses in the Bible use the exact phrase ‘breath of life’, but this phrase derives from three different Hebrew phrases: twice from ‘ruwach chay’, once from ‘neshamah chay’, and once from ‘neshamah ruwach chay’.

I would highly recommend discovering this teacher whom God highly blessed with knowledge, understanding and wisdom.
Here is a good pick. https://www.rbthieme.org/index.html#tabs-3

Does RB Thieme discuss the fact that Scripture states that God breathed into Adam the breath of lives (plural)? How does RB Thieme handle that aspect of Gen 2:7? thanks.
.

 

[Rufus]

First you say OSAS is 100% Scriptural but then you disagree with it. Which is it?

from Revelation 3 verse 17-18 ~ You say, ‘I need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

Not only that but "OSAS" is a horrible, sloppy, careless and irresponsible way to express one's eternal security in this New Covenant age; for it doesn't say enough and, therefore, can be misleading. There's a reason why the Reformers framed the doctrine Perseverance of the Saints.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Are you suggesting that dogma is sinful? Are there no definite, absolute tenets or body of doctrines for the Church to grasp and hold onto? What about dogmas like the Trinity, the Incarnation, virgin birth, the fall of mankind, etc.?

whatever dogma you hold to is between you and God.

I have stated over and over that we need are not to align Scripture to our dogma ... we are to align our dogma to Scripture ... where our dogma does not align with Scripture, let go of the error ... only hold fast that which is good ...

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

and whatever dogma you hold to still does not allow you to bludgeon others with your uncontrolled verbal outbursts.

Learn the lesson Jesus revealed to the lawyer in the parable of the samaritan. Sometimes you come across as those who attacked the half dead victim as opposed to the samaritan who went above and beyond to help the guy. just sayin'
.

 

[Rufus]

The free will claim is that the incurably wicked heart from which no good thing can come produces faith.

"produces" ???
Hhmmmmm. How about "inherently possesses" by design at creation? By which a FREE WILL choice for Christ can be actualized.
Because that's the reading of it here.

Mat 15:28
Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy G4675 faith G4102 : be it unto thee even as thou wilt G2309 . And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

The KJV translates Strong's G4675 in the following manner: thy (358x), thee (76x), thine (50x), thine own (7x), thou (6x), not translated (1x).

The KJV translates Strong's G4102 in the following manner: faith (239x), assurance (1x), believe (with G1537) (1x), belief (1x), them that believe (1x), fidelity (1x).

The KJV translates Strong's G2309 in the following manner: will/would (159x), will/would have (16x), desire (13x), desirous (3x), list (3x), to will (2x), miscellaneous (4x).

Only Adam's will was truly free, since it was free FROM all internal evil influences before he sinned. Adam had no evil heart, no sinful nature. That all changed after he sinned.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Oh.... I'm sure that the board will hash it out eventually.

just a reminder so we can get to this "eventually"
.

 

[cv5]

Not only that but "OSAS" is a horrible, sloppy, careless and irresponsible way to express one's eternal security in this New Covenant age; for it doesn't say enough and, therefore, can be misleading. There's a reason why the Reformers framed the doctrine Perseverance of the Saints.

Actually, it is better stated "ISAS".

If saved always saved. Because you don't get saved twice.

 

[NightTwister]

Calvinists are selling "saved then believe".
The Word says "believe and be saved".

Who then do you expect us to believe?

The Calvinists are selling "get lucky at the Holy Spirit down-payment pre-birth lottery so that you can believe".
The Word says "believe and receive the Holy Spirit".

Who then do you expect us to believe?

There you go again with the strawman. You don't even care when you do it. It's called "bearing false witness against your neighbor." I'm sure you can look that one up.

 

[NightTwister]

Why the negative?
Show me the error.

Let me guess, you were told something.

Lol - I was once in the WoF movement. I did a lot of research on it. It's a lot of false doctrine.

 

[cv5]

There you go again with the strawman. You don't even care when you do it. It's called "bearing false witness against your neighbor." I'm sure you can look that one up.

No, not really.

On the contrary, what I said is solid Biblical bedrock. Really, it's beyond refutation.

 

[HeIsHere]

Rahab wisely RECEIVED the two witnesses. Her choice.

The Gibeonites wisely SOUGHT the covenant of life and peace. Their choice.

The Ninevites wisely RECEIVED the prophet. Their choice

All you throughout scripture, agreed.


I am sometimes amazed we are even having to rebut what is obviously a Roman/Greek fatalism/determinism doctrine.

 

[HeIsHere]

No, not really.

On the contrary, what I said is solid Biblical bedrock. Really, it's beyond refutation.

Pretty sure people have stated clearly, many times, they were regenerated/enabled before belief.

 

[NightTwister]

No, not really.

On the contrary, what I said is solid Biblical bedrock. Really, it's beyond refutation.

Lying liars gonna lie.

 

[cv5]

Lying liars gonna lie.

No, not really.

 

[cv5]

Pretty sure people have stated clearly, many times, they were regenerated/enabled before belief.

That the mantra alright. Also, some kind of "special personal revelation" is part of the formula.

 

[HeIsHere]

That the mantra alright. Also, some kind of "special personal revelation" is part of the formula.

The accusation of straw man makes no sense when they promote this doctrine very clearly, endlessly. Weird.

They are totally consumed with the "special, unique, personal revelation" doctrine.

 

[cv5]

The accusation of straw man makes no sense when they promote this doctrine very clearly, endlessly. Weird.

They are totally consumed with the "special, unique, personal revelation" doctrine.

They are the gatekeepers, and we are on the outs.
No special club membership was granted pre-birth for the miserable free-willers supposedly.

 

[Magenta]

They are totally consumed with the "special, unique, personal revelation" doctrine.

More like some feel compelled to address your constant denial, mocking, and scoffing of Scriptural truth.

And your dishonesty. But you do not like to be accountable. You want to be free to sin without consequences.

Matthew 11 verse 27 ~ All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.