Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Sure, no one understands your Reformed Theology views.
Yup. And it changes on a whim, depending on the audience, ebb and flow of the argument and time of day.

What it really is.....is indefensible hogwash.
 
from-John14-17etc.png

The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. The world does not recognize Him. No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. The one who loves God is known by God. If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 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. The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile toward God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it. Whoever is not from God does not listen to us. from John 14 v 17, John 1 v 10, Matthew 11 v 27 & Luke 10 v 22, 1 Corinthians 8 v 3, Romans 8 v 9, 1 Corinthians 2 v 14, Romans 8 v 7, 1 John 4 v 6
 
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Of course from the Bible. What does it mean to be in Christ? And what are the benefits of being in Christ?
If you can, just put it it in your own words. I'll stipulate that what you post is what the Bible teaches.

“Of course from the Bible. What does it mean to be in Christ? And what are the benefits of being in Christ?”

It means you have heard and accepted the doctrines about being in him like “ baptism into Christ for remission of sins “ this is a doctrine being explained for those in Christ. the benefit is what’s being explained

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:3-7,

The doctrine always explains the benefit of a person responds to the promise it holds.

in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:11-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You have the doctrine and then the benefit

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:27-29‬ ‭

Lots of benefits when we believe and act like Abraham did. notice how the doctrine revolves around inclusion with Christ and in him …to be in Christ is to learn and abide in his doctrine , and the benefits are whatever he’s taught us in the doctrine like the example of baptism into Christ


Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:”
‭‭2 John‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

To be in Christ is to be a believer of the gospel he preached and taught us to believe and act in . It’s literally a phrase that is talking about being in his doctrines the benefits are whatever he attatched to it
 
Somebody tell @Cameron143 that reproducing after your kind has nothing whatsoever to do with those parables either.
If we fall flat on our face at the basics/the gate(The Lord Jesus Christ died for ALL.) How can a parable be explained?

One cannot go into the deeper truths of God, if the basics are denied and not believed.

Is it ignorance or is it sinister? Only God knows that.
 
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Sure, no one understands your Reformed Theology views.
It's not for lack of trying. There are people here who know what I believe. You obviously do according to an earlier post. And there is certainly no shortage of those who deliberately misrepresent reformed theology.
 
To be in Christ is to be a believer of the gospel he preached and taught us to believe and act in . It’s literally a phrase that is talking about being in his doctrines the benefits are whatever he attatched to it

And it's used 150+/- times in the Text so it is a multifaceted phrase with many truths attached to it.
 
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And it's used 150+/- times in the Text so it is a multifaceted phrase with many truths attached to it.
Yeah amen . it’s like a summary of the doctrine everything revolves in Christianity around Jesus Christ . In Christ is like saying “I believe and practice Christianity . “

It’s just a phrase coined by men filled with the spirit of God and chosen to be wotnesses of the gospel used for summary purposes .

“ in Christ “ is a brief general summary of the doctrines we believe and practice baptism into Christ , prayer in Christs name , he’s the son of God were the children through him communion is with his body and blood ect the doctrine all revolves around Christ saying someone’s “ in Christ “ is to say they are a practicing Christian .
 
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Now, we're getting very close the crux of the matter with Original Sin. The more you talk, the the deeper you dig your own grave!

You sound more and more like arrogant, prideful, unrepentant Adam who tried to justify his sin by responding to God's question with:

Gen 3:12
12 The man said,
"The woman you put here with meshe gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
NIV
A straight-up truthful confession. 1 John 1:9.

Unless, you think Adam made the woman and put himself with her.

Eve also has a straight-up truthful confession.


Cain? Look at his confession.

@Rufus is showing us his heart and thoughts, not Adams.......Very revealing.
 
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“Of course from the Bible. What does it mean to be in Christ? And what are the benefits of being in Christ?”

It means you have heard and accepted the doctrines about being in him like “ baptism into Christ for remission of sins “ this is a doctrine being explained for those in Christ. the benefit is what’s being explained

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:3-7,

The doctrine always explains the benefit of a person responds to the promise it holds.

in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:11-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You have the doctrine and then the benefit

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:27-29‬ ‭

Lots of benefits when we believe and act like Abraham did. notice how the doctrine revolves around inclusion with Christ and in him …to be in Christ is to learn and abide in his doctrine , and the benefits are whatever he’s taught us in the doctrine like the example of baptism into Christ


Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:”
‭‭2 John‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

To be in Christ is to be a believer of the gospel he preached and taught us to believe and act in . It’s literally a phrase that is talking about being in his doctrines the benefits are whatever he attatched to it
It actually is means we have been placed into spiritual union with Christ. Judicially, we are no longer under condemnation. Practically, we experience His life in us. Having taken us out of the kingdom of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, God begins the process of conforming us into the image of God...Philippians 2:13. We are to cooperate in this matter...Philippians 2:12. When we don't, we are chastened of the Lord. But from the inception of salvation, we are irrevocably linked to Christ. He will never leave us or forsake us. We are His forevermore. And while we are exhorted to purity and holiness, and are expected to endeavor in the faith, it is always the life of Christ in us that keeps us in the way. He is responsible for every spiritual success we have. All the deeds we do that are worthy of commendation are the fruit of the life of the vine. We bear it, but Christ produced it. This is why in glory, after all the dust settles, we will cast our crowns at His feet, because we owe all to Him. So when I hear people tell me that I will be judged according to my deeds, I know that I'll only be being judged for rewards or lack of them, not standing under condemnation thinking my deeds were what removed the wrath of God from me. I know Christ was already judged in my place and no amount of labor on my part could ever contribute to His work or the lack of it be able to erase any of it. It is faith alone in Christ alone who has secured eternity for me. I've already died with Christ and yet I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in and through me.
 
That is why they must reject and rewrite 1 Cor 2:14.
I do not "reject or rewrite 1 Cor 2:14" ... nor do I fold the gospel into 1 Cor 2:14 in an effort to claim that God conceals from mankind that which God has proclaimed throughout the whole of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.

fyi ... it is satan who hides the gospel from those who are blinded (2 Cor 4:4) ... you've got God in league with satan with your mishandling of 1 Cor 2:14.




Magenta said:
Not to mention a plethora of other verses which they repeatedly contradict and outright deny.
The truth of God's Word means nothing to them if they cannot squeeze it into their false doctrine.
hmmm ... who is it that continues to insist that the parable of the samaritan is really about the half dead guy who was the victim who fell among thieves? ... not saying you do because you have generally stayed out of verse-by-verse discussions in this thread.

However, let's see ... what did Jesus ask the lawyer ?

Luke 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

which if these three ? He's talking about the priest, the levite, and the samaritan ... and the point is treatment of others. Jesus is not preaching about the salvation of the victim.

Jesus did not proclaim that the victim was "saved" ... because that is not the gist of the teaching.

But folks change the parable into something never intended by the Author of Scripture ... then treat fellow believers the same way the priest and the levite treated the half dead guy.

I never see you barking about the mishandling of this Scripture ... but you'll bark about something you do not understand concerning 1 Cor 2:14 ... even though the context has been explained to you many, many times.
.
 
From1-Corinthians15-50-54s.png

From 1 Corinthians 15 v 50-54 Brothers and sisters, I declare to you that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” :)
 
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A straight-up truthful confession. 1 John 1:9.

Unless, you think Adam made the woman and put himself with her.

Eve also has a straight-up truthful confession.


Cain? Look at his confession.

@Rufus is showing us his heart and thoughts, not Adams.......Very revealing.
@Rufus thinks that Adam (a type of Christ, who was not deceived) is a horrible depraved evil to the bone loser.

And that God created him exactly that way.

So yea.....very revealing.
 
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?


I think we do have free will and the proof that we have a free will is in the fact that we also have a Conscience. We all know the difference between right and wrong. Because our conscience talks to us.

When we do something bad to someone we will regret it on some level because we knew it was wrong. I have done that quite a few times. OTOH though, when we do the right thing which helps someone then our conscience also talks to us and says, you did the right thing, and you have peace in your spirit about it!

That in every situation we must make a free will choice. Will we choose life or death? We have to walk through this life with love in our heart for them and help others as we would want them to help us if we needed it! That is life. That sort of life needs no government.

But if you go against your conscience when it warns you, it has the effect of hardening your heart towards God. Makes it harder to hear Him also.

The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit. That means Holy Spirit talks directly to our spirit, but we don't get to listen, lol! But our spirit always knows what the right thing to do is in any situation.
 
I think we do have free will and the proof that we have a free will is in the fact that we also have a Conscience. We all know the difference between right and wrong. Because our conscience talks to us.

When we do something bad to someone we will regret it on some level because we knew it was wrong. I have done that quite a few times. OTOH though, when we do the right thing which helps someone then our conscience also talks to us and says, you did the right thing, and you have peace in your spirit about it!

That in every situation we must make a free will choice. Will we choose life or death? We have to walk through this life with love in our heart for them and help others as we would want them to help us if we needed it! That is life. That sort of life needs no government.

But if you go against your conscience when it warns you, it has the effect of hardening your heart towards God. Makes it harder to hear Him also.

The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit. That means Holy Spirit talks directly to our spirit, but we don't get to listen, lol! But our spirit always knows what the right thing to do is in any situation.
People making mundane choices does not in any way address what the Bible teaches about man's will being enslaved to sin, blinded to the truth, unable to hear, incapable of submitting, a lover of darkness, refusing to come into the light, hearing the gospel as foolishness, unable to receive or comprehend the spiritual things of God, to which he is opposed and to Whom he is hostile toward while under the power and influence of the devil, as is the whole world, out of which believers have been called. Thinking your will is free simply because you can choose what colour of socks to wear or what to have for lunch, or whether to do the right or wrong things, has no bearing on the eternal fate of your soul, and mixing it in with what the Bible teaches about the estate of fallen man is a distraction from the real issue.

This is the crux of the conversation, such as it is, for it is out of man's nature that he makes choices, and it is with the heart that one believes... the free will proponents essentially assert that the incurably wicked heart of the natural/unregenerated man is free to choose to believe that which he is not only opposed to, but that which he can neither receive/accept nor comprehend. They have the man with zero wisdom acting wise to do God's will when Scripture says that man cannot. And their idea of wisdom is that person choosing to believe what they hear as foolishness. They reject what Jesus said about it being impossible for a bad tree to bring forth good fruit, and there are none good, no, not one! But they reject a whole slew of Scriptures from beginning to end of the Bible, such as nothing good lives in man's flesh, and flesh serves the law of sin, and brings forth fruit unto death, all in favor of a doctrine that has zero support in the Bible, with not one verse articulating what they prefer over what is actually said. In fact they routinely contradict and deny what is explicitly stated.
 
It actually is means we have been placed into spiritual union with Christ. Judicially, we are no longer under condemnation. Practically, we experience His life in us. Having taken us out of the kingdom of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, God begins the process of conforming us into the image of God...Philippians 2:13. We are to cooperate in this matter...Philippians 2:12. When we don't, we are chastened of the Lord. But from the inception of salvation, we are irrevocably linked to Christ. He will never leave us or forsake us. We are His forevermore. And while we are exhorted to purity and holiness, and are expected to endeavor in the faith, it is always the life of Christ in us that keeps us in the way. He is responsible for every spiritual success we have. All the deeds we do that are worthy of commendation are the fruit of the life of the vine. We bear it, but Christ produced it. This is why in glory, after all the dust settles, we will cast our crowns at His feet, because we owe all to Him. So when I hear people tell me that I will be judged according to my deeds, I know that I'll only be being judged for rewards or lack of them, not standing under condemnation thinking my deeds were what removed the wrath of God from me. I know Christ was already judged in my place and no amount of labor on my part could ever contribute to His work or the lack of it be able to erase any of it. It is faith alone in Christ alone who has secured eternity for me. I've already died with Christ and yet I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in and through me.
Ahh yeah ……that’s why I asked if you wanted a biblical answer or not.

Biblically The term comes from things like this the lord taught in his doctrine about being in him and keeping his doctrine

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Abide in me, and I in you. ( that relationship or union your broadly referring to ) As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-2, 4, 6-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬


That’s why they use it so much in the doctrine but again I was asking if you wanted a bible based answer . Discipleship would be more about a spiritual union things like communion is a spiritual act regarding union or baptism a spiritual act regarding union with him as those scriptures were showing you “ union with Christ


Sort of why inised the example of baptism was hoping you would read them

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, ( Union with Christ )

wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. ( union with Christ )

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, ( Union with Christ ) having forgiven you all trespasses;”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:10-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the doctrine is where any union is which was the point of what I said one can’t ignore the doctrine and say “ I have a spiritual union with Christ im in Christ “ it’s a phrase about the doctrine of the gospel that revolves around Jesus Christ

were baptized into christ….. that’s relevant to being in Christ . We pray in Christs name that’s real to being in Christ we take communion with Christs body and Christs blood , that’s reinvent to being in Christ …. Those things are about “ spiritual Union . But the phrase being in Christ is 100 percent about and from the doctrine Jesus taught to his disciples about being in and remaining in him

Biblically that is



 
@Rufus thinks that Adam (a type of Christ, who was not deceived) is a horrible depraved evil to the bone loser.
right ??? ... and it's been point out to Rufus that he's got what he considered as the spawn of satan in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 3:38) :sick:

and he's got Eve, who was taken in by satan, on some sort of pedestal ... be careful if you try to nudge that ...

.
 
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@Rufus thinks that Adam (a type of Christ, who was not deceived) is a horrible depraved evil to the bone loser.

And that God created him exactly that way.

So yea.....very revealing.
Adam gets trashed and dumped on by virtually every believer in todays world. Feminism worked!

Adam knew exactly what he was doing, and it was......

John 5:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

And Adam KNEW this.....
1 John 3:16
We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters.

Adam was not deceived.
 
I think we do have free will and the proof that we have a free will is in the fact that we also have a Conscience. We all know the difference between right and wrong. Because our conscience talks to us.

When we do something bad to someone we will regret it on some level because we knew it was wrong. I have done that quite a few times. OTOH though, when we do the right thing which helps someone then our conscience also talks to us and says, you did the right thing, and you have peace in your spirit about it!

That in every situation we must make a free will choice. Will we choose life or death? We have to walk through this life with love in our heart for them and help others as we would want them to help us if we needed it! That is life. That sort of life needs no government.

But if you go against your conscience when it warns you, it has the effect of hardening your heart towards God. Makes it harder to hear Him also.

The Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit. That means Holy Spirit talks directly to our spirit, but we don't get to listen, lol! But our spirit always knows what the right thing to do is in any situation.

well said and then it makes sense why god has been presenting a choice before mankind since Eden sayong choose the good and you will live choose the evil and you’ll surely die
 
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Pelagianheretics.png

Pelagian heretics insist man is inherently good. From within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. Mark 7 verses 21-22 Every inclination of man's heart is evil from his youth. Genesis 8 verse 21b Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one! Job 14 verse 4 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Matthew 7 verse 18 + Nothing good lives in my flesh.
 
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