Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Colossians 2 v 8, Romans 16 v 18, Romans 10 v 2, Proverbs 19 v 2a ~ See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. Zeal is no good without knowledge. They teach as doctrine the precepts of men.
 
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Romans1:16 elaborated translation as underlined.

“The gospel is the power of God toward salvation, benefiting everyone who is believing, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.”

@Cameron143 Statement 1: “The gospel is only the power of God to those who come to believe.”

Response: No—the gospel IS the power of God. It possesses God’s power in itself, independent of human belief. Whenever someone hears the gospel, they are confronted with God’s power.

@Cameron143 Statement 2: “No power is exercised toward those who do not come to believe.”

Response: Again, the power of God is inherent in the gospel. Whenever someone hears the gospel, its inherent power is being exercised in its presentation. If unbelievers reject it, that inherent power does not benefit them, but its power remains unchanged.
You know, it occurs to me that these determinists are "hell bent" on arresting and chaining every valid Biblically accurate salvific doctrine there ever was.
 
Please quote my entire posts. But you obviously believe God exercised power towards an individual so that they wouldn't believe. Good on you.

@reneweddaybyday has dealt with this in Romans 1 so many times.

Truth does change because you think you can formulate some new question with a different angle.
 
Not everybody hears. His sheep hear. Not the goats. Not the children of wrath.

Back to wondering how many agree that hearing must include comprehension.

How many times does someone hear without comprehension?

I heard it that way for 50 years.

That is, according to Scripture, which you deny. You prefer to rewrite those parts.

No wonder it took 50 years.

50 years of "you can't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ." "You are unable to believe." " You can't have personal faith."

Just think if you got the truth. 10 seconds compared to 50 years.
 
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Wrong, people have the ability to accept or reject/suppress.
Suppress, yes, oh my, now we are getting somewhere. It almost looks like you agree with Scripture!

The natural man always suppresses the truth = people who are not born again or spiritually reborn are inherently unable or unwilling to accept spiritual truths and knowledge from God. This opposition to truth stems from a spiritual blindness and sinful nature that finds divine truth foolish or illogical, leading to a rejection of God which is inborn in man. But FWers often deny this and rewrite 1 Cor 2:14 to suit your presups because you do not like what the Bible actually says, preferring what you have been programmed to think instead.

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2 Corinthians 4 verses 3-4 ~ 2 Corinthians 4 verse 4 ~ Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.
 
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No wonder it took 50 years.

50 years of "you can't believe in the Lord Jesus Christ." "You are unable to believe." " You can't have personal faith."

Just think if you got the truth. 10 seconds compared to 50 years.

But then wouldn't the truth be understood that there is the ability to believe and exercise personal faith?
 
If we could free one person it will be worth it for sure, maybe not today or tomorrow, but hopefully soon so they can enjoy the TRUE gracious God.

Even Calvinism "lite" never gave me a moments peace, I really do not know how they come on here day after day and defend it.
It is the antithesis of the Good News.
I know the feeling. I was a very leaky and very reticent and doubting quasi-and-confused-semi-determinist long ago.
But.....even then I could smell a fraud. I knew that determinism was NOT the right Biblical solution. There were gaps in
my understanding yet to be filled.

There is no doubt in my mind how and why the whole truth finally became blazingly apparent.
And man am I thrilled about it all. Freeeeedommmmm from all sects, cults and schisms.

Luk 11:9
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
 
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@reneweddaybyday has dealt with this in Romans 1 so many times.

Truth does change because you think you can formulate some new question with a different angle.
Lol. You mean because I employed scripture. No one has dealt satisfactorily with Romans 1 or Isaiah 55. But hey, we now know you believe God exercised power towards those who don't believe with the intention of not saving them. Good on you.
 
But then wouldn't the truth be understood that there is the ability to believe and exercise personal faith?
This just astounds me. @Magenta ( I am on ignore, I am a dude:cool:) had the ability to believe and exercise personal faith.....But God forbid He (God) would offer that to ALL.

Little smug calvies, salvation is for ALL.:D
 
This just astounds me. @Magenta ( I am on ignore, I am a dude:cool:) had the ability to believe and exercise personal faith.....But God forbid He (God) would offer that to ALL.

Little smug calvies, salvation is for ALL.:D
???"had the ability to believe and exercise personal faith"???

Not so sure about that. This is verboten, impossible and technically unnecessary in the determinists "pre-birth sovereign lottery" redemption protocol.
 
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Please quote my entire posts. But you obviously believe God exercised power towards an individual so that they wouldn't believe. Good on you.

Your appeal to Isaiah 55:11 does not prove irresistible grace.

“so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)

You interpret it to mean "particular, unique, individual salvation yet the text makes no such claim.

It in no way implies that those who believed were irresistibly determined by Him to do so.

He succeeds because people are persuaded by the Good News by the power and truth inherent in the message.
 
Lol. You mean because I employed scripture. No one has dealt satisfactorily with Romans 1 or Isaiah 55. But hey, we now know
you believe God exercised power towards those who don't believe with the intention of not saving them. Good on you.
In their theology God's Word returns void and does not accomplish what He wanted it to.
 
Your appeal to Isaiah 55:11 does not prove irresistible grace.

“so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” – Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)

You interpret it to mean "particular, unique, individual salvation yet the text makes no such claim.

It in no way implies that those who believed were irresistibly determined by Him to do so.

He succeeds because people are persuaded by the Good News by the power and truth inherent in the message.
You're in denial.
 
???"had the ability to believe and exercise personal faith"???

Not so sure about that. This is verboten, impossible and technically unnecessary in the determinists "pre-birth sovereign lottery" redemption protocol.
50 years of hearing? It had to be 50 years of calvie theory.

Lucky she got it that quick!
 
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Isaiah 55 v 10-11 Just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.
 
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???"had the ability to believe and exercise personal faith"???

Not so sure about that. This is verboten, impossible and technically unnecessary in the determinists "pre-birth sovereign lottery" redemption protocol.
It's a tangled web. Doctrine straightens it out though. There are a few here that have doctrine, and can sort the web out.
 
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Isaiah 55 v 10-11 Just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

Right. The Gospel is power. And it is never empty.

Salvation is equal privilege and equal opportunity for all.

It's not just for @Magenta @Cameron143 @Rufus @rogerg @NightTwister

The picture is WAYYYYYYYYYYY bigger than your little bunch.
 
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