Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Magenta]

The free will camp assumes, with no supporting text and contrary to many verses that evidence the opposite, that the man of flesh is free to choose, and will believe, that which he can neither receive nor comprehend, and to which he is inherently opposed with his heart of stone. There is simply no getting around the fact that this is the core of their belief, and it flies in the face of what Scripture actually teaches about the natural man who is a slave to sin and lover of darkness refusing to come into the light, blinded to truth and under the power and influence of Satan: he serves the law of sin which brings forth fruit unto death, not life. Without the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, his incurably wicked heart hates God, and hears the gospel message as foolishness. Praise the Lord if He has set you free!

 

[Magenta]

Yep I will keep on some people not realising how important it is to have empathy for the least important things.

But I haven't forgot a thing one very important thing, that is how you gained my trust
understood, the least important things are often not thought of as being to important to some people,

This is where we have to find out exactly what is important to people.

But just because the natural man is only mentioned once in the bible, it's actually mentioned thousands of times. A mature person would understand that I think, so the reality your dealing with people who like to argue.

It's enough to give you head ache all this. One I can do with out.

I will never forget how you comforted me when I was grieving and you gained my trust that day, and I will always remember that,

I do not know what incident you are referring to here, Jordon... I wanted to ask you about it, because
I was out for coffee around 9 and then went to another fave hangout spot where the main focus is
carrying a positive message and people supporting each other; after I got home from that and ate
breakfast, I needed a nap LOL ... so I had to go looking for this message again so I could ask you...

 

[Genez]

ok my mistake, just that when you said grace is for everyone and not just the elect, I wondered what made you feel that way.

Must learn to be knowing what grace performs and empowers men to do, allows one to see how all men have been at some point been given the grace of God that brings salvation. Not all will accept what grace frees them to consider.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

Titus 2:11​

That should make some of us to stop, and reconsider what we have been led to believe.

.

 

[Magenta]

Despite what the un-Biblical free will doctrine promoters put forth, the natural man does not have everything he needs in order to grow the good fruit of faith from the stony ground of his incurably wicked heart which is opposed to the things of God, and he cannot change himself, being a lover of darkness who suppresses the truth in unrighteousness as a slave to sin, being inherently hostile in his mind toward God, and blinded to the truth while under the power of the evil one. Those who promote the free will of the natural man reject a plethora of Biblical truths. Praise God if Jesus has set you free!

 

[lrs68]

How many who heard the gospel and remained in unbelief experienced the power of God?

Unless you are hiding under a rock and hide from using radio, television, internet there's literally shows, podcasts, talk forums where thousands claim to have been in church for much of their lives hearing the Gospel preached and today proclaiming their DISBELIEF and REJECTION of God.

A couple of today's biggest scholars were Preachers and now AGNOSTIC.

So you either live in denial because many people have heard the Gospel preached and remain in unbelief!

 

[Genez]

The "children of promise" are those God has chosen in eternity

Some were chosen out of all that God knows would believe, to be made the Bride of Christ. Only some.
Not all believers in history have been chosen for that honor by God.

 

[lrs68]

[
When it's said like those who want to, it suggest you don't have to if you want to.

Like I could understand you saying I don't want Brussel sprouts, or I don't want to believe mushy peas are nice.

But saying it's a matter of want when it comes to believing in the gospel, is errr not something you should say really

Why?

There's no Verses that say something different.

 

[Jordon]

Actually, the root of the problem is that the term "natural man" is used once in all of the Bible.
Then comes the tinker-toy kindergarten level eisegesis predicated upon this one verse standing alone.
Then comes the bogus all consuming doctrine birthed from the error.

Then comes the misanthropic worldview, endless shrieking condemnations and irremediable portents of doom toward every Tom Dick and Harry in all of creation.

Did I get that right?

Yep no problem magenta it was mainly about this post

I do not know what incident you are referring to here, Jordon... I wanted to ask you about it, because
I was out for coffee around 9 and then went to another fave hangout spot where the main focus is
carrying a positive message and people supporting each other; after I got home from that and ate
breakfast, I needed a nap LOL ... so I had to go looking for this message again so I could ask you...

Thank God your back.

Take a look at post 5576401

And you'll see what I'm talking about all tho you may have to temporally log in as a guest.

 

[Jordon]

Why?

There's no Verses that say something different.

well sir whoever should believe could be perceived as you can if you want to.

But I think we both know it's more than that

 

[Magenta]

"Free will" in the Bible? ~ Freedom is something believers are called to (Galatians 5 verse 13). We need Jesus to “set us free” (Galatians 5 verse 1). If Jesus has not freed us from the bondage of sin, then we are still slaves to sin (Romans 6 verses 6-7). Freedom is found in the presence of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3 verse 17). Only Jesus can give us true freedom (John 8 verse 36). Only through His lovingkindness can we truly make choices unfettered by a nature that is inherently hostile toward God.

 

[Magenta]

Yep no problem magenta it was mainly about this post
Thank God your back.

Take a look at post 5576401

And you'll see what I'm talking about all tho you may have to temporally log in as a guest.

Thank you, Jordon, but I do not know where to find that post...

 

[Magenta]

[
When it's said like those who want to, it suggest you don't have to if you want to.

Like I could understand you saying I don't want Brussel sprouts, or I don't want to believe mushy peas are nice.

But saying it's a matter of want when it comes to believing in the gospel, is errr not something you should say really

Hopefully they chose a nice pair of socks to wear today, who cares that it has zero bearing on one's eternal fate, which is this topic.

 

[BillyBob]

How ... In your understanding .... Does grace alone save you?

Maybe if we can find out what it is you are thinking.

Grace alone saves me because it is not what I do, but what Christ has done for me. The very fact that I have faith, that I believe and trust in Christ and His work are all gifts that I have received, they did not come from me - but were given.
I agree that the person receiving these gift must be willing to receive them. However, even the willingness is a gift. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power…” (Psa. 110:3); “Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee…” (Psa. 65:4).

It's all God's work!

 

[lrs68]

well sir whoever should believe could be perceived as you can if you want to.

But I think we both know it's more than that

Interesting because both Jesus said it in John 3 and Peter said it in Acts 2. That's TWICE it's mentioned. So either it's fact or the Bible lied twice.

 

[Jordon]

Thank you, Jordon, but I do not know where to find that post...

no probs it not worth looking at anyway I've posted the wrong number. I've decided to not post the right number as it will probably just make your mind go numb temporally like it did mine

He was asked a question about it and he ignored it.

So no doubt he will ignore you to and even if he doesn't ignore he will probably be ignorant in his post.

 

[cv5]

So, none?

What did you think? That God was a cosmic tyrant stuffing the gospel down the throat of everyone that finds it repulsive?
And then the lobotomy and shotgun wedding?

Mat 10:14
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Mar 6:11
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Luk 9:5
And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

 

[Cameron143]

But they certainly could have.....if they were WILLING to RECEIVE IT.....

Then the power is in the choice and not the gospel.

 

[Cameron143]

No I did not. I used the ESV which this site uses.

Not a literal change, but that your explanation does so.

 

[Cameron143]

Unless you are hiding under a rock and hide from using radio, television, internet there's literally shows, podcasts, talk forums where thousands claim to have been in church for much of their lives hearing the Gospel preached and today proclaiming their DISBELIEF and REJECTION of God.

A couple of today's biggest scholars were Preachers and now AGNOSTIC.

So you either live in denial because many people have heard the Gospel preached and remain in unbelief!

Are you saying believers can lose their salvation?

 

[Cameron143]

What did you think? That God was a cosmic tyrant stuffing the gospel down the throat of everyone that finds it repulsive?
And then the lobotomy and shotgun wedding?

Mat 10:14
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.

Mar 6:11
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Luk 9:5
And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

No, I believe God changes a person's nature and they gladly receive the gospel.