Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Magenta]

If by "script" you mean from the divinely inspired, inerrant, authoritative bible, then YES I am!

Given how often these free willing folks contradict, deny, and rewrite Scriptures...

I'm a bit surprised how much they complain about having their very own words reflected back to them to the pont of disliking being called free willers ... I mean, are not "free will" their very own words?

 

[Jordon]

"so that people are without excuse."

The super-determinists are full of excuses. An endless parade of one after another.
Satan's likewise proffers a vast array of excuses for his willful transgressions.

Neither will be effective in the end.

Did you know that God determined what life shall live on earth.

What a super duper determined God our father is to keep that life alive

 

[Rufus]

It is indeed the Works of God that I believe in God but if I don't want to believe what God is making me believe then I will reject God.

There's millions of people testifying they once went to church, heard the Gospel preached, and now don't believe because they took the works of God and reasoned them to be false.

We have 2 of today's leading scholars of the Bible who were Reformed preachers and now AGNOSTIC because they were able to reject the works of God.

You just hate facts and the truth.
You live in denial.

Spoken by someone who clearly thinks he's whole and self-sufficient and in no need of rescuing grace.

 

[lrs68]

Spoken by someone who clearly thinks he's whole and self-sufficient and in no need of rescuing grace.

You mean spoken like someone who listens to people speak and doesn't try to force beliefs into a fake doctrine, then YES, that is me!

 

[Rufus]

Given how often these free willing folks contradict, deny, and rewrite Scriptures...

I'm a bit surprised how much they complain about having their very own words reflected back to them to the pont of disliking being called free willers ... I mean, are not "free will" their very own words?

SIN DIVIDES everything in this universe! Sin has separated man from God, has pitted man against fellow man, and has transformed each sinner into a walking, talking, irrational, dichotomous being whose life is characterized by ongoing hypocrisy.

 

[Rufus]

You mean spoken like someone who listens to people speak and doesn't try to force beliefs into a fake doctrine, then YES, that is me!

Translate: God is not holier, more righteous or infinitely better than I am, so I don't need Him to rescue me from myself. I'm a very independent, self-sufficient person.

 

[Rufus]

Is it just me, or do I hear doors slamming again?
And excuses galore?

Perhaps you're hearing angry spiders banging on your doors who desperately want to escape from your attic because even they can't handle your endless foolish posts.

 

[Magenta]

Now you're catching on! This is why God gives his grace only to the humble. Everyone
else He leaves to the wonders of their sinful nature whereby they can freely sin.

They translate "receiving" into meaning, God needs their help when He gives something.

 

[Rufus]

No one believes unless they truly are convinced that they are believing the truth. That is a choice because we ultimately convince ourselves in order to believe what we believe.

As a child you believed in Santa because you wanted to [choice].
As a child you believed in the Easter Bunny because you wanted to [choice].

No matter what we believe we ultimately believe because we want to [choice].

Those who believe in something they don't want to are brainwashed.

Rufus, are you brainwashed or do you believe in Jesus because you want to?

I believe because of God's rescuing grace which made me willing to believe in the day of HIS power (Ps 110:3) when he gave me a willing spirit (Ps 51:12). But you are obviously completely estranged from God's grace, since all you can do is boast in the mighty, efficacious power of your "freewill".

 

[Rufus]

They translate "receiving" into meaning, God needs their help when He gives something.

Of course, God needs the help of FWers since His ineffectual grace is not sufficient unto salvation, so FWers have graciously consented to help their impotent god out with the all-sufficient, efficacious power of their own "freewill".

 

[lrs68]

Translate: God is not holier, more righteous or infinitely better than I am, so I don't need Him to rescue me from myself. I'm a very independent, self-sufficient person.

No wonder you struggle in life you cannot even discern people.

 

[lrs68]

I believe because of God's rescuing grace which made me willing to believe in the day of HIS power (Ps 110:3) when he gave me a willing spirit (Ps 51:12). But you are obviously completely estranged from God's grace, since all you can do is boast in the mighty, efficacious power of your "freewill".

Yes, evidence is what you believe. You believe in the evidence. If there was no evidence you would not believe.

 

[Rufus]

No wonder you struggle in life you cannot even discern people.

But I can sniff out heresies and false gospels from a long distance away.

But go your way, Mr. Self-Sufficient, Self-Reliant and Self-Aggrandizer; but you should be aware then when you deny the necessity of God's efficacious grace, you do so in the PRIDE (the #1 sin in this universe) of your volition (oops, I meant to say HEART). And we know for certain that God does not bestow his grace upon the proud.

 

[Magenta]

Of course, God needs the help of FWers since His ineffectual grace is not sufficient unto salvation, so FWers have
graciously consented to help their impotent god out with the all-sufficient, efficacious power of their own "freewill".

It is shocking when they say things like, everyone hears. That makes them universalists, since Jesus said, those who hear will live.

But I can sniff out heresies and false gospels from a long distance away.

But go your way, Mr. Self-Sufficient, Self-Reliant and Self-Aggrandizer; but you should be aware then when you deny the necessity of God's efficacious grace, you do so in the PRIDE (the #1 sin in this universe) of your volition (oops, I meant to say HEART). And we know for certain that God does not bestow his grace upon the proud.

Is he boasting in himself again, or should I say, still?

The wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God. Psalm 10 v 3-4 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man - of him who acts with excessive pride. Proverbs 21 v 24 The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted - it will be humbled. Isaiah 2 v 11-12 No flesh may boast before God. 1 Cor 1 v 29

 

[Magenta]

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.”

 

[Rufus]

Yes, evidence is what you believe. You believe in the evidence. If there was no evidence you would not believe.

But it takes MUCH, MUCH more than mere external evidence. It takes the force of all the precious, unilateral New Covenant promises that God fulfills internally in his covenant people's hearts. Israel, historically, was inundated with external "evidence" of God's efficacious power/grace, but how did that work out for that apostate nation?

 

[Rufus]

It is shocking when they say things like, everyone hears. That makes them universalists, since Jesus said, those who hear will live.


Is he boasting in himself again, or should I say, still?

The wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him; in all his schemes there is no God. Psalm 10 v 3-4 Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man - of him who acts with excessive pride. Proverbs 21 v 24 The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted - it will be humbled. Isaiah 2 v 11-12 No flesh may boast before God. 1 Cor 1 v 29

As does Jn 3:17 does, as well!

 

[cv5]

Perhaps you're hearing angry spiders banging on your doors who desperately want to escape from your attic because even they can't handle your endless foolish posts.

Mostly angry Reformed types banging on my doors trying desperately to sell me religious snake oil.

 

[Cameron143]

No one believes unless they truly are convinced that they are believing the truth. That is a choice because we ultimately convince ourselves in order to believe what we believe.

As a child you believed in Santa because you wanted to [choice].
As a child you believed in the Easter Bunny because you wanted to [choice].

No matter what we believe we ultimately believe because we want to [choice].

Those who believe in something they don't want to are brainwashed.

Rufus, are you brainwashed or do you believe in Jesus because you want to?

And here I thought I believed in Santa because my parents told me about him and I implicitly trusted them...Matthew 18:3.

 

[lrs68]

But I can sniff out heresies and false gospels from a long distance away.

But go your way, Mr. Self-Sufficient, Self-Reliant and Self-Aggrandizer; but you should be aware then when you deny the necessity of God's efficacious grace, you do so in the PRIDE (the #1 sin in this universe) of your volition (oops, I meant to say HEART). And we know for certain that God does not bestow his grace upon the proud.

If you could you would not believe in a doctrine that more people walk away from year after year feeling they've been lied to about their God!