Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Your passion for God is to be admired, your lunacy of interpretation is to be shunned.

Have a nice day. :)

Well...you FWers believe God created man to be independent, autonomous and sovereign entities, do you not? And aren't all the angels blessed with "freewill" just as mankind is? So there you have it -- THREE different sovereign entities running the universe. What more could you possibly ask for? Now get busy and build your shrine to the god Volition.
 
Their headquarters and Denomination pays their salaries. If they don't preach according to the Reformed Standards the organization wouldn't keep paying their salaries.
I don't expect them to teach to reformed standards. I expect them to know the facts, such as how many reformed denominations there are and what the makeup of them is, or not be ignorant about them and pretend to be experts.
 
Luke 17:10
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do..../KJV

What do you mean I dont want to work in service in the Kingdom of God? It comes with a duty.

I'm retired now but when I was young and working I tried to be the best employee there. We need something done...send me I'll do it. It's not a competition but of myself. If I work hard and always yes I learn something abut everything...and become more valuable as an employee, which is money in the bank come layoff season!

If you're dragging your feet in denial of the Christian duty, wow Brother. Check your pulse you may have died?

John 1:12
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:.../KJV

He gave them the power to become sons of God? So we don't start out as Sons. We start out as servants. Just like if you joined a branch of the US Military. They will train you and equip you to, be all that you can be, And that promise was on the Recruitment flyer! However, yes there is Boot Camp. There is Training. You do have to show up for training and be present. No one can complain that it was supposed to be all free. I don't have to work in my walk with God?? That's not what scripture says. It says it is tough and you will suffer.

Read in the OT when they wandering for 40 years in the desert. The mass of people got an attitude with Moses and were complaining about different things. They got tired of manna and wanted some meat! So God gave them doves for months, only doves. They got sick of them! Another time the people were complaining and God made the earth to open up and swallowed up the big mouths! The Lord does not like murmuring. Praising the Lord works much better. So I as a Christian would think all that stuff is a warning in scripture. I wouldnt want the earth to swallow me up!
I am not sure if this post was directed to me or not, but just in case.
I would never state that we should not work for the kingdom of God, or ignore our calling. However, I believe that this takes place once we are saved, not as a requirement to be saved. (big difference)
Perhaps you have miss-understood my meaning. I agree with you, it is a Christian duty!

I have read your post and agree with you. However, I also believe that you hold working for the Lord as very important duty - due to the fact that you have become a Christian.

Peace................
 
You are arguing against scripture which proclaims that we are saved by grace. What does "Calvinism" have to do with it!
Just another example of your CDS!
Since when is the provision of a covenant FREELY GIVEN redeeming whosoever WILL enter in not of grace?
 
John6:44 "all" is not in the verse. The inverse "no man" - masculine singular adjective - is in the verse.

John12:32 masculine plural noun - most literally "all [men]".

That's our definition apart from the desire of some - like yourself? - to redefine.
Over the target, and BOOM another straw man gets incinerated....
 
I don't expect them to teach to reformed standards. I expect them to know the facts, such as how many reformed denominations there are and what the makeup of them is, or not be ignorant about them and pretend to be experts.
They have new converts once in awhile who need to be taught the falsehoods and manipulate their minds until they can see the Bible how you do. And every Church has Creeds and the Reformed follow Reformed Doctrine.
 
They have new converts once in awhile who need to be taught the falsehoods and manipulate their minds until they can see the Bible how you do. And every Church has Creeds and the Reformed follow Reformed Doctrine.
Every church does not have creeds and confessions, though most Reformed churches do. Reformed churches do not manipulate minds like you do, they teach what's clearly in scripture.
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Reformed_denominations

Most of these are not baptist, but you only listed baptist reformed. You live in a bubble with others who live in a bubble. You state as fact that which is easily proven wrong. Then when given the opportunity to correct it, you double down on the falsehoods. You should never be anywhere near a pulpit.

What if you could attend a church that is independent and non-denominational?

Someone who God gifted to exegete Scripture to either confirm what has been excepted as truth?
Or, has the skill to show what the original languages had to say meant, and were misunderstood?

Otherwise. Without that? ... Denominations are stuck in sand up to their hips.

The Body of Christ should always be growing in understanding, not simply remaining on the same level of a previous generation.
Even if that previous generation did well for its own time, but had no answers for recent evils that have been raised up to try to penetrate us now. Evils which were not covered back then?

Do you want to still think like a teenager when you are forty? No. Does and adult go to a teenager for advice concerning what the teenager can not understand? Likewise, the Body of Christ is a living spiritual organism that is in the process of an ongoing growing and maturing experience.

We must learn to do better to overcome some of the mistakes of our youth.
And, there were mistakes made, because not enough understanding was yet gained.
Denominations are no different.

You want to attend a conventional church? Fine.
Bland Christianity. Luke warm. The church of Laodicea.

Or would you want to attend a church that was not standing still? One that is always growing in its depth of understanding
more and more of the Scriptures? One that would even correct itself when it realizes a previous error in its own thinking?
We never see the denominations correcting themselves. They end up calling others names instead.

Do you think God could provide such a church?
Well, He did with the Reformation such a thing..
And, they independently broke loose from the old tyranny.
But, they made mistakes in the heat of the battle.

Now we need some of their mistakes corrected as well.
The Reformation needs its own reformation today.

If not?

The Body of Christ will not continue to mature into the needed greater understanding which is needed to stay free.
For... Evil will always be advancing to overcome what victories Good had achieved in the past.

Now...

Do we fight wars today with the thinking and know-how of armies 200 years ago?
No! Spiritual warfare is no different!

Denominations are like following old war plans and tactics with outdated equipment. A system that at one time was very good to secure freedom in its day, but not good enough against the newly developed weapons of evil.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that
you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,
so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;
and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.



grace and peace .........
 
More bearing false witness and judging. It's a pattern with you.
No, it's the truth and I almost died from how dead the worship to the ALIVE MOST HIGH GOD is in many of those places. Then the level of excitement for being saved reached basement level monotone and no one convinced they were truly serving the ALIVE MOST HIGH GOD!
 
Every church does not have creeds and confessions, though most Reformed churches do. Reformed churches do not manipulate minds like you do, they teach what's clearly in scripture.
Creeds typically includes the Gospel. So you are calling some places Church and they don't have Creeds?
 
No, it's the truth and I almost died from how dead the worship to the ALIVE MOST HIGH GOD is in many of those places. Then the level of excitement for being saved reached basement level monotone and no one convinced they were truly serving the ALIVE MOST HIGH GOD!
You're intentionally bearing false witness. Just because people in these churches do not worship the same as you do (and I have no idea how you do that) does not mean the worship is "dead." You judge what you do not know. This is a pattern with you.
 
What if you could attend a church that is independent and non-denominational?

Someone who God gifted to exegete Scripture to either confirm what has been excepted as truth?
Or, has the skill to show what the original languages had to say meant, and were misunderstood?

Otherwise. Without that? ... Denominations are stuck in sand up to their hips.

The Body of Christ should always be growing in understanding, not simply remaining on the same level of a previous generation.
Even if that previous generation did well for its own time, but had no answers for recent evils that have been raised up to try to penetrate us now. Evils which were not covered back then?

Do you want to still think like a teenager when you are forty? No. Does and adult go to a teenager for advice concerning what the teenager can not understand? Likewise, the Body of Christ is a living spiritual organism that is in the process of an ongoing growing and maturing experience.

We must learn to do better to overcome some of the mistakes of our youth.
And, there were mistakes made, because not enough understanding was yet gained.
Denominations are no different.

You want to attend a conventional church? Fine.
Bland Christianity. Luke warm. The church of Laodicea.

Or would you want to attend a church that was not standing still? One that is always growing in its depth of understanding
more and more of the Scriptures? One that would even correct itself when it realizes a previous error in its own thinking?
We never see the denominations correcting themselves. They end up calling others names instead.

Do you think God could provide such a church?
Well, He did with the Reformation such a thing..
And, they independently broke loose from the old tyranny.
But, they made mistakes in the heat of the battle.

Now we need some of their mistakes corrected as well.
The Reformation needs its own reformation today.

If not?

The Body of Christ will not continue to mature into the needed greater understanding which is needed to stay free.
For... Evil will always be advancing to overcome what victories Good had achieved in the past.

Now...

Do we fight wars today with the thinking and know-how of armies 200 years ago?
No! Spiritual warfare is no different!

Denominations are like following old war plans and tactics with outdated equipment. A system that at one time was very good to secure freedom in its day, but not good enough against the newly developed weapons of evil.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that
you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire,
so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness;
and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.



grace and peace .........

Yes, there is always a need for truthseeking and tweaking as we learn more of God's Word.
 
They have new converts once in awhile who need to be taught the falsehoods and manipulate their minds until they can see the Bible how you do. And every Church has Creeds and the Reformed follow Reformed Doctrine.
Creeds and confessions are very important. They have been reviewed over and over to make sure that they do indeed proclaim what scripture teaches. Then, and only then, are they used as a means of bringing His word into remembrance.
Does your church agree with the words of The Apostles Creed?