Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Genez said:
You might want to get your hands on a Kenneth Wuest NT translation.

Kenneth Wuest would translate often with the Greek tenses and feel intact.
https://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-Expanded-Translation/dp/0802808824


Another good translation to look for would be the Williams NT translation.
http://www.sprawls.org/williams/


.
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Thought I'd see how your recommendations translate 1Cor2:14 in comparison to what I ended up with yesterday:

1 Corinthians 2:14 (Wuest)

“But the unregenerate man of the highest intellectual attainments does not permit himself to accept the things of the Spirit of God, for to him they are folly; and he is not able to come to know them because they are spiritually discerned.”
  • “Unregenerate man of the highest intellectual attainments” = ψυχικός
  • “Does not permit himself” = volitional resistance
  • “Not able to come to know” = spiritual incapacity
  • “Spiritually discerned” = requires Spirit-enabled perception
Wuest and I ended up in about the same place re: who the Greek psuchikos man is that Paul's dealing with. He went more directly at volition than I did.

Williams is closer to standard translations on this verse.
 
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BillyBob said:
Gen 6:5

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. NKJV

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ESV

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. NIV
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This due to specific unique circumstances: fallen angels cohabitating and collaborating with men.

And the men and women consenting to it and pursuing after it. By willful volitional acts....IN SPITE OF all parties knowing such things are forbidden. And IN SPITE of the many warnings of many prophets.

You look at the Bible through a tiny ignorant keyhole and PRESTO..... everything is Calvinism!
 
Magenta said:
Hating God's sovereignty is built into your vain self-exalting doctrine.
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I hate it when the understanding of the sovereignty of God is distorted and abused.

You have had it hammered into you from your pulpits... and you accepted it as being humble to do so.

Ironically.... keep it in mind.

God's sovereignly decreed that you would be allowed to profess what you wrongly perceive as his sovereignty.

In Christ ............
 
Genez said:
We are the Bride of Christ.
Your determinism makes us into a Muslim bride.
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Muslim men are faithful to keep the pilgrimage circling around a special box like zombies so they can kiss what strikingly resembles the shape a woman's private part. And this with such fervor that some are commonly trampled underfoot.
 
cv5 said:
If you CHOOSE to hurl such an accusation, legal protocol demands that you have the bona fides to prove it.

So where is this evidence? Can your point to something specific in any of @studier 's posts?
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Uh oh - legal language. Maybe we should form an ecclesiastical judiciary and fire up the 2 or 3 witnesses protocol for congregational discipline. I think it was @DeanM who said something on another thread about the relaxing power of the ignore feature.
 
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Cameron143 said:
God approaches all men? In the way He did with Cain? American Indians who never heard the gospel? The inhabitants of Sodom?
How exactly did He so so?
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God approaches even the most primitive of men!
The Holy Spirit works in their thinking as to make God real to them!


The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness ​
and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ​
since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has ​
made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities​
—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood ​
from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.​
​
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, ​
but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ​
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the ​
immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.​
​
Romans 1:18-23​
 
cv5 said:
"The reformed doctrine (TULIP) is so obviously, painfully false, it just makes me wonder about the motives of those who push it."

As do I.

Consider also the mental state and emotional tenor on display. Very disturbing......:rolleyes:
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Perhaps the notion of activated, individual pre-selection before faith, does not provide assurance, peace or grace?
 
Isaiah43-2s.png

Isaiah 43 v 2 ~ When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze. :)
 
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Psalm62-5-6.png

Psalm 62 v 5-6Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I will not be shaken.
Started four days ago, first time posting. God's timing is impeccable!
 
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Matthew11-27.png

Matthew 11 verse 27 ~ All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
 
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Rufus said:
But you FWers have a far greater sin with which to contend. You guys believe the lie that you're better and more powerful than God since you can change your own immutable nature, which is something that even He cannot do!
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Not at all. On the contrary, knowing our sin and frailty, we volitionally submit to HIS Headship, Sovereignty and power. Abraham did precisely the same.

In fact this willful absolution of our own will is a fundamental aspect of the covenant into which we, of our own free will, have entered. Christ is now our Head, our Leader and Commander.

Again, you determinists have turned the truth upside-down.
 
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Genez said:
So, at least you know how it works.
You will be easy to judge when the time comes if you keep on the path you find yourself.
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Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? -- Matt 7:1-3 ESV
 
Genez said:
God approaches even the most primitive of men!
The Holy Spirit works in their thinking as to make God real to them!


The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness ​
and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ​
since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has ​
made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities​
—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood ​
from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.​
​
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, ​
but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ​
Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the ​
immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.​
​
Romans 1:18-23​
Click to expand...
All that says is through creation and conscience, man knows of the existence of God. It doesn't say He goes to every individual and gives personal revelation of Himself.
 
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