Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Furthermore, if either A or E truly had faith prior to Gen 3:15 and prior to Gen 3:22-24, then why didn't they both RUN TO GOD seeking his forgiveness instead of running FROM Him!? Is that the way faith works in the real world, according to you FWers: Everyone has the capacity, the ability to freely seek out God for his forgiveness, do they not? But what do we find instead: God sought out both of them and sovereignly saved Eve BEFORE she exercised any faith, but passed over Adam.
I did not claim Adam and Eve had faith prior to Gen 3:15 ... I stated both Adam and Eve believed God's promise of Messiah stated in Gen 3:15 ... then God made offering/sacrifice to atone for their sin and God clothed them to cover their shame.

The fact that God made offering/sacrifice and clothed both Adam and Eve attests to the fact that both Adam and Eve believed the promise.

You disagree ??? shrug ... move along ...
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If you are being controlled by the Spirit?
Have you been granted the power over the sin nature, to have free will?

What do you think 1 John 1:9 is for?

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness".
Its to get you back in fellowship after you had freely chosen to commit some sin!
Believers have had their free will restored to make choices.
human Free will is born out of a sin nature.

Only the one who does the will father will be handed over to son.

Get yourself indoctrinated the right way.

Stop kicking the prick
 
I think it is assumption that it is death that separates us from God, as I believe it is more obvious that death separates us from life altogether. Scripture says that sin separates us and thinking in metaphorical terms of a branch that is cut off, it remains green for a time before it withers completely away, but it will certainly die outside of the vine. I also think it is an assumption that man's spirit lives forever. Wouldn't that mean God's breath of life would need to sustain it indefinitely? Scripture says that it returns to God when we die.

It is not assumptions, it is a rationale based on scripture. Spirit gives birth to spirit and it is likened to the same as flesh giving birth to flesh. You literally got your parents flesh in the form of DNA. In a similar way we literally get something of the substance of God in the form of a human spirit. As such, it is incorruptible and immortal which is why it cannot be given to corrupt man unless He is covered by Christ. The person who is spiritually alive will never die. Jn.11:26

Man's corruption, what we call the sin nature is in the flesh. It is genetically formed which is why it can be inherited from Adam and why, even though we have passed into the Kingdom of God when we believe, we still die physically.

The soul is the seat of what we are as a human being. All throughout scripture we are referred to as souls and it is created by God and therefore uncorrupt at birth, knowing neither good nor evil but is a clean slate upon which is ready to be written. We learn good and evil and because God has never forsaken humanity, He is there from the beginning shining His light in a fallen and broken world. We are either a sort (in our soul) to shun the light or to embrace it but the flesh, the world (satan's system of thinking) and the devil are also there trying to keep us bound to the darkness. Just because we are born into darkness doesn't necessarily follow that we are darkness itself. This is what TULIP adherents fail to recognise.

The spirit and the soul are both a breath of life in themself. God breathed the breath of lives (plural) into Adam's body. Gen.2:7 Nothing in this universe functions as it should apart from the grace of God. Grace is the power of God to effect His will according to His nature. The most hateful (of God), rampant sinner takes His next breath because of God's grace. His Word is full of grace and truth Jn.1;14 and it is that Word that keeps everything going along toward God's conclusion in spite of it's brokenness. Heb.1:3

Our spirit (for those who are spiritually alive) returns to God for it is the human spirit that acts like a translator and storehouse of spiritual truth and so becomes like the evaluator of our souls because you can't have more truth in your soul than is in your spirit. All spiritual truth comes into the soul via the human spirit by means of the Holy Spirit. Anything we believe that is not truth has come directly into the soul bypassing the human spirit. This is why we need to be transformed in our thinking and why we need to think with the word of God. Rom.12:2

Another thing to consider when Christ spoke of loving God? What He didn't say was love with all your spirit. One has to ask the question why? If the essence of what we are is spirit then surely we should love God with our spirit, yes? I propose it is because the human spirit, being of the substance of God, is naturally drawn to God.
 
Born again believers don't need God to give them to believe on Christ. They already believe on Him.
agree




Cameron143 said:
The passage is saying that God, at some previous point had given them to believe. In like manner, He has also given them to suffer.
Again, the word "believe" is in the present tense in Phil 1:29 ... so God is continuing to provide what is needed so the believer is able to endure the suffering. It is continuous increase given by God to the believer ... the believer does not receive more faith ... the faith is strengthened in the believer as God gives increase. People are either weak in faith or strong in faith.

Those who are weak in faith remain weak because they suppress the truth in unrighteousness when the truth of God's Word is revealed to them.

Those who are strong in faith are strengthened because they do not suppress the truth in unrighteousness ... they believe the truth of God's Word and God brings increase.

Abraham was strong in faith (Rom 4:20) ... in 1 Cor 16:13, we are encouraged to watch ... stand fast in the faith ... be strong ... in Eph 6, we are encouraged to stand and withstand taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. This is what God works in the born again believer as he or she perseveres and does not waiver. That is what is in view in Phil 1:29.
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So, what is the basis of this "favoritism" that you allege? No one, yet, has answered this question. You have a talking point well memorized and down pat but no reasonable, coherent, intelligent, biblical answer when anyone questions your lame objection.

That's because his objection is all so obvious to anyone with half a brain.
 
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Imagination is all you have mate.

grace and peace.
Really well at least I know how to use mine, all you want to do with yours in this thread is apply everything you believe to be against a tulip doctrine an this Calvinism thing.

I can only imagine your imagination is obsessed with tulip.

And I can only imagine you love to hate innocent people,. As no one is mentioning tulip only you and Mr genez and Mr cv5,
But I'm not surprised seeing as you all really feel so sorry for your selves,

I can only imagine not having any free will must be a real bitter pill to swallow for you all,..

But then people.alway will kick against the fathers will.

Just a shame you can't Imagine that while you and your friends are riding your high horses
 
Really well at least I know how to use mine, all you want to do with yours in this thread is apply everything you believe to be against a tulip doctrine an this Calvinism thing.

I can only imagine your imagination is obsessed with tulip.

And I can only imagine you love to hate innocent people,. As no one is mentioning tulip only you and Mr genez and Mr cv5,
But I'm not surprised seeing as you all really feel so sorry for your selves,

I can only imagine not having any free will must be a real bitter pill to swallow for you all,..

But then people.alway will kick against the fathers will.

Just a shame you can't Imagine that while you and your friends are riding your high horses

Please tell us more. You're exposing yourself wonderfully for all to see. :)
 
Really well at least I know how to use mine, all you want to do with yours in this thread is apply everything you believe to be against a tulip doctrine an this Calvinism thing.

I can only imagine your imagination is obsessed with tulip.

Do you follow TULIP?

The opposition does.
 
agree





Again, the word "believe" is in the present tense in Phil 1:29 ... so God is continuing to provide what is needed so the believer is able to endure the suffering. It is continuous increase given by God to the believer ... the believer does not receive more faith ... the faith is strengthened in the believer as God gives increase. People are either weak in faith or strong in faith.

Those who are weak in faith remain weak because they suppress the truth in unrighteousness when the truth of God's Word is revealed to them.

Those who are strong in faith are strengthened because they do not suppress the truth in unrighteousness ... they believe the truth of God's Word and God brings increase.

Abraham was strong in faith (Rom 4:20) ... in 1 Cor 16:13, we are encouraged to watch ... stand fast in the faith ... be strong ... in Eph 6, we are encouraged to stand and withstand taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. This is what God works in the born again believer as he or she perseveres and does not waiver. That is what is in view in Phil 1:29.
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You agree that believers don't need to be given to believe on Christ...good.
When it says...it is given...it means it has already been given. And just as it has been given to believe in Christ, it is given them to suffer. Notice back in verse 28 Paul tells them not to be terrified by their adversaries. Why? Because it it is given them to suffer.
 
You agree that believers don't need to be given to believe on Christ...good.
When it says...it is given...it means it has already been given. And just as it has been given to believe in Christ, it is given them to suffer. Notice back in verse 28 Paul tells them not to be terrified by their adversaries. Why? Because it it is given them to suffer.

Was Paul also intending to communicate that suffering was a direct gift from God as well, the verb charizomai (χαρίζομαι) applies to both believing and suffering?
 
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You agree that believers don't need to be given to believe on Christ...good.
When it says...it is given...it means it has already been given. And just as it has been given to believe in Christ, it is given them to suffer. Notice back in verse 28 Paul tells them not to be terrified by their adversaries. Why? Because it it is given them to suffer.


To say "to be given," means that someone passed a test to qualify for something.

"It's a given with his abilities that he should play for the team."
 
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Please tell us more. You're exposing yourself wonderfully for all to see. :)
Your not interested in anything I have to say, and neither are your friends,. Your only interested in what you have to say about this topic.

You've got an answer for everything, so no I won't share with you.
 
You agree that believers don't need to be given to believe on Christ...good.
we are in agreement on this point with reference to Phil 1:29. :cool:




Cameron143 said:
When it says...it is given...it means it has already been given. And just as it has been given to believe in Christ, it is given them to suffer. Notice back in verse 28 Paul tells them not to be terrified by their adversaries. Why? Because it it is given them to suffer.
right ... but vs 29 also says not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. We cannot endure the suffering without God providing for us as we are going through the afflictions of this life ... in the present time we go through trials (hence present tense "believe" in Phil 1:29) ... so while we are enduring the trials of this present time, God works within the believer.

I mentioned 1 Peter 5:10 yesterday ... what God is working in us while we are going through our times of trial ... we may or may not realize that God is working in us because we're so focused on what we're going through ... but once we're through, we are a little further along in our maturing in the Lord ... God works within to perfect, establish, strengthen, settle ... and the next trial that comes along, we're that much stronger in faith in order to endure.

The Amplified Bible renders the term in nothing terrified by your adversaries as follows:

And in no way be alarmed or intimidated [in anything] by your opponents, for such [constancy and fearlessness on your part] is a [clear] sign [a proof and a seal] for them of [their impending] destruction, but [a clear sign] for you of deliverance and salvation, and that too, from God.

satan knows his end ... he knows he can't touch God ... so he goes after mankind ... and especially believers ... children of God. And being strong in the Lord and in the power of His might is the only way we can stand against his wiles.
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Was Paul also intending to communicate that suffering was a direct gift from God as well, the verb charizomai (χαρίζομαι) applies to both believing and suffering?
Suffering is given by God. Look at what Paul says in Colossians 1:24. David said it was good for him to be afflicted. Peter said to count it all joy to go through trials. So yes, suffering is given by God for the benefit of His children.