Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Well, I have made the study of GW my life-long career, and since joining CC one year ago yesterday I have had to focus on Scripture that refutes tulipism, which includes a systematic study of Romans that I am sharing with you. I am sorry that you do not yet see that Romans provides context that defines Titus 3:5-6, so I will provide some more:

9. Romans 3:20-21 states the law makes souls conscious of sin and that “the Law and Prophets testify” or prepare the way for the new revelation of righteousness from God apart from the Law, which takes up where Romans 1:17 left off.

10. Romans 3:22a says that “righteousness from God” or s/e comes through faith “in Jesus Christ” (cf. Eph. 2:8), a phrase Paul used eleven times in Ephesians 1:3-14 to indicate s/e.

11. Romans 3:22b says that God’s righteousness is given “to all who believe—there is no difference”” signifying that all sinners may believe or be s/e (cf. 1Tim. 2:3-4, John 3:16, Tit. 2:11), because there is no favoritism (#7).

12. Romans 3:23 teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, meaning that no one can be good enough to earn salvation because of their own merit.

13. Romans 3:24 says sinners “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (via faith per v.22, cf. 3:27-28); s/e is free because Christ paid the price/cost.

14. Romans 3:25a explains redemption as being “a sacrifice of atonement” for those who have faith in Christ’s work of dying in their place.

15. Romans 3:25b further explains that God demonstrated his just patience (#3) or forbearance in leaving unpunished those sins committed before the revealing of the Gospel (foreshadowed in Gen. 22:8 & 13), implying that sinners had/have the opportunity to believe and be s/e thereby demonstrating God’s justice/not showing favoritism (#11).

16. Romans 3:26 continues to emphasize divine justice by declaring it three ways (“justice…, just…, justifies”), which justness is synonymous with righteousness (2Thes. 1:5-6, Heb. 6:10).

17. Romans 4:1-25 presents Abraham as a Gentile who became the physical father of the Jews and the spiritual father of all who choose to have faith in God/Christ.

18. Romans 5:1 echoes Eph. 2:8 by describing s/e as justification through faith, Eph. 1:5 & 7 by using the phrase “through Jesus Christ”, and Eph. 2:14 by describing s/e as having peace with God.

19. Romans 5:2 & 5 also echo Eph. 2:18 & 3:1 by describing s/e as having access to God’s grace via the Holy Spirit.

20. Romans 5:6-10 states that God’s love (cf. kindness in #3) for the ungodly, for sinners and for His enemies is demonstrated by Christ dying for their s/e or justification/reconciliation.

21. Romans 5:12-21 describes s/e in corporate terms, saying that–like the first man–all (many?) men also sinned and died, and God’s grace comes to all (many?) because of Jesus Christ.

22. Romans 6:1-14 describes s/e in terms of Christians being united with Christ’s death and resurrection, so they who are under grace should not allow sin to reign in their bodies but should instead serve God as instruments of righteousness.

By applying items such as #1-7 & 11-20 (for starters) to Titus 3:4-6, we see that God's kindness/grace/mercy is meant for all sinners. Why would anyone want to refute this truth?! Yay! PTL! :love:

As an aside, your interpretations of the verses above are incorrect
Anyway, after numerous attempts you don't seem willing to directly address Tit 3:5-6, which verses were supposed to be the basis of the discussion, therefore, it doesn't make sense for us to expend further time and effort going in circles. When and if you change your mind and are willing to provide such an assessment, let me know and we can continue then.
 
But, you can not express it.
That is the problem with you.

What you do is perverse.
It is like a queer marriage counselor advising heterosexual couples.

You can not teach by example.

......
Another one of your extreme remarks, where do get these ideas from to wildly throw at people whom you don't even know ?

How is it you feel you get away with the abuse you give people here ?

Where do you get this attitude from to insult people the way you do, why is your confidence so high to hurl the insults you do ?

Do you ever even write something and think twice about posting it, or is it you look at what your writing and think you can post what ever you like because you have a life long membership ?

There's something really off with you, and I can only see your love growing even colder as you get even older,
 
If you read more in that chapter, you will discover that two of them split off and went to Sodom for its destruction.

Even the men of Sodom thought they were human men.
But we know from the account that they were actually angels.

Read Genesis 19:1-8.

They looked just like human men.
Gen.19:1
Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom.
This evidence is inconclusive, imo, as to these 'angels' identity as 'run of the mill' angels, seeing that Lot addressed them as "Adonai," which is conjugated in the masucline plural contrust | first person common singular (parallel with Yahweh).
 
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.
As I see it, The Truth is synonymous with The Life, and so denying the Truth is by default denying The Life. So, in that sense tulipers would be right to ask how one can here if one has no spirit or *spiritual ears to hear the Spirit, then how can he hear when the Spirit speaks. But the Spirit comes to convict the world of sin and acknowledging the truth of our sin is the first step toward repentance and returning to the Lord for healing. So, I agree with @reneweddaybyday about such those that suppress the truth in unrighteousness, and no can't suppress what one doesn't actually hear, even as 'not hearing.'
 
As I see it, The Truth is synonymous with The Life, and so denying the Truth is by default denying The Life. So, in that sense tulipers would be right to ask how one can here if one has no spirit or *spiritual ears to hear the Spirit, then how can he hear when the Spirit speaks. But the Spirit comes to convict the world of sin and acknowledging the truth of our sin is the first step toward repentance and returning to the Lord for healing. So, I agree with @reneweddaybyday about such those that suppress the truth in unrighteousness, and no can't suppress what one doesn't actually hear, even as 'not hearing.'
They don't hear is a figurative speech, it's often used in the bible, to get a point across,

Even Jesus spoke figuratively

25 “Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.

Often the bible teaches people don't listen, which is just another way of saying they don't hear.

But they do hear, but they don't listen, but they will feel the prick in there conscience as it's has the ability to cut to the heart as cited in scripture.

The figurative speech here would be they don't hear, so God uses his word to cut through the conscience and straight to the heart.

Understanding that best really, is people say things best when they nothing at all, when it comes to them being wrong or loving.
 
Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

Gee.... lets read what God states :

We Pray :
Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

We are taught :
Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

Romans 9:19
You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”

Here is a perfect example of the myth of mankind's free-will :

Matthew 26:31
31Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
‘I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
33Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
34Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
35Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.
......

What happened to free-will :

69Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”
70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”
71And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”
73And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”
74Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed.

75And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you WILL deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.
 
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Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

Gee.... lets read what God states :

We Pray :
Matthew 6:10
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

We are taught :
Proverbs 16:9
A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

Romans 9:19
You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?”

Here is a perfect example of the myth of mankind's free-will :

Matthew 26:31
31Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
‘I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
33Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
34Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”
35Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.
......

What happened to free-will :

69Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”
70But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”
71And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”
73And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”
74Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed.

75And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you WILL deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.
Well said friend, it's true all of God's children are guided by God's will, The father is the rooster to, who puts his healthy living fear in all hearts, his word is alive and active able to roost in the heart that is naturally wicked and drive the wickedness out,.and he will keep roosting and calling in the heart with his roosting active word untill his will is done in the heart.
 
Correct! I'm boasting in the One who did it all! I did not save myself or contribute anything to God's rescuing, redemptive grace.
1-Corinthians3-19-21a1-Corinthians1-19.png

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.”
 
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If God's love were unconditional in nature then it would be impossible for Him to love anyone for any reason found within them.

Gods love is from what is in Him........His virtue.

We love God based on who and what He is. He is deserving of our love.

He loves all of mankind based upon who and what He is. We do not deserve His love.

We will get to this level of love, when we get to know Him better....Bible doctrine in our soul.

We will love all of mankind because of who and what we are...........Christ in us.

I would suggest a good look at John 21:15-17 and the different aspects of "love" that are mentioned.


15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

2CO 5:14, “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;”

All of mankind has equal privilege and equal opportunity at His salvation. And our unconditional love for mankind mimics(should mimic) Christ's love for mankind.
 
Many have probably realised i don't think we can exercise free will, even think it's impossible for us to. Won't explain why i think it's an impossiblility for us yet, think it's useful for some to express why they think it exists first.

I have no doubt we have and can make choices throughout life, however, think our options are far more restricted than most realise. What do you think?
We don't know.
 
Psalm10-3-4-Proverbs21-24-Isaiah2-11-12-1-Cor1-29.png

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
 
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This evidence is inconclusive, imo, as to these 'angels' identity as 'run of the mill' angels, seeing that Lot addressed them as "Adonai," which is conjugated in the masucline plural contrust | first person common singular (parallel with Yahweh).


What was inconclusive?
That they are angels?
They were angels.

You want to create an argument over that?

Mem's the word.
 
This evidence is inconclusive, imo, as to these 'angels' identity as 'run of the mill' angels, seeing that Lot addressed them as "Adonai," which is conjugated in the masucline plural contrust | first person common singular (parallel with Yahweh).
What are you trying to say?
In plain English.

Are you saying they were only men?
 
Psalm10-3-4-Proverbs21-24-Isaiah2-11-12-1-Cor1-29.png

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
And this means the lord also knows the naturally wicked heart, which many don't realise. They seem to forget God is always examining hearts to know there thoughts, and as scripture states every hair in the head. All tho where probably dealing with Gnostics, who think God doesn't intervene with his life on earth.

Well they probably forget it his life to
 
And this means the lord also knows the naturally wicked heart, which many don't realise. They seem to
forget God is always examining hearts to know there thoughts, and as scripture states every hair in the
head. All tho where probably dealing with Gnostics, who think God doesn't intervene with his life on earth.

Well they probably forget it his life to
It is the deist who does not believe God interacts with His creation... but you make a good point, since
all life is in Him, and there are those who kick mightily against the fact that His revealed written Word
attests to the fact that He reveals Himself to Whom He chooses, and that is the only way to know God.


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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It is the deist who does not believe God interacts with His creation... but you make a good point, since
all life is in Him, and there are those who kick mightily against the fact that His revealed written Word
attests to the fact that He reveals Himself to Whom He chooses, and that is the only way to know God.


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.
oh yeah don't know why I wrote Gnostics, it's probably all the mind boggling ideas im reading 😬

I'm thinking there must be deists beliefs in people's minds the way in which they discuss there free will being something that's unique to them.and something only they control,
 
Are you saying here that sinners are powerless to restrain the flesh (their own sin nature)?

And you also seem to be saying that if God did not begin the work of salvation, no one would be able to "begin to believe"?

Finally, who completes the salvation that God sovereignly began?


Unbelievers can restrain their sin nature overtly, by means of fearing the law.
The law holds punishment for lawbreakers.
But, their flesh still wanted to do it.
That aspect can not be controlled, only hidden from view...


But when it comes to the Spirit of God working with a person's mind?
For the flesh is antagonistic against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh.
And these are in open conflict - the one to the other -with the result that you
cannot do these things if you desire to. Galatians 5:17​

The flesh is naturally opposed and antagonistic to the Spirit.
And, the drawing of God takes place in the mind within a man's thoughts.
Not in any overt control, needed action, outwardly.

He has no way to restrain his inner antagonism because thoughts are not overt.

So, God must neutralize the flesh, as to allow that person to be relaxed within the privacy of their own thinking.
If the Spirit did not neutralize the flesh during these times of one privately thinking things over?
With any hesitation, they would reject any thought having contact with the Spirit of God.

When people are being drawn, they will not realize it is actually God giving them thoughts to consider and to think about.
I was given such a thing, but never made any connection with it to being God. Though... I sensed something supernatural
during the thoughts, but I could not explain why. Like when déjà vu happens.

When you are having private thoughts that no one knows you are having, you are free to decide what you think about a matter.
And, if the Spirit is neutralizing the flesh? Then you would be free to consider things you normally would not. Even wanting to be someone who knows God is real, though you do not have the power to know.

There.
Answered your question for 19,980.
 
oh yeah don't know why I wrote Gnostics, it's probably all the mind boggling ideas im reading 😬

I'm thinking there must be deists beliefs in people's minds the way in which they discuss
there free will being something that's unique to them.and something only they control,
Well we have false teachers here who speak as if God revealing Himself personally to anyone makes them a gnostic, even though one
of those very people has had personal experiences with God. Just goes to show how confused some of these Pelagian heretics are.


And also, God promises to reveal Himself. So I do not know why people speak against it. They are haters, plain and simple.

Just one more way for them to contradict and deny what Scripture explicitly articulates.