Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Genez]

Calvinists won't be spending eternity with the Lord sadly as they continue their perversion of God's Word and instead following doctrines of demons.

It's really sad too seeing their are blinded by the darkness that has engulfed them. Too bad so sad.

Stan.... you need to learn something important.
All one needs to do is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and they will be saved.

False teachings = wood, hay, and straw.
But, they will be saved if they believed in the Lord.

Read the following very carefully, please!

​

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ​

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ​

their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be ​

revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ​

​

If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the ​

builder will suffer loss, but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through ​

the flames. ​

​

1 Corinthians 3:11-15​

They will be saved if they have believed in Jesus Christ! (Acts 16:31)

False doctrine will bring about only loss of their rewards!


grace andc peace .........

 

[Rufus]

Jesus also said no one knows the Father except those to whom Jesus chooses to reveal Him. And that the world cannot receive the Spirit of Truth. This is why one must be called out of the world. Acknowledging that I have been called out of the world gets scorn heaped on me in here also, which is so weird. Who are these people? Oh. They are free willers. Heh. Yeah. For some strange reason, they hate it when I praise God. They think I am doing what they do, which is give credit to the flesh which it does not in any way deserve. I know better. But they refuse to acknowledge also the full weight of what Scripture says of man. It is what makes them Pelagian heretics.

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.

The FWers hate it when you give praise, glory and thanksgiving to God. They doubtlessly think you're raining on their parade, stealing their thunder robbing fallen mankind of its glory.

 

[Jordon]

A.K.A. "The stalker song"

naw God is the king fisher m that swoops down like a giant falcon cleaning up the pigeon poop, he creates good stalkers lol like the stalk that that dropped me out of the sky before i was born

Check this out the pigeon poop cleaners, this particular pigeon got told to stop pooping on Gods temples a thousand times

 

[BillyBob]

Good call. Also the Western "wailing wall" is undoubtedly the retaining wall of the Fortress Antonia.

And @Cameron143 @Magenta @Rufus @Jordon don't know any of this either....🫩

You're so smart. No wonder there are none hear that have you're vast knowledge. . . . . You should have made this statement using either Hebrew or Greek.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Right, Jesus says He is a door. It does not mean He has hinges or door knob on Him.
Analogies are not to be taken to the literal extreme.
Scripture as a whole still has to breathe in harmony together.

I like this analogy ...

Hebrews 10:19-23

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised; )

.

 

[Rufus]

We Witness/Evangelise, in order to try to bring people to Christ, hoping that they will CHOOSE to be BORN AGAIN.

Do you ever pray for anyone's salvation?

 

[Jordon]

You're so smart. No wonder there are none hear that have you're vast knowledge. . . . . You should have made this statement using either Hebrew or Greek.

I thought he would of known that donald trump built that wall in his former life

 

[Jordon]

Do you ever pray for anyone's salvation?

He could do lol but the time his Prayer reaches england, hes probably fell asleep plastered at another Barbie

 

[Cameron143]

I thought he would of known that donald trump built that wall in his former life

And he had the Philistines pay for it.

 

[Bible_Highlighter]

You slander both Magenta and me (at least) by calling us "Calvanists."

But neither of you explained how you do not follow any of the teachings that align with John Calvin (even if you do not prefer the label Calvinism due to 1 Corinthians 3). Or are you simply saying you just do not want the label? You have not offered any proof showing that you reject the key points of TULIP commonly associated with Reformed theology. I asked repeatedly for clarification about your beliefs, yet you never offered evidence that you don’t hold to those same teachings. From what you’ve written, you both seem to hold a deterministic view of God electing people to salvation with no genuine free-will decision involved. If that’s not the case, then please explain what you actually believe.

Are you secretly in line with the teachings of Arminianism or Molinism (even if you do not like even those labels)? I can say that I lean more toward Arminian beliefs on this topic, but I can also see how claiming I am an Arminian can be problematic in light of 1 Corinthians 3. Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for saying, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” showing that identifying ourselves under a man’s name divides the body of Christ and shifts the focus away from Him.

I can understand why others may use labels such as Calvinism or Arminianism, since they serve as a practical way to summarize one’s general beliefs without having to explain each doctrine in detail. These terms function as shorthand for communication and clarity among believers. While no label can perfectly capture every nuance of one’s faith, they do provide a simple way for others to understand where we generally stand theologically.

That said, I do see your point that it is best not to fall into the trap of saying we are of somebody (even if one does not follow that person in everything they do). Saying a person’s name to associate with a certain set of beliefs can lead others to think these men were our ultimate leaders rather than Christ. While I think the danger of that happening is minimal, it is still best to say, “I agree with the teachings of Jacob Arminius on this point, but I prefer not to be called an Arminian due to 1 Corinthians 3." This clarification was not made by you from the beginning of our conversation. But I am glad you at least came out of the shadows a little to say it now.

If you took offense by my calling you a Calvinist, you have my apologies.
It was not my intention to say you are of John Calvin.
I was merely saying where you stand on this topic.

May the Lord Jesus bless you.



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[Jordon]

And he had the Philistines pay for it.

classic lol

 

[Bible_Highlighter]

I like this analogy ...

Hebrews 10:19-23

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised; )

.

That is a really good one when we sit down and think about it.

Thank you for sharing.


…..

 

[Jordon]

And he had the Philistines pay for it.

And then he said look at these hands lol

Whilst he was there he made the Mexicans build it

 

[Bible_Highlighter]

and another thing mr unconvicted this was the lords faith being expressed when the person thanked the lord for the free will gift offering.

The lords will has power to save.

It's not like your will that thinks it can bend spoons, and its not by your faith you can move mountains either.

Its by his faith

Did you catch my posts on my belief in Prevenient Grace?
Do you know what that teaching is?
Also, is it possible for you to refrain from all the emotional childish antics and just stick to what the Bible says to defend your belief, or look to using real-world examples?



…

 

[Cameron143]

But neither of you explained how you do not follow any of the teachings that align with John Calvin (even if you do not prefer the label Calvinism due to 1 Corinthians 3). Or are you simply saying you just do not want the label? You have not offered any proof showing that you reject the key points of TULIP commonly associated with Reformed theology. I asked repeatedly for clarification about your beliefs, yet you never offered evidence that you don’t hold to those same teachings. From what you’ve written, you both seem to hold a deterministic view of God electing people to salvation with no genuine free-will decision involved. If that’s not the case, then please explain what you actually believe.

Are you secretly in line with the teachings of Arminianism or Molinism (even if you do not like even those labels)? I can say that I lean more toward Arminian beliefs on this topic, but I can also see how claiming I am an Arminian can be problematic in light of 1 Corinthians 3. Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for saying, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” showing that identifying ourselves under a man’s name divides the body of Christ and shifts the focus away from Him.

I can understand why others may use labels such as Calvinism or Arminianism, since they serve as a practical way to summarize one’s general beliefs without having to explain each doctrine in detail. These terms function as shorthand for communication and clarity among believers. While no label can perfectly capture every nuance of one’s faith, they do provide a simple way for others to understand where we generally stand theologically.

That said, I do see your point that it is best not to fall into the trap of saying we are of somebody (even if one does not follow that person in everything they do). Saying a person’s name to associate with a certain set of beliefs can lead others to think these men were our ultimate leaders rather than Christ. While I think the danger of that happening is minimal, it is still best to say, “I agree with the teachings of Jacob Arminius on this point, but I prefer not to be called an Arminian due to 1 Corinthians 3." This clarification was not made by you from the beginning of our conversation. But I am glad you at least came out of the shadows a little to say it now.

If you took offense by my calling you a Calvinist, you have my apologies.
It was not my intention to say you are of John Calvin.
I was merely saying where you stand on this topic.

May the Lord Jesus bless you.



....

Do you believe individuals can come to beliefs independently? If so, if someone comes to beliefs independently of another, they may have similar beliefs but are not an "ist" of someone else.
Many here believe the use of "ists" and "isms" actually stifles discussion because so many people have predetermined assumptions concerning them.
You, yourself, had an assumption concerning Calvinism that was altered earlier in this thread. Further, Calvinists themselves vary on a number of doctrines.

 

[Bible_Highlighter]

The Canaanite woman who created an extended parable to Jesus' parable by saying that even the dogs can eat the crumbs from the table is an example that we can follow. Meaning, while there are exceptions to the rule, we can also make parables or real-world illustrations to teach a spiritual truth in the Bible. I do not believe that Reformed Theology (a.k.a. the 5 points of TULIP) can be illustrated by way of a real-world example that is good. I can actually use real life that would testify against such a belief.



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[OLDBUTNEW]

Do you ever pray for anyone's salvation?

YEs!

 

[Bible_Highlighter]

Do you believe individuals can come to beliefs independently? If so, if someone comes to beliefs independently of another, they may have similar beliefs but are not an "ist" of someone else.
Many here believe the use of "ists" and "isms" actually stifles discussion because so many people have predetermined assumptions concerning them.
You, yourself, had an assumption concerning Calvinism that was altered earlier in this thread. Further, Calvinists themselves vary on a number of doctrines.

While I do respect not throwing around the label, it is helpful that if others identify with a certain set of beliefs, I do not have to try and figure out where they stand or try to struggle to pull it out of them if they are being all mysterious about where they stand. Less knowledge will only lead to more confusion. So I think my saying, "I lean more towards the Arminian beliefs on this topic, although I prefer not to be called an Arminian due to 1 Corinthians 3" is the proper way to clarify things. But no. I disagree that if we are afraid of saying that you cannot even identify with the 5 points of TULIP, which ultimately comes from John Calvin, just because you don't like the Calvinist label, it is not helpful. It will only lead one to hold all the cards about their belief. One can simply clarify this.



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[Cameron143]

While I do respect not throwing around the label, it is helpful that if others identify with a certain set of beliefs, I do not have to try and figure out where they stand or try to struggle to pull it out of them if they are being all mysterious about where they stand. Less knowledge will only lead to more confusion. So I think my saying, "I lean more towards the Arminian beliefs on this topic, although I prefer not to be called an Arminian due to 1 Corinthians 3" is the proper way to clarify things. But no. I disagree that if we are afraid of saying that you cannot even identify with the 5 points of TULIP, which ultimately comes from John Calvin, just because you don't like the Calvinist label, it is not helpful. It will only lead one to hold all the cards about their belief. One can simply clarify this.



....

If they haven't said, then assuming for them may become the basis for miscommunication. Unless someone identifies as a Calvinist, assuming such leads to error. That's what you are running into now.

 

[Bible_Highlighter]

Do you believe individuals can come to beliefs independently? If so, if someone comes to beliefs independently of another, they may have similar beliefs but are not an "ist" of someone else.
Many here believe the use of "ists" and "isms" actually stifles discussion because so many people have predetermined assumptions concerning them.
You, yourself, had an assumption concerning Calvinism that was altered earlier in this thread. Further, Calvinists themselves vary on a number of doctrines.

If they haven't said, then assuming for them may become the basis for miscommunication. Unless someone identifies as a Calvinist, assuming such leads to error. That's what you are running into now.

There is nothing more frustrating than trying to guess what a person believes when they will not tell you where they stand theologically. That person just then becomes an unnecessary challenge rather than a help if they are not upfront about their beliefs when we have these kinds of discussions. It will then fall into a "You called me something I don't like or agree with" kind of discussion. Then the crying and mudslinging begin. In other words, a lack of communication will only lead to more infighting.

The way I see it is, if you don’t contribute to the topic by telling us what you believe, then you are wasting everybody’s time.
God’s Word should not be hidden in the darkness.
Perhaps the mystery of hiding one’s belief is because they cannot defend their belief with Scripture?
This is most likely the case. I don’t see Reformed Theology as a biblical concept.
I am happy to explain my beliefs on any topic in the Bible.
If I get something wrong, I am willing to be corrected.


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