Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Mem]

Let's look at Hebrews 2:

Salvation Confirmed (Section Heading)

1We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, 3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.

If we neglect such a great salvation, first) announced by the Lord, and 2) confirmed by those who heard Him, and 3) affirmed by God through...and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

announced by the LORD, confirmed by those that heard, and affirmed by God... these three witnesses summarize the section heading Salvation Confirmed.

And, under the section heading Jesus like His Brothers, v. 9 tells us why Jesus was made a little lower than the angels to suffer death as "so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone" Here I've italicized and bolded the relationship between the verb 'might' and everyone which indicates that 'everyone is' qualified in accordance to the 'might.' Unless, of course, they neglect such a great salvation, eh?

 

[sawdust]

His purpose is to obstruct and to frustrate you, as to tire you out if he could.

If he knows he confused and frustrated you with his nonsense, he will have accomplished his goal.

Don't worry, I'm not the one confused.

I know what I mean and I mean what I say. The misinterpretations of others is their problem, not mine.

 

[Jordon]

Spell it out then.

There might not have been an error.
So we can have no idea what you think was.
So? Copy and paste what you think was an error.
That way we can know.

For all we know?
You are seeing things wrong.
Or, maybe, saw a typo the other did not see.

Come on! Produce the evidence.

As much as I would like to believe your not ignorant, I doubt very much I ever will.

And I suspect you'll never change.
As it's yet another day of you finding excuses.

 

[Genez]

Don't worry, I'm not the one confused.

I know what I mean and I mean what I say. The misinterpretations of others is their problem, not mine.

I just wanted to let him know, that we know what he does... No worries.

 

[Genez]

As much as I would like to believe your not ignorant, I doubt very much I ever will.

And I suspect you'll never change.
As it's yet another day of you finding excuses.

Go ahead! Someone calls your bluff.
And... you walk away, mumbling to yourself.

You had nothing to show.

 

[sawdust]

Red herrings, i still don't see you admitting your error

Because I didn't make an error. You mistook what I meant. I know what I mean whereas you have shown yourself to be confused on many occasions regarding what people are saying.

I understand you have a condition that makes it difficult for you to communicate. If that is so, you may want to seriously rethink about being in an open forum where communication can be a challenge at the best of times. I will pray for you.

 

[Rufus]

Some of your crew laid claim that they were not of this world before they were born.
It is they who are confusing you.
I am just repeating what I was told.
I believe, if you ask Magenta, you might find out what I am getting at.

I don't have a crew! So I don't care what others have said. I'm asking you and as usual you come up empty. You can't even answer what arguably just might be the most fundamental question anyone could ask about the Christian Faith. It appears you flunked with shame Biblical Theology 101.

 

[Jordon]

Because I didn't make an error. You mistook what I meant. I know what I mean whereas you have shown yourself to be confused on many occasions regarding what people are saying.

I understand you have a condition that makes it difficult for you to communicate. If that is so, you may want to seriously rethink about being in an open forum where communication can be a challenge at the best of times. I will pray for you.

. Did you not say man can only make a choice by his will ? . You may as well be saying God left us his word in this world but with no will in his word. I fail to see how you can't recognise that

Don't blame a condition im cured from for your blatant error.
And don't try to make people look stupid like your buddy mr genez.

He's well and truly rubbed of on you

 

[Jordon]

Go ahead! Someone calls your bluff.
And... you walk away, mumbling to yourself.

You had nothing to show.

I don't need to show you anything.

 

[Rufus]

Can the NEW contradict the OLD? Does GOD change or does He not?

Deut 30

15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; 16 In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. 17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Which follows Deut 29. So...to keep your post fair and balanced, we have this admission by Moses:

Deut 29:2-4
2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them:

Your eyes have seen all that the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. 3 With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those miraculous signs and great wonders. 4 But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.
NIV

If you find it difficult to reconcile these two passages, don't hesitate to give me a shout.

P.S. Welcome to the 'hood!

 

[Gv12]

God definitely gave us free will. That's how we prove that we really love him because we choose to. It wouldn't mean anything if we didn't have free will. This goes right back to the Garden of Eden. Mankind had a choice to listen to Gods instruction or to listen to Satan. We had to leave the Garden of Eden because of choice. God said in Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
How could we have dominion over something if we didn't have free will. We have free will and our actions have consequences.

Deuteronomy 30:19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!

 

[Jordon]

God definitely gave us free will. That's how we prove that we really love him because we choose to. It wouldn't mean anything if we didn't have free will. This goes right back to the Garden of Eden. Mankind had a choice to listen to Gods instruction or to listen to Satan. We had to leave the Garden of Eden because of choice. God said in Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
How could we have dominion over something if we didn't have free will. We have free will and our actions have consequences.

Deuteronomy 30:19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!

when did he give man free will

 

[Me_Clay]

Spell it out then.

There might not have been an error.
So we can have no idea what you think was.
So? Copy and paste what you think was an error.
That way we can know.

For all we know?
You are seeing things wrong.
Or, maybe, saw a typo the other did not see.

Come on! Produce the evidence.

What's going on here? Are you guys entangling each other?

 

[Jordon]

God definitely gave us free will. That's how we prove that we really love him because we choose to. It wouldn't mean anything if we didn't have free will. This goes right back to the Garden of Eden. Mankind had a choice to listen to Gods instruction or to listen to Satan. We had to leave the Garden of Eden because of choice. God said in Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
How could we have dominion over something if we didn't have free will. We have free will and our actions have consequences.

Deuteronomy 30:19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!

If I give you free will to

God definitely gave us free will. That's how we prove that we really love him because we choose to. It wouldn't mean anything if we didn't have free will. This goes right back to the Garden of Eden. Mankind had a choice to listen to Gods instruction or to listen to Satan. We had to leave the Garden of Eden because of choice. God said in Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
How could we have dominion over something if we didn't have free will. We have free will and our actions have consequences.

Deuteronomy 30:19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!

here's another question.

Do you think it's right that I should give you free will to choose what ever you want and then judge you for it ?

 

[Jordon]

What's going on here? Are you guys entangling each other?

Give him the ammunition he needs an he will fire away.

Anyhow you've made your bed with me calling what I say Calvinism. Your in his camp as far as I'm concerned

 

[LightBearer316]

Three Main Heresies of Oneness / “Jesus Only” / UPCI Teaching
I've noticed many who hold this unsound doctrine on this forum...

1. Denial of the Trinity – They reject the biblical view of one God in three eternal Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and teach Modalism — one Person appearing in different roles.
    Refuted by: Matthew 3:16–17 (KJV), John 1:1–2 (KJV), John 14:16 (KJV)
2. Baptismal Regeneration – They claim salvation and forgiveness come only through baptism “in Jesus’ name,” rather than through faith in Christ’s finished work.
    Refuted by: Acts 10:43–48 (KJV), Romans 10:9–10 (KJV), Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
3. Tongues as Proof of Salvation – They insist speaking in tongues is the necessary sign of receiving the Holy Spirit.
    Refuted by: Romans 8:9 (KJV), 1 Corinthians 12:13 (KJV), 1 Corinthians 12:30 (KJV)

Salvation is by grace through faith, not by water or works — and the true God is eternally Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.


Grace and peace.

 

[OLDBUTNEW]

Give him the ammunition he needs an he will fire away.

Anyhow you've made your bed with me calling what I say Calvinism. Your in his camp as far as I'm concerned

@Jordon : Oh, my British Brother: I reckon you should ignore these Nit-Wits who want to keep arguing with you!

 

[Gv12]

If I give you free will to
here's another question.

Do you think it's right that I should give you free will to choose what ever you want and then judge you for it ?

God is the one true judge. We are made in his image and we can judge someone for their actions. But we are not meant to. God is the perfect judge.
Romans 2:2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

If we were unable to make our own choices then there would be nothing to judge. Nothing would be our fault. And that would mean that God is making mistakes for us. That would go against the very nature of God. God hates sin how could he make us sin if he hates it. James 1 :13
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

I think its pretty clear. We have 2 choices in life, God or Satan. Life or death. Good or evil. This world or heaven. I think you are forgetting that there is an opposing force. Right from the beginning its clear. Man made the wrong choice right from the start. God has always wanted us to chose to listen to him and have faith in what he says and its till that way. Right from the beginning we didnt put faith in God and Adam listened to the devil instead of trusting God, and we ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
We have to have faith in him like he wanted from us in the begining. We still have to choose to listen to what he says and avoid sin or the outcome is death. Genesis 2 :17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. For in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.”
Its clear throughout the whole bible that sin and disobedience leads to death, even look at how animals had to be sacrificed for sin offerings. But by choosing to believe God then we have eternal life like it says in john 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

[Jordon]

God is the one true judge. We are made in his image and we can judge someone for their actions. But we are not meant to. God is the perfect judge.
Romans 2:2 Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth.

If we were unable to make our own choices then there would be nothing to judge. Nothing would be our fault. And that would mean that God is making mistakes for us. That would go against the very nature of God. God hates sin how could he make us sin if he hates it. James 1 :13
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

I think its pretty clear. We have 2 choices in life, God or Satan. Life or death. Good or evil. This world or heaven. I think you are forgetting that there is an opposing force. Right from the beginning its clear. Man made the wrong choice right from the start. God has always wanted us to chose to listen to him and have faith in what he says and its till that way. Right from the beginning we didnt put faith in God and Adam listened to the devil instead of trusting God, and we ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
We have to have faith in him like he wanted from us in the begining. We still have to choose to listen to what he says and avoid sin or the outcome is death. Genesis 2 :17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it. For in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.”
Its clear throughout the whole bible that sin and disobedience leads to death, even look at how animals had to be sacrificed for sin offerings. But by choosing to believe God then we have eternal life like it says in john 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

All theses things are nice, but listen theres two wills in mankind, theres the will of your nature that lives in the flesh . And theres the will of our lord that lives in your seed if you've been saved.
Then you also have freedom of thought, and it's all cited in scripture

In the garden before mans seed had been corrupted what will did the seed have ? .seeing as it was created in Gods image. The seed, not the flesh not your freedom of thought but your seed, his breath of life. The one he removes and replaces with a new heart


When ever we see seeds in the bible it's always talking about the life, Jesus the creator of the heavens and the earth.

Through him all things where created. The seed of Adam was his life.

So when ever we talk about the life Jesus we also talk about his will.

And it always his will that will be done.

Theres only one credible answer for the whole thing the seed of man was created with his will to accept his light only , but your freedom of thought never.

End of story

 

[Jordon]

@Jordon : Oh, my British Brother: I reckon you should ignore these Nit-Wits who want to keep arguing with you!

Well I could but I've made an oath to not let them win