Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Jordon]

every knee will bow ... and the sooner, the better ...

Philippians 2:2-11

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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correct and all sinners will exalt themselves as God as hardened there hearts until there humbled

 

[Jackson129]

I don't know how many times it must be said that there are none who are good, no not one!

However [1]God in His mercy saves those whom He wills to save, and [2]those who will come to Jesus are only those whom the Father gives to Him (see Jn. 6:37), shows that salvation is not an offer to all, but a gift given to His elect.
Salvation is not an offer made, but a gift given.
Salvation is not by works of men. Does this not stand to reason when we learn that man by nature is without God, without the Savior, and, therefore, without any hope in the world.

“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:39), not to as many as shall choose him.
It just stands to reason that we need a new nature before turning to God. . . . .

Every last person on earth is a sinner. When have I or we or whoever denied that?

 

[Genez]

God can harden there heart

God hardened Pharaoh's heart because God knew that what he was to confront Pharaoh with he would defiantly and stubbornly resist.

Resistance to God's will builds up hard callous on one's soul.
The heart is the master over the soul.

 

[BillyBob]

Every last person on earth is a sinner. When have I or we or whoever denied that?

I have never heard anyone say otherwise. However, many believe that they can turn to God by their own FW. No help needed!

 

[Jordon]

yeah, we've been through a few things Jordon. I'm not always serious, but I do take God's Word seriously.





"blue" to me means sad ... are you sad Jordon?





My understanding of "I am that I am" is that God has no equal ... God is eternal ... and God will be what we need Him to be ... God covers what we are lacking ...

when we are anxious ... He brings us peace
when we are fearful ... He holds us by His mighty hand
when we are sad ... He comforts our hearts
when we are troubled ... He guides us
etc., etc., etc.

have you ever studied the names of God in the OT scriptures?

here is a link to a Bible study at Blue Letter Bible

https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm

and, of course, this doesn't even scratch the surface ... even in eternity we will never come to the end of all God is.

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I'm blue just for you my little pony

Of course it's the blue that came out of the blue for you.

Think of it as a sky blue, the light that shines in the day is the blue sapphire, the lord,

And the light that shines at night is the onyx the father watching over you day and night.


And all the shepherds watch the flock day and night,

 

[Jordon]

God hardened Pharaoh's heart because God knew that what he was to confront Pharaoh with he would defiantly and stubbornly resist.

Resistance to God's will builds up hard callous on one's soul.
The heart is the master over the soul.

Yep and God hardens all hearts to.

Whilst they all stubbornly resist

 

[BillyBob]

God hardened Pharaoh's heart because God knew that what he was to confront Pharaoh with he would defiantly and stubbornly resist.

If he was going to resist of his own accord, then why the need to harden his heart over and over and over?

 

[Jordon]

If he was going to resist of his own accord, then why the need to harden his heart over and over and over?

now there's a question

 

[Jordon]

yeah, we've been through a few things Jordon. I'm not always serious, but I do take God's Word seriously.





"blue" to me means sad ... are you sad Jordon?





My understanding of "I am that I am" is that God has no equal ... God is eternal ... and God will be what we need Him to be ... God covers what we are lacking ...

when we are anxious ... He brings us peace
when we are fearful ... He holds us by His mighty hand
when we are sad ... He comforts our hearts
when we are troubled ... He guides us
etc., etc., etc.

have you ever studied the names of God in the OT scriptures?

here is a link to a Bible study at Blue Letter Bible

https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm

and, of course, this doesn't even scratch the surface ... even in eternity we will never come to the end of all God is.

.

I'm not familiar with this blue letter bible lol.

I do like lots of colours but blue is my favourite

But I am that I am seems the most convincing thing God would say, it would come as a surprise and out of the blue if it happened to you to

 

[Jordon]

It suggests the Pharaoh's heart was hardened on ten occasions

 

[Jordon]

For starters each plague held significance

 

[OLDBUTNEW]

I'm blue just for you my little pony

Of course it's the blue that came out of the blue for you.

Think of it as a sky blue, the light that shines in the day is the blue sapphire, the lord,

And the light that shines at night is the onyx the father watching over you day and night.


And all the shepherds watch the flock day and night,

@Jordon : Funny stuff, BRo!

 

[Genez]

If he was going to resist of his own accord, then why the need to harden his heart over and over and over?

To prove that God can not force someone to believe!

 

[Jordon]

@Jordon : Funny stuff, BRo!

the moral of the story is I'm blue when I'm in love with you.

It's the blues, you just can't shake them

They shake you.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

correct he can do this to any one in them and for them. He can harden there hearts or they can harden there hearts themselves, two peas in a pod.

God does not harden a person's heart unless and until a person suppresses the truth in unrighteousness whereby he or she first hardens his or her own heart.

correct his enabling mercy was working in them and they could harden there heart if they wanted.

correct his enabling mercy was working in them and they could harden there heart if they wanted.

correct his enabling mercy was working in them and they could harden there heart if they wanted.

correct they could harden there heart if they wanted to his enabling mercy was working in them.

Psalm 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children

God's mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear Him ... to fear the Lord means to have utmost reverence and respect.

those who harden their hearts to God do not fear Him ... which means they are obstinately stubborn, they resist God ... there is no mercy for those who resist God. If they repent and turn to God, then God is merciful.


please show me one verse in Scripture which indicates that mercy hardens the heart. thank you.

.

 

[Jordon]

To prove that God can not force someone to believe!

No its to prove that you can make someone believe

 

[reneweddaybyday]

I have never heard anyone say otherwise. However, many believe that they can turn to God by their own FW. No help needed!

no one who has posted in this thread believes what you claim, BillyBob.

All agree that God reaches out to mankind first ... even those you contemptuously refer to as "FWers".

.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

I'm blue just for you my little pony

when you say you're "blue" ... does that mean you're sad?

Of course it's the blue that came out of the blue for you.

Think of it as a sky blue, the light that shines in the day is the blue sapphire, the lord,

And the light that shines at night is the onyx the father watching over you day and night.

And all the shepherds watch the flock day and night,

Have you read these verses Revelation?

Revelation 21:18-22 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

awe-mazing!!!

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[OLDBUTNEW]

To prove that God can not force someone to believe!

@Genez : WHAT?!! GOD can do ANYTHING HE Likes!!

 

[reneweddaybyday]

I'm not familiar with this blue letter bible lol.

it's a good resource.

I do like lots of colours but blue is my favourite

from biblehub (another good resource) ...

In the Bible, the color blue holds significant symbolic meaning and is frequently associated with divinity, royalty, and the heavens. It is often mentioned in the context of sacred garments, tabernacle furnishings, and other religious artifacts, reflecting its importance in the worship and religious practices of the Israelites.​

more here ... https://biblehub.com/topical/b/blue.htm

But I am that I am seems the most convincing thing God would say, it would come as a surprise and out of the blue if it happened to you to

it's happened to me ... God is faithful ... He hears us when we cry out to Him ...

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