Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Jordon said:
oh you see when someone says it looks like your doing x y c that's giving you the opportunity explain, where as you take that to mean I said your doing x y c

To bad your once again so sensitive and once again painting the picture of people saying something they haven't whilst not acknowledging your own comments 🙂
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You are absolutely unbelievable. :eek:o_O

You accused me of something I never said because you misunderstood and now you turn around and fault me for your misunderstanding?
 
Jordon said:
but those who hope in the lord they will renew there strength, they will run and not grow weary, they will not grow faint.

So it isn't your will or your choice that gets anywhere, it is hope.

Hope as in a silent quiet time in your heart, that waits patiently, where as a choice is but a moment, and a will is but a moment of desire.

The flesh is broken full of scars in the unsaved waiting to be filled , and like a winter cold the heart is stone, the mind is fueled by lies, in the unsaved waiting to be filled by the spirit , there own comfort becomes there chains where as hope can reach out to God to heal those broken wings.

It's not will it's not choice it's hope. And for those who walk in darkness there is still hope, the fathers will is still there for his remnant and before being filled with the spirit they to can walk in a lost way , and the remnant are those whom he those will be saved.

For it is living hope you are saved and his living hope also provides his hope in your heart

The devine nature of the father goes to work at first and along the ways there is scars, then the devine nature of the son and holy spirit, where the battle is complete 🙂
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The Greek word translated "hope"... is 'elpis.'

It does not mean like many will think of it today... As in, "I hope so."

When it was written?
The word 'elpis' meant to have an absolute confidence.



grace and peace ...........
 
sawdust said:
I'm never miserable.

So don't change the subject .... again.

Explain how those who have rejected God can have anything of His in them to give hope? His word is our hope, the unsaved have no word of God.
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living fear is a gift from God that provides hope in people whom are being saved is the best explanation I can give you , along the way they will reject whilst not remembering his hope.

Rufus already provided the scripture

Prov 16:6
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
 
Genez said:
The Greek word translated "hope"... is 'elpis.'

It does not mean like many will think of it today... As in, "I hope so."

When it was written?
The word 'elpis' meant to have an absolute confidence.



grace and peace ...........
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As far as I believe hope is to wait on God for strength ?
 
reneweddaybyday said:
Agree ... I also believe we are drawn by God over time (sometimes months, sometimes years, sometimes decades) to the point of the "initial encounter with Christ".





We are tested over the course of our lifetime. This is the refining God works within as He conforms us to the image of His Son ... a task that will not be completed until we see Him face to face in eternity. As we are being conformed, we quit running from God, we turn to God, and we draw near to Him as our hearts are cleansed from the evil conscience of our former sinful lifestyle.

Hebrews 10:16-25

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

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)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

would to God we could see a little more consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works and a little less provoking to anger in the pages of this thread.

.
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Yes, but remember it takes two to tangle,
so perhaps 1Cor. 5:5 and Titus 3:10 should be practiced.
 
Magenta said:
It was a good time for him... Loved the concurrent double LP he did as Derek and the Dominos.


Duane Allman came up with the guitar riff for Layla- not Eric Clapton, which in turn was him tweaking
a line from "As the Years Go Passing By" from Albert King's Born Under a Bad Sign album.
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I’m glad you enjoy that music. Hard to find good music these days. Love bluesier rock. Being in Canada, I’m sure you’ve heard of Jeff Healey?
 
sawdust said:
You are absolutely unbelievable. :eek:o_O

You accused me of something I never said because you misunderstood and now you turn around and fault me for your misunderstanding?
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I said it looks like your painting the picture Rufus is calling God evil when he's not,

Sorry my my bad aphasia again. Or was it 🤔
 
reneweddaybyday said:
Did you read what was written, Rufus? ... I'll bold the part you seem to have overlooked ...​
​
you are purposefully misconstruing what was stated ... I said God's glory in creation is one of the ways God draws mankind to Himself.

Creation is not the only way God draws mankind.

The written Word is another way ... God sending faithful believers to speak the truth is another way ... and first and foremost is God sending His Son ... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16) ... And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).

talk about argumentative ... sheesh ...​

Rufus said:
IOW, you're railing now against the truth of my post to which you are replying. I said you omitted the Holy Spirit, and you did! ZERO mention of the Holy Spirit.
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Holy Spirit is not God ? ... who knew ???

fyi ... according to the Lord Jesus Christ:

John 16:7-11

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

When God (excuse me, the Holy Spirit) sends His faithful believers into the world to speak His Word ... is that not the Holy Spirit reproving the world? ...

vs 9 – of sin ... calling people to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ;

vs 10 – of righteousness ... preaching the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven;

vs 11 – of judgment ... proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ and His having completely overcome the wicked one (the prince of this world) and the escape to the liberty found only in Him.




Rufus said:
Don't blame me for your shortcomings and failures.
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blame-shifting due to your inability to refute the central point.


btw ... you never provided your definition of "FWer" or "freewiller":

You FWers are very quick and very consistent in giving the Spirit of Truth and Life very short shrift.​

Please define "FWer" or "freewiller". All of the definitions of "FWer" or "freewiller" provided thus far do not apply to me.​

so please define "FWer" / "freewiller" so when you use the term, whoever you are referring to knows what you mean. Otherwise, it's just a meaningless term with no significance to anyone except you.

.
 
BillyBob said:
It is my thought that both the potential and possibility to be of service to God is available to all men, they are not required to be the Elect of God.

Example:
  • There is a man Joe who absolutely has no desire for God.
  • He sees several Christians who are unable to attend church due to physical disabilities.
  • He decides to pick them up each Sunday, take them to church, then come back after the service and return them home safely.
  • Joe is working for the Lord, even though he is unaware of this fact!
  • What is Joe's standing before God?
Can God cause a non-believer to perform His work?
Must the non-believer be willing?
God directs the steps of all men!
Are there examples in scripture which show God's power to use whoever He wishes to accomplish His desire?
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Do not fail to recollect my original point:
The typical Calvinist interpretation of Phil 1:29 is horrendously in error.

Chapter 1 alone is sufficient proof text.
 
cv5 said:
Do not fail to recollect my original point:
The typical Calvinist interpretation of Phil 1:29 is horrendously in error.

Chapter 1 alone is sufficient proof text.
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Precise language is key and makes a big difference in understanding each other, if you could be a bit more subtle maybe you could make the discussion more nuanced, reformed churches prefer to see themselves as associated with Calvin's teachings, and understand that calling themselves a calvinist focuses on just one person, which is mostly a representation from yourself, as you seem to focus more on your choice than God's, just saying
 
Jordon said:
living fear is a gift from God that provides hope in people whom are being saved is the best explanation I can give you , along the way they will reject whilst not remembering his hope.

Rufus already provided the scripture

Prov 16:6
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
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You said unsaved, not those being saved. One needs to know the Lord, to some extent, for that to take effect.
 
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