Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
That too, ignorant and blind Eph 4 18

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

The word blindness is the grk word pōrōsis :

  1. the covering with a callus
  2. obtrusiveness of mental discernment, dulled perception
  3. the mind of one has been blunted
    1. of stubbornness, obduracy
Its from pōroō

  1. to cover with a thick skin, to harden by covering with a callus
  2. metaph.
    1. to make the heart dull
    2. to grow hard, callous, become dull, lose the power of understanding
So its both, and even more. This is relative to being dead in sin by nature
ignorance is due to ...

never having been taught;
having been taught incorrectly
having been taught correctly ... but suppressing the truth in unrighteousness;


ignorance and blindness are cured through correct preaching of God's Word ... however, if one suppresses the truth in unrighteousness, ignorance and blindness remain.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas brightfame52.



Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

.
 
So you're big now on typology, are you? Tell me: Since the Exodus is a type of Redemption, did Abraham's descendants' "freewill" save them from Pharaoh or was it all God's efficacious rescuing grace/power?
Wake up from your Calvinist fantasy dream world.

In fact their free will DEFINITELY saved them from Pharaohs wrath. And God's wrath as well.

They, by THEIR OWN express free will volition, participated (without compulsion) in God's chosen methodology and commands pertaining to this epic spectacle.
 
Wake up from your Calvinist fantasy dream world.

In fact their free will DEFINITELY saved them from Pharaohs wrath. And God's wrath as well.

They, by THEIR OWN express free will volition, participated (without compulsion) in God's chosen methodology and commands pertaining to this epic spectacle.

It appears it wasn't just the Israelites who willingly followed the Lord out of Egypt either.

Exodus 12:38
Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kroogz
It appears it wasn't just the Israelites who willingly followed the Lord out of Egypt either.

Exodus 12:38
Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.
Right. In fact anyone (of any tribe tongue or nation) who was willing to do Gods will in the matter of their deliverance could leave.

Buy my reckoning I see another six pages of Calvinists getting tarred and feathered. Very nice. And richly deserved I might add.......:sneaky:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jordon
Right. In fact anyone (of any tribe tongue or nation) who was willing to do Gods will in the matter of their deliverance could leave.

Buy my reckoning I see another six pages of Calvinists getting tarred and feathered. Very nice. And richly deserved I might add.......:sneaky:
Philippians 2:13 🙂
 
Wake up from your Calvinist fantasy dream world.

In fact their free will DEFINITELY saved them from Pharaohs wrath. And God's wrath as well.

They, by THEIR OWN express free will volition, participated (without compulsion) in God's chosen methodology and commands pertaining to this epic spectacle.
God will love you whether you like it or not 🙂
 
It appears it wasn't just the Israelites who willingly followed the Lord out of Egypt either.

Exodus 12:38
Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.
God had a PLAN of deliverance. You could either HEAR His voice, heed His commands, and then WILLINGLY choose to participate.

Or "stop your ears", "hearden you heart" and WILLINGLY choose to refuse.

Then follow the respective consequences.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sawdust
Listen... when it comes to being mean? Are you blind to the snideness of Calvinists who despise what they want to call "free willers?"
You would have to be blind not to see the vicious streak some of them express. And, you give them a free pass....
merry Christmas Mr monkey 😋
The lords favourite song

 
Christmas2025.png


Merry Christmas, all!!!
 
at the end of the day, just remember to let go of the stuff that is not true. we run into all kinds of stuff in our daily lives and we are instructed to cast all our cares to God. He will take them from us and apply His healing balm to our hurting hearts.

We hold a great treasure in these earthen vessels. Some share of the great treasure God has placed within us and some do not, sad to say.


.
Awe thanks your very kind,

Bye see ya soon have a nice day with your family
 
So you're big now on typology, are you? Tell me: Since the Exodus is a type of Redemption, did Abraham's descendants' "freewill" save them from Pharaoh or was it all God's efficacious rescuing grace/power?

CV5, Your mindless sleep of death emoticon poignantly testifies against your typology expertise. You can't even give an honest answer to my question about whether or not God efficaciously rescued the ancient Hebrews from Pharaoh, or the Hebrew's "freewill" choice to leave Egypt did. Pathetic!
 
CV5, Your mindless sleep of death emoticon poignantly testifies against your typology expertise. You can't even give an honest answer to my question about whether or not God efficaciously rescued the ancient Hebrews from Pharaoh, or the Hebrew's "freewill" choice to leave Egypt did. Pathetic!

Do you charge for your misery making service?
 
The moment that they say "I DO" to the wedding proposal.
The Calvinist fluked out on this entire course of study. On purpose.
Their failure is on them, not on the teachers and preachers.
All of your posts indicate that you would rather be under the law rather than grace.
I don't see how that is going to go well for you. Just my opinion!
 
ignorance is due to ...

never having been taught;
having been taught incorrectly
having been taught correctly ... but suppressing the truth in unrighteousness;


ignorance and blindness are cured through correct preaching of God's Word ... however, if one suppresses the truth in unrighteousness, ignorance and blindness remain.

Hope you have a Merry Christmas brightfame52.


Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

.

The scriptures alone are insufficient for curing "ignorance and blindness"? And the Holy Spirit is inadequate for applying truth to a person's heart?