Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Mr. LT Texan: There's another huge theological problem with your take on Jn 17:23: It presents, yet, another contradiction. If Jesus, as the saints' High Priest, was praying for the world in the distributive sense in this text, then clearly His prayer, too, had zero efficacy to it; for the vast majority of the world is hell-bound. God the Father for some odd reason didn't pay very much attention to Jesus' prayer. Yet, Jesus certainly believed there was total efficacy in his prayer for the two flocks of His Father's sheep because He stated early on that He would give eternal life to all the Father has given to Him (v.2).

Plus the Church's High Priest claimed that his Father always heard His prayers (Jn 11:42), which Jesus proved when He raised Lazarus. Since this is the case, how is it that the Father turned a deaf ear to his Son's supposed prayer for the world in Jn 17:23, since the vast majority of the world is perishing and will perish; for "many are called but few are chosen" (Mat 22:14).

FWT (FreeWill Theology) is replete with numerous theological problems and contradictions, whereas the Five Doctrines of Grace embraced by Reformed Theology present ZERO problems. NO contradictions.
 
Like I said, you fail to see the problem of evil.

You would be well ahead if you found a good doctrinal teacher. Many have been linked on this thread.
HEB 5:14
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good(Divine Good) and evil(human good).

Jesus ALONE took care of the problem of evil for all of Abraham's descendants.

Why don't you send some "good doctrinal teacher" or two or three over here? I would put them to the test.
 
Jesus ALONE took care of the problem of evil for all of Abraham's descendants.

Why don't you send some "good doctrinal teacher" or two or three over here? I would put them to the test.
He would have to be able to recognize good doctrine first. He cannot even acknowledge what you have been saying...
 
He would have to be able to recognize good doctrine first. He cannot even acknowledge what you have been saying...
Look a little closer. @Rufus has not acknowledged what the BIBLE says about evil.

All sin is paid for......But not all EVIL.

You folks tripped on the starting line, so everything after the start is missing for you.
 
Interesting thought here because Jesus made that response to his disciples when they asked, who then can be saved?
Magenta, Yu and I are tuned in on the same doctrine, as far as I can tell. Do you have the same response that I do that those of Gods elect whom he has blinded from understanding the doctrine of Christ because they turned away from him and worship idols, witch is themself by thinking God can not save them unless they let him. In other words, they believe in eternal salvation (deliverance) is accomplished by their good works?
 
Magenta, Yu and I are tuned in on the same doctrine, as far as I can tell. Do you have the same response that I do that those of Gods elect whom he has blinded from understanding the doctrine of Christ because they turned away from him and worship idols, witch is themself by thinking God can not save them unless they let him. In other words, they believe in eternal salvation (deliverance) is accomplished by their good works?
Hello again Forest, I hope you had a lovely Christmas! I do not think God cannot save people unless they let Him.
I believe as the Scriptures say, that Jesus gives life to whom He chooses, and that those whom God has given
Jesus come to Him... those He foreknew and called, He justifies and sanctifies, drawing them with loving
kindness, revealing Himself to them, making Light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God.
Those without the Spirit of God can neither receive nor comprehend the Spiritual things of God.


Philippians3-3-Colossians2-11-Romans2-29b.png

Philippians 3 verse 3; Colossians 2 verse 11; Romans 2 verse 29b ~ For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh. You were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands. Circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.
 
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He will never stop, he's been asked hundreds of times, it is what it is, he's a bully
There's many things I don't like about you, the number one thing i don't like about you is how you force your will on people, and how you bully people and how you condemn people, how you talk to women, and how you treat good people.

But I certainly don't have to like you, and I don't have to do what you tell me do, and neither do I have take any notice of you,

And as for this topic, it's not a discussion by you and your crew, it's a hate fueled rant.

Well I guess we have seen who does not have the control needed to refrain from condemning others.

You don't know me and I don't know you and am I more than happy to keep it that way.

grace and peace.
 
Well I guess we have seen who does not have the control needed to refrain from condemning others.

You don't know me and I don't know you and am I more than happy to keep it that way.

grace and peace.
no your wrong unfortunately, because I don't have to anything at your request, regardless of how good you think your being with your advice, your advice means nothing to me. Because you support his behaviour

your only intension is to provoke me with your silly message telling me I need to stop, when. He's the one who has provoked me every day since I've been here.
 
You would be well ahead if you found a good doctrinal teacher. Many have been linked on this thread.
The problem is that many teachers have bought into Satan's lie. They teach salvation by grace but they have let Satan's lie destroy the truth.
The subtle lie being taught today is, [in fact], salvation by works. They may not even realize that they are doing it. . . .

One says:
“…the only way to be saved by grace is by putting your trust in what Jesus did on the cross.

Another says:
“The truth is that you simply turn to the Lord by faith to be forgiven of your sins, and you are saved immediately, completely and eternally”.

Each sound really good on the surface, until you realize they are teaching that man must do something in order to be saved. But, scripture teaches that salvation is by grace alone, no works required! Grace requires no work on the part of man.
Satan used the same age old method when he ask “Did God really say?” Satan always plants a seed of mistrust!
 
Well I guess we have seen who does not have the control needed to refrain from condemning others.

You don't know me and I don't know you and am I more than happy to keep it that way.

grace and peace.
listen rather than repent of his actions when asked to he hasn't and has really offended my faith, and took things to the extreme

He condemned my church my pastor the women at my church

He called me a queer a spiritual loser, a fake, he condemned brothers to hell here, he's hounded a lady and bullied here no end,

And your telling me to stop.

He's been racist to many people here including me, and you've encouraged him.
 
No, no, no. Send them over here in real time so that we can engage with each other.
Rufus... they know better.

For example. RB Thieme, was too busy for something like here.
He studied about eight hours a day, and taught six nights a week to a large congregation.
He taught from not word studies like you and others do, but from the actual Hebrew and Greek texts.

It is nothing like anything you have ever been exposed to.

Almost twenty years of daily lessons are made available for free for those who ask.
No money? No problem.
They will send anyone truly desiring to learn in depth Bible teaching - free of charge.

Pastors have used his lessons for their own personal study.
 
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Well I guess we have seen who does not have the control needed to refrain from condemning others.

You don't know me and I don't know you and am I more than happy to keep it that way.

grace and peace.

I have a feeling that Jordon is going to tell Jesus that he is a bully..... when Jordon sees Jesus sending people to Hell.
Jesus! "She was such a nice lady! You have no heart!"

Justice and righteousness must prevail.
 
The problem is that many teachers have bought into Satan's lie. They teach salvation by grace but they have let Satan's lie destroy the truth.
The subtle lie being taught today is, [in fact], salvation by works. They may not even realize that they are doing it. . . .

One says:
“…the only way to be saved by grace is by putting your trust in what Jesus did on the cross.

Another says:
“The truth is that you simply turn to the Lord by faith to be forgiven of your sins, and you are saved immediately, completely and eternally”.

Each sound really good on the surface, until you realize they are teaching that man must do something in order to be saved. But, scripture teaches that salvation is by grace alone, no works required! Grace requires no work on the part of man.
Satan used the same age old method when he ask “Did God really say?” Satan always plants a seed of mistrust!

I guess we just have to ignore what the Lord says about believing His word then. :unsure:
 
I have a feeling that Jordon is going to tell Jesus that he is a bully..... when Jordon sees Jesus sending people to Hell.
Jesus! "She was such a nice lady! You have no heart!"

Justice and righteousness must prevail.

My favourite saying? "hell is for wimps, it takes guts to face the truth, especially about yourself." ;)

Thank the Lord for His grace and mercy. :)