Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Jordon]

The Biblical View of Favoritism

Perhaps the favorite rebuttal to the Doctrines of Grace is that Arminians, Pelagians or FWers use is the charge against God of playing favorites if God predestines, elects and empowers belief in the elect by His own Sovereign irresistible grace.

But the FWers are divided on how to interpret Irresistible Grace. Some say that such activity would be tantamount to God's will being capricious and arbitrary in nature, while others charge what I just stated above that would make God unfair and unjust, making the two views themselves contradictory, which comes as no surprise to me. But these two different views are not the focus of this post -- just the charge of "favoritism", since this particular subject is discussed in scripture. This post, then, will be restricted to looking at the biblical view of favoritism. And here's the text which I'll use as the springboard:

Acts 10:34-35
34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.
NIV

The larger context to this passage, of course, is the vision Peter had and the gentile Cornelius' encounter with an angel sent by God, and how the vision and angelic encounter resulted in Peter being sent to Cornelius to preach the gospel.

So...in one breath Peter proclaims that God does not discriminate. He does not play favorites. But in the very next breath Peter went on to say "but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right". Verse 35 very clearly qualifies v. 34! For God accepts/approves/receives/welcomes only a particular kind of men -- men who Fear Him and do what is right (in this logical order). God clearly does not accept/approve/receive/welcome all men w/o exception. God's benevolence/favor/affection/compassion/LOVE is propitious to God-Fearers! No surprises here since God loves and has compasion on those who Fear Him (Ps 103:11, 13, 17) Therefore, in Peter's mind, God's impartiality is qualitative in nature, and not quantitative as FWers would have us believe. Rather, any elect sinner in any nation on any continent anywhere on this green earth, no matter what race or ethnicity (Rom 2:9; 9:8), what social standing, what economic status, who has had the precious gift of God's New Covenant promised grace (Jer 32:36-41) that instills this godly, life-transforming disposition into his heart is loved by God, sought by Him, approved by Him, accepted by Him and are welcomed to Him. Such elect sinners invariably possess this attribute, quality or virtue that scripture calls the Fear of the Lord.

Therefore, in the above biblical sense, this is what is meant when scripture teaches the impartiality of God! All other sinners -- sinners who do not belong to God are not accepted, approved, received or welcomed by God are a priori rejected by Him (Rom 9:7-13, 16-18)! God, after all, is not the God of the dead but of the living (Mat 22:32), and He, through Christ, sovereignly chooses to whom He gives life (Jn 5:21) and to whom he will not (Rom 9:15-18).

For this writer, these truths are exceedingly precious because my God is not just a potential savior or a possible savior but is an ACTUAL Savior, and I take great comfort in the fact that I did not contribute a scintilla of desire or effort to my salvation; therefore, I know my salvation is perfect and guaranteed because it depends solely on the Rock on which I stand, and that my being in Christ is NOT of my own doing (1Cor 1:30). All I did when God rescued me was respond favorably to a Good, Holy and Righteous God's effectual call -- both the inner and outward. Therefore, all I can do is boast in the Lord (1Cor 1:31).











Thank you for posting this.

Yep and they will call the fear of the lord absolutely nothing. I had this discussion with somebody here m, even tho how i showed that's Gods fear inside a person in scripture. saves an unsaved person, like Gods fear of the wicked.

To them fear just means to be scared.

Nope fear is also not liking something, you start to fear.

Gods fear is therefore for expressed as healthy fear.

It has the ability to make a person tremble when badness strikes.

Nope to them it becomes something Calvinists do to misuse Gods word.

But you know what Rufus the will of flesh needs to be disciplined just keep that thought in mind m, otherwise they will call you impatient.

It's like telling your kid to turn the music down when he's pumped up, its not untill you physically go in his room and turn it down yourself will he listen

 

[HeIsHere]

Here is where I’m confused by what you are saying. You describe Cameron as believing that God regenerates a person first, and then the person will inevitably believe. If that is the case, then there is no real choice taking place at any point. The decision is already determined by the regeneration.

Calvinists use the word “choice,” but it is not an actual ability to accept or reject the gospel. It is simply the automatic outcome of a nature that God has already changed. That is why I keep saying that Calvinism removes any genuine option to believe or not believe.

So if Cameron teaches that faith only happens after regeneration and cannot be resisted, he is teaching classic Calvinism. If he truly believes a person is still able to go either way even after God’s intervention, then he has departed from Calvinism. Both cannot be true at the same time.



….

He teaches the New Reformed doctrine which attempts to avoid the logical end of the doctrine of unconditional election which is Reprobation.

He argues men fit themselves for destruction, those not pre-selected are going where they would have gone anyway and God is not responsible for their ultimate destination.

Reprobation is considered the necessary counterpart to the doctrine of unconditional election.
Genesis AI

 

[HeIsHere]

Some pro-Calvin historian documented around 30 executions Calvin was either directly, or indirectly, responsible for. I posted a link to it earlier in some thread. Others say the figure was closer to 60.

Another stain on Christianity.

Yes and there are many web sites like the Ligioners which work hard at casting him in the best possible light, is that even possible ....hmm?

 

[Jordon]

See @Magenta told you since I mentioned they will once again focus on calvinista it's been done 4 times already in the space of 5 minutes since I said

I'm wondering am I prophet

Nar don't think so lol but you know there folly of the will of there flesh is pretty much plain to see

 

[Bible_Highlighter]

That is a lie! Total misrepresentation. All God's elect freely choose to believe the gospel and repent due to God's effectual resurrection power working within them. Once made alive, they see themselves and God in a totally different light than what they were able to see when dead in darkness.

If they cannot reject God’s love or the gospel then it is not a choice.
A true real choice is when you have to make a decision between two or more options.
If you are locked into making only one option alone and not another one, then it is not a choice.
For example, I cannot choose to change the reality that oxygen was the element God used through history to supply air for man and animals to breath. I must accept this reality as my only option. It isn’t a matter of preference. I can’t simply decide to believe the opposite. Hence, this would not be a choice.



….

 

[HeIsHere]

I don't have a system. I merely let scripture be true. You, on the other hand, deny scripture after scripture. Come back after answering some of the panels of questions @Magenta posts.

Every argument you have tried to make concerning "unconditional election for personal salvation" has been completely refuted.

 

[Rufus]

Thank you for sharing these verses. I agree completely that the flesh is hostile to God. Romans 8 and Galatians 5 show that the natural man, left without God’s illumination, will not submit to Him and cannot please Him. John 1:5 KJV and John 14:17 KJV also point out that darkness does not comprehend the light and that the world cannot receive the Spirit of Truth. That is the true condition of man apart from God’s work with His truth.

Romans 8 is simply showing man’s need for God to open the heart and understanding so that a person can accept or reject the gospel of their own free will. This is why God draws all men to Christ and shines His light upon every person. Without that drawing and illumination, we would remain in the flesh. Once God enables a person to understand the gospel, the flesh is no longer a barrier to believing any more than a Calvinist would claim the flesh remains a barrier after God has already regenerated someone. So we both agree the flesh is a real obstacle. The difference is that I believe God overcomes that obstacle by drawing and enlightening every person through the gospel so that they can genuinely respond to Christ in faith, not by regenerating only a select few before they believe.

Faith is never something a person produces all by themselves without God, because Jesus said believing is the work of God (John 6:29 KJV). God must draw and open the heart as He did with Lydia in Acts 16:14 KJV so that the person can truly understand the truth of Christ and respond. The gospel message is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Romans 1:16 KJV says that the gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. It is not regeneration before faith that is the power of God unto salvation. It is the gospel believed that brings salvation and new life in Christ.

So yes, those in the flesh cannot come to God on their own power alone. That is why God draws, convicts, and opens the heart, enabling a genuine choice. God does not force salvation. He offers it to all through Christ and calls each person to trust Him freely.

....

Another lie! God only draws the elect to Christ, for He has known them for all eternity. However, there are numerous sinners whom God never knew (Mat 7:23) in a personal, intimate, filial, covenantal manner. God draws to Christ His sheep, His, Church, His friends, His covenant people -- all of whom He knew in eternity (Rom 8:28-30).

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

Sew magenta told you since I mentioned they will once again focus on calvinista it's been don't 4 times already in the space of 5 minutes

It's appropriate and normal for a physician to focus on the vector that is causing the disease.

 

[cv5]

Here is where I’m confused by what you are saying. You describe Cameron as believing that God regenerates a person first, and then the person will inevitably believe. If that is the case, then there is no real choice taking place at any point. The decision is already determined by the regeneration.

Calvinists use the word “choice,” but it is not an actual ability to accept or reject the gospel. It is simply the automatic outcome of a nature that God has already changed. That is why I keep saying that Calvinism removes any genuine option to believe or not believe.

So if Cameron teaches that faith only happens after regeneration and cannot be resisted, he is teaching classic Calvinism. If he truly believes a person is still able to go either way even after God’s intervention, then he has departed from Calvinism. Both cannot be true at the same time..

You have adduced correctly.

What you might not yet have experienced is the double-talk and the all too common evasion, rope-a-dope and slithering out of such a conclusion....

 

[Jordon]

If they cannot reject God’s love or the gospel then it is not a choice.
A true real choice is when you have to make a decision between two or more options.
If you are locked into making only one option alone and not another one, then it is not a choice.
For example, I cannot choose to change the reality that oxygen was the element God used through history to supply air for man and animals to breath. I must accept this reality as my only option. It isn’t a matter of preference. I can’t simply decide to believe the opposite. Hence, this would not be a choice.



….

Show me in scripture where God allows you to reject his ways

 

[Jordon]

You have adduced correctly.

What you might not yet have experienced is the double-talk and the all too common evasion, rope-a-dope and slithering out of such a conclusion....

Have you got snakes in your head again

 

[Genez]

Why do these Calvinists degrade Gods created beings by reducing them to mere corrupt flesh? They do the same with animals.

Could it be that they revel gleefully in its inherently nihilistic fatalistic hopeless doomer message?

Question to the Calvinists:
What has the exhortation of the Spirit to "come" and "overcome" have to do with Calvinism? Absolutely nothing.

What has Jesus' earthly teaching ministry have to do with Calvinism? Absolutely nothing.

Rhetorical question....

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3


Calvinism's TULIP was created by Theodore Beza and some disciples of Calvin, not by Calvin.

It was their independence stand against tyrannical Rome. Many believers were ignorant doctrinally back then, thanks to the Vatican's propaganda machine.

So? In such a vacuum? There was a freedom to create one's own counter to Rome's religion, and a call for separation.

Calvinism became like a magnet to will draw in those who found themselves drawn to its attitude towards God and man.

The solution? The Holy Spirit will always have a faithful remnant for wanting divine viewpoint.

grace and peace ............

 

[Bible_Highlighter]

Show me in scripture where God allows you to reject his ways

2 Thessalonians 2:10 KJV is a big one.


…..

 

[Jordon]

It's appropriate and normal for a physician to focus on the vector that is causing the disease.

.normal for a disease to spread more disease to, like you

 

[Genez]

That is a lie! Total misrepresentation. All God's elect freely choose to believe the gospel and repent due to God's effectual resurrection power working within them. Once made alive, they see themselves and God in a totally different light than what they were able to see when dead in darkness.

Poor Rufus.

 

[HeIsHere]

You have adduced correctly.

What you might not yet have experienced is the double-talk and the all too common evasion, rope-a-dope and slithering out of such a conclusion....

Yup!!

"double talk"... "slithering"

It sounds right until one digs deeper and then one finds all the "fatalistic determinism" lurking beneath

They use the word "convinced" what they really are saying has God regenerated them so then they are convinced which He also gives them.

 

[Rufus]

If they cannot reject God’s love or the gospel then it is not a choice.
A true real choice is when you have to make a decision between two or more options.
If you are locked into making only one option alone and not another one, then it is not a choice.
For example, I cannot choose to change the reality that oxygen was the element God used through history to supply air for man and animals to breath. I must accept this reality as my only option. It isn’t a matter of preference. I can’t simply decide to believe the opposite. Hence, this would not be a choice.



….

Yes, it is a choice. Once given the new heart, a circumcised heart and the grace of the Fear of the Lord that empowers God's elect to respond positively to both God's grace and the gospel message. All who are born in Adam are locked into having only one option open to them -- sin, sin, and sin some more! For the world hates God! So, yes, believers can change their sinful reality by God's, rescuing, empowering, effectual grace. This is the warp 'n' woof of God's great salvation: He does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

You obviously do not believe that man's worst enemy is himSELF! Man has no power to change his immutable essence any more than God has to change His! Only God can perform this miracle!

 

[Jordon]

2 Thessalonians 2:10 KJV is a big one.


…..

is this the only one ?

What a shame you failed miserably you should of said i can't possibly search the scriptures to show that God allows.you to reject his ways

Romans declares the Gospel is the power to save

Anyway ok go on then, explain why you think God allows you to reject his ways in the scripture you cited

 

[Rufus]

Poor Rufus.

But I'm exceedingly rich in Christ my Lord and Savior -- an ACTUAL savior! I get to share in His inheritance.

 

[Bible_Highlighter]

For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3


Calvinism's TULIP was created by Theodore Beza and some disciples of Calvin, not by Calvin.

It was their independence stand against tyrannical Rome. Many believers were ignorant doctrinally back then, thanks to the Vatican's propaganda machine.

So? In such a vacuum? There was a freedom to create one's own counter to Rome's religion, and a call for separation.

Calvinism became like a magnet to will draw in those who found themselves drawn to its attitude towards God and man.

The solution? The Holy Spirit will always have a faithful remnant for wanting divine viewpoint.

grace and peace ............

Beza, Calvin's close successor, played a key role in systematizing and clarifying Reformed doctrines, especially predestination. His strong emphasis on divine sovereignty, election, and particular atonement did influence later Reformed theology and intensified debates with Arminian thinkers—including his own student, Jacob Arminius. Beza is associated with the development of “supralapsarianism” and contributed substantially to the discussions that fueled the five points of Calvinism, but he did not invent the TULIP acronym or system.

The five points of Calvinism were articulated in direct response to the five articles of the Remonstrants (Arminians) in the early 17th century.

The Synod of Dort (1618–1619) formalized the Calvinist response into five “heads of doctrine,” which were later summarized as TULIP, notably after Beza’s time. Theodore Beza died on October 13, 1605, in Geneva, Switzerland. So he was not alive when the Synod of Dort created the TULIP acronym.



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