Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Rufus said:
What's also fascinating about the 2Tim text is that this grace was "given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time", which means that God had placed all his elect in Christ in eternity -- long before anyone did anything good or bad.

Even in my own life, I can look back now in retrospect and see how God's hand was in my life for many years prior to my new birth from above. Even when I had seriously contemplated ditching the bible because I perceived it to contain too many problems therein, God was faithful in his unfailing love for me and would not let me go. He put a particular man (who happened to be a pastor and bible college professor) into my life to dispel my fears and concerns.
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That was my thought as well. The 2 Tim text speaks of this taking place in the past, before time began. How could that be anything other than grace? How could we boast as if we played a part?

And my story is similar to yours. When I look back, even before I became a believer, I can definitely see God's hand slowly directing my steps toward Him. He placed me into an environment under a good teacher. At times, it seems that He had to drag me along, but His purpose was fulfilled at His desired time, not mine. . . . . . .
 
BillyBob said:
That was my thought as well. The 2 Tim text speaks of this taking place in the past, before time began. How could that be anything other than grace? How could we boast as if we played a part?

And my story is similar to yours. When I look back, even before I became a believer, I can definitely see God's hand slowly directing my steps toward Him. He placed me into an environment under a good teacher. At times, it seems that He had to drag me along, but His purpose was fulfilled at His desired time, not mine. . . . . . .
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Wow! :eek:

You mean to tell us that both you and @Rufus learnt of the Father while still in your natural state?
 
Cameron143 said:
Yes, but the will is not set free. Jesus doesn't make your will free. He frees you from sin and death.
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Of course it is. How can He set you free and you not be free. Every aspect of our being is set free in Christ. He doesn't set the heart and mind and strength and soul free but not your will.

We are free to serve Him, not out of debt or compulsion but out of a willingness free of either. Christ freely chose to do the Father's will and not His own. Adam freely chose to not do the Father's will and did his own will instead.

Stop trying to turn freedom into something it is not.

John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.


The fact I even have to say these things I find quite unbelievable. :confused:
 
sawdust said:
Of course it is. How can He set you free and you not be free. Every aspect of our being is set free in Christ. He doesn't set the heart and mind and strength and soul free but not your will.

We are free to serve Him, not out of debt or compulsion but out of a willingness free of either. Christ freely chose to do the Father's will and not His own. Adam freely chose to not do the Father's will and did his own will instead.

Stop trying to turn freedom into something it is not.

John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.


The fact I even have to say these things I find quite unbelievable. :confused:
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What does Romans 6:18 say?
 
Blain said:
Well considering I don't follow Thelogian scholars I would not know what verses you speak of, I do my own personal study to find the truth for myself if the bible says something that is what I believe the truth is found in his word not from scholars

So again what does the bible say about it?
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They interchange heart and soul throughout the Bible and I have personally researched it myself.
 
Rufus said:
A distinction without a difference! Cornelius, as I have shown in the past, was already a recipient of saving grace since God gifted him with His promised New Covenant grace of the Fear of the Lord which he had before the "Holy Spirit fell on" him and he was saved.
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And yet the Bible specifically states he continued to ask God for Salvation so God granted it to him.
 
sawdust said:
Wow! :eek:

You mean to tell us that both you and @Rufus learnt of the Father while still in your natural state?
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Yeah. God will do it for them, but not for us.

Give us our daily bread. The calvies bottle it up and it rots.......Those of us who use our daily bread.........SHARE it.
 
Kroogz said:
Yeah. God will do it for them, but not for us.

Give us our daily bread. The calvies bottle it up and it rots.......Those of us who use our daily bread.........SHARE it.
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the lord prayer is Jesus saying this is how we pray, it's means your being told to things the proper way, only for you it's an opportunity to dogmatise people with 🙂
 
sawdust said:
Jesus Christ is Lord whether I say so or not. I don't make Him Lord, the Father did that, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. :)

Did the Son set you free or are you still in bondage? Rhetorical question, don't expect you to answer that in public. :)
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I am a slave to Christ so yes I am in bondage but it is one I sumbit to it isn't the same as being in bondage to sin this is the key to surrender and to know God in ways you never imagined

You are either a slave to Christ or to sin
 
sawdust said:
Jesus Christ is Lord whether I say so or not. I don't make Him Lord, the Father did that, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. :)

Did the Son set you free or are you still in bondage? Rhetorical question, don't expect you to answer that in public. :)
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John 8:34: "everyone who sins is a slave to sin," and Romans 6:18, 22: believers are "set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life"
 
Jordon said:
the lord prayer is Jesus saying this is how we pray, it's means your being told to
things the proper way, only for you it's an opportunity to dogmatise people with 🙂
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Well, they completely miss the point or lie deliberately. I think it is six of one and half a dozen of
the other served up with a rotten attitude from both of them. Those learning from the Father are
not in a natural state. You would think they may have picked up on this by now, but no. It is asking
too much, apparently. Their complete lack of understanding what Scripture plainly says? Yikes.

1Corinthians2-14.png

The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians ch 2 v 14
 
Sorry my friends.... but...
It's always interesting how you christians quarrel and disagree of this and that, even the most central theological issues. Why is that so? Shouldn't the holy spirit tell you all about these things? Why so much disagreement?
 
the_seeker said:
Sorry my friends.... but...
It's always interesting how you christians quarrel and disagree of this and that, even the most central theological
issues. Why is that so? Shouldn't the holy spirit tell you all about these things? Why so much disagreement?
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Scripture says there needs to be disagreements...
 
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