Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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No, your buddy sawdust is out to lunch trying to make a false dichotomy between believing and faith. According to Rom 4:23, Gal 3:6 and Jas 2:23, Abraham didn't exercise faith. He only believed God which according to your comrade isn't the same as faith.

Faith is believing the Word of God.

Before Satan fell and created the lie, faith was the normal medium of communication between God and angels.
 
No, your buddy sawdust is out to lunch trying to make a false dichotomy between believing and faith. According to Rom 4:23, Gal 3:6 and Jas 2:23, Abraham didn't exercise faith. He only believed God which according to your comrade isn't the same as faith.

That's because believing is an act of our will, faith is a gift from God. The two work together, or not at all. I suspect because you don't believe we co-operate in our salvation, you don't understand the mechanics of how it works. Just like I don't understand the mechanics of how my TV springs to life when I press the red button. Sometimes it is enough to know it does without the details, but I wouldn't argue the details with an electrical engineer or a technology expert.
 
Faith is believing the Word of God.

Before Satan fell and created the lie, faith was the normal medium of communication between God and angels.

Then tell it to sawdust because he made a distinction between believing and faith.
 
Then if there is no power to those who do not believe, how did you receive the power of regeneration? According to you, you believed after you were born again?
I was made spiritually alive and had my heart circumcised. I heard and believed with the new heart and by the Spirit.
 
Wrong again. Faith doesn't come from audibly hearing the gospel. If it did, the Bible would say...faith comes by hearing the word of God. Instead, it says...faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. That is the power of the gospel Paul was referring to. Notice, it is only the power of God unto salvation for those who actually believe.

Faith is not something exclusive to God.
Even on a secular level, when you believe something you heard? You do so by faith.
 
That's because believing is an act of our will, faith is a gift from God. The two work together, or not at all. I suspect because you don't believe we co-operate in our salvation, you don't understand the mechanics of how it works. Just like I don't understand the mechanics of how my TV springs to life when I press the red button. Sometimes it is enough to know it does without the details, but I wouldn't argue the details with an electrical engineer or a technology expert.

So, Abraham wasn't saved then, was he? He merely believed God. None of the three passages I cited talks about God's gift of faith as the basis for justification.
 
Except when hypocrites like yourself will not. How is exegesis involved in Rom 8:29 when you FWer's READ INTO the text that God was foreseeing acts of faith? :rolleyes:

Because God knowing you is Him in relationship with you ergo, foreknowing is God seeing Himself in relationship with us before He elects us.

Why do you keep interpreting it as God choosing to save us when He already sees us saved before He elects us?
 
And, how did they make the connection?

Are you saying that the Holy Spirit working in someone's thought process is not hearing from God?
Because, that is what happens during the drawing of God.
It happens for those who believe.
 
Then tell it to sawdust because he made a distinction between believing and faith.
Faith is believing.

You can have a knowledge of what should be faith.
But it does not become your faith until it is believed.

What's the big deal?

You invent ways to argue.
 
I explained that verse to you. God does not make you believe. We sinners do not deserve grace. The "it given" is the privilege, we are not given belief. God gives us faith, yes, but that is only if we believe.

John 20:31
but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

See that? It is in believing we are given life, not your perverse given salvation (regeneration) to be saved stunt.

[Jhn 20:29 KJV] 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.

Where in scripture do you find the word "privilege" being mentioned? I looked but couldn't find it anywhere? Verses, please.

You're wrong -it is impossible for GIVEN to mean privilege. GIVEN means GIVEN. And don't try to rewrite Scripture according to what you
want it to say. It is you who therefore perverting Scripture
[Phl 1:29 KJV] 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

And your interpretation of verse John 20:31 is completely wrong.
 
Except when hypocrites like yourself will not. How is exegesis involved in Rom 8:29 when you FWer's READ INTO the text that God was foreseeing acts of faith? :rolleyes:

God foreknows everything in creation.
Ever dawn on your brilliant mind that is so?
So? What then would be the distinction involved?

For those God foreknew (would believe) he also predestined to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:29​

Too simple for you?
You must find a way to argue.
It is your nature...

You view disagreement as something to win.

.
 
Faith is not something exclusive to God.
Even on a secular level, when you believe something you heard? You do so by faith.
Saving faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. It is not a natural faith.
 
Still interesting you never learn anything and don't actually discuss the scriptures which is what the forum is about but would rather nick pick on people. How about you come back when you have some decent teaching and can actually discuss.

Try showing how what I said was wrong, not simply throw stones. :)
interesting you now make this about me.

Let the party commence,..

Lets twist and shout my sugar plumb fairy 🥳
 
I heard you fine, thank you. You're the one who tried to make a false dichotomy between believing and faith.

No you didn't "hear". You are forever hearing but never understanding.

People believe all manner of things. Believing is how we order our lives, we act in accordance with our beliefs. Just because someone believes something doesn't make it faith. Faith comes from the word. You can believe a mountain of stuff but if what you believe is only a molehill of truth, you will only have a molehill of faith.

When one believes on the word, it is that word that takes the positive acceptance (belief) and creates faith. We do not generate faith from within for faith is certainty, it requires the power of the word of God.