Can We Really Exercise Free Will?
- Thread starter LifelongLearner
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What you ignore is that she stabbed me first, and I only tried to defend myself.
At first I was enamored by her artwork, so I was quite chagrined when she attacked me.
If we are hated by unbelievers, then it's no surprise because the Lord Jesus did say that we would be hated by the world. That is to be expected and the Lord Jesus said they hate us because they hated Him first.
The really sad thing is when "Christians" hate other Christians, just because they don't agree with their theological views or they don't accept their denominations teaching.
I experienced strong opposition from my family and persecution from my uncle, when I announced that I will no longer be attending mass at our local Catholic Church, because I no longer identify as a "Roman Catholic". My argument was that I didn't choose to be a Roman Catholic, my parents "Christened" me into the Church as an infant.
My uncle was most offended when he found out that I was going to be baptised and join a Baptist Church. He saw that as a betrayal of my families heritage, saying that my ancestors were all Catholics for many centuries. He would have tried me for treason, if he could. But as it is he said that I am dead to him and he never wants to speak to me again.
Many of my relatives also avoid me and that's OK, I have lost a lot of "friends and relatives", but I have gained a new family which is made up of believers from all over the world.
The Lord Jesus gave believers an example in,
John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
If the world (unbelievers), see that Christians are against each other, then that destroys their testimony and the opportunity to share the gospel is lost as well.
It's OK to disagree with each others views, as long as we agree on the core beliefs, such as we must not put anyone before God.
We must believe that the bible is Gods inspired word, and it must be our highest authority.
We must believe that, only Christ is sufficient for our salvation. We must acknowledge our personal sin and commit to following Christ as our Lord.
I was raised in the Baptist OSAS mode, but I learned that it insinuated God hates nonelect humanity,
and I came to understand/believe honestly/without hypocrisy that GW teaches MFW and divine omnilove.
Amen! This is what I share on the Kerygma thread.
I refer to the core creed as the kerygma and to secondary doctrines as the didache.
yet not one person can believe in the unseen unless the unseen is revealed in them, no one can say Jesus is lord unless by the spirit
Did I, well i only have your word for that, I don't know any church that focuses on human moral free will, especially since his word says Gods moral laws are written on the hearts of the unsaved. That must be a sect of the Baptist church I know very little about, and is probably a fake baptinistic approach to promoting false idols.
The Bible verse in Luke 6:43 teaches that a person's true character, or nature, is revealed by their actions, just as a healthy tree produces good fruit and a corrupt one produces bad fruit; you know them by their "fruits," or deeds.
Also in Matt 7:18-20 "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them".
yet his word reveals mans actions are a result of his fallen nature before there saved where mans corrupt free will lives
No, it is the Southern Baptist and Conservative Methodist approach that focused on evangelism rather than on either tulip or mfw,
necessitating folks like me to figure out that issue per GW for ourselves.
And what is it the southern Baptist church evangelises, tulip ? Or that Mankind has there own good moral free will
And So, when you go into your church does the pastor constantly hold sermons evangelising tulip ?
I bet hes never mentioned it once in his church. Or your just making up stories.
The plan of salvation as presented in the scripture is a core belief, sadly it has already been corrupted by high profile false teachers and preachers.
There are many on this thread, who are trying to stem this tide of false teaching which has become ubiquitous in the churches.
what false teachings are you taking about, by who ?
Your more than likely refering to 1000s upon 1000s of miss representations of what people have actually said here, by similar claims of your own here , which say, because I say people are what I say they are, that means they are.
Err no you can't even admit God's enabling grace is in the Bible, so what chance is there of us believing you at your word, about others here.
Well none actually.
Scripture was not written in verses, so taking one line out of its surrounding passage is already removing it from its context.
As well, very few can be regarded as stand alone or summation lines.
You have made it clear that you do not think hermeneunetics and context is of value or a very important consideration, and it seems your view is that understanding scripture is more of a mystical experience which does not involve historical knowledge, type of written expression, analysis, reasoning and thinking.
Several of us offered verses which clearly demonstrate people in Jesus' time seeking Him out, to learn about eternal life and you dismissed those as well.
If I explained Jesus is speaking to the Jews, His disciples under the Old Covenant and those who could be his apostles on Earth you will dismiss that as well most likely.
John 3:14 and John 12:32 explains how God is going to "draw people"
Broadly speaking, this is the Gospel and speaking prophetically, Jesus would die on a cross and be raised from the dead, thereby defeating death and the grave.
No one disputes this, Blain. All who have posted in this thread believe God always reveals Himself first.
Why there is continuous animosity and dispute concerning this truth when all believe God draws the unbeliever to Himself is beyond me.
we all agree that the Father sent the Lord Jesus Christ ...
we all agree that the Father draws people to the Lord Jesus Christ ...
but then it's like "oh my goodness! I can't be in agreement with them" ... no we must continue to be at odds with each other, even though we agree with each other.
and, as has been stated many times in this thread ... the continuous arguments serve only to interrupt discussion beyond the basics of Jesus Christ and Him crucified (the gospel).
Now who would be the one who wants to squelch discussion of deeper truth, Blain?
Who would be the one who does not want revealed the manifold wisdom of God unto principalities and powers in the heavenlies according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in the Lord Jesus Christ?
Ephesians 3:10 -11
10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord
.