Can We Really Exercise Free Will?
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Despite what the un-Biblical free will doctrine promoters put forth, the natural man does not have everything he needs in order to grow the good fruit of faith from the stony ground of his incurably wicked heart which is opposed to the things of God, and he cannot change himself, being a lover of darkness who suppresses the truth in unrighteousness as a slave to sin, being inherently hostile in his mind toward God, and blinded to the truth while under the power of the evil one. Those who promote the free will of the natural man reject a plethora of Biblical truths. Praise God if Jesus has set you free!
Umm, you didnt read well your own post which says " if anyone..." . Do I need to post it here? Not necessarily. Yes its hard for you to let go.
The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth.
^ No "if" there. They cannot. They can't. Inability.
The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God:
^ No "if" there.
It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
^ No "if" there. They cannot. They can't. Inability.
Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God.
^ No "if" there. They cannot. They can't. Inability.
You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.
^ The Spirit of God does not indwell unbelievers.
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
^ Those without the Spirit of Christ do not belong to Christ.
They belong to the world and cannot receive the Spirit of Truth.
I can read just fine. But you turn cannot into can. You have a serious comprehension problem.
Try reading the verses without your bastardizations. Are you unable to???
You want me to drop it while you keep responding? What a hypocrite.
Why don't you answer your own question for a change and follow through with the logical conclusions you must face instead of burying your head in the sand of generalities that ignores the details.
Here are some truths to think on:
1. We are made in the image and likeness of God. Gen1:27
2. There is an innate corruption in the flesh. Rom.7:23
3. We are of the flesh. Gen.5:3 Jn.3:6
4. Which makes us slaves to sin. Rom.7:14
5. Nos.1&3 set up a conflict that is made apparent when God manifests Himself to man. Rom.7:15-20
6. The creation, prophets, Torah and the work of God the Son and Spirit all point to God's existence and man's situation in relation to Him. Matt.11:13 Jn.1:9-10 Jn.16:8 Rom.1:21
7. God comes to us with grace and truth. Jn.1:14
Once you comprehend the above, Rom.1:21 answers your question as to how the mind becomes darkened (they reject the truth shown) and Jn.1:14 explains why not all minds become totally corrupt and desperately wicked (there are those who do not reject the truth shown).
There is a whole lot more that could be said, but it has been said ad nauseum.
So, in your words? Thanks for the discussion.
grace and peace.
The point I am attempting to make is that it doesn't come naturally for anyone, not even those that are saved. However, it's an only assumption that it must then come supernaturally, as there is also a very real possibility that it only comes by exercising the will to regard others as above yourself, even if you don't 'feel' like doing it. As who, naturally, ever 'feels' like doing that? Honestly, even with the Holy Spirit residing in you, do you 'feel' as though others are above you?
duly noted you neglected to answer the question posed in Post 4913.
I agree with what is written in Scripture ... you have not admitted the truth of Scripture that God said Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil (Gen 3:22).
you've got evil down pat
have you considered what did God mean that man can know good?
I'm just discussing Scripture ... I believe I expressed some exasperation that you do not discuss with me (and others) directly ... instead you paste a wall of various indictments against fellow believers.Magenta said:
reminds of rainman ... the list of serious injuries ...
The birds of a feather do not deal with what is posited for consideration and discussion ... they just respond with endless questions concerning what is not at issue in a never-ending quest to not discuss ... and when called out on their tactics the response is "wut".
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Ok, but, you don't always know when that feeling will come over you so, you don't unless it does.
something I've been pondering ...
if it were possible for natural man to do "good" all his or her life ... if it were possible for natural man to go a whole lifetime without sinning ... he or she would still need Messiah ... the Lord Jesus Christ ... for it is only His righteousness which is the appropriate garment in which we are to be clothed and not found naked ...
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
disclosure ... the part about natural man doing good all his life and natural man going a whole lifetime without sinning is purely hypothetical ... the need for Messiah and His righteousness is not hypothetical ... sad I have to make a disclosure about something like this, but the way some misconstrue, I'd rather be safe than sorry ...
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if it were possible for natural man to do "good" all his or her life ... if it were possible for natural man to go a whole lifetime without sinning ... he or she would still need Messiah ... the Lord Jesus Christ ... for it is only His righteousness which is the appropriate garment in which we are to be clothed and not found naked ...
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
disclosure ... the part about natural man doing good all his life and natural man going a whole lifetime without sinning is purely hypothetical ... the need for Messiah and His righteousness is not hypothetical ... sad I have to make a disclosure about something like this, but the way some misconstrue, I'd rather be safe than sorry ...
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The Spirit brings to my mind His word, Phil2:3, and I reason it must be true, regardless of whether I'd like to think otherwise or not. Do you only now willfully walk in the Spirit where before you only walked willfully in the flesh? What about when you don't regard others above yourself? Is it then now not willfully?
Take it a step further... even if sin were removed from the equation, we would still need to be born again.
Isaiah 40 verses 6B-8 ~ All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.
All righteousness is acquired through faith in the Word whether saint (elect angel) or sinner (man) for God alone is omniscient and the only One who can be right in every and any occasion. When we take Him at His word and trust in it, we too are made righteous.
Alright, we'll see John 14:17
John 14:17
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
What does this mean, "whom the world cannot receive?
Yes, these are people who judge by their physical senses. What they cannot see, hear, taste, or feel makes no impression on them, and because they cannot see the Holy Spirit operating in Christ, they did not receive his testimony about Christ or that "...because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him not..."
Alright, we'll see John 14:17
John 14:17
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
What does this mean, "whom the world cannot receive?
Yes, men judge by their physical senses. What they cannot see, hear, taste, or feel makes no impression on them, and because they cannot see the Holy Spirit operating in Christ as in the narrative, they did not receive his testimony about Christ, or that's "...because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him not..." However, this does not, of course, mean the total inability of man because Jesus said"he that believeth on me.." suggests men can exercise faith or can respond to God or Christ.
Are you of the world, or have you been called out of the world?
If you have been called out of the world you have been enabled.
You know it is very odd that in talking about inability you point to the verses regarding people who have been
enabled and say they prove me wrong. You just come across as not having any idea what you are talking about.
