Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Rufus said:
A few things: First, would that be the same "grace" that freed the vast majority of the world to choose to reject the gospel?
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When grace subdues the depravity of the flesh having it's dominance over one's soul?
Yes! Ultimately... everyone (except idiots) freely made a choice.

Grace puts man into a state of being just like when the angels chose to reject the Lord.

So are those who reject the Lord, while under the influence of God's grace?
Were made to free in their soul to recognize what they actually want.

Without grace?
All men would be compelled to reject the Lord.
With grace?
All will be made free to choose, as the angels had done when it came time to choose between the Lord or Satan.


......
 
Cameron143 said:
There is no criteria on the human side. That's what makes it grace.

From God's side, He simply chose people to set His affection upon.
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Biblically, there is a condition on the human side, belief which precedes receiving the gift of salvation.

But according to your second statement it is arbitrary.

Isn't that what I initially stated. :unsure:
 
HeIsHere said:
Biblically, there is a condition on the human side, belief which precedes receiving the gift of salvation.

But according to your second statement it is arbitrary.

Isn't that what I initially stated. :unsure:
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Belief is the result of the activity of God: the Spirit of God employing the word of God. It too is of grace. Nothing arbitrary about the work of God.
 
HeIsHere said:
Biblically, there is a condition on the human side, belief which precedes receiving the gift of salvation.

But according to your second statement it is arbitrary.

Isn't that what I initially stated. :unsure:
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Yes, you lied about what Scripture states. Repeatedly. And then project your lack of understanding onto Cameron.

You really ought to make a bit more of an effort to understand Scripture. And God.

As it is, claiming God does things arbitrarily just showcases your ignorance.

PS And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
 
HeIsHere said:
Sometimes they (gotquestions) are fine for sure, I would have to go back and read the dialogue to say more.
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Here's the link to the gotquestions article:


I stumbled upon the link yesterday ... wish I had known about the gotquestions article last month when we were hashing through whether the parable was about who is the good neighbor as opposed to the inability of the half dead victim ... went round and round on that one ... now it's been resurrected to re-hash ad infinitum ...
.
 
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NightTwister said:
You have the *free will* choice to lie about me or not. So far you've chosen the former.
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No, not really.

[Mat 16:22-23 KJV] 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
 
Magenta said:
Yes, you lied about what Scripture states. Repeatedly. And then project your lack of understanding onto Cameron.

You really ought to make a bit more of an effort to understand Scripture. And God.

As it is, claiming God does things arbitrarily just showcases your ignorance.

PS And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth— the gospel of your salvation— you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.
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Sooooo.....pre-birth lottery?
Nope. I don't see it. Anywhere.
 
NightTwister said:
There you go again with the strawman. You don't even care when you do it. It's called "bearing false witness against your neighbor." I'm sure you can look that one up.
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I am confused.
Maybe you can help end the misunderstanding that Calvinists never seem to be able to clarify.

Is the following accurate?

Calvinists are selling "saved then believe".
(be regenerated first before saved)
The Word says "believe and be saved".

Could you please correct that misunderstanding for us?
 
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Rufus said:
Are you suggesting that dogma is sinful? Are there no definite, absolute tenets or body of doctrines for the Church to grasp and hold onto? What about dogmas like the Trinity, the Incarnation, virgin birth, the fall of mankind, etc.?
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Go learn the difference between dogma and dogmatism. @reneweddaybyday referred to the latter.

I'm glad it's not just me you don't understand. ;)
 
cv5 said:
No, not really.

[Mat 16:22-23 KJV] 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
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So you aren't doing to stop lying. No point in continuing then. Have a nice day.
 
NightTwister said:
We make choices all the time based on our desires. My decision was not "coerced", but it was only made after I was made spiritually alive. While I was spiritually dead, I had no desire to believe in Christ.
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Then it makes me wonder why the Father gave you to Christ if you had no desire to learn from Him on the way to coming to Christ. Jn.6:45

From the time I was four years old all I ever wanted was to be like the One before me. I simply had no idea who He was until much later in life but learning from the Father taught me and led me to Christ.
 
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