Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Cameron143 said:
Once. As I said earlier, the verse isn't talking about them getting saved in the time of his writing, but about what had already occurred. If it is speaking about salvation at that point, it would also be speaking of suffering in that moment but not previously. Do you believe the Christians being addressed had not suffered already? Two verses earlier he tells them not to fear their enemies. Do you not believe they were already being persecuted? Further, Paul is exhorting them to live godly lives. From 2 Timothy 3:12 we know those who live godly will suffer persecution.
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2 Timothy 3 verse 12 ~ Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
 
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Cameron143 said:
Regeneration is the impartation of life just as conception is the physical impartation of life. Once there is life, all manner of growth takes place. It may not be obvious at first but it will eventually.
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Is that a yes? You believe regeneration is salvation from death.
 
Cameron143 said:
Sealing and indwelling are 2 separate activities of the Spirit.
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Does not change that we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when we believe.

Ephesians2-4-7s.png

Ephesians 2:4-7 ~ Because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. :)
 
sawdust said:
How do you work that out? If you are alive, are you not saved from death?
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Eternal life is not the same as spiritual life.

It's actually similar to what you believe except I don't believe God merely hinders the sin nature so an individual can choose, but altogether gives a new nature.
 
Cameron143 said:
Eternal life is not the same as spiritual life.

It's actually similar to what you believe except I don't believe God merely hinders
the sin nature so an individual can choose, but altogether gives a new nature.
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John17-2-3e2s.png

John 17 verses 2-3 ~ You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent.:)
 
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Cameron143 said:
Eternal life is not the same as spiritual life.

It's actually similar to what you believe except I don't believe God merely hinders the sin nature so an individual can choose, but altogether gives a new nature.
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You are confusing the process for the final result.
Becoming saved is a process.

God must first hinder the sin nature and wait for our soul to respond.
That is the saving grace's process.

Then, he gives the new nature if one is positive to what God had to offer.
 
Magenta said:
You need to make up your mind whether you're going to believe what the Bible says about the unregenerated man or if you're going to believe some man-made tradition that exalts the self over glorifying God. According to Scripture man is a slave either to sin or to righteousness ... there is no third option. Flesh serves the law of sin and brings forth fruit unto death. Free will proponents contradict that.
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Well I am trying to look at things from both sides first then make my decision because I may be wrong in my understanding and I have to look at it from both sides or else I will be blind to the truth even if it is presented to me

This is just how I learn I like to look at all aspects before I choose to believe something. you make some very solid points though
 
Blain said:
Well I am trying to look at things from both sides first then make my decision because I may be wrong in my understanding and I have to look at it from both sides or else I will be blind to the truth even if it is presented to me

This is just how I learn I like to look at all aspects before I choose to believe something. you make some very solid points though
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You are going to weigh what against what Scripture actually explicitly says?
 
Magenta said:
Does not change that we are sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when we believe.

Ephesians2-4-7s.png

Ephesians 2:4-7 ~ Because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. :)
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I would argue that those who Paul was speaking to in the first century did, but I didn't experience sealing until I was saved for 5 years. Acts 19 records a similar group who had believed but hadn't experienced the sealing of the Holy Spirit. I would also argue that there are many, many Christians today who have not experienced the sealing of the Holy Spirit or even know it's available or what it is.
 
Cameron143 said:
I would argue that those who Paul was speaking to in the first century did, but I didn't experience sealing until I was saved for 5 years. Acts 19 records a similar group who had believed but hadn't experienced the sealing of the Holy Spirit. I would also argue that there are many, many Christians today who have not experienced the sealing of the Holy Spirit or even know it's available or what it is.
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Scripture says we are sealed when we believe. I was sealed many years after God began revealing Himself to me through the gospel.
 
Genez said:
You are confusing the process for the final result.
Becoming saved is a process.

God must first hinder the sin nature and wait for our soul to respond.
That is the saving grace's process.

Then, he gives the new nature if one is positive to what God had to offer.
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I never said it wasn't a process. I simply disagree with the process as you have described it.
 
Magenta said:
You are going to weigh what against what Scripture actually explicitly says?
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Well there are things in scripture that I am curious about, such as the case with cain this would be a good example of free will in action

enesis 4:6-7, where the Lord speaks to Cain after his offering was not accepted. The passage states, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it

Note how he said he must rule over it, how do you explain this away from Cain having free will to do what is right or wrong? True it is not free will with salvation itself but the mere fact that there seems to be free will in this case says something to me.

Not to mention lot and his wife God commanded that they not look back at the city of sin but his wife did and became a pillar of salt, how in this case was she a slave to sin? she was given a chpoice and paid for that choice
 
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