Can We Really Exercise Free Will?
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At what point is life given? The problem you have is you have people separated from God and without the Spirit accomplishing things that the Bible says they are incapable of. No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Spirit and Jesus builds His church by the revelation of the Father of who He is...Thou art the Christ.
No the problem I do not have is believing that regeneration precedes faith.
Such a foundational doctrine of regeneration prior to belief needs to be clearly stated.
It is the correct method of interpretation that the clear text is used to support less clear text.
I was just curious.
It seemed from your post you regard all things to be equally true or part of "my faith."
You don't believe the clear text. No one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Spirit. Jesus builds His church on the revelation by the Father of who Jesus is. Very clear texts. There are plenty of others that speak of the estate of the fallen natural man.No the problem I do not have is believing that regeneration precedes faith.
Such a foundational doctrine of regeneration prior to belief needs to be clearly stated.
It is the correct method of interpretation that the clear text is used to support less clear text.
Also, by your logic, we shouldn't believe in the trinity as there are no verses in the Bible that clearly state that God is both 1 and 3.
I don't know how you've come to that decision, from what post ?
Which reformed theology are you refering to ?, pretty much lots of theologies are reformed anyway aren't they, and I wouldn't use theology as a foundation for my faith anyhow
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
You have zero texts supporting your belief.
You do not even accept that people are spiritually dead.
You make proclamations that directly contradict what Scripture explicitly articulates.
Then you mock and scoff those who affirm that God actually keeps His promises.
While you go about claiming He is unfair for doing what He does.
Your claim that "natural man ... does not comprehend the gospel" is error. The gospel is understood ... the gospel is rejected ... the gospel is not believed. Read Rom 1:16-20 through without separating vss 16 & 17 from vss 18-20. The gospel is preached and the person either believes or the person suppresses the truth in unrighteousness.
You also claim that natural man "([hears] it as foolishness)". However, according to 1 Cor 1, only the Greeks who did not believe considered the gospel as foolishness. The Jews did not believe because they stumbled at the stumblingblock.
There is no indication in in 1 Cor 1 that the Greeks and the Jews did not "hear" ... no indication they did not "comprehend". They did hear ... they did understand ... they did not believe.
Then, according to 1 Cor 2:1-5, the Greeks and Jews who did not reject and who believed the gospel were taught the milk of the Word so they could mature spiritually.
Then, according to 1 Cor 2:6-16, those who were mature (beyond the pablum stage) were taught the meat of the Word. This is the context within which 1 Cor 2:14 has been placed by the Author of Scripture, and which you completely err in your understanding.
And this truth has been revealed to you many times ... perhaps it is you who "have no idea" what Scripture "refers to!".
Who is the Author of Scripture? The Author inspired holy men of God to write what He told them to write. When faithful believers speak what the Author of Scripture wrote, those faithful believers are speaking "spiritual revelation" to those to whom they are speaking. Sad when unbelievers reject ... extremely sad when so-called "elect" "believers" reject.Magenta said:
btw ... have you ever studied the parables the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to the pharisees and the pharisees did understand ?
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But more importantly, people have feelings, and your not exactly taking any of that into consideration when you go of on your hatred posts,
As much as you think it's easy to make people just go away, it's not that easy to make people go away, because people have as much right to post on here as you do.
But more importantly, people have feelings, and your not exactly taking any of that into consideration when you go of on your hatred posts,
@HeIsHere has repeatedly said there is nothing in Scripture saying unregenerated man is incapable, but there are several verses and they have been repeatedly given, but she, along with other free willers, open theists, and Pelagian heretics, reject what Scripture plainly says in this regard, rewrite certain verses so they mean what they want them to say, contradict and outright deny what is explicitly articulated, all to cling to their vain philosophically based self-exalting theology which has zero support in Scripture.
The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth. The unregenerated person is of the world.
The natural man cannot receive/accept or comprehend the spiritual things of God.
The mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
These verses plainly say CANNOT. HeIsHere is blind to such. She adamantly says instead, he can.
Flesh serves the law of sin. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other. Nothing good lives in my flesh. Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one! The flesh brings forth fruit unto death. Romans 7 v 25, Galatians 5 v 17, Romans 7 v 18, Proverbs 20 v 9, Job 14 v 4, Romans 7 v 5 (Romans 8 v 13 and James 1 v 15)
The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth. The unregenerated person is of the world.
The natural man cannot receive/accept or comprehend the spiritual things of God.
The mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
These verses plainly say CANNOT. HeIsHere is blind to such. She adamantly says instead, he can.
Flesh serves the law of sin. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other. Nothing good lives in my flesh. Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one! The flesh brings forth fruit unto death. Romans 7 v 25, Galatians 5 v 17, Romans 7 v 18, Proverbs 20 v 9, Job 14 v 4, Romans 7 v 5 (Romans 8 v 13 and James 1 v 15)
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." John 6 verse 44 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2 verse 14 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8 verse 7-8
Now... Need to get this straight.
You assume you have free will, because it was granted you by grace, and it seems only natural for you because you like what you freely have chosen for.
But, man's fallen nature, without the outside influence of God's grace power, would have left you to be a child of Satan.
In that respect, Calvinism has it correct.
For, we do have two natures.
Not until we receive our resurrection body will we not have the depraved flesh to contend with.
If we live well towards God, the fallen nature should not be a major issue in our lives.
Legalists concentrate on the depravity of man's overt sins, but are blind to the trap of human good. (human righteousness as filthy rags)
But? If you made the choice for God while under the influence of Grace?
And, found the love of Jesus in your heart?
It becomes a no-brainer as to what you will freely choose for from then on.
Believe it or not... Those who like evil and sin?
Made the choice to seek out what we call sin and prefer it.
Today we see it shouting at us with the insane Woke movement.
Because of God’s grace being given to all at some point?
We were made able to find out who we really want to be!
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, (not just some men)
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should
live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. Titus 2:11-12
That says? All men will be exposed to God's grace that brings salvation!
All have at some point been placed under God's enabling power as to realize and decide what they truly want for themselves in this lifetime.
God's power of grace alone enabled and does it. Grace frees up the will of man as to make his choice concerning living for, or against, knowledge of God. Not all want God. They enlist in the thinking of the god of this world.
If salvation-grace is rejected? That person has chosen to what amounts to becoming an antagonist towards those who accept the drawing of God.
Calvinists are not 100% incorrect!
They just ran with error for what they got right, and gotten it in a wrong way.
They are correct in mocking what they call, free-willers.
For the free willers failed to see how God's grace power made them able to have free will concerning God.
Calvinists are right about what they got right.
Man is not born with free will ... concerning God!
But, they handle it wrongly from that point on.
grace and peace .............
Jordon? Would you prefer I put you on Ignore?
You have a prissy side that you need for God's grace to have you to overcome if you are to reveal Christ though you.
Some flesh just so happens to be that way.
I do not take you personally.
grace and peace .......
Hatred? Nah. Extreme bitterness? Yep. Look below.
Still, nothing that says, " Mankind cannot believe the Gospel that the Lord gave to mankind."@HeIsHere has repeatedly said there is nothing in Scripture saying unregenerated man is incapable, but there are several verses and they have been repeatedly given, but she, along with other free willers, open theists, and Pelagian heretics, reject what Scripture plainly says in this regard, rewrite certain verses so they mean what they want them to say, contradict and outright deny what is explicitly articulated, all to cling to their vain philosophically based self-exalting theology which has zero support in Scripture.
The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth. The unregenerated person is of the world.
The natural man cannot receive/accept or comprehend the spiritual things of God.
The mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
These verses plainly say CANNOT. HeIsHere is blind to such. She adamantly says instead, he can.
Flesh serves the law of sin. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other. Nothing good lives in my flesh. Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one! The flesh brings forth fruit unto death. Romans 7 v 25, Galatians 5 v 17, Romans 7 v 18, Proverbs 20 v 9, Job 14 v 4, Romans 7 v 5 (Romans 8 v 13 and James 1 v 15)
How silly? Send the Good news to folks who can never understand and believe the Good news.
who has extreme bitterness ?
Are you saying the the quote from magenta has extreme bitterness.
I believe people are exaggerating to much meaning into an understanding, especially the word regeneration.
Maybe regeneration should be looked at as God for-knowing you.
There see it's not that complicated now is it.
Oh fyi and he for-knew you before you where born, why well he not just knows the beginning and the end, he is the beginning and the end.