Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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BillyBob

BillyBob

Well-known member
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Dec 20, 2023
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#1,281
LifelongLearner said:
I have no doubt we have and can make choices throughout life, however, think our options are far more restricted than most realise. What do you think?
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Thanks for posting this question and here is my response or what I believe to be true:
We are called out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
However, being called is not enough to be a saint. We must respond to that calling (invitation). Positive action is required! To be chosen, a person must accept his or her calling, be grateful for it and move forward in serving God and His Son.
By grace God's people receive a new heart enabling them to do just that, respond to this call. This is the work which is done through hearing of God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit poured out on those who belong to Him. God does it all!

Would we respond without being enabled by the Holy Spirit? Absolutely Not!
 
Magenta

Magenta

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Jul 3, 2015
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John 3 verses 19-20 and from Psalm 10 verse 4 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. The wicked reviles the Lord
 
LifelongLearner

LifelongLearner

Active member
#1,283
Sep 29, 2024
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#1,283
BillyBob said:
Thanks for posting this question and here is my response or what I believe to be true:
We are called out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
However, being called is not enough to be a saint. We must respond to that calling (invitation). Positive action is required! To be chosen, a person must accept his or her calling, be grateful for it and move forward in serving God and His Son.
By grace God's people receive a new heart enabling them to do just that, respond to this call. This is the work which is done through hearing of God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit poured out on those who belong to Him. God does it all!

Would we respond without being enabled by the Holy Spirit? Absolutely Not!
Click to expand...
Cheers for your lovely comment BillyBob and that scripture from 1Peter is so true. The last year has been incredible for me, i've had an understanding of the evil going down for a few decades now. I knew there was nothing we could do about it and felt such grief because of the future, or lack of future rather, my children would face.

It almost makes me happy to know these things must be and God will sort it all out at the perfect moment. Hope that makes some sense.
 
LifelongLearner

LifelongLearner

Active member
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Sep 29, 2024
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Magenta said:

John 3 verses 19-20 and from Psalm 10 verse 4 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. The wicked reviles the Lord
Click to expand...
i do like John's Gospel very much sweet sister, it has fantastic insights probably due to him being so much older than the other Gospel writers when he wrote his.

Don't think i'd actually object to looking really young again but there's no way i'd wish any of my years away. The insights and confidence which come with age more than compensate for having less physical vitality.

Weirdly, pretty sure it was this comment of yours i tried to post a reaction to, however, a message appeared saying i didn't have permission to react. Pretty weird, had several issues on the site today.
 
Genez

Genez

Junior Member
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Oct 12, 2017
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Magenta said:
Scripture says the natural man, indeed the whole world (which does not include believers who have been called out of the world) is under the power and influence of the devil, and some are explicitly said to have been taken captive to the will of the devil. How anyone interprets that as freedom I simply cannot fathom. Praise the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever... and for freedom He has set us free.
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God defeated that!

What was, was.

Grace makes all things new!
 
BillyBob

BillyBob

Well-known member
#1,289
Dec 20, 2023
691
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Texas
#1,289
LifelongLearner said:
Cheers for your lovely comment BillyBob and that scripture from 1Peter is so true. The last year has been incredible for me, i've had an understanding of the evil going down for a few decades now. I knew there was nothing we could do about it and felt such grief because of the future, or lack of future rather, my children would face.

It almost makes me happy to know these things must be and God will sort it all out at the perfect moment. Hope that makes some sense.
Click to expand...
I have read your about information and understand that you are new to Christianity. The one thing good about it, is that it is never too late, and you have made remarkable progress in the short time that you have become one. I was also in my 50's before accepting God!
So, continue on and be strong in your faith.........God Bless!
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#1,290
Jul 3, 2015
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#1,290
BillyBob said:
I have read your about information and understand that you are new to Christianity. The one thing good about it, is that it is never too late, and you have made remarkable progress in the short time that you have become one. I was also in my 50's before accepting God!
So, continue on and be strong in your faith.........God Bless!
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Oh! I was in my 50th year at the time of my conversion.

Some may not realize that that means I would be 50 on my next birthday haha.

I was baptized close to four months before I turned 50.
 
LifelongLearner

LifelongLearner

Active member
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Sep 29, 2024
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Genez said:
Why did you say that?

The fact remains.
God somehow grants us the capacity for free will.
It is done by His grace enabling us.
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In all fairness, i would say you're more easily led than malicious like some of the people you troll with Genez. However, insightful comments aren't your forte, unlike Homewardplease in the comment beneath this one of yours. He/she is spot on!
 
LifelongLearner

LifelongLearner

Active member
#1,293
Sep 29, 2024
596
177
43
#1,293
BillyBob said:
I have read your about information and understand that you are new to Christianity. The one thing good about it, is that it is never too late, and you have made remarkable progress in the short time that you have become one. I was also in my 50's before accepting God!
So, continue on and be strong in your faith.........God Bless!
Click to expand...
Another beautiful, spirit filled comment BillyBob, bless you for it, means a lot to me. I was actually in my mid-'60's when the truth gently whacked me in the mush, still clinging on to my mid-'60's but as Magenta shows, nearing 70 is no barrier to joy in the truth you've been told.

Maybe we appreciate what a wonderful gift has been given us more, if we receive it later in life?
 
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