Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Magenta]

So odd that people seem to think that crying out to God for help means they believe the gospel.

Ditto for God revealing Himself through creation. The gospel is not proclaimed there.

Some say belief is based on evidence and then they absolutely slam the means God uses to give evidence
of Himself, and claim it is not even necessary. Hey, HeIsHere, do you ever stop contradicting yourself?
PS ~ God does promise to reveal Himself to those who seek. You really ought to stop contradicting God.

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

Not sure where you get your ideas of what I want in God. Perhaps you pull them out of your rear end.

Wow. just wow. I can see now why this discussion caused a major issue a few years ago where many were banned.

The lies you have
told in this post have nothing to do with anything I have said. Mark your words?

Its your belief system,,

Either you can own your belief system, or disown it. But don;t attack me for calling it out.

fatalism, a belief you are defending by acting like you are. is what I am discussing

Now what are you going on about?
Never mind. Your inability to deal with what is actually being said does not bode well for future interactions.
You have been like that ever since I first met you.

whatever.

You can not even own your own belief system.

Your belief system states if God does not chose you. You will never come to faith

if God did not elect you to heaven, he elected you to hell. and you will NEVER come to him

this in essence states that God holds back the truth from these people. as he does not make them born again so they can chose to believe (or continue in unbelief)

this is your belief system, you do not like what I think of this system, that is fine with me,

But you want to say I found it out of my back end.

You just expose your true self!!!

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

So odd that people seem to think that crying out to God for help means they believe the gospel.

So odd to think one would cry out to God when they do not believe the gospel.

I guess they cry out for no reason at all

 

[Jackson129]

I understand what you are saying, because I have atheists relatives,
but being friendly is a fine line, because "atheist" refers to those who hate God (cf. John 8:42-44, 1Cor. 5:9-10, 2Cor. 6:14).

Nah if your friends arnt tempting you to sin i hang out with them still. If they ask about God I tell them the best to my ability. Who knows maybe the words will sink in one day.

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

Ah, so you do believe that the unregenerated person is governed by the Spirit of God. How odd. But what I suspected,

so God is powerless.

He is not author and governor of all

Good to know how low you think of God

 

[Everlasting-Grace]

Yes agree, for certain, that "turning away from and towards" is part of when we believe and receive God's gift.

actually to repent in this context would be to change ones view. or belief

Its no so much turning away. its falling on our faces or our knees and crying out.

 

[HeIsHere]

this is the main fact that makes me despise reformed theology.

I believe they are my brothers and sisters.

But I hate the way they characterize God

And this "characterization" has bad consequences for believers and non-believers, I think it is slowly dying though.
I doubt God is pleased.

 

[studier]

My experience is the harder you try the more you will fail.

Understood. Still Scripture should be the focus. It seems to make some flee. If and when it is actually discussed, the misinterpretations can be analyzed. The real failure from all of us is in all of this bantering.

 

[studier]

The apostle is knocking the legs out from under those Jews who think they have the RIGHT to be God’s child because of who their granddaddy is (blood), their law keeping efforts (fleshly running), or by patriarchal headship (husband’s will).

In nearly the same breath he's "knocking the legs out from under" Greek Philosophy with their version of the Logos. This is wonderful writing.

 

[lrs68]

From Romans 1 [God manifesting Himself through His Creation\People (are created)]...

From Corinthians and Romans [God manifesting Himself to a person's consciousness (in their thoughts)]...

From Romans and Ephesians [God manifesting Himself by hearing the Gospel preached]...

There's no doubt that God has made the first move in every humans life to make Himself known so they would believe.

Also from those Scriptures humanity has the ability to reject or accept God.

That is proof of Free Will!

 

[HeIsHere]

actually to repent in this context would be to change ones view. or belief

Its no so much turning away. its falling on our faces or our knees and crying out.

"Metanoia" in Greek means : meta=after; noeo=to think.

There may be an emotional part, the "mind/heart" in Greek culture was the very center of man's being.

 

[Jackson129]

Can you force yourself to believe something?

There is a point where people choose to accept the gift, but that comes after one has believed.
Belief is based on evidence.

Believing is not based on evidence. There's people who believe men can get pregnant when all the evidence in the world says otherwise. "Blessed is he who believes and has not seen"

 

[HeIsHere]

Believing is not based on evidence. There's people who believe men can get pregnant when all the evidence in the world says otherwise. "Blessed is he who believes and has not seen"

Evidence is not only about seeing, but certainly seeing for oneself would be high on the list of evidence.

Has nothing to do men and pregnancy.

 

[HeIsHere]

In nearly the same breath he's "knocking the legs out from under" Greek Philosophy with their version of the Logos. This is wonderful writing.

He is awesome for sure.
A former Calvinist often has the best insight into all the problems in the "system."

 

[Jackson129]

Evidence is not only about seeing, but certainly seeing for oneself would be high on the list of evidence.

Has nothing to do men and pregnancy.

You said believing comes from evidence. I gave you an example where that is not the case. Im sure there's are millions more. Its a bad line of reasoning IMO

 

[HeIsHere]

Understood. Still Scripture should be the focus. It seems to make some flee. If and when it is actually discussed, the misinterpretations can be analyzed. The real failure from all of us is in all of this bantering.

Yes, tis true.

There is something about the "obedience" that it has to be almost effortless, it is hard to explain.

But I also see obedience at its heart as, agreeing with God/Truth and taking a stand where He takes a stand, as opposed to rules and lists of "to do's"

 

[Jackson129]

Yes, tis true.

There is something about the "obedience" that is has to be almost effortless, it is hard to explain.

But I also see obedience at its heart as, agreeing with God/Truth and taking a stand where He takes a stand, as opposed to rules and lists of "to do's"

Yes because rules and to do list breed work based systems.

 

[HeIsHere]

You said believing comes from evidence. I gave you an example where that is not the case. Im sure there's are millions more. Its a bad line of reasoning IMO

Evidence is real, the fact that people choose to disregard facts/evidence is a choice they make based on emotion, bias, suppositions etc.,

 

[Jackson129]

Evidence is real, the fact that people choose to disregard facts/evidence is a choice they make based on emotion, bias, suppositions etc.,

I've talked to some wild ones lol they absolutely believe what they are saying

 

[HeIsHere]

I've talked to some wild ones lol they absolutely believe what they are saying

Yes they do, reminds us how impressionable/indoctrinated a mind can become.