Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
So are you saying that the scripture that says faith is a gift from God is lying?

One would think you would refer to the Greek but no you twist my words.

I wonder how you even know you are chosen without exercising faith since that is the condition for salvation.

:unsure:
 
He is here rejects this though. She despises and casts aspersions on spiritual revelation.

Romans8-15-16s.png

Romans 8 v 15-16 You did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
:)
 
No one has said that the mind doesn't function; for that matter, the heart too. They
have simply become corrupted. They do not operate as God created them to.
They like to claim things that directly contradict what the Bible teaches.

They say things like everyone hears even though Jesus said the opposite.

She says the gospel is not hid even though Scripture says it is.

The whole world is blinded but they can see according to what she teaches.

The gospel is heard as foolishness to the lost but they decide to believe it.
 
It is a vain man-exalting philosophically based precept elevated to Bible doctrine when it is not in the Bible at all.

Jo3-6-Ro8-7-Ga5-17-2-Ti3-13-Ro3-18.png

John 3 verse 6, Romans 8 verse 7, Galatians 5 verse 17, 2 Timothy 3 verse 13, Romans 3 verse 18 ~ Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. The flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other. Evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. There is no fear of God before their eyes .

HIH very obviously doesn't understand that the concept of "freewill" is quite worldly, for the vast majority of human beings believe they are autonomous beings, most especially in terms of moral independence! Of course, in so doing they set themselves up squarely against their Creator who is the only one who is legitimately autonomous! And these thoughts bring me back full circle to what I said the other day regarding the essence of sin which was: Sin at its very epicenter is the desire to be God -- or maybe it would even be more precise to say that Sin is the desire to supplant God with Self.
 
HIH very obviously doesn't understand that the concept of "freewill" is quite worldly, for the vast majority of human beings believe they are autonomous beings, most especially in terms of moral independence! Of course, in so doing they set themselves up squarely against their Creator who is the only one who is legitimately autonomous! And these thoughts bring me back full circle to what I said the other day regarding the essence of sin which was: Sin at its very epicenter is the desire to be God -- or maybe it would even be more precise to say that Sin is the desire to supplant God with Self.

lol

Robots.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hakawaka
HIH very obviously doesn't understand that the concept of "freewill" is quite worldly, for the vast majority of human beings believe they are autonomous beings, most especially in terms of moral independence! Of course, in so doing they set themselves up squarely against their Creator who is the only one who is legitimately autonomous! And these thoughts bring me back full circle to what I said the other day regarding the essence of sin which was: Sin at its very epicenter is the desire to be God -- or maybe it would even be more precise to say that Sin is the desire to supplant God with Self.
It is truly quite unfortunate that because people can choose what colour of socks to wear
or what to have for lunch that it somehow overthrows everything said of man in the Bible.


Then the CDS crowd comes along and pretends man's inability is exclusive to one school of thought.

It is not. It's just an excuse they use.
 
Well then you should you be at the cemetery preaching to the dead.
It is Jesus Who raises people to new life. Have you learned nothing?

John5-24-25s.png

John 5 v 24-25 ~ Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life. Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. :)
 
They talk in circles, of their own circle... excluding others... as if they have a mystery doctrine of their own.

That is what the Gnostics were famous for.
It's the rancor, ceaseless condemnation, vitriol, ghoulish despair that is the tell.

Glad that I am not among the afflicted :whistle:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hakawaka
Yeah this makes sense perfect sense. my only question is how does one become perfect like Job?

We aren’t saints brother that’s what I’m saying this group of people

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭14:1, 4-5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Men like this

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”
‭‭Job‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Or this

“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:9‬

“And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for in thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭7:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That’s a different group we aren’t saints but rather in Christ we have been made to partake with the saints through remission of our sins . The 144000 of Israel ( not a literal number ) are the saints of the ot those who yielded to god and not sin like job or Noah or even abel is witnessed that he was righteous in his actions before God ect

We brother begin in this group because over time humanity degrades and evil becomes more and more prevalent . we’re not saints and once a person sins they can’t be a saint anymore they need thier sins remitted and redemption through atonement of another man’s perfect blood we’re this group

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1:15-16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

they weren’t sinners they were saints the saints are in heavens kingdom with Jesus until he returns with them. We Christian’s aren’t saints we’ve been made meet to be partakers together with the saints even though we once were sinners …

“giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:12-14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

a perfect man doesn’t need remission of his sins we aren’t perfect brother in ancient times there were perfect men who served God and pleased him we did everything wrong but then he determined to offer us sinners all salvation of we repent and believe the gospel we’re not that group of perfect people with Jesus in revelation 14 we’re of the group shouting “ salvation to the lamb for he has delivered us with his bloodshed and made us clean to inherit the kingdom of the saints
 
I have asked for a definition of "free willer" or "FW/FWer" and ... crickets ...

whenever the term "free will", "free willer", "FW/FWer" is loosely defined, whatever definition is provided is not something I believe ... so shrug, not talkin' about me.

example ... sorry to pick on you BillyBob, but your post with the term was just above the post Genez submitted



nobody believes that "their FW actions ... alter the course of God's plan".
.
You certainly do! The FW crowd believes that they have the ability to turn to God and that it is only when they turn to Him in faith, confess their sins and put their trust in God – that He has mercy on them and saves them. This is saying that only when I do these things will I become a child of God, thus making God's actions dependent on yours! How ridiculous!

I honestly believe [my opinion from listening to comments] that this line of thinking has root in the fact that you do not believe the HS is at work in you until after you are saved.
On the flip side, the reformed view is just the opposite! They believe that the HS is at work in His elect, performing an act which must take place prior to faith, repentance, and trust. When this work is finished then you are enabled to believe, and will certainly turn to God in faith. Call it forced if you wish – I call it a gift beyond measure.

Your view requires an act by man, the reformed view requires an act of God.

Please see my signature line below which says this is my opinion. @Cameron143, @Magenta, @Rufus and others may not see it my way, so please don't take my views out on them!
 
Thank you Blain, and good morning! How are you doing today?

Yes.
They are stunning....
But counter productive in regard to the flow of the narrative in threads.
For your pictures can not be used to extract chapter and verses to comment on.

And, by the way...
I am not anti art.
I was at one time a graphic arts major, and my brother is a well established illustrator.
 
It's the rancor, ceaseless condemnation, vitriol, ghoulish despair that is the tell.

Glad that I am not among the afflicted :whistle:

Such a good point.
It is becoming quite obvious it is impossible dislodge any them, sadly, people are being pulled in, but I guess that is their choice.

Their posts are far from uplifting, just a lot of anxiety, anger and all that you list, yes so glad to not be in that suffocating net.
 
You certainly do! The FW crowd believes that they have the ability to turn to God and that it is only when they turn to Him in faith, confess their sins and put their trust in God – that He has mercy on them and saves them. This is saying that only when I do these things will I become a child of God, thus making God's actions dependent on yours! How ridiculous!

I honestly believe [my opinion from listening to comments] that this line of thinking has root in the fact that you do not believe the HS is at work in you until after you are saved.
On the flip side, the reformed view is just the opposite! They believe that the HS is at work in His elect, performing an act which must take place prior to faith, repentance, and trust. When this work is finished then you are enabled to believe, and will certainly turn to God in faith. Call it forced if you wish – I call it a gift beyond measure.

Your view requires an act by man, the reformed view requires an act of God.

Please see my signature line below which says this is my opinion. @Cameron143, @Magenta, @Rufus and others may not see it my way, so please don't take my views out on them!
“You certainly do! The FW crowd believes that they have the ability to turn to God and that it is only when they turn to Him in faith, confess their sins and put their trust in God – that He has mercy on them and saves them.”

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:6-8‬ ‭KJV‬‬
 
The Darkness "cannot believe the good news" because it hates the Light. Who puts their trust in something or someone they hate?

Do a Google search on Calvinist proof texts correctly exegeted and you will find you answer. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: cv5