Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Rufus]

Only the super-determinists propound that God expected Israel to keep the law "perfectly".
God expected Israel to keep the law IN GOOD FAITH.

Faithfully. Not perfectly. Big difference.

But the super-determinists always make God appear to be the unjust demanding tyrant asking that which is impossible.
It gives them some kind of unsavory psychological thrill to say so continually.

Just listen to @Rufus . He sounds like a prosecuting attorney condemning the entire human race 24/7.

Oh...so God doesn't mind some sin here and there? God is flexible on sin? Give me chapter and verse for your "in good faith" theory. Prove it from the Word.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Because no one understands spiritual truth nor can anyone know God apart from His saving grace. Dead men are separated from the Life of God! Plus only those KNOWN by God can know Him!

that does not negate the fact that God tells us mankind can know good and evil. You focus on the knowledge of evil but never consider the knowledge of good ... which God Himself tells us exists within mankind (Gen 3:22).

why do you think God allowed that attribute to remain within mankind? ... maybe ... just maybe there's more to what remained within mankind after the fall than what you allow ... we know the fall was no surprise to God ... what "good" did God place within mankind when He created, formed, made mankind that would remain after the fall so mankind had the capacity to respond affirmatively when God reaches out* ??? ... and that statement in no way suggests that mankind can save himself ... I fully acknowledge that salvation is wholly of God by grace through faith

*disclosure ... to include whatever additional objections/requirements you may have concerning this issue
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[GWH]

The gospel and the Spirit’s convicting work provide what’s necessary for a person to choose Christ, but they must choose to believe in Jesus Christ in order to receive life.

Greetings, studier. I see y'all are still enjoying the ping-pong game. I haven't checked the thread for awhile.
Have I missed anything new? Anything about a supernatural man or that the purpose of earthy existence is to teach
mindful humans to love God's kingdom?

 

[reneweddaybyday]

And the gift of the Holy Spirit is what: Chopped liver?

... that is not what I consider the gift of the Holy Spirit ... but you are free to make that claim ... I am disappointed you would refer to the gift of the Holy Spirit as such.
.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

But that doesn't change the fact that throughout the entire OT, Israel was commanded to KEEP ALL GOD'S COMMANDMENTS! So...why would God tell them to do something that was impossible?

read the verse yourself:

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Was He jerking their chain? Conning the Jews into thinking they could do something that far above their pay grade?

again, you are free to believe that ... regrettable but I do consider the source.

And look how Israel & Judah were punished severely for not keeping God's holy law!

they were "punished severely" for turning away from God ... even after He begged them to return to Him.

Zechariah 7:8-13 And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts
.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

Gideon didn't trust God until he went down and heard the soldiers talking. Read the story for yourself.

I've read the story ...

Gideon went down because He trusted God ... otherwise he wouldn't have gone, and he took his servant with him as God suggested ... is it your claim that Gideon did not trust God ... but Gideon went down anyway ?
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[reneweddaybyday]

Perhaps don't combine posts.

the posts were submitted one right after the other ... apparently that is an issue for you ... sigh ... another in a long list of what one "can't do" ...
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[HeIsHere]

So we have the ability, to respond. (Response-ability).

Absolutely each person is born able to respond either positively or negatively to the good news of Christ Jesus.
And statements about the nature of human adults in scripture does not negate this ability.

People just conflate the two in order to support the erroneous doctrine of divine, unique, individual pre-selection by god (not the real God) for salvation.

Of course it should be noted that this god only chooses some with no given clear criteria and people need to activated prior to belief.

"Activated" probably means regeneration, but "activated" is probably a better term since scripture never places regeneration prior to exercising faith.

 

[reneweddaybyday]

I didn't say draw; I said enable.

here is what you said (bold mine):

God must first act to enable faith to be produced.

​

which led to my question ...

is not the fact that we have Scriptures to read ... we have faithful believers who speak the truth of God's Word ... isn't that God drawing ... acting first ???

am I going to receive another scolding because I responded to two posts in violation of your protocol?

.

 

[Genez]

You mean like a doctor or a paramedic would pick up the paddles and force a cardiac arrest victim to receive electric shock treatment to his heart to save his life?

Does the soul leave the body when an unbeliever dies?
Does the soul leave the body when a believer dies?
YES! Both have souls.

The soul is trapped in the unregenerate person.
The body is a prison and won't allow spiritual thoughts in.

Not paddles to force life to return.
But, rather.......
Removing the prison walls, and letting the soul experience the freedom to choose for, or against, God.

The soul is God's target in salvation.
Freeing up the soul to make its choice is the job of God's power of Grace.
That is why we are told we have been saved by grace.
For without grace?
Our souls could not be made free to choose for God.

After salvation the saved must learn to master over their flesh, for it will remain with our soul until we die.

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. ​

They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want." Galatians 5:17​

grace and peace ..............

 

[HeIsHere]

Oh yeah I remember the whole rape thing that is indeed blaspheme and as for God being some kind of unjust tyranical monster well sometimes people have their views and nothing you say will change it no amount of scripture not even a prophetic word some would rather bite head and neck than admit they were wrong

It is not the God of the Bible, that was the point that @cv5 was making, it is god of the Canons of Dort.

So no one was blaspheming God.

 

[Blain]

Hearing the word. The Holy Spirit convicting. Then believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reformed/calvie/tulip theory has the crack head who has never even heard the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ instantly saved on his next hit.

The holy spirit can only convict you if you have the holy spirit to begin with you only get the spirit once you are saved not beforehand so even if one hears the wordd it isn't the holy spirit that convicts you because you have yet to receive it it is God the father himself

 

[studier]

Greetings, studier. I see y'all are still enjoying the ping-pong game. I haven't checked the thread for awhile.
Have I missed anything new? Anything about a supernatural man or that the purpose of earthy existence is to teach
mindful humans to love God's kingdom?

Determinism resoundingly defeated. Moved from ping-pong to wack-a-monergist.

 

[Blain]

It is not the God of the Bible, that was the point that @cv5 was making, it is god of the Canons of Dort.

So no one was blaspheming God.

Hmm... maybe I missed something because I was unaware they were speaking about a different God but even so no other God's had anything to do with Mary so what point were they making exactly?

 

[Magenta]

scripture never places regeneration prior to exercising faith

Scripture never mentions free will in relation to salvation. Oh! Quite the contrary. Man is a slave to sin,
a lover of darkness, under the power and influence of Satan, opposed to the things of God, REFUSING
to come into the light, INCAPABLE of obedience or submitting despite all your lies to the contrary.

 

[HeIsHere]

And God is the giver of the gift of faith!

Regeneration prior to belief/faith is not found in scripture.

It is "through" faith, salvation is the gift.
Faith is condition that God sets.
Why does god give a gift (regeneration) to someone who does not even have belief in Christ Jesus.
So ridiculous.

The system is flawed, you would be wise to depart from it as you insist you are not an adherent of it.

 

[Magenta]

Hmm... maybe I missed something because I was unaware they were speaking about a different God
but even so no other God's had anything to do with Mary so what point were they making exactly?

No canon had anything to do with cv5 refusing to admit he was wrong and preferred blaspheming God rather than doing so.

Mary's permission was not asked. She was informed. cv5 claimed if that was so then God raped Mary.

Blasphemy, plain and simple.

 

[HeIsHere]

Hmm... maybe I missed something because I was unaware they were speaking about a different God but even so no other God's had anything to do with Mary so what point were they making exactly?

The point he was making was about the Calvinist god. Anyway I see not point going over it, it is quite clear to me he was not blaspheming the truth God of Scripture.


Read the Canons of Dort and see if that really aligns with the God of scripture.
Clue: It does not.

 

[Blain]

No canon had anything to do with cv5 refusing to admit he was wrong and preferred blaspheming God rather than doing so.

Well I only vaguely even remember the post so on one hand I hear they were talking about a different God and on the other it was just an attempt to avoid being wrong. pretty opposite point of views

 

[Blain]

The point he was making was about the Calvinist god. Anyway I see not point going over it, it is quite clear to me he was not blaspheming the truth God of Scripture.


Read the Canons of Dort and see if that really aligns with the God of scripture.
Clue: It does not.

You speak of the Calvinist god but don't the calvanists also believe in or at least they think they believe in the same God as us?