Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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The verse isn't dealing with whether or not we live in a fallen world.

Not only that but John did not qualify the phrase "is under the control of the evil one" as RDBD implied with is comment "not directly" under the devil's control.
 
Sir Judgment has more than one meaning for person under judgement other than condemning.

The fact that your using this excuse t is also pretty much not accepting.

The fact your still choosing to hold to your incident baby excuse is also not accepting.

The fact you haven't acknowledged the beautiful things I said about an innocent baby and then still favoring to call me out is also not accepting

Also sir the fact that you want to not accept that your not born under any judgment makes you and others the worst type determinist there is, made worse because your faith is using the I'm innocent baby approach and how dare you attack innocence.

No sir that's not your innocence that's your inability to accept.

That's also how determinists operate , they determine that human innocence is above God's Judgment.
lol some of you are just impossible to Get to acknowledge anything or respond to what is said to you .
 
yes ... and 1 John 2:16 - all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world

the world systems are set up to draw believers away from God ...

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

and keep folks from the truth ...

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
.

I wonder why John didn't write, "but is in the world"? Here's a novel, long shot idea: Could it be that those "of the world" are not those who are OF God!?
 
There is always hope for the lost while they're still breathing in this age... If there wasn't, why are there so many missionaries of the Reformed Tradition preaching the gospel in his dark, forlorn world?

Even when just out looking for the already elected, the name of Christ is being proclaimed to the volitional belief of the unsaved. He'll use it.

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Phil. 1:18 NKJ)
 
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Sir Judgment has more than one meaning for person under judgement other than condemning.

The fact that your using this excuse t is also pretty much not accepting.

The fact your still choosing to hold to your incident baby excuse is also not accepting.

The fact you haven't acknowledged the beautiful things I said about an innocent baby and then still favoring to call me out is also not accepting

Also sir the fact that you want to not accept that your not born under any judgment makes you and others the worst type determinist there is, made worse because your faith is using the I'm innocent baby approach and how dare you attack innocence.

No sir that's not your innocence that's your inability to accept.

That's also how determinists operate , they determine that human innocence is above God's Judgment.
“Also sir the fact that you want to not accept that your not born under any judgment makes you and others the worst type determinist there is, made worse because your faith is using the I'm innocent baby approach and how dare you attack innocence.”

yeah I acknowledge that I’ve freely sinned and come under condemnation according to Gods word and I’ve shown several verses to you that shows children aren’t born condemned .

We really need to have two forums here one for people wanting to discuss what the Bible teaches . Then another for people who want to explain why they don’t agree with what the Bible teaches and want to insist upon thier alternative versions of God and his salvation.

it would save both sides a lot of time and effort
 
I wonder if you would class this as being born under judgement

Eph 2:3
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
NIV

It appears we all came into this world as "objects of God's wrath".
 
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Only God is good. Jesus said so. FWers love to contradict and deny what Jesus said.

Jeremiah also said, Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you
able to do good— you who are accustomed to doing evil. FWers don't like to accept what the Bible
says, though, not even when it was Jesus Who said it. They have a problem contextualizing issues
around the natural man, and are quite slip-shod in their inability to acknowledge man's innate
inability, which goes quite some way to explaining how they so thoroughly botch any distinction
between the natural man and the spiritual man. Their lack of discernment helps prop up their idol.


Romans7-14-John8-34-Jeremiah13-23-Romans3-10.png

Romans 7 v 14, John 8 v 34, Jeremiah 13 v 23, Romans 3 v 10 ~ We know that the law is spiritual; but
I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good - you who are accustomed to doing evil. There is no one righteous, not even one.
I was going to try to explain devine perfection from God I thought the only way I can can truly explain it when it comes to the heart of stone, is also to talk about how all his precious stone representin his devine perfection.

Such as all the precious stones that will surround the new Jerusalem

Such as how those precious stones protected people before there fall and my feelings believing also after the fall.

How they surrounded a person in the garden but then we see heart of stone. Those precious stones seeing a lack of purity in the garden decided to transform into a special stone in order to assist God's plans in perfecting our nature. Because those stones where able to, seeing as they hold the hallmark of God's devine perfection and purity in them.

So I don't see the heart of stone as condemnation I see it as a judgment call and a devine plan of perfection from the lord.
 
Yep to people In Christ

Yes, and they (as all Christians) were placed "in Christ" only by God's choosing of them - they were not so because of themselves

[Eph 1:4 KJV] 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

[1Co 1:30 KJV] 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
 
Even when just out looking for the already elected, the name of Christ is being proclaimed to the volitional belief of the unsaved. He'll use it.

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Phil. 1:18 NKJ)

How and why would any more mortal be "looking for the already elected" since none of us are omniscient? Or did your "volitional belief' (not to be confused with heart-held, heart-felt faith) impart that attribute to you personally?
 
I was going to try to explain devine perfection from God I thought the only way I can can truly explain it when it comes to the heart of stone, is also to talk about how all his precious stone representin his devine perfection.

Such as all the precious stones that will surround the new Jerusalem

Such as how those precious stones protected people before there fall and my feelings believing also after the fall.

How they surrounded a person in the garden but then we see heart of stone. Those precious stones seeing a lack of purity in the garden decided to transform into a special stone in order to assist God's plans in perfecting our nature. Because those stones where able to, seeing as they hold the hallmark of God's devine perfection and purity in them.

So I don't see the heart of stone as condemnation I see it as a judgment call and a devine plan of perfection from the lord.
I think it would be a mistake to try to make out man's heart of stone as being a good thing...

The unregenerated man has a mind hostile to God and an incurably wicked heart which needs replacing.

Incurably wicked does not mean God cannot change it. He is the only One Who can.

And it is with the heart that one believes.

Man's incurably wicked heart does not decide to believe what he is inherently opposed to.

His heart needs to be changed first. But the FWer has man choosing to believe what he cannot even receive.

With his incurably wicked heart, no less.
 
God's elect are those who are predestined to salvation [determined beforehand]. God chooses those who will be saved. They are the elect of God.
Some believe this means that God, through His omniscience, knows those who will in the course of time choose of their own free will to place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation. (n)
Others believe that God not only elects His people, but also grants to these the faith to believe. In other words, salvation is based on grace alone. (y) Who then, makes the ultimate choice in salvation – God or man?

The answer is:
God is in control. He freely chooses those whom He will save. He not only elects those whom He will save, but He actually accomplishes their salvation. Rather than simply making salvation possible, God chooses those whom He will save and then saves them. This view puts God in His proper place as Creator and Sovereign.

There are certainly many who view this as unfair, but God word tells us in Rom 9:14-18 that He is in control of His entire creation, including man! And, the fact that He is in control flows from Rom 8:33-35 – where He tells us that we are secure in Christ.

Psalm 118:1
 
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“Also sir the fact that you want to not accept that your not born under any judgment makes you and others the worst type determinist there is, made worse because your faith is using the I'm innocent baby approach and how dare you attack innocence.”

yeah I acknowledge that I’ve freely sinned and come under condemnation according to Gods word and I’ve shown several verses to you that shows children aren’t born condemned .

We really need to have two forums here one for people wanting to discuss what the Bible teaches . Then another for people who want to explain why they don’t agree with what the Bible teaches and want to insist upon thier alternative versions of God and his salvation.

it would save both sides a lot of time and effort

So, how do "innocent"babies and infants escape being born IN Adam?
 
Eph 2:3
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
NIV

It appears we all came into this world as "objects of God's wrath".
yes and also we see that's how our hearts of stone become softened over time or even hardened.

Paul making reference here that we where all born into judgment.

Which Paul also make many reference to the nature we where all born into including also the softening of the heart the process in many of his writings he speaks about the condition of the heart
 
Even when just out looking for the already elected, the name of Christ is being proclaimed to the volitional belief of the unsaved. He'll use it.

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (Phil. 1:18 NKJ)
Wow. The verse is talking about the motives undergirding preaching, and isn't speaking about the manner of reception of the hearer. Volition under every rock, or scripture.
 
The book of Ephesians was written to Christians; both Jews and Gentiles.
Of that day which had a major influx of Jewish members. I thought the same as you but several scholars have used the Church Fathers writings and it shows the Church at Ephesus was primarily Jews. And Paul has Timothy remove his foreskin so they would accept him. Now Paul wouldn't have Timothy do such a thing if the congregation was Gentiles. He would only have him do it because it's mostly Jews.
 
If it requires Faith to move a mountain and God has given you the ability to move the mountain in front of you but it doesn't move then who is responsible God or you with the ability to move the mountain?
If God desires everyone to be saved, but some aren't ultimately saved because of their freewill choice, how is that a success for God?
 
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God's elect are those who are predestined to salvation [determined beforehand]. God chooses those who will be saved. They are the elect of God.
Some believe this means that God, through His omniscience, knows those who will in the course of time choose of their own free will to place their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation. (n)
Others believe that God not only elects His people, but also grants to these the faith to believe. In other words, salvation is based on grace alone. (y) Who then, makes the ultimate choice in salvation – God or man?

The answer is:
God is in control. He freely chooses those whom He will save. He not only elects those whom He will save, but He actually accomplishes their salvation. Rather than simply making salvation possible, God chooses those whom He will save and then saves them. This view puts God in His proper place as Creator and Sovereign.

There are certainly many who view this as unfair, but God word tells us in Rom 9:14-18 that He is in control of His entire creation, including man! And, the fact that He is in control flows from Rom 8:33-35 – where He tells us that we are secure in Christ.

Psalm 118:1
Romans9-19-21s.png

Romans 9 v 19-21 One of you will say to me, “Then why does God still find fault? For who can resist His will?” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to Him who formed it, “Why did You make me like this?” Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?
 
“Also sir the fact that you want to not accept that your not born under any judgment makes you and others the worst type determinist there is, made worse because your faith is using the I'm innocent baby approach and how dare you attack innocence.”

yeah I acknowledge that I’ve freely sinned and come under condemnation according to Gods word and I’ve shown several verses to you that shows children aren’t born condemned .

We really need to have two forums here one for people wanting to discuss what the Bible teaches . Then another for people who want to explain why they don’t agree with what the Bible teaches and want to insist upon thier alternative versions of God and his salvation.

it would save both sides a lot of time and effort
yes sir but you won't acknowledge your born under any judgment


Which makes you above all sir
 
Of that day which had a major influx of Jewish members. I thought the same as you but several scholars have used the Church Fathers writings and it shows the Church at Ephesus was primarily Jews. And Paul has Timothy remove his foreskin so they would accept him. Now Paul wouldn't have Timothy do such a thing if the congregation was Gentiles. He would only have him do it because it's mostly Jews.
The book itself reveals it is speaking to Christians so I'm going to go with that.