Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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from-Revelation3-17-18.png

from Revelation 3 verse 17-18 ~ You say, ‘I need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
 
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Well... Your observational abilities about him sets me free to know when you have one about me is equally biased and hateful.

Calvinism is for the bitter hearted who want to remain on top of the rest by thinking they know better.
They must maintain that feeling of superiority to have their idea of peace in their lives.

I am learning something here after all.
People may be hateful and bitter, but this crosses all denominations and beliefs. Calvinism or any other ism isn't responsible. People are.
 
As usual, you do not understand those who are reformed. They do not think that they are special!

And you know why CV5 thinks that Reformed folks must think of themselves as being special: It's because he's likely never experienced the utterly humbling effect God's precious grace has upon the human heart. There's nary a day that I don't marvel at God's wonderful gift and ask Him: How could You, Lord, ever love a filthy, vile, poor, pitiful, wretch like me? And the only answer I can come up with is: He can and He does because of his Beloved who is the only One the Father sees in me. Jesus' righteousness, holiness, faithfulness and perfect obedience are all mine by the Father's grace.

Also, people who posit such foolishness as CV5's truly don't understand what Paul meant when he said that he boasts in nothing save for the Cross of Christ. FWers seem to have a very shallow view of that Cross work and all the implications and ramifications to it.
 
[Eph 1:3 KJV] 3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:

[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:

[2Co 3:14, 16-18 KJV]
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ. ...
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Right. And zero Calvinist content whatsoever.
 
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And you know why CV5 thinks that Reformed folks must think of themselves as being special: It's because he's likely never experienced the utterly humbling effect God's precious grace has upon the human heart. There's nary a day that I don't marvel at God's wonderful gift and ask Him: How could You, Lord, ever love a filthy, vile, poor, pitiful, wretch like me? And the only answer I can come up with is: He can and He does because of his Beloved who is the only One the Father sees in me. Jesus' righteousness, holiness, faithfulness and perfect obedience are all mine by the Father's grace.

Also, people who posit such foolishness as CV5's truly don't understand what Paul meant when he said that he boasts in nothing save for the Cross of Christ. FWers seem to have a very shallow view of that Cross work and all the implications and ramifications to it.
They only see the Savior in their own reflection!
 
Right. And zero Calvinist content whatsoever.

Then you either didn't read or didn't understand those verses. I think it's a problem with understanding.
Go back and read them again, only slowly and carefully this time. Notice that it is God who places us "in Christ"; not man's doing.
Those who "turn to Christ", do so only because God had placed them "in Christ".
 
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God isn't arbitrary. This just expresses that God hasn't revealed to me why He chose me. Your view, on the other hand, is completely arbitrary and puts God at the mercy of men.

Clearly HIH deeply resents that God has "arbitrarily" chosen to keep His secret things to Himself and not reveal them to her (Deut 29:29).
 
Even the King James translated that correctly, and others failed to.
He was filled with the Holy Spirit out from the womb.
Not, in the womb.
Common response from those who don't like what scripture clearly says. They think they are better at translating the bible than the many experts who have already done this over several centuries. How "convenient."
 
Then you either didn't read or didn't understand those verses. I think it's a problem with understanding.
Go back and read them again, only slowly and carefully this time. Notice that it is God who places us "in Christ"; not man's doing.
Those who "turn to Christ", do so only because God had placed them "in Christ".
There are verses that make such Biblical Truths plain = that it is according to God's will
and mercy and not the effort or will of man, but FWers are unable to accept them.
Unable or just too stubborn to relinquish their idolatry to allow the Truth to seep in...
 
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There are verses that make such Biblical Truths plain = that it is according to God's will
and mercy and not the effort or will of man, but FWers are unable to accept them.
Unable or just too stubborn to relinquish their idolatry to allow the Truth to seep in...

And it's truly amazing, Magenta.
 
HeIsHere said:


Isaiah 6:10
Just like God does not arbitrarily select some for salvation, neither does God harden arbitrarily, these verses are connected to judgement and not a universal statement about the estate of all fallen man.

But He does all the above according to his good purpose. God's mercy and compassion is NOT a blanket that covers the entire human race!
 
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Reformed: just look at those despicable depraved unclean impotent natural fleshly doomed non-chosenite people over there!
Looookkkkk at them! And rejoice that we are not one of them!

And fear not to mock and deride them for we know that God despised them from before the world began!

But you're not looking at the bright side of this! When God leaves "those despicable depraved uncleaned impotent fleshly doomed non-chosenite people to their own devices, this means he's not tampering whatsoever with their sacred, inviolable"freewill", which further implies he's not "forcing" them into his kingdom. You should be tickled pink over this fact. Yet, here you are crying and whining like a little girl.

There just ain't no pleasing some people...no matter what. :coffee:
 
But He does all the above according to his good purpose. God's mercy and compassion is NOT a blanket that covers the entire human race!
God's mercy and compassion (and His good will/pleasure) are referred to by some of these heretics as "no good reason."
 
Common response from those who don't like what scripture clearly says. They think they are better at translating the bible than the many experts who have already done this over several centuries. How "convenient."
And, you are one of those experts (who does time travel)....

Both the Hebrew - 'min bit'en' - and the Greek -'ek kolia' literally mean, "out from the womb.

Stick with your kiddy translations if it makes you feel good.
What I am talking about is "meat" for those who wish to mature in Christ.
 
"presuming any talk of God initiating our calling.....as being complete hyper-Calvinism"

All of us believe that God is First Mover and Initiator. No problems there.
But as for this Calvinist business of IMPOSING (rather than RECEIVING) the OFFER (not an offer at all per the Calvinist) of the Covenant of Salvation by force, fraud, conspiracy or pre-birth lottery and shotgun wedding nuttery?

Nope. Unbiblical in every way.

Wasn't physical life "imposed" upon you or did you give God permission to decree your existence?
 
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