Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Rufus]

really ? ... no faith involved ?

Romans 3:24-26 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

.

Don't you know that "belief" flows from God's grace/power?

 

[Cameron143]

the born again believer would "cease from stealing" when he or she puts off the old man and puts on the new man ...

Ephesians 4:20-32

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

God has already given to each and every born again believer all that is necessary in order to not do that which God tells us not to do ... as well as do what God tells us to do ... it all comes down to where do you want to live your life? ... in the old? ... or in the new?
.

Again, not on topic. It says it is given unto those in view to believe on Jesus. Try not to gobbledygook like some here.

 

[rogerg]

Okay, the context begins with Titus 1:1-3, "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness--in the hope of eternal life, which God , who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior."

We might note that these words are akin to what Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:3-10, and the command occurred on the road to Damascus.

After giving instructions regarding elders, rebuking anti-Christians and teaching Christians including slaves, Paul said the following that is further context for the verses you cited, "The grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people" (Tit. 2:11). This statement is akin to John 3:16, 1Timothy 2:3-4 and 2 Peter 3:9.

Then after a brief instruction regarding subjection to rulers, Paul made the comment you cited (Tit. 3:4-7), "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by grace , we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

We might note that the phrase "God our Savior" is found also in 1 Tim. 3 and is echoed by the phrase "JC our Savior". God's grace is mentioned in Ephesians 2:8-10, but the most extensive context for the meaning of this term is Romans 3:21-5:11.

Would you like to lead our discussion at this point?

I will try to provide a reply to you tomorrow.

 

[Rufus]

I suppose that you were compelled by some force field to say that?

Truth hurt much?

 

[Rufus]

Is that all you can talk about.


Free will or not, scripture does not confirm that regeneration precedes faith, nor does it confirm individual, unique particular selection of some people created for salvation and others for damnation.

The End

#contextkillscalvinism

Of scripture does! You just don't have eyes to see or ears to hear...Better make an appointment with the Great Physician before the sand runs out of your hourglass. Perhaps he'll exercise some efficacious power on you.

 

[Rufus]

You are admitting something.

That you do not have the filling of the Holy Spirit.
Because God would make it knowable to you if you did.

Not if it's one of His SECRETS, He wouldn't!

 

[Magenta]

Don't you know that "belief" flows from God's grace/power?

The fear of the Lord leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm. Proverbs 19 v 23 He who fears the Lord is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. Proverbs 14 v 26-27 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9 v 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1 v 7 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15 v 33 His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. Luke 1 v 50 By the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil. Proverbs 16 v 6B
I think this panel is done, now. I replaced her eyes and lips, removed the philtrum under her
nose, enlarged her whole face, gave her a new neck, and made other edits as per usual...
I also added a couple of more verses on the fear of the Lord. .

 

[HeIsHere]

Of scripture does! You just don't have eyes to see or ears to hear...Better make an appointment with the Great Physician before the sand runs out of your hourglass. Perhaps he'll exercise some efficacious power on you.

Oh please.
You go against your own philosophy, if I am not on "the list of special created for salvation" there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

 

[GWH]

See what a Humanism lover you are!? The inspired, infallible Word isn't sufficient to grow in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Yes, but not your interpretation of it, which has a human history.

 

[Jordon]

Where's your scriptural evidence?

Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing you quote scripture at any time. It's always your opinion you give.

Scriptural evidence as been applied to this thread thousands of times, it just your free will sib nature is to important to care.

And because of your stubbornness to support people who you think are your friends, you'll never know anything less.

Neither will you accept the truth because all you want to do is support your very abusive friends at what ever cost.

 

[cv5]

Oh please.
You go against your own philosophy, if I am not on "the list of special created for salvation" there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

They wouldn't have it any other way.
Gatekeeper mentality. Crazy huh?

 

[cv5]

Scriptural evidence as been applied to this thread thousands of times, it just your free will sib nature is to important to care.

And because of your stubbornness to support people who you think are your friends, you'll never know anything less.

Neither will you accept the truth because all you want to do is support your very abusive friends at what ever cost.

There are in fact people around here that actually know what they're talking about biblically. Others.........mostly vapid windbaggery.

But yeah the Calvinists generally sound like they're running off the rails on the crazy train.

 

[Jordon]

There are in fact people around here that actually know what they're talking about biblically. Others.........mostly vapid windbaggery.

But yeah the Calvinists generally sound like they're running off the rails on the crazy train.

imagination is a nice thing when you can bothered to use it appropriately,

All you have to go on for answers is an Oxford dictionary definition, a bunch of imaginary people you don't like,

I'm not interested in either. Neither am I interested in anything you have to say and I never will be.

 

[Genez]

Truth hurt much?

Give us some for a change, and we will find out....

Won't hold my breath waiting.

 

[Genez]

Don't you know that "belief" flows from God's grace/power?

Not the belief itself. That must come from the person.

The capacity for believing is freed up when the Holy Spirit restrains the flesh as to allow the soul to think for itself.

 

[Magenta]

Oh please.
You go against your own philosophy, if I am not on "the list of special created for salvation" there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.

If you are not saved, you can be. Not even you know who will be and who won't.

The starting point is the person and work of Jesus Christ... not your own self, as you vehemently, repeatedly,
and erroneously proclaim. John wrote his first letter to address this very question: “I write these things to
you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John ch 5
v 13). Does the Holy Spirit reside in you? You need to ascertain this. Oh, wait. You do not believe it is possible
to know certain things. Hmmm. Well, that is just another way you contradict and deny what Scripture
explicitly articulates. But you can certainly pray about it.

2 Corinthians 13 v 5 ~ Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you- unless you actually fail the test?

 

[Mem]

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more ​

and more in knowledge and depth of insight. ​

​

Philippians 1:9​

You could use a little light....

Thanks, I'm sure you mean well.

 

[Mem]

Nephesh (soul) means breath too, specifically a breather and it was the breath of lives (plural) that God breathed into Adam ie. spirit and soul.

However, maybe I was not clear enough. I believe Is.57:16 is referring to believers, hence they would have had a human spirit. The preceding verse speaks of those who God is with.

Is.57:15-16
For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
With him who has a contrite and humble spirit,
To revive the spirit of the humble,
And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
16 For I will not contend forever,
Nor will I always be angry;
For the spirit would fail before Me,
And the souls which I have made.

To me, it is clear God is speaking of the spiritually alive in the above passage. I think it is an assumption therefore to think it refers to every single Israelite as having a spirit. (or every human being for that matter)

Another thing I contend is that, to the best of my knowledge, nowhere in scripture is the human spirit referred to as being created. It is said to born or given but never associated with any creative word. Yet the soul and body are both referred to as being made throughout scripture.

By what is the soul and body sustained through 'life'?

 

[Magenta]

The human spirit cannot die which is why (in part) our salvation from death is secure and why unbelievers cannot be born of God.

Such nonsense! And parroting the lie of Satan at the heart of the fall of man and corruption of all creation. Yikes.

Hebrews 4 v 12 The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

[Mem]

You are quoting a writer of scripture, of course they will be spiritually alive. (have a spirit)

It doesn't necessarily follow just because we find people throughout scripture having a spirit that all men are born with a spirit.

If nothing else Mem consider "Spirit gives birth to spirit" Jn.3:6 and it is that spirit that is needed to connect to God and be functioning spiritually. If it is born of God (and it is) how can it be non-functioning or "dead". God is life, He cannot produce death from or of Himself. Ergo, how can all men have a spirit? It would fly in the face of the God of Life to be giving men death. He is Spirit, our spirit is something of the very substance of God, it cannot be produced defunct.

I think it is assumption that it is death that separates us from God, as I believe it is more obvious that death separates us from life altogether. Scripture says that sin separates us and thinking in metaphorical terms of a branch that is cut off, it remains green for a time before it withers completely away, but it will certainly die outside of the vine. I also think it is an assumption that man's spirit lives forever. Wouldn't that mean God's breath of life would need to sustain it indefinitely? Scripture says that it returns to God when we die.