Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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well rufus the truth is in my mind the secrets of the universe is in my mind, and I see myself as a space cowboy defending those secrets for when specs of dust come along who haven't got to level of my imagination, otherwise they will steal what I have, so I won't reveal all on a blink of eye to you. 🙂

That explains a lot about you. Obviously, "cowboy" you have fallen off your horse and onto your noggin more times than you can count -- or care to remember.
 
That explains a lot about you. Obviously, "cowboy" you have fallen off your horse and onto your noggin more times than you can count -- or care to remember.
Only in your dull mind that has everyone fallen apart from you whilst your trying trying to imagine your horse is higher.

The trouble is my horse drinks red bull so you've got no chance of knocking me of my horse 🤩
 
And what would your "reasoning" be -- that God was not glorified by evil Pharaoh?


God was not glorified by Pharaoh...

Rather...

God was glorified by what Pharaoh did wrong.

grace and peace ..............
 
Mr. Jordon, sir, I will ask you the same question that I asked dumbfounded CV5 yesterday about the assassination attempt on Trump in Butler, PA in which two innocent people in the crowd were killed while Trump was spared.

Was the shooter's failed attempt on Trump's life and the murder of two innocent people in the crowd due to:

1. Blind Luck or
2. Pure Chance or
3. Divine Providence?


And? mommy and daddy brought you your presents.

Not Santa Claus.

Divine Providence, is the answer.
 
But you didn't claim Trump's feelings or sentiments in your original reply. Instead you waxed political and gave a smart aleck answer to a serious theologically-based question.

So...here's a follow up question: Do you believe that God proactively and supernaturally restrains evil in this world, apart from his various divinely-ordained forms of government that He instituted in this world, and apart from how he designed His image bearers? I'll explain what I mean by the qualified second clause in the question to mitigate misunderstanding and deflections:

God Ordained Forms of Government:

1. Relational which is the Family Unit.
2. Societal which is Civil Authority
3. Spiritual which is Christ's Church

God's Design of His Image Bearers:

4. Conscience
5. Intuitive Revelation (the works of the law of God written on all men's hearts).

Again...to be crystal clear: I'm not referring to any of the above five restraints. I'm talking about direct action by God's own hands or through the directed agency of others, e.g. people God raised up specifically for this purpose.
well in a theological sense God does ordan political leaders,

Let every soul be subject to governing authorities, but there is no authority accept from God, and the authorities that became appointed by God.

However Rufus this is open to interpretation.

What God does with sin is upto him Rufus

And he goes about it is upto him.

On a political level the church doesn't involve it's self much.

But in a court room where judges uphold God laws, I would say there ordained more than political leaders.

Maybe solicitors to 🙂

But what I go most with is God pricking peoples consciences.
Yep and I believe God can Go about revealing a truth to a policeman to have you locked up.

Or reveal a truth to a doctor to give you help
 
Only in your dull mind that has everyone fallen apart from you whilst your trying trying to imagine your horse is higher.

The trouble is my horse drinks red bull so you've got no chance of knocking me of my horse 🤩

Why would I have to bother myself by knocking you off a horse that you can't ride so swell in the first place?

P.S. You might also wanna consider weening your pony off that red bull stuff, since it's never helped you to stay upright on your horse.
 
And? mommy and daddy brought you your presents.

Not Santa Claus.

Divine Providence, is the answer.

Wow! You do surprise at times! So...you must believe, then, that God proactively restrains evil in this world, as He did with Trump, right?
 
The Lord desired to gather Israel under his wings, but Israel wanted no part.

Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
 
Why would I have to bother myself by knocking you off a horse that you can't ride so swell in the first place?

P.S. You might also wanna consider weening your pony off that red bull stuff, since it's never helped you to stay upright on your horse.
nayyhh laddie it doesn't suprise me that you would think I have a pony with you on a high horse lol 😆
 
Wow! You do surprise at times! So...you must believe, then, that God proactively restrains evil in this world, as He did with Trump, right?

He is always restraining evil!

In reference to the time of the Rapture...


Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will
continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. (at the Rapture)And then the lawless one will
be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by
the splendor of his coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:5-8​


.......
 
He is always restraining evil!

In reference to the time of the Rapture...


Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will
continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. (at the Rapture)And then the lawless one will
be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by
the splendor of his coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:5-8​


.......
Yeo the man of lawlessness is revealed everyday these days 🙂😆
 
well in a theological sense God does ordan political leaders,

Let every soul be subject to governing authorities, but there is no authority accept from God, and the authorities that became appointed by God.

However Rufus this is open to interpretation.


What God does with sin is upto him Rufus

And he goes about it is upto him.

On a political level the church doesn't involve it's self much.

But in a court room where judges uphold God laws, I would say there ordained more than political leaders.

Maybe solicitors to 🙂

But what I go most with is God pricking peoples consciences.
Yep and I believe God can Go about revealing a truth to a policeman to have you locked up.

Or reveal a truth to a doctor to give you help

Your view of God, sin and the scriptures are more shallow than I can even imagine. What is there to question about Jesus' remarks to Pontius Pilate?

John 19:11
11 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

NIV

Or what question is there pertaining to Daniel's statement?

Dan 2:20-21a
20 and said:

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.

NIV

Did not God appoint Saul to be king over Israel? And then later David, etc.?

So, what exactly is open to interpretation? Maybe the fact that there are so many God-hating, wicked rulers in the world, and you're wondering how a loving, compassionate, merciful God, who allegedly doesn't want anyone on this planet to perish, do such things? How come God hasn't raised up far more godly rulers than evil ones?
 
He is always restraining evil!

In reference to the time of the Rapture...


Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time.
For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will
continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. (at the Rapture)And then the lawless one will
be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by
the splendor of his coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:5-8​
.......

You're treading on very dangerous ground here, Genez. Be careful because you will dig yourself a hole from which you will not able to extricate yourself. But kudos to you for quoting the passage even though you have the time frame wrong. The "man of sin" has been restrained for nearly 2,000 years now and won't be set free until before the second advent.
 
Your view of God, sin and the scriptures are more shallow than I can even imagine. What is there to question about Jesus' remarks to Pontius Pilate?

John 19:11
11 Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

NIV

Or what question is there pertaining to Daniel's statement?

Dan 2:20-21a
20 and said:


"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons;
he sets up kings and deposes them.

NIV

Did not God appoint Saul to be king over Israel? And then later David, etc.?

So, what exactly is open to interpretation? Maybe the fact that there are so many God-hating, wicked rulers in the world, and you're wondering how a loving, compassionate, merciful God, who allegedly doesn't want anyone on this planet to perish, do such things? How come God hasn't raised up far more godly rulers than evil ones?
You keep changing the Goal posts, and you keep saying I'm doing things with no foundation for your premises your leading with,

So far Rufus today I've given you in Access of at least 30 foundational truths and you haven't acknowledged any of them.

I've already stated he ordains kings and judges.

But the judges where more like military leaders back then.

For matters of the law he appointed spiritual leaders, which where like meeting places where people could settle there differences, without the need for imprisonment, the main focus of these places where about worshiping God and obeying his laws, connecting with God, but also learning about societal principles of how they could treat each others with fairness and justice. Reflecting Gods character and mercy 🙂
 
Wow! You do surprise at times! So...you must believe, then, that God proactively restrains evil in this world, as He did with Trump, right?
Well... uh.

I believe your mommy and daddy brought you your Christmas gifts, and not Santa.

What has Trump got to do with it?

:unsure:

......