Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

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Were that true (which it isn't), we all would be under law and works.
Thank you, Lord, that instead, salvation is exclusively by your mercy and grace.


There is no mercy or grace found in salvation by favoritism.
 
Were that true (which it isn't), we all would be under law and works.
Thank you, Lord, that instead, salvation is exclusively by your mercy and grace.
Thanks Roger;
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector Luke 18:9
Directed to those who trusted in themselves because of what they did; they trusted in themselves that they were righteous by what they did.
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

It was not his asking for mercy which saved the tax collector, but the work of God that had been done in him which truly humbled him. . . . .
 
Faith is not something that man can just pull out of his backpack!

Salvation is provided as a gift, and this gift requires trust, belief, and faith – all of which are merciful gifts from God Himself. They are not within the grasp of fallen mankind. That is why we say “Saved By Grace”, because it can happen no other way. Man is simply unable to do it for himself.
So when you mention trust, think of it as God's gift.

When you mention belief, think of it as God's gift.

When you mention faith, think of it as God's gift.

When you mention salvation, think of it as God's gift.

Not one of these gifts come about due to man's efforts! He does not have the ability without being renewed. That is why regeneration must come first. Without renewal how can you possibly trust, believe, and have faith in God's word?

Believing and faith are not an effort nor are they gifted, stop making them into works to support your false soteriology.

Reality and proper exegesis informs us is that....

A consistent theme of the prophets in the OT is anti Total Depravity.
They present Israel as without excuse.
They were given everything needed to obey.
Everything was put in place by the Lord for them to thrive in obedience.
They, however, rejected God's loving care.
They should have obeyed.

Those who are slaves in sin can't purchase their own freedom but they can believe in the One who can redeem them from sin.

Those who are dead in sin can't breathe eternal life into their souls but they can ask for living bread and water from the One who is life.

#ContextKillsCalvinism
 
There is no mercy or grace found in salvation by favoritism.

And that would leave only our works for salvation. Because grace is not given to everyone, it means it was obtained only as a result of God's choice, otherwise works remain - there is no middle ground between the two - it must be fully one way or the other but not both, and works leads only to spiritual death.
 
And that would leave only our works for salvation. Because grace is not given to everyone, it means it was obtained only as a result of God's choice, otherwise works remain - there is no middle ground between the two - it must be fully one way or the other but not both, and works leads only to spiritual death.

Grace is given to those who exercise faith in Christ Jesus and His work on our behalf.

That is traditional, correct evangelical biblical Christianity.
 
Believing and faith are not an effort nor are they gifted, stop making them into works to support your false soteriology.

Reality and proper exegesis informs us is that....

A consistent theme of the prophets in the OT is anti Total Depravity.
They present Israel as without excuse.
They were given everything needed to obey.
Everything was put in place by the Lord for them to thrive in obedience.
They, however, rejected God's loving care.
They should have obeyed.

Those who are slaves in sin can't purchase their own freedom but they can believe in the One who can redeem them from sin.

Those who are dead in sin can't breathe eternal life into their souls but they can ask for living bread and water from the One who is life.

#ContextKillsCalvinism

Not only is it a work, but it is God's work alone to achieve. You scoffed at the verses I posted (a second time), but which you either didn't read or comprehend or both

[Jhn 6:29 KJV] 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
 
And that would leave only our works for salvation. Because grace is not given to everyone, it means it was obtained only as a result of God's choice, otherwise works remain - there is no middle ground between the two - it must be fully one way or the other but not both, and works leads only to spiritual death.

Just have to protect this elite little club of favorites for salvation.

Scripture knows no such thing.
People are leaving this false system daily. Praise God.
 
Not only is it a work, but it is God's work alone to achieve. You scoffed at the verses I posted (a second time), but which you either didn't read or comprehend or both

[Jhn 6:29 KJV] 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

#ContextKillsCalvinism

Read it in context.
 
You are just lost and blind making man into his own savior. Christ alone is Savior, not man.

More twisting, sad.........tells me it is impossible to defend your soteriology without twisting/misrepresenting the correct plan of salvation according to scripture,
It is so obvious now.
 
Grace is given to those who exercise faith in Christ Jesus and His work on our behalf.

That is traditional, correct evangelical biblical Christianity.

Then that makes it by (a person's) work not by grace. Grace, relative to salvation, fully incorporates everything required for salvation,
and which Christ had already achieved on behalf of those He saves. I think the core of your problem is you do not believe in nor comprehend that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior. That wisdom is given to someone only by the Holy Spirit - man cannot produce it in himself.
 
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More twisting, sad.........tells me it is impossible to defend your soteriology without twisting/misrepresenting the correct plan of salvation according to scripture,
It is so obvious now.

Talk about twisting, when I read your post, I hear Chubby Checker singing loudly in the background.
 
😋 free will is best when it says nothing at all 😋

That's a lovely song, Jordon. I never heard it before! Thanks for sharing...

Sort of like a free willie thinking his fleshly, human attempt to cover his sin and and shame is sufficient for the job.
Unfortunately free willers think they are clever to present mothers loving and caring for their children as "evil."

While wanting us to think of them as informed, right, and smart. It's disgraceful.
 
Talk about twisting, when I read your post, I hear Chubby Checker singing loudly in the background.
lol let's twist again like we did last summer, as things are really humming

Let's twist again I feal a twist coming

I bet heisshere likes to dance to that when she's doing her house wife duties 🤩
 
lol let's twist again like we did last summer, as things are really humming

Let's twist again I feal a twist coming

I bet heisshere likes to dance to that when she's doing here house wife duties 🤩

lol, yup, I think she not only does the twist but teaches it too.
 
Then that makes it by (a person's) work not by grace. Grace, relative to salvation, fully incorporates everything required for salvation,
and which Christ had already achieved on behalf of those He saves. I think the core of your problem is you do not believe in nor comprehend that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior. That wisdom is given to someone only by the Holy Spirit - man cannot produce it in himself.

This has yet to proven on this thread via a thorough exegesis, until that happens it is an exoskeleton philosophy imposed on scripture by stringing together verses out of context.


And I repeat...
Total Inability is denied starting in the OT.

It presents Israel as without excuse. They were given everything needed to obey. Everything was put in place by the Lord for them to thrive in obedience. But they rejected God's loving care. They should have obeyed.