Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[rogerg]

Actually one cannot earn the gift, that is what the Bible clearly teaches.
Receiving the gift freely is also what Scripture teaches.
Try again

What do you think the verses below are saying? Observe in them the "I will make", "I will put", "will I write", etc. Do they sound to you like a recipient must "receive" anything since God has declared that He, Himself, will place those directly into them, and that He (completely by His own accord) will remember their sins no more?
It is ALL by God. Man cannot do anything to either cause it or to assist with it, we are fully and entirely at His mercy.
If not that, then explain what you perceive the role of THE Savior to be.

[Heb 10:16-17 KJV]
16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

 

[Jordon]

I was talking about God whe not forcving someone to listen against their will

ah that's the issue she has with scripture, it's not called forcing it's called making a person believe,

It's the same for God making the wolf dwell with the lamb,..

Or God making Johna listen who refused to listen and ran away

It's where God goes against the will of nature

 

[Rufus]

So in your book the Son doesn't set you free, He just turns you into a different type of slave?

So, the Son is evil because He sets sinners free from their bondage to sin, and is even more evil for making His chosen ones slaves of Righteousness, Goodness and Holiness?

 

[Rufus]

Both @Rufus and @BillyBob said they learnt from the Father prior to the new birth so they were definitely in the natural state. What they did not know was who was leading them, all they knew was they liked what they saw, although they had times when it was not all they preferred.

It is not until after the new birth did they discern the spiritual quality of the teaching which, is exactly what we tried to tell you lot in regards to 1Cor.2:14.

There are moral issues to deal with as well as spiritual which is why the natural man can understand what he needs to hear and accept the Gospel.

No, we were in a regeneration state which leads to the new birth.

 

[Rufus]

Yes. And you are Nordic? I have enjoyed quite a few shows from your neck of the woods.

Do you still live in Canada? My very close friend that I was privileged to lead to the Lord, and who understood and agreed with the Doctrines of Grace when I once was witnessing to him over dinner, is Canadian but has lived here in the states for most of his life. In fact, he's now a citizen of the U.S.

 

[Rufus]

What do you think the verses below are saying? Observe in them the "I will make", "I will put", "will I write", etc. Do they sound to you like a recipient must "receive" anything since God has declared that He, Himself, will place those directly into them, and that He (completely by His own accord) will remember their sins no more?
It is ALL by God. Man cannot do anything to either cause it or to assist with it, we are fully and entirely at His mercy.
If not that, then explain what you perceive the role of THE Savior to be.

[Heb 10:16-17 KJV]
16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

HIH obviously does not understand what "unilateral" means.

 

[rogerg]

HIH obviously does not understand what "unilateral" means.

Yup, she either doesn't understand, or won't allow herself to understand, because to do so would invalidate how she would like it to be.

 

[Rufus]

You're claiming the new heart was given prior to you "placing [your] trust in Christ".

The new heart is given by God at the time a person is born again ... not before.

And according to Ephesians 1:13 ...

Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit

you trusted when you heard the word of truth ... you believed when you heard the gospel of your salvation ... you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise when you believed the gospel of salvation.

.

Not true! God had given Cornelius a godly disposition of heart, which scripture calls Fear of the Lord, long before Cornelius even heard the gospel from the lips of Peter. Read Acts 10-11 someday. Also, you might want to ditch your eisegetical methodology since Eph 1:13 doesn't speak to WHEN the new heart was actually given.

 

[Rufus]

The lie of Calvinism, God picks winners & losers to be saved or lost.

Well...since you don't believe that God, out of his love for you, picked (elected) you personally, then you are a big loser. You obviously trust in your own self-reliance and self-sufficiency.

Also, if God hadn't picked anyone, then no one would be saved because the ungodly, proud world hates God, His Son, Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge.

 

[the_seeker]

Do you still live in Canada? My very close friend that I was privileged to lead to the Lord, and who understood and agreed with the Doctrines of Grace when I once was witnessing to him over dinner, is Canadian but has lived here in the states for most of his life. In fact, he's now a citizen of the U.S.

So what about you Rufus....?
Living in US? If so, which state ?

 

[brightfame52]

Regenerated means you're saved.
You cannot be saved before you believe.

You have to be saved before you believe in Jesus

 

[HeIsHere]

Well...since you don't believe that God, out of his love for you, picked (elected) you personally, then you are a big loser. You obviously trust in your own self-reliance and self-sufficiency.

Also, if God hadn't picked anyone, then no one would be saved because the ungodly, proud world hates God, His Son, Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge.

 

[Rufus]

So what about you Rufus....?
Living in US? If so, which state ?

I live in Swampland, USA (FL) wherein the size of the mosquitoes rivals that of our beloved 'gators <g>.

 

[Rufus]

View attachment 283100

Many are invited (called) but few are chosen. See the Parable of the Great Banquet in Lk 14:16ff. Only 2 of the 3 groups mentioned therein actually made it into the Feast. And that's because those two groups were compelled to enter! Of course, in your universe that revolves around Self and man, that would translate into "forced" to enter by that Big Bad Bully in the Sky.

 

[Jordon]

View attachment 283100

actually both the believers and unbeliever get invited to a wedding at some point

But some who think there believers will sit on there throne thinking there more chosen above the chosen , a bit like you who keeps putting the chosen down

 

[lrs68]

You have to be saved before you believe in Jesus

Show me the Bible Verse then because I can present many that prove you are wrong.

 

[sawdust]

He sets us free from sin yes and to be a slave of Christ is to be aumbissive to him as king so in a sense yes we become a different type of slave.

I feel bad for you if you think that slavery to Christ is in any way like slavery to sin. The latter is a bondage, the former is freedom. I pray one day you find that out.

John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

 

[sawdust]

I have been set free from sin and death to righteousness. Are you a slave of sin or a slave of righteousness?

They don't like the word slave so they won't say either way but the scriptures even won't convince them either

To you both. Stop trying to compare being a slave to sin as if it is the same as being a slave to Christ.

It has nothing to do with not liking the word slave Blain so don't make your accusations.

What I don't like is this concept both you and Cameron are trying to project that being a slave to Christ is in any way like the same as being a slave to sin.

There is no compulsion in being a slave to Christ as there is in sin. The two forms of slavery are like chalk and cheese.

One is a devotion born of a deep desire and willingness to freely serve the lover of our souls, the other is a bondage caused by the will of another in which we are bound to serve sin and disobedience whether we are willing or not.

John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

It's there for a reason.

John 8:35
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

If you are both living with the same mindset of being a slave to Christ as you had being a slave to sin, then you have missed the point of being set free.

 

[Cameron143]

To you both. Stop trying to compare being a slave to sin as if it is the same as being a slave to Christ.

It has nothing to do with not liking the word slave Blain so don't make your accusations.

What I don't like is this concept both you and Cameron are trying to project that being a slave to Christ is in any way like the same as being a slave to sin.

There is no compulsion in being a slave to Christ as there is in sin. The two forms of slavery are like chalk and cheese.

One is a devotion born of a deep desire and willingness to freely serve the lover of our souls, the other is a bondage caused by the will of another in which we are bound to serve sin and disobedience whether we are willing or not.

John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

It's there for a reason.

John 8:35
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

If you are both living with the same mindset of being a slave to Christ as you had being a slave to sin, then you have missed the point of being set free.

Slave is only being used to show that one is being influenced by either sin or Christ. Because one is always under some influence, the will is not free.

 

[Magenta]

Slave is only being used to show that one is being influenced by either sin or Christ.
Because one is always under some influence, the will is not free.

Come on, Cam, being taken captive to do the will of the devil means the will is free.



Being blind means you can see.

Unable to submit or obey means you can submit and obey.