It is not for me to make a logical explanation; it is for you to prove that the mere commandment to choose proves that the recipients had the ability to choose the good. I wait for your proof of that or a retraction.
Commands do imply ability and responsibility and you admit above you cannot logically explain that away. If you have no logical explanation, you have no proof otherwise.
The bible is full of examples of people choosing to good and choosing to do bad. Gen 4:7 God Himself shows Cain had the ability to choose to do well or not well.
Atwood said:
If I make a claim, feel free to ask for proof. But this is your claim, not mine. You need to prove that giving 2 options means they could choose the good option. Prove that evil men can make good choices.
Why would they be given an option between life and death if they could not choose either? If they could not choose life why not just go ahead and give them death?
Gen 4:7 if Cain could not do well then why did God say "if thy doest well" when God would have know full well Cain could not?
Heb 11;4 Abel was one that choose to do well and there was nothing that prevented Cain from choosing to do well as Abel. Cain used his free will to choose to do evil.
You have been given proof after proof but continue to reject it while offering no proof to back up what you claim.
Atwood said:
You are making the assertions, not I. So I have nothing to prove. Prove that if a person knows to do good but choose not to do good that prove they could have chosen the good. Prove it or retract.
My proof is the bible gives examples of those that choose to do well.
Josh 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that
were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:
but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
After telling the people to choose between God and the false God, Joshua choose good by choosing to serve the true God.
Atwood said:
You are taking a passage where "choose" does not occur. You are making the claims, not I. So you need to prove that your reference indicates an ability to choose the good. Prove that demons can choose the good.
You argument has been weak all along, it has deteriorated into simply ignoring the facts now.
1 Cor 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known
it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The word "choice" does not need be in the verse for it to demonstrate a choice can take place. Paul clearly demonstrates they would have acted differently had they known better. Had they known better they would have taken a different course of action and that change of action proves, implies a choice being made.
Atwood said:
Prove that it is senseless. Prove that the Lord Jesus gave a senseless command to the woman at the well to go & call her husband. I have nothing to prove in this thread, since all I am going is demanding proof of you for your claims. Prove or retract
Prove what sense there is in commanding men to do something that man cannot do. Why would God command Noah to build the ark if it were impossible for Noah to obey it? Why command Abraham to leave land house and kindred, offer Isaac if it were impossible for him to do so?
Noah and Abraham obeying these commands shows mwn can chose to do good. That the commands imply man has ability for they both were able to obey the commands. The command inplies responsibility for men will be held accountable for his action in obeying God or not...."A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day. And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God...."
"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom 14;12. What is man accountable for if he has no ability or responsiblity to obey God's commands?