Reformed Only: Does Man have Free Choice?

[trofimus]

Free choice. Are we free to choose anything we want? So, closer to the first one, than the second.

(And, I think the choice for your second definition would give me a third choice. If I am totally indifferent to my inclinations, I tend to opt for the third choice -- do nothing. If you give me the choice between cleaning your bathroom or chopping wood, frankly? I'm staying home. lol)

Yes, if we had no inclination, we would get stuck. Like Burydan's donkey.

But such free will can never happen. So we always go where our nature leads us. And we then choose what we incline to. So can this be called "free"? Yes, but not absolutely.

Do I do not know how to poll Both can be true, depends on how we define it...

 

[Depleted]

Yes, if we had no inclination, we would get stuck. Like Burydan's donkey.

But such free will can never happen. So we always go where our nature leads us. And we then choose what we incline to. So can this be called "free"? Yes, but not absolutely.

Do I do not know how to poll Both can be true, depends on how we define it...

Choice is choice. Will is something else.

By will, I cannot swim down to the Mariana Trench. By choice, I can. I will drown, but I can choose that. I am free to choose. Not so free in my will.

Does that help?

 

[trofimus]

Choice is choice. Will is something else.

By will, I cannot swim down to the Mariana Trench. By choice, I can. I will drown, but I can choose that. I am free to choose. Not so free in my will.

Does that help?

In that case you chose to drown several meters under the water, not to swim really down. You were not informed properly about your abilities. So was it a free choice, at all?

Blah, it gets complicated.

 

[SovereignGrace]

I see it like a man in a jail cell. He freely moves within that cell, but does not have the ability to go farther than those prison bars will allow him.


Ppl are prisoners to their sin, slaves to it, captives to it. Jesus came to set captives free.

 

[SovereignGrace]

I see it like a man in a jail cell. He freely moves within that cell, but does not have the ability to go farther than those prison bars will allow him.


Ppl are prisoners to their sin, slaves to it, captives to it. Jesus came to set captives free.

This is what God the LORD says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.[isaiah 42:5-7]

Jesus said if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.[John 8:36]

This inludes their enslaved in sins will. The unregenerate's will is not free in any form, but enslaved to sin.[Matthew 6:24, Romans 6:6 & 6:16]

 

[Depleted]

In that case you chose to drown several meters under the water, not to swim really down. You were not informed properly about your abilities. So was it a free choice, at all?

Blah, it gets complicated.

 

[SovereignGrace]

Where do you get those emoticons? Or is it emojis?

 

[Depleted]

Where do you get those emoticons? Or is it emojis?

AllSmileys.com

 

[SovereignGrace]

 

[Crustyone]

I see free will as a desire to do something or not to try to do something. It is my desire to be as perfect a Christian as I can be and I need will power to abstain from evil. If I have the strength of will, I should succeed. My choice is to continue in my will or not. Seems to me both are intertwined.

 

[SovereignGrace]

Again, the will is not free. Read Isaiah 42:5-7, where He will come to set captives free. Then we can't serve two masters. To serve a master, means we are their servant(slave). Then who we yield our members to is who we are enslaved to. All this shows the will is enslaved and not free.

 

[Crustyone]

Isaiah 42:5-7 sounds like Jesus or God is telling the people that Jesus will come and tell everyone all the things about God that they did not know previously and will have a more visible choice of which master to serve. Thereby freer more informed choice, but still choice.

 

[SovereignGrace]

Isaiah 42:5-7 sounds like Jesus or God is telling the people that Jesus will come and tell everyone all the things about God that they did not know previously and will have a more visible choice of which master to serve. Thereby freer more informed choice, but still choice.

Pure eisegesis at work in the above. He will set the captives free. This shows ppl they don't have a free will, but will go to extremes to support this myth.

 

[Johnny_B]

Pure eisegesis at work in the above. He will set the captives free. This shows ppl they don't have a free will, but will go to extremes to support this myth.

The free will idea is simply elevating man above the Lord. I chose God, He does not chose me. I can resist God because of my will to chose or not. I place faith in Him then He can show or give me grace, which is no longer grace. You can almost summit up in the first three commandments.

I find it interesting that when I held to those types of doctrines, I did not see it like that. Now I look back and see how prideful I was and I was exalting myself above the Lord in my own mind. Thank God for His grace.

 

[Glozz]

We all have free choices, that's how God created us from the beginning. But you see, when you accept Jesus Christ as your personal LORD and SAVIOUR, you automatically hand over your choices to Him, because "it's no longer you who lives, but Christ living inside of you", making ALL the decisions, while yours is just to follow. It's like You saying "Lord, I hand over my wills and choices to you, lead me as you will".

 

[Depleted]

I see free will as a desire to do something or not to try to do something. It is my desire to be as perfect a Christian as I can be and I need will power to abstain from evil. If I have the strength of will, I should succeed. My choice is to continue in my will or not. Seems to me both are intertwined.

Your will power? Your strength? How's that going for you?

Truth be known, we came to the Lord unable to do good. Nothing has changed there since him, so you can will all the power and strength you have to do it on your won, but until you choose (see what I did there? lol) to let God work in you, you ought to have the same outcome you had before being born again.

 

[ColoradoGal]

Hi Blain, No, Reformed means being a Calvinist, a Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc. Those that hold to the Tulip.

As far as I know, Reformed is Calvinism.

 

[SovereignGrace]

As far as I know, Reformed is Calvinism.

 

[Snoozy]

i think u can have free will and election and predestination.

just because God predestines doesnt mean He predestines what t-shirt u choose to buy. thats how i look at it
especially if u buy a lakers t-shirt, then soemthing is wrong for sure.

 

[SovereignGrace]

i think u can have free will and election and predestination.

just because God predestines doesnt mean He predestines what t-shirt u choose to buy. thats how i look at it
especially if u buy a lakers t-shirt, then soemthing is wrong for sure.

Hey!! Lifelong Lakers fan here. BTW, just because you choose which clothes you wear, where you go to, what you eat, &c, doesn't mean you have a free will. That is free choice, something entirely different.