Ok, this is where it jumps track. . .with
pathetically inadequate human notions, darkening the counsel of God in words without Biblical knowledge:
a totally human hypothetical (a son of God, born of his imperishable seed, would desire an F. . .YIKES!) and
a totally human concept (robot Christianity) that negates the teaching of Scripture which shows that
God does not lose his own (Jn 10:28-29), for God is loser to no man (Da 4:35). . .YIKES!
Yes, but the Scriptures regarding it show it is not a race for salvation.
OK. . .what you are not discerning here is seen in 1Co 3:10-15 and 1Co 9:15-24, where
1Co 3:10-15 - there is reward (a crown, Rev 4:10) in addition to salvation for the believer,
which reward can be lost, but salvation is not lost (v. 15).
1Co 9:15-24 - Paul is speaking of a special reward (vv. 15-18), a prize (v.24) which he was running to obtain.
The prize is not salvation (just as the reward of 1Co 3:15 is not salvation),
both are in addition to salvation. . .a crown of glory (Rev 4:10) for good work (1Co 3:14).
I don't know what a will in a vacuum means. I also mentioned the "yikes" was in the conclusion of the original statement made of the hypothetical way to live that I stated from what you had suggested earlier, never a personal comment toward you at all.. I used the robot and F as an illustration to help explain the scripture and principles, and Jesus used current relevant stories of the day to do that often, they called them parables. I am unclear of what scripture you are suggesting when you write Co. Is that Corinthians? or Colossians?.
God does speak of accrediting People of God with things in heaven, He says he keeps records of them stored for you. He mentions the bad stuff hidden too, but I like to just talk about the credits, for paul talks many times about this ..He sees his prize not of this earths reward but in the eternal values God has placed in his heart. Transferring from human understanding to a Godly understanding of things. The last will be first and the first last [kind of thing] in adjusting importance of service over receiving.. Martyrs of Christ, God says, "No man hath greater love than to lay down his life for another." He merits the things we do as well.
But Paul
is talking about running the race
of Salvation. Not
for Salvation. Big difference.
The race is simply the living it out with victory. One foot in front of the other until we either pass to the next reality or He comes back.
But 1 Timothy 1:18-19; and Hebrews 3: 12-13.; along with Mark 14-19. suggest warnings that would behoove us to listen to.
I, again, believe in the victory unmovable position, but when you talk of the will as controlled, or the disposition being governed, you are talking not about the Spirits influence, but of robotic type control. This is my description attempting to understand your position, not a human enigma attachment. based on that example...smile. I first don't believe ; Evil can
overtake anyone found in Christ, i if they don't so chose.. In the old-self yes, we sere a slave to it. But, I also don't believe God will hoist us up with a crane and make us perform His will. in this term the heart-purifying process. That is simply forgiveness from grace, applied as we confess willingly.
Have you ever been spoon fed scripture? I didn't say have you ever read things you would rather not read, having to be corrected, but I said spoon fed?.. I haven't....ever! and I have screwed up many times. Have you ever been transformed after willingly reading it?... All the time for me! That only comes from a love developed from an independent will, plugged into the power generator of God's complete victory found for us in Christ and His blood.
God says pick up your cross and follow me daily.
If He operates the cross onto you daily why do you need to pick it up? Now
He does say the battle of your day is His..but, why the need for you picking up the cross daily? If he heart- purify processes us? Because free will is forever, that's why!.
You are correct in saying that when we were in sinful nature we were controlled by it-- a slave to it, God says. And Romans tells of a man after God still controlled by it. But He says we are a slave to righteousness now, right?!! Correct!
Yet, without the will to decide that position we have not love. Satan doesn't want a love relationship with you. He just want's you to not have one with your maker. Anyway, Ok, let me spill the scripture on the text ..
1 Timothy 1:18-19: "This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith..."
Hebrews 3:12-13.: "Take care, brother's, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, lending you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another, everyday, as long as it is called "today", that none of you may be hardened by deceitfulness of sin."
And Mark 4:14-19; in it we see different levels of Christians heart and levels of planted roots, He says to one, Satan comes and takes away the word. In another; He says, in essence, The first guy hasn't stopped debating Satan yet, So he is involved in the debate and guess who is the master liar in that room?!! So they fall being influenced by the thief in the night ...The next illustration the Christian doesn't have any roots.., people that are all over the moment of the saved environment but do nothing to deepen it. Faith without works is dead. No word, No Prayer, no changing habits. Like the man who looked into the mirror and walked off and forgot what he looked like. Other's used the Word and prayer etc, yet where looking at the tyranny of the urgent and not God, the stresses of the World, and pleasures of temptation of Satan crippled them, leaving them unfruitful. Then there's the real Christian they hear the Word and [underline this]
ACCEPT it, hence producing a crop. thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown...proof of Christ being the doer of the fruit.
Yet, the will of man is the faithfulness God requires in that formula. Willingness to say yes to His free offer. Willingness to invest in His, means to an end, in the Word and prayer and obedience. And a willingness to look at Him diligently and not unabashed by Satan or our feelings or pleasures or circumstances....
our will is not driven
by Him for if it were there would be only one parable story there...right?!!
There is the Law of Satans control over us in our old self....Yes!... The Law that Gods spirit controls Satans Spirit's control over us, now..yes! and The Law that We are free from the punishment of Sins rule being found in that Spirit of Life found in being in Christ...Yes! Yet, again,
Our will is not dominated by God for loves sake. He influences thru the holy Spirit....yes! He battles our issues for us daily, and has defeated Satan utterly...Yes ;as we submit!!, but we must still daily submit.