Free Will compatible with Sovereignty

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,682
3,545
113
#61
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV 1900)
And why do they perish? Because they reject the gospel out of their own free will.
 
7

7seasrekeyed

Guest
#63
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:9 (KJV 1900)

Why not?

anyone can quote scripture

now actually understanding it is another matter

now it sounds like you believe you are sinless

so are you? and I don't mean positionally, so don't try to swing it that way

you are swinging in every direction and so far you have not hit a thing
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,390
1,203
113
#64
But in either case, the exercise of your free will is limited to that which God has allowed. Man's freewill can only operate within the boundaries set by God.
God did grant the freedom for man to choose how he wants to live his life here on earth, and mankind choose not to seek God, Psalms 53:2-3. Because of mankind's choice to not seek him, is why he had to choose a portion, Eph 1, out of those that would not seek him, to adopt as his children, and sent his Son to earth to pay the adoption price on the cross, only, for those that he choose. Eternal deliverance is not an offering to man, for man's acceptance, because God, by his foreknowledge, saw that none of mankind would accept him.
 
7

7seasrekeyed

Guest
#65
Yes, but if the will was truly free they would believe.
this is really nonsensical

your will is obviously free to be spouting such non-biblical sentiments :rolleyes:

everyone will not believe in Christ and some spurn Him deliberately

again, with reference to the Israelites, they had it ALL

and still turned from God

reminds me of many today...which is why ALL of scripture is valid and instructional

even a talking donkey could not persuade some
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
113
#66
this is really nonsensical

your will is obviously free to be spouting such non-biblical sentiments :rolleyes:

everyone will not believe in Christ and some spurn Him deliberately

again, with reference to the Israelites, they had it ALL

and still turned from God

reminds me of many today...which is why ALL of scripture is valid and instructional

even a talking donkey could not persuade some
You need a saved will before you can choose saved things.
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
113
#67
anyone can quote scripture

now actually understanding it is another matter

now it sounds like you believe you are sinless

so are you? and I don't mean positionally, so don't try to swing it that way

you are swinging in every direction and so far you have not hit a thing
It means we cannot live a sinful lifestyle. But if we sin we can be forgiven.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,390
1,203
113
#68
anyone can quote scripture

now actually understanding it is another matter

now it sounds like you believe you are sinless

so are you? and I don't mean positionally, so don't try to swing it that way

you are swinging in every direction and so far you have not hit a thing
Pardon my interjection. By Christ's death on the cross, for those that God gave him, caused them to be blameless, as far as, their security of heaven is concerned. They still do sin as they sojourn here in this world, and God chastens them, but they cannot lose their eternal deliverance, due to Christ being in them and them in Christ by being born again. Eph 5, therefore the statement that "they cannot sin"
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,390
1,203
113
#70
What happens if you were to die in a sin?
If you have been born again, with Christ in you, and you in Christ, then you will go to heaven, even it you have not repented. Death is a separation. When we die we are separated from among the living, and when we are born again and sin we are separated from our fellowship with God, but we still will go to heaven, even though we have not repented.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,682
3,545
113
#72
Everyone does. The wages of sin is death.
You said, if we sin we can be forgiven.

We are forgiven all our sin past, present and future. Not can be forgiven, but are forgiven.
 
Jan 17, 2020
4,792
736
113
#73
You said, if we sin we can be forgiven.

We are forgiven all our sin past, present and future. Not can be forgiven, but are forgiven.
This sounds like "Hyper Grace" and Antinomianism.
 
Nov 16, 2019
3,441
860
113
#75
I prefer to discuss the actual gospel

which so far, has not appeared in this thread
Hang around.
Everything I'm saying comes from the scriptures.

I wonder if it was behavioral manipulation or desperation when the thief called out on the cross :unsure:
Here's an example of God's behaviorial manipulation and your desperation:

20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that h the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. - Romans 8:20-21
 

Butterflyyy

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2019
1,580
1,302
113
#76
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” Acts 17:30 (KJV 1900)

It does not imply all can repent. But only that all are sinful.

“correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth” 2 Timothy 2:25 (NET)
Why would God command men everywhere to do something they cannot...I hate how Calvinists apply verses of the Bible to fit in with their thinking when often these verses apply to those who have already received Christ.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,682
3,545
113
#77
Why would God command men everywhere to do something they cannot...I hate how Calvinists apply verses of the Bible to fit in with their thinking when often these verses apply to those who have already received Christ.
Typical calvy response would be, “Don’t question God. His ways are higher than our ways. And then something about the potter and clay...
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,390
1,203
113
#78
Everyone does. The wages of sin is death.
Yes, but there are different kinds of deaths. Death mean "a separation" After we have been born again and commit a sin, we die (separate ourselves) from God's fellowship, until we repent
 

Butterflyyy

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2019
1,580
1,302
113
#79
Part of rightly dividing the scriptures consists of not assuming that words such as; All, world, salvation, death, life, etc. have different applications. All can mean "all that is in this room", "all of the believers" "all of the Gentiles", etc. All mankind is not commanded to repent of breaking a spiritual law. The natural man, as described in 1 Cor 2:14, will not, and even, cannot repent of breaking a spiritual law that he can not discern, and thinks that it is foolishness. The heart of stone of the natural man cannot be pricked to feel guilty of breaking a spiritual law, that he does not understand. The spiritual man has had his heart of stone changed to a heart of flesh that can be pricked to feel guilty of breaking a spiritual law, Eze 36:26-27, and therefore is commanded to repent. You are the one that is "twisting the word of God".
God has created humans with the will to choose, otherwise it belittles God into someone who pre-programmed people to glorify Him, which would be in-genuine. This is a wonderful thing that God did when He made us-He gave us the choice and this is why we will be accountable as to whether we accepted or rejected His Son. This does not mean we deserve anything; it only means we are not fools, for the fool hath said in his heart that there is no God. It means that we love Him because He first loved us; it means that we are humbly and eternally grateful, and we never think that we can boast for it is by grace we are saved.
God created us like this.
God is just. He would not be so unjust as to create babies and children in order for them to be cast into Hell for it is not His will hat any should perish, nor indeed is it His character, for He is full of compassion, so much that He bled and died on the cross for us while we were yet sinners. If you think that any scripture is saying contrary to this, then go and study in more depth than just your English translations because the scripture were not written in the first place in such a limited language; Hebrew for example is a much more complex language, and those who translated the English versions were mere humans. Study to show yourselves approved.
If you have ears to hear, in humility, you will consider this and do it. If you want to cling onto theology that you have been taught by mere men, who have caused you to perceive the scriptures in a different way than they were meant then you will continue in this divisive and wicked doctrine, and be answerable to the Most High for teaching it to others. It is a damaging and cruel doctrine for sure, and I sincerely hope you will prayerfully consider this.
 

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2018
8,390
1,203
113
#80
God has created humans with the will to choose, otherwise it belittles God into someone who pre-programmed people to glorify Him, which would be in-genuine. This is a wonderful thing that God did when He made us-He gave us the choice and this is why we will be accountable as to whether we accepted or rejected His Son. This does not mean we deserve anything; it only means we are not fools, for the fool hath said in his heart that there is no God. It means that we love Him because He first loved us; it means that we are humbly and eternally grateful, and we never think that we can boast for it is by grace we are saved.
God created us like this.
God is just. He would not be so unjust as to create babies and children in order for them to be cast into Hell for it is not His will hat any should perish, nor indeed is it His character, for He is full of compassion, so much that He bled and died on the cross for us while we were yet sinners. If you think that any scripture is saying contrary to this, then go and study in more depth than just your English translations because the scripture were not written in the first place in such a limited language; Hebrew for example is a much more complex language, and those who translated the English versions were mere humans. Study to show yourselves approved.
If you have ears to hear, in humility, you will consider this and do it. If you want to cling onto theology that you have been taught by mere men, who have caused you to perceive the scriptures in a different way than they were meant then you will continue in this divisive and wicked doctrine, and be answerable to the Most High for teaching it to others. It is a damaging and cruel doctrine for sure, and I sincerely hope you will prayerfully consider this.
I appreciate your concern for me, as we should all be concerned for each other. I do believe that God is just and compassionate in all of his endeavors. It is true that God granted mankind the freedom to choose how they wanted to live their lives, and their choices got them into serious trouble. If you have studied your bible, you must be knowledgeable of Psalms 53:2-3, God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Every one of them is gone back; they are altogether become filthy, there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

This is what God saw by his foreknowledge, which made it necessary for him to choose an elect people out of those that would not seek him, Eph 1, and send his Son to adopt them as his children, by his death on the cross, for the adoption price.

It is no wonder, that you are so confused about your understanding of the scriptures, if you do not believe that the scriptures were divinely written, as if it were by God's own hand. I, also, hope you will prayerfully consider what I have posted to you. May God be with you in your spiritual journey.

Just for your information; I do not consult other men's writings for their interpretation of the scriptures. I believe that scripture proves scripture, and they must all harmonize if you are to understand the truths within them.