Faith
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Just because you do not understand Scripture and see it as nonsensical does not mean others fail to grasp the Truth.
Still it is very odd you believe natural men capable of good considering he is a lover of darkness and captive to the will of the devil who has blinded them. You reduce belief to making a moral decision when there are none good, none righteous, no not one, and Scripture explicitly states they are incapable of obeying. Then you pretend Scripture does not say such things as God will replace the hostile heart, the one of stone, and give a heart that may love Him. Notice it does not say a heart that already does. Yeah, you twist that too.
2 Corinthians 4:4 plus I wonder how when someone is blind to something, which, let's face it, means they cannot see it at all, or comprehend it, and finds the message connected to it foolishness, and is hostile in their minds toward the One True God behind it all, and loves evil, and suppresses truth, and cannot come to God on his own, being a slave of sin and unable to submit to God's law... I wonder how these people who push "free will" think such a person suddenly decides to throw over their very human nature and choose something he cannot even receive... some say without any help from God at all.
Still it is very odd you believe natural men capable of good considering he is a lover of darkness and captive to the will of the devil who has blinded them. You reduce belief to making a moral decision when there are none good, none righteous, no not one, and Scripture explicitly states they are incapable of obeying. Then you pretend Scripture does not say such things as God will replace the hostile heart, the one of stone, and give a heart that may love Him. Notice it does not say a heart that already does. Yeah, you twist that too.
2 Corinthians 4:4 plus I wonder how when someone is blind to something, which, let's face it, means they cannot see it at all, or comprehend it, and finds the message connected to it foolishness, and is hostile in their minds toward the One True God behind it all, and loves evil, and suppresses truth, and cannot come to God on his own, being a slave of sin and unable to submit to God's law... I wonder how these people who push "free will" think such a person suddenly decides to throw over their very human nature and choose something he cannot even receive... some say without any help from God at all.
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No I do not. God wills that all men believe. It's perverse IMO to think that God subverts his own will for some kind of egoistic rush. The concept of total inability is gnostic in origin and entered the church through Augustine, who was a former gnostic, and then through Calvin and Luther who based their theology on his writings, instead of the writings of the early church fathers, to whom the concept of total inability was non-existent.
Now as Jesus was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth, and His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi,
who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man
nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him."
who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man
nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God would be displayed in him."
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Yet He has allowed the god of this world to blind men and take them captive to his (the devil's) will.
In fact Jesus was purposed from before the foundation of the world because God knew man would
turn away from Him and try to live under his own authority despite the promise of death. The
history of human suffering began with an act of disobedience God allowed to happen.
In fact Jesus was purposed from before the foundation of the world because God knew man would
turn away from Him and try to live under his own authority despite the promise of death. The
history of human suffering began with an act of disobedience God allowed to happen.
Paul taught it before Augustine did. Romans 7:18-19 For I know that good itself does not dwell in
me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.
Some are so confused they have claimed this only applies to Christians and not the natural man.
Whereas my Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit of God enables people to do that which is pleasing to God.
John 15:5c; Philippians 2:13 Apart from Me you can do nothing. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do.
Some are so confused they have claimed this only applies to Christians and not the natural man.
Whereas my Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit of God enables people to do that which is pleasing to God.
John 15:5c; Philippians 2:13 Apart from Me you can do nothing. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
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Romans 7:18 absolutely applies to the natural man. The natural man has nothing aside
from a sinful nature, being not yet born again of God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Yet
some believe that out of this nature that cannot do good springs the ability to please God.
Some even believe that God is not needed at all to produce such a change in the natural man.
from a sinful nature, being not yet born again of God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Yet
some believe that out of this nature that cannot do good springs the ability to please God.
Some even believe that God is not needed at all to produce such a change in the natural man.
Are you of the opinion then, that when Scripture says it is God who works through you to will and to do His good pleasure, the works He planned beforehand for you to do (Sorry I'm on my phone @ work while making coffee and cannot navigate away from the page to get the exact wording or the verse citations) this does not apply to everyone who is saved but only to certain people among the saved? I mean the verses that I just gave explicitly said you can't do anything aside from Him...
God works through us via his word and spirit. This applies to every believer. We can't do anything righteous apart from the word and witness of the holy spirit which guide us. Those inform and enable us to do righteous works. If I think God is doing everything because I can't do anything, then I'm not doing anything; it's is a passive faith that doesn't produces fruit IMO