Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Genez]

Eze 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Everlasting = no death...
The soul shall die....

Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. ....

.
The soul of the unbeliever will leave the body... and will be dead physically.
Such a soul of the unbeliever was already dead spiritually.

We can think and act in a higher level
Animals have instinct and act on instinct.

We can reason and choose things because of morals and conscious. We can be filled by and influenced by the Holy Spirit.

Unlike Animals.

Also...

If we develop and mature in Christ enough?
We can begin to think with God.


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[GWH]

Destroyed does not have to mean annihilation.

For this passage could not be truthful if that was the intended meaning..

​

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, ​

where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented ​

day and night for ever and ever." Revelation 20:10​

It does because going beyond the point justice is achieved would be unjust.

OT and RV pronouncements of something being forever can mean indefinitely until God does something new/else.

Of course, the devil might be justly punished darn close to "forever"!

 

[ATSTD]

We all have our cross to bear, and yours may be heavy,
but I think you will have greater joy in heaven,
just as an artist has greater appreciation for a painting
than someone who is rather ignorant of that subject.

Thanks GWH, that was very meaningful of you to say.

 

[ATSTD]

See this is the issue. Unbelievers cannot choose to follow God and His ways. ONLY believers can.

Unbelievers ONLY choice is the Gospel Of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are sinners in need of a Savior, and The Lord Jesus Christ offers it to ALL, everywhere and at all times.

Following God and Knowing His ways comes AFTER we are saved and have His Spirit.

His Gospel is for ALL. Knowing Him is only for Spirit filled believers.

I noticed that.

I was in the car with my mother a couple hours ago and told her to put on a Christian radio station and she put on Prince and thought it was Christian music. I told her, "This person is worshipping a person or a woman, in this case. In Christian music, they are worshipping God."

 

[ATSTD]

It's a bit complicated because we have to sides...
The flesh wants to follow the pleasing things that are mostly ungodly.
But the Spirit wants to follow God

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

So it is a battle but with Jesus we can overcome. This is the choice we have.

Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

We can yield to obey God ..

Is TMS your initials? or Trans-cranial Magnetic Stimulation?

 

[GWH]

I noticed that.

I was in the car with my mother a couple hours ago and told her to put on a Christian radio station and she put on Prince and thought it was Christian music. I told her, "This person is worshipping a person or a woman, in this case. In Christian music, they are worshipping God."

Can you play music on your phone in the car that will cast using bluetooth? So, you can enjoy your favorite Christian songs?

 

[Genez]

It does because going beyond the point justice is achieved would be unjust.

OT and RV pronouncements of something being forever can mean indefinitely until God does something new/else.

Of course, the devil might be justly punished darn close to "forever"!

Their rejection is of eternal God.
Their punishment must match the crime.

Sorry... But Scripture does not say that they will cease existing.

 

[Genez]

What part of "only man's soul is created in God's image" did you not understand? This is why we can think and act at a higher level than animals. Their souls are not created in God's image.

A horse can not think with Scripture to know truth and to then walk in that truth by means of the filling of the Spirit.

.... Unless... of course, of course.
...............................Its a talking horse.
.........................................The amazing Mr. Ed!


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[GWH]

Their rejection is of eternal God.
Their punishment must match the crime.

Sorry... But Scripture does not say that they will cease existing.

Yes, and a biblical indicator is the "eye for eye" principle and reaping what is sown--which are not infinite, although sinners on the scale of Hitler, Stalin and Mao competed to see who could get the most hell.

Destruction can mean cease existing, and this meaning means hell is just
(and thus loving :^)

 

[Genez]

Yes, and a biblical indicator is the "eye for eye" principle and reaping what is sown--which are not infinite, although sinners on the scale of Hitler, Stalin and Mao competed to see who could get the most hell.

Destruction can mean cease existing, and this meaning means hell is just
(and thus loving :^)

Those were weak examples.
And, makes no sense.

In the mean while....

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone ​

where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day ​

and night forever and ever." Revelation 20:10-15​

The beast and false prophet are humans.

And, what does it tell us?

It says what? That they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Your argument is not with me.

It is with the Word of God.

.

 

[Genez]

It does because going beyond the point justice is achieved would be unjust.

You are saying God as unjust.

 

[sawdust]

Soul was designed to "last forever."

The soul belonging to God will 'live' forever... Having eternal life!
Forever in amazing life and joys that we can not fathom in our present state.

As for the unbeliever's soul?
That soul of the unbeliever will only 'exist' forever.

Existing forever in the Lake of Fire... where the worm never dies.
Endlessly existing... and always wishing it could die and be no more.

If God stepped outside from His justice?
And, God decreed that all unbelievers would be spared the Lake of Fire?

The promotion they would receive when resurrected would have put them on equal footing with believers.
And, their evil would then become supercharged... Always wishing to destroy the happiness of believers
whom they would be eternally jealous of. It would be like a never ending battle of having to defend oneself
from the hateful, liberal media we see today.

Justice must stand eternal!

..........

That is pretty much how I understood your definition of everlasting although I may not have said it as well.

 

[sawdust]

Their rejection is of eternal God.
Their punishment must match the crime.

Sorry... But Scripture does not say that they will cease existing.

Agreed, their rejection is forever, their punishment will last forever.

 

[GWH]

Those were weak examples.
And, makes no sense.

In the mean while....

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone ​

where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day ​

and night forever and ever." Revelation 20:10-15​

The beast and false prophet are humans.

And, what does it tell us?

It says what? That they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Your argument is not with me.

It is with the Word of God.

.

And because humans are finite, which tells us their sins cannot be infinite.
I have harmonized GW; and I have shared with you how to do the same.

 

[sawdust]

And because humans are finite, which tells us their sins cannot be infinite.
I have harmonized GW; and I have shared with you how to do the same.

The Cross dealt with sins, they are not the issue. People go to the lake of fire for their rejection of God and that is never ending.

 

[GWH]

The Cross dealt with sins, they are not the issue. People go to the lake of fire for their rejection of God and that is never ending.

Rejection of God is the first sin and primary issue.
Such sin is finite and thus would not justify infinite punishment,
although Hitler's would last longer than a teenager in Mongolia in 700 B.C.
who only had general revelation.

 

[GWH]

Many have probably realised i don't think we can exercise free will, even think it's impossible for us to. Won't explain why i think it's an impossiblility for us yet, think it's useful for some to express why they think it exists first.

I have no doubt we have and can make choices throughout life, however, think our options are far more restricted than most realise. What do you think?

Can we NOT exercise free will?
Not really, because not exercising FW is exercising FW not to exercise FW.
(Capice ? :^)

 

[LifelongLearner]

Can we NOT exercise free will?
Not really, because not exercising FW is exercising FW not to exercise FW.
(Capice ? :^)

Oh glory! Disappointing stuff from you but must admit, i'm not surprised, saw the possibility. As i've said to you many times, including just a couple of days ago, you conflate choice with free will. The only being who can execute their choices unilaterally is the Lord, the created can't unless it's something of negligible consequence to others.

 

[LifelongLearner]

Can we NOT exercise free will?
Not really, because not exercising FW is exercising FW not to exercise FW.
(Capice ? :^)

Reread and grinning ear to ear, it's funny nice one GWH!

 

[studier]

The amazing famous Mr. Ed!