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throughfaith

Well-known member
Aug 4, 2020
10,467
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#81
Are you sure you want to use these?...

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Eph 1:11)

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Rom 8:23)

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
(Rom 8:29-30)

Seems like only Eph 1:5 gives the Arminian a leg to stand on.
Rom 8:23 seems immaterial to the discussion.
Eph 1:11 and Rom 8:29-30 counters your position.
Rom 8.23 is critical to the discussion, and completely destroys the idea that Predestination is about sinners to conversion.And most Armins agree with Calvinism that Predestination took place before they were born. The only difference is they think its according to God seeing that they would believe . This is just an inconsistent attempt to move away from the consequences of the system Arminaism came from . Calvinism.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
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#82
Why pick an error?. I know you are being sarcastic. Both are an error.

So this is my question.
Why would anyone think that you can choose to believe or have faith in something? That's not even how our mind works. We believe anything we believe because we are convinced by outside evidence. Now here is a strange thing that humans can do that I find to be one very annoying thing. I have watched people reject believing something even though they are clearly convinced. They rejected because they chose to hold on to a position that they held prior. They couldn't accept being wrong even though they were just convinced they were. They rejected the new evidence. But it has never happened that someone chose to believe a thing by force of will. So why would be think that it would be different when it comes to faith in God? If someone says they choose to believe a thing it usually means they are rejecting something new that would change the old belief.



I can't answer your questions because I don't believe someones will is being forced?
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#83
I can't answer your questions because I don't believe someones will is being forced?
I agree. It's impossible to force a will. One who believes does so because he is convinced, it's not that he chooses to or is pressed to. The only thing the human will can do is reject. We see it all the time; with different subjects. The political world is absolute evidence that people believe what they are convinced of regardless of any information presented. This is exemplary of the human will to reject evidence, and maintain a false position. That is how those who love their wickedness reject the Gospel truth.
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
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#84
I agree. It's impossible to force a will. One who believes does so because he is convinced, it's not that he chooses to or is pressed to. The only thing the human will can do is reject. We see it all the time; with different subjects. The political world is absolute evidence that people believe what they are convinced of regardless of any information presented. This is exemplary of the human will to reject evidence, and maintain a false position. That is how those who love their wickedness reject the Gospel truth.


Th nature of man indeed.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#85
Scripture does, however, say (in the words of Jesus):

Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and
the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.

*
I shall lose none of those He has given Me...
*
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.
No one can snatch them out of My hand.
And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:10‭-‬13 ESV
and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
2 Timothy 4:4 ESV
There are other turning away passages and even an term called apostasy. There are people who walk away from the truth after being raised in the truth. Your colleges are doing a bang up job of destroying faith.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#86
Th nature of man indeed.
So faith comes by hearing the word of God. People become convinced by the Holy Spirit and believe or they reject the truth by the force of their own will.
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
1,912
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#87
I agree. It's impossible to force a will. One who believes does so because he is convinced, it's not that he chooses to or is pressed to. The only thing the human will can do is reject. We see it all the time; with different subjects. The political world is absolute evidence that people believe what they are convinced of regardless of any information presented. This is exemplary of the human will to reject evidence, and maintain a false position. That is how those who love their wickedness reject the Gospel truth.
So to be clear, it is ultimately their own choice to reject it, right?
 

phil36

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2009
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#88
So faith comes by hearing the word of God. People become convinced by the Holy Spirit and believe or they reject the truth by the force of their own will.

Yes once the Holy Spirit has renewed/released that will that was in bondage. I would agree with Luther on that.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,675
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#90
become convinced by the Holy Spirit
Is it possible to be convinced of something and at the same time not believe it? Can you believe something that you remain unconvinced of?

Or is believing and being convinced the same thing? Does being convinced imply belief, and does unbelief imply being unconvinced?
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
1,912
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#92
Is it possible to be convinced of something and at the same time not believe it? Can you believe something that you remain unconvinced of?

Or is believing and being convinced the same thing? Does being convinced imply belief, and does unbelief imply being unconvinced?
Is it possible to believe something, yet not accept it?

Like eating healthy, many people believe it is good for you. Still many choose not to do it.

I know people who say they believe in Jesus, but don't want to be saved. They like what their doing and don't want to change. Isn't this like the people in darkness, who choose not to come to the light because they don't want their sins to be reproved?
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#93
Isnt "being convinced" tantamount to having ones will changed by an outside force?
I don't think that the presentation of evidence can equated to force, unless you hold a person against their will to present the information.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#94
Is it possible to be convinced of something and at the same time not believe it? Can you believe something that you remain unconvinced of?

Or is believing and being convinced the same thing? Does being convinced imply belief, and does unbelief imply being unconvinced?
I think a person can be convinced and believe, or even be convinced and reject. I do not think that a person who is not convinced can actually believe.
 
B

Blackpowderduelist

Guest
#95
Yes once the Holy Spirit has renewed/released that will that was in bondage. I would agree with Luther on that.
Now a person can still bolster himself and reject Grace even then.
 
Oct 19, 2020
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#97
And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:10‭-‬13 ESV
and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
2 Timothy 4:4 ESV
There are other turning away passages and even an term called apostasy. There are people who walk away from the truth after being raised in the truth. Your colleges are doing a bang up job of destroying faith.
Don't forget that Christ also said He is [sending] a {great Delusion} and that many will FALL AWAY!
Is that Homosexuality being accepted and allowed to lead the Church, like now + other false idealism's?
 

tribesman

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2011
4,612
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#98
Now a person can still bolster himself and reject Grace even then.
The unsaved reject God all along since they are at enmity with Him. However, do you think an unsaved person can humble himself and receive God's grace then?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,675
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#99
Is it possible to believe something, yet not accept it?

Like eating healthy, many people believe it is good for you. Still many choose not to do it.

I know people who say they believe in Jesus, but don't want to be saved. They like what their doing and don't want to change. Isn't this like the people in darkness, who choose not to come to the light because they don't want their sins to be reproved?
I think that many people are in this category, that they know, they believe, and they still reject the truth.

But isn't there a difference between knowing you should do something but not doing it, and not even knowing in the first place?
So there is a difference between saying "I think the Bible is fairy tales and people made-up god, there is no such thing" versus saying "I really think there is a god, even Jesus, but I don't care"

Maybe I think eating activated charcoal isn't good for me, so I don't. Or maybe I do think it's good for me but I choose not to - - those are two different scenarios.

What getting at is that if it's like Jesus Himself explicitly said, that no one knows God except who God chooses to reveal Himself to, then it's not necessarily the case that salvation comes down to an individuals absolutely free choice. A person doesn't have that choice unless God first chooses to open their ear to hear and their heart to understand the gospel.
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
36,675
13,131
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I think a person can be convinced and believe, or even be convinced and reject. I do not think that a person who is not convinced can actually believe.
When an evangelist comes to town and holds his big meeting, is he trying to manipulate people's will by convincing them to believe and to act on it?
I'm thinking of Charles Finney and the revivalist/great awakening movement. About altar calls and emotional sermons designed to evoke particular responses from the audience. Is it right? And who is doing the convincing?

And i am thinking how we pray for someone who is not saved, asking that they become a believer - aren't we asking God to change their will and cause them to believe when we pray for them?