Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[Genez]

Christ came to save sinners/unbelievers, enemies

But, believers can still sin after they are saved.

That is why God gave us 1 John 1:9 to utilize if we ever find ourselves having sinned.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins ​

and purify us from all unrighteousness.​

I think you might be missing that point.

 

[sawdust]

Christ came to save sinners/unbelievers, enemies

And He saves them when they believe.

Jn.3:16
16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Mark 1:15
‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’
Acts 16:31
They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.’

We are told to believe, believe it or not.

 

[sawdust]

So r u, You need to learn the doctrine of Christ so when someone ask you who is Jesus Christ from scripture and exactly what did He accomplish and for whom, you can give some scriptural details. 2 Jn 1:9


Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Because you appear clueless now

That simply translates to "believe exactly as I do or you will be forever wrong".

Yeah, nah. I'll do my own thinking thanks.

 

[Cameron143]

What do you think Eze 26 26-27 is referring to - the post in which @Lamar said the "passage" was a generalization thereby non-specific of God's desire, and with which you agreed. It is indeed very specific in terms of what God promised that HE alone would impute unto those under His NC: His elect. Therefore, His promises must first be imputed to them for them to truly believe: the old heart is deceitful and desperately wicked above all things, and of itself, completely incapable of true belief.

[Jer 17:9 KJV] 9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?

"

No, the passage is a generalization of God's desire. It is most certainly not soteriology."

Wasn't sure whether to like your first comments or laugh at the latter. I chose laughter .

 

[sawdust]

Please tell us who the Lord Jesus Christ is and what He has done to save His people from their sins, give detail ! Surely Paul explained that to the inquirer in Acts 16:31-32

We don't know what Paul said because it is not spelled out in the text. I think it safe to say though, he gave them what he considered of first importance which, is what I have already said.

1Cor.15:3-4
3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

 

[sawdust]

None say not to believe nor did I say that, but natural man cannot truly believe. Read 1 Co 2 in its entirety as I suggested you do, understand it, come back, and we can discuss then.

Again that is why God comes to us with grace! Strewth man, open your ears and hear!

The sin nature that opposes God is in the flesh, not the mind. (Rom.7) When grace suppresses the influence of the flesh over the mind and presents it with the truth, the mind can make it's own decision to believe or not believe.

How about you read the whole of scripture and come back to me when you have put it all together.

 

[sawdust]

unbelief resides in the old sin nature, so one can never believe while in that sin nature, it[belief/faith] must come from a new nature.

And that sin nature is in the flesh, not the mind and that new nature comes about as we are transformed in our thinking by the truth.

 

[brightfame52]

But, believers can still sin after they are saved.

Okay

 

[brightfame52]

And He saves them when they believe.

No they believe after they are saved. B4 Salvation their nature is one of unbelief, children of disobedience or unbelief Eph 2:2

 

[brightfame52]

That simply translates to "believe exactly as I do or you will be forever wrong".

Yeah, nah. I'll do my own thinking thanks.

I dont think you know the first thing about the Lord Jesus Christ, who He is, what He done and for whom He did it, was He successful !

 

[rogerg]

Again that is why God comes to us with grace! Strewth man, open your ears and hear!

The sin nature that opposes God is in the flesh, not the mind. (Rom.7) When grace suppresses the influence of the flesh over the mind and presents it with the truth, the mind can make it's own decision to believe or not believe.

How about you read the whole of scripture and come back to me when you have put it all together.

Again not! God's grace as it pertains to salvation is, in itself, both beginning and the end, not a means to an end.
Apparently, you have no understanding of that kind of grace. Man is saved solely by God's action by His grace, not his own.
So, go back to Scripture, read about it, understand it (if you can), then come back and we can discuss.
Hate to say it but you're kiinda dense.

 

[brightfame52]

We don't know what Paul said because it is not spelled out in the text.

He told them things that are written in his epistles. And he used the OT scriptures to preach the Gospel 1 Cor 15:3-4

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Now explain how he used the OT scriptures to preach the Gospel of Christ. What all does the OT scriptures say about who Jesus is, what He has done, and for who and was He successful. Lets see you do that

 

[NightTwister]

Good point, my error.


Job 32:8
But there is a spirit in human beings, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.

We are not created as mindless animals.

Even those who are lost have understanding and without excuse.

Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:


Not sure what this means.

You're just being obtuse. You know the difference between spiritual life and spiritual death. You choose not to acknowledge it in this case because it undermines your theology.

 

[brightfame52]

And that sin nature is in the flesh, not the mind and that new nature comes about as we are transformed in our thinking by the truth.

Before saved, all we have is a unbelieving sin nature and heart.

 

[GWH]

From Paul to the Proud.

https://groovykerygma.bandcamp.com/track/from-paul-to-the-proud

 

[Genez]

No they believe after they are saved. B4 Salvation their nature is one of unbelief, children of disobedience or unbelief Eph 2:2

Why do you keep choosing to believe that lie?

Acts 16:31

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,
you and your household.”

Your version would read?

So they said, Be saved and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Something just does not sit right with spelling it out like you would have us to believe.


You were suckered.
Because, possibly, you liked the personality of the person who taught you what you now prefer to believe.

Who ever he was, rationalized what he taught you to get you to feel you are smarter than most Christians.
You have had a need to feel smarter than you are, perhaps?

So be it....

 

[Genez]

Before saved, all we have is a unbelieving sin nature and heart.

The sin nature is in the flesh.
Not the soul.

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." Romans 7:18​

Before you were saved your fallen flesh dominated over your soul.

To get saved?
GRACE must first control the flesh, allowing the soul to be made free to consider the words about salvation.

God is sovereign.
He can do that!

.......

 

[rogerg]

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,
you and your household.”

Your version would read?

So they said, Be saved and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Something just does not sit right with spelling it out like you would have us to believe.

that's cause you don't understand what that verse is actually saying

 

[sawdust]

I dont think you know the first thing about the Lord Jesus Christ, who He is, what He done and for whom He did it, was He successful !

You are welcome to your thoughts.

 

[sawdust]

Again not! God's grace as it pertains to salvation is, in itself, both beginning and the end, not a means to an end.
Apparently, you have no understanding of that kind of grace. Man is saved solely by God's action by His grace, not his own.
So, go back to Scripture, read about it, understand it (if you can), then come back and we can discuss.
Hate to say it but you're kiinda dense.

Yep, dense like a steel plate. That's why your barbs just bounce right off me.

Have a good one mate.