Can We Really Exercise Free Will?

[BillyBob]

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?

Thanks for posting this question and here is my response or what I believe to be true:
We are called out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
However, being called is not enough to be a saint. We must respond to that calling (invitation). Positive action is required! To be chosen, a person must accept his or her calling, be grateful for it and move forward in serving God and His Son.
By grace God's people receive a new heart enabling them to do just that, respond to this call. This is the work which is done through hearing of God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit poured out on those who belong to Him. God does it all!

Would we respond without being enabled by the Holy Spirit? Absolutely Not!

 

[Magenta]

John 3 verses 19-20 and from Psalm 10 verse 4 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. The wicked reviles the Lord

 

[LifelongLearner]

Thanks for posting this question and here is my response or what I believe to be true:
We are called out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
However, being called is not enough to be a saint. We must respond to that calling (invitation). Positive action is required! To be chosen, a person must accept his or her calling, be grateful for it and move forward in serving God and His Son.
By grace God's people receive a new heart enabling them to do just that, respond to this call. This is the work which is done through hearing of God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit poured out on those who belong to Him. God does it all!

Would we respond without being enabled by the Holy Spirit? Absolutely Not!

Cheers for your lovely comment BillyBob and that scripture from 1Peter is so true. The last year has been incredible for me, i've had an understanding of the evil going down for a few decades now. I knew there was nothing we could do about it and felt such grief because of the future, or lack of future rather, my children would face.

It almost makes me happy to know these things must be and God will sort it all out at the perfect moment. Hope that makes some sense.

 

[LifelongLearner]

John 3 verses 19-20 and from Psalm 10 verse 4 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. The wicked reviles the Lord

i do like John's Gospel very much sweet sister, it has fantastic insights probably due to him being so much older than the other Gospel writers when he wrote his.

Don't think i'd actually object to looking really young again but there's no way i'd wish any of my years away. The insights and confidence which come with age more than compensate for having less physical vitality.

Weirdly, pretty sure it was this comment of yours i tried to post a reaction to, however, a message appeared saying i didn't have permission to react. Pretty weird, had several issues on the site today.

 

[LifelongLearner]

I recognize that you just used MFW and do so in every post, but do YOU?

You're the one with such delusions......

 

[Genez]

They are but you and your buddies see it as freedom to troll.

Why did you say that?

The fact remains.
God somehow grants us the capacity for free will.
It is done by His grace enabling us.

 

[Genez]

Scripture says the natural man, indeed the whole world (which does not include believers who have been called out of the world) is under the power and influence of the devil, and some are explicitly said to have been taken captive to the will of the devil. How anyone interprets that as freedom I simply cannot fathom. Praise the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever... and for freedom He has set us free.

God defeated that!

What was, was.

Grace makes all things new!

 

[BillyBob]

Cheers for your lovely comment BillyBob and that scripture from 1Peter is so true. The last year has been incredible for me, i've had an understanding of the evil going down for a few decades now. I knew there was nothing we could do about it and felt such grief because of the future, or lack of future rather, my children would face.

It almost makes me happy to know these things must be and God will sort it all out at the perfect moment. Hope that makes some sense.

I have read your about information and understand that you are new to Christianity. The one thing good about it, is that it is never too late, and you have made remarkable progress in the short time that you have become one. I was also in my 50's before accepting God!
So, continue on and be strong in your faith.........God Bless!

 

[Magenta]

I have read your about information and understand that you are new to Christianity. The one thing good about it, is that it is never too late, and you have made remarkable progress in the short time that you have become one. I was also in my 50's before accepting God!
So, continue on and be strong in your faith.........God Bless!

Oh! I was in my 50th year at the time of my conversion.

Some may not realize that that means I would be 50 on my next birthday haha.

I was baptized close to four months before I turned 50.

 

[LifelongLearner]

Why did you say that?

The fact remains.
God somehow grants us the capacity for free will.
It is done by His grace enabling us.

In all fairness, i would say you're more easily led than malicious like some of the people you troll with Genez. However, insightful comments aren't your forte, unlike Homewardplease in the comment beneath this one of yours. He/she is spot on!

 

[LifelongLearner]

I have read your about information and understand that you are new to Christianity. The one thing good about it, is that it is never too late, and you have made remarkable progress in the short time that you have become one. I was also in my 50's before accepting God!
So, continue on and be strong in your faith.........God Bless!

Another beautiful, spirit filled comment BillyBob, bless you for it, means a lot to me. I was actually in my mid-'60's when the truth gently whacked me in the mush, still clinging on to my mid-'60's but as Magenta shows, nearing 70 is no barrier to joy in the truth you've been told.

Maybe we appreciate what a wonderful gift has been given us more, if we receive it later in life?

 

[homwardbound]

Righteousness Of Christ ~ “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” You were dead in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience. The Son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it. If Christ is in you, your spirit is alive because of righteousness. We put on the righteousness of Christ.

Psalm 100:4, amazing gift, called to do and not take any credit in doing it, thanks again Sister Magenta, God is good all the time as good is God all the time and has been since day one in God's mysterious ways, seriously loves us all to see and be new in love and mercy too, wow

 

[Genez]

In all fairness, i would say you're more easily led than malicious like some of the people you troll with Genez. However, insightful comments aren't your forte, unlike Homewardplease in the comment beneath this one of yours. He/she is spot on!

If someone agrees with you? It is insightful.
If someone shows correction? It is inciteful.

We are all being led by someone, or something.

The Spirit cuts through and opens to light.
Or, the emotions cut out, and hunker down in a peaceful form of stubbornness with like-minded ones.

So.... Be who you are self-determined to be!

It will be the Lord whom that the absolute showdown will take place with.

(taking your friends with you will do you no good)

 

[Genez]

They are but you and your buddies see it as freedom to troll.

Rather... Free to think rationally with the Word of God.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Ah! My comment above answers yours too and i have said similar earlier today. It's just silly to say we choose freely when we are so fallen and live in an evil system which harms and corrupts us much further.

Free will is currently an impossibility for us and a lie this evil system promotes, thankfully the LORD knows the perfect time to bring it to an end.[/QUOT

Have you ever thought about this path ?

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭

Do you think there’s anything to what Jesus is saying there ?

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.

But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh;

rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

are we able to choose between those two things ?

 

[Genez]

Have you ever thought about this path ?

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭

Do you think there’s anything to what Jesus is saying there ?

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.

But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh;

rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

are we able to choose between those two things ?

The choice to believe something, or not....
Is still a product of human volition.

Where certain Calvinists get tripped up is to broad stroke our absolute inability to live righteously,
to overflow into having an absolute inability to choose between good and evil.

Adam and Eve were instantly thrown into a world of having to decide and choose between good and evil!
They had fee volition concerning what God decreed was to be man's area of choosing.

They just went too far with total depravity.
Found friends that agreed with them.
And, then chose comradery with likeminded souls,
over Truth that demands a cross to be alone with that which we choose.

 

[Genez]

Have you ever thought about this path ?

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭

Do you think there’s anything to what Jesus is saying there ?

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.

But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh;

rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

are we able to choose between those two things ?

The choice to believe something, or not....
Is still a product of human volition.

Where certain Calvinists get tripped up is to broad stroke our absolute inability to live righteously,
to overflow into having an absolute inability to choose between good and evil.

Adam and Eve were instantly thrown into a world of having to decide and choose between good and evil!
They had fee volition concerning what God decreed was to be man's area of choosing.

They just went too far with total depravity.
Found friends that agreed with them.
And, then chose comradery with likeminded souls,
over Truth that demands a cross to be alone with that which we choose.

 

[LifelongLearner]

If someone agrees with you? It is insightful.
If someone shows correction? It is inciteful.

We are all being led by someone, or something.

The Spirit cuts through and opens to light.
Or, the emotions cut out, and hunker down in a peaceful form of stubbornness with like-minded ones.

So.... Be who you are self-determined to be!

It will be the Lord whom that the absolute showdown will take place with.

(taking your friends with you will do you no good)

See, this is why i can say you and your trolling buddies, have really lost the plot when commenting. You make it all about bigging up yourselves, being argumentative and competitive with other commenters, rather than discussing the truth and wisdom of what God teaches us.

Nothing you said there relates to me at all, it's just the usual wind inducing word salad, you lot conjure up, hoping it makes you look wise. It doesn't, i find it nauseating now, tried to help you stop being so silly but will now just call you out.

 

[Genez]

See, this is why i can say you and your trolling buddies, have really lost the plot when commenting. You make it all about bigging up yourselves, being argumentative and competitive with other commenters, rather than discussing the truth and wisdom of what God teaches us.

Nothing you said there relates to me at all, it's just the usual wind inducing word salad, you lot conjure up, hoping it makes you look wise. It doesn't, i find it nauseating now, tried to help you stop being so silly but will now just call you out.

We are not trolling. We are using our "freed will"(by grace) to stand there and note what you keep falling into.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

The choice to believe something, or not....
Is still a product of human volition.

Where certain Calvinists get tripped up is to broad stroke our absolute inability to live righteously,
to overflow into having an absolute inability to choose between good and evil.

Adam and Eve were instantly thrown into a world of having to decide and choose between good and evil!
They had fee volition concerning what God decreed was to be man's area of choosing.

They just went too far with total depravity.
Found friends that agreed with them.
And, then chose comradery with likeminded souls,
over Truth that demands a cross to be alone with that which we choose.

“The choice to believe something, or not....
Is still a product of human volition.”

yes I agree we have to choose God he’s already died for our sins and told us how to be saved now we need to accept it and choose him freely and willingly.

“Where certain Calvinists get tripped up is to broad stroke our absolute inability to live righteously,
to overflow into having an absolute inability to choose between good and evil.”

yeah we’re capable of choosing and doing good the problem is fornus we’re also capable of choosing and doing evil . This was the dynamic caused by Adam his first born son followed evil but abel is called righteous by his works . This is a good micro view of humanity some will be like cain and when they hear God call them to repentance they’ll reject his word and do evil anyways


others will sin of course eventually but when they hear him calling for repentance they’ll respond with repentance and belief and rhier works will change from what they were to what they’re supposed to be . That’s why he’s so clear about judgement

“God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”

To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; For God does not show favoritism.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:6-9, 11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Because that’s true we need to really take the gospel and word of god seriously when we hear him call for repentance and change in our behavior .

We’re capable of making choices between opposing things and we’re capable of following that thing we choose this is how it’s just for God to tell us how he’s going to judge us based on our deeds we can but we end up choosing the evil tbats so prevelant and so justly we’re considered guilty and condemned if left to ourselves

but we aren’t left to ourselves Jesus came to save us if we believe his word on the gospel he will lead us where we need to go ….