Can We Really Exercise Free Will?
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But this doesn't change the fact that God's will is not contingent on man's. Plus I have given plenty of examples from scripture wherein God has often "forced" his will upon his moral creatures -- in spite of them being "volitional creatures".
You also fail to understand the uselessness of volition in HELPLESS creatures. Did the half-dead crime victim in the Parable of the Good Samaritan exercise his "freewill" before he was RESCUED by the Samaritan?
You also fail to understand the uselessness of volition in HELPLESS creatures. Did the half-dead crime victim in the Parable of the Good Samaritan exercise his "freewill" before he was RESCUED by the Samaritan?
Oh right, every parable and story is about the plan of salvation and the six feet under ground crowd.
I guess we should be holding evangelistic crusades at grave yards.
Why on earth do you think that agreeing with the truth (believing) has some magical power to create reality? You believing the sun will rise does not make it rise. You believing it will rain when the skies are grey does not make it rain. Our believing does nothing to alter the situation. The reason the situation changes (from death to life) is because this is what the LORD God has promised to those who believe. John 3:16
I never said that and honestly how you even heard that boggles my mind. What I said was John uses "kosmos" two ways. It represents the entirety of the world and it's inhabitants or it represents the Satan like thinking system, but at no time have I found John ever use the word "kosmos" to represent believers only.
I showed you three verses where John used "kosmos" in the former sense. You chose one verse that John used "kosmos" in the latter sense but neither of which represent believers only yet you want to say the three verses I chose has "kosmos" as being only believers and the verse you chose as "kosmos" representing unbelievers only. You don't even have a consistent view of who is the "world" but leap back and forth from opposing definitions to suit your narrative.
Christ came to save sinners to which the whole world belongs. He is the Lamb who takes away the sin (singular ie the sin barrier which comprises of everyone's sin) of the world we call Earth which is composed of sinners (that's all of us) so that whosoever can believe, not just a select few and to those who do find themself believing the truth that is made known by the grace of God, God delivers them from the kingdom of darkness into His Kingdom, from death to life (regeneration), from condemnation to justification. He does not save you (regeneration) to save you with the Gospel.
He didn't pay it piecemeal. You can't remove the sin barrier by leaving pieces of the sin barrier. That is not taking it away. It's either gone for all or it is not gone at all. The Lord does not look into His books Rev.20:12 to see whose sins were not nailed to the tree but whose work is compliant with His command to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jn.6:29 All sins were nailed to the tree which, is how the Lamb can take away the sin of the world.
If anyone wants to know if their individual sins are paid for? There is but one place to be, I'll give you a hint, it is not in the world.
I never said that and honestly how you even heard that boggles my mind. What I said was John uses "kosmos" two ways. It represents the entirety of the world and it's inhabitants or it represents the Satan like thinking system, but at no time have I found John ever use the word "kosmos" to represent believers only.
I showed you three verses where John used "kosmos" in the former sense. You chose one verse that John used "kosmos" in the latter sense but neither of which represent believers only yet you want to say the three verses I chose has "kosmos" as being only believers and the verse you chose as "kosmos" representing unbelievers only. You don't even have a consistent view of who is the "world" but leap back and forth from opposing definitions to suit your narrative.
Christ came to save sinners to which the whole world belongs. He is the Lamb who takes away the sin (singular ie the sin barrier which comprises of everyone's sin) of the world we call Earth which is composed of sinners (that's all of us) so that whosoever can believe, not just a select few and to those who do find themself believing the truth that is made known by the grace of God, God delivers them from the kingdom of darkness into His Kingdom, from death to life (regeneration), from condemnation to justification. He does not save you (regeneration) to save you with the Gospel.
He didn't pay it piecemeal. You can't remove the sin barrier by leaving pieces of the sin barrier. That is not taking it away. It's either gone for all or it is not gone at all. The Lord does not look into His books Rev.20:12 to see whose sins were not nailed to the tree but whose work is compliant with His command to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jn.6:29 All sins were nailed to the tree which, is how the Lamb can take away the sin of the world.
If anyone wants to know if their individual sins are paid for? There is but one place to be, I'll give you a hint, it is not in the world.
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I know, which is why I said as much.
So He died for all without distinguishing between believer and unbeliever but that is not excepting anyone because there is a third group???
Actually it is for me. If it were not for the Lord I might have good reasons not to get out of bed so I warmly suggest you tone down the smart-alek responses.
Lam.3:22-24
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
So He died for all without distinguishing between believer and unbeliever but that is not excepting anyone because there is a third group???
Actually it is for me. If it were not for the Lord I might have good reasons not to get out of bed so I warmly suggest you tone down the smart-alek responses.
Lam.3:22-24
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
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says the one who has yet to provide sufficient Scriptural support that Adam was “exluded”.
says the one who will not respond to "what is actually revealed".
says the one who refuses to believe that God's offering was sufficient to cover both Adam and Eve ... even when Scripture tells us neither Adam nor Eve continued in their fig leaf raiment, but instead both were clothed by God.
re-read what was written, Rufus ... I never stated "Cain made it to the pearly gates". I specifically stated "Cain suppressed the truth in unrighteousness ... Cain chose not to humble himself ... and Cain suffered the consequence."
Scriptural meaning of Gen 3:15 explained and rejected by you.
you insist that Adam was "spiritually dead" yet Adam remains in the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ as stated in Luke 3:38.
Adam was not "passed over" ... God's Offering was more than sufficient for both Adam and Eve and all who were in the loins of Adam and Eve ... God clothed both Adam and Eve.
rolleyes ... no Scriptural support for your statement "To Adam: he remained DEAD!"
whatever
you mean the revealing of Scripture according to Rufus ... yeah, pretty pathetic when you actually see what you're doing to Gen 5:3 and Luke 3:38 ... how many other verses in Scripture do you treat in the same manner?
as explained to you in Post 2668 ... you modify Scripture in your insistence that the word "seed" is plural when Scripture indicates the word "seed" is singular ... but, hey, who needs to follow Scripture when you can just change it to suit your purpose ...
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed [noun-masculine-singular] and her seed [noun-masculine-singular]; it [pronoun-masculine-singular] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
you now know that that you know that "seed" in Gen 3:15 is singular. you can choose to insist that God really meant "seeds" plural ...
.
says the one who will not respond to "what is actually revealed".
says the one who refuses to believe that God's offering was sufficient to cover both Adam and Eve ... even when Scripture tells us neither Adam nor Eve continued in their fig leaf raiment, but instead both were clothed by God.
re-read what was written, Rufus ... I never stated "Cain made it to the pearly gates". I specifically stated "Cain suppressed the truth in unrighteousness ... Cain chose not to humble himself ... and Cain suffered the consequence."
Scriptural meaning of Gen 3:15 explained and rejected by you.
you insist that Adam was "spiritually dead" yet Adam remains in the lineage of the Lord Jesus Christ as stated in Luke 3:38.
Adam was not "passed over" ... God's Offering was more than sufficient for both Adam and Eve and all who were in the loins of Adam and Eve ... God clothed both Adam and Eve.
rolleyes ... no Scriptural support for your statement "To Adam: he remained DEAD!"
whatever
you mean the revealing of Scripture according to Rufus ... yeah, pretty pathetic when you actually see what you're doing to Gen 5:3 and Luke 3:38 ... how many other verses in Scripture do you treat in the same manner?
as explained to you in Post 2668 ... you modify Scripture in your insistence that the word "seed" is plural when Scripture indicates the word "seed" is singular ... but, hey, who needs to follow Scripture when you can just change it to suit your purpose ...
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed [noun-masculine-singular] and her seed [noun-masculine-singular]; it [pronoun-masculine-singular] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
you now know that that you know that "seed" in Gen 3:15 is singular. you can choose to insist that God really meant "seeds" plural ...
.
I believe God's Offering was sufficient. You, on the other hand, seem to believe there was some sort of deficiency in the Offering.
Both Adam and Eve were clothed ... neither of them rejected or walked away in their fig leaf attire.
you do, in fact, engage in "argument from silence" in your continued insistence that "Adam was excluded" when you have provided no Scriptural support for your claim.
And your misinterpretation of Gen 3:15 ... nothing but mishandling of Scripture which you claim is refutation.
.
Both Adam and Eve were clothed ... neither of them rejected or walked away in their fig leaf attire.
you do, in fact, engage in "argument from silence" in your continued insistence that "Adam was excluded" when you have provided no Scriptural support for your claim.
And your misinterpretation of Gen 3:15 ... nothing but mishandling of Scripture which you claim is refutation.
.
That's your contention, but not included in the verse. Is Isaiah 55 true? When God's word goes forth, does it always accomplish God's purpose for which He sent it? If it goes forth and does not result in salvation, is this also God's purpose? If so, was God's power manifested or withheld from those who heard?
1. When God's word goes forth, does it always accomplish God's purpose for which He sent it?
GW can be viewed as Scripture or as Jesus or as God's will, which includes His will to create humans with MFW,
who are allowed not to cooperate with His desire for them to be saved.
2. "If it goes forth and does not result in salvation, is this also God's purpose?" Yes, because part of His purpose or
will is permissive or enabling MFW.
3. "If so, was God's power manifested or withheld from those who heard?" God's power does not force those who hear
to believe and be saved per Matt. 13:14-15.
GW can be viewed as Scripture or as Jesus or as God's will, which includes His will to create humans with MFW,
who are allowed not to cooperate with His desire for them to be saved.
2. "If it goes forth and does not result in salvation, is this also God's purpose?" Yes, because part of His purpose or
will is permissive or enabling MFW.
3. "If so, was God's power manifested or withheld from those who heard?" God's power does not force those who hear
to believe and be saved per Matt. 13:14-15.
God is not responsible for what the sons of men became after our Federal Head blew his righteousness test assignment big time. Adam is the one who made his progeny into "robots".
Since the redeemed in the eternal New Order will never be able to choose between good and evil, and like God will never be able to make choices contrary to their new nature (which will be perfected at the resurrection), how will all saints in the restored Eden escape the classification of "robots"? You do understand that at the end of this age, Sin will finally die forever!? That the Law of Sin and Death will be no more?
You Shirley will not be a happy camper in the New Order....being so perfectly conformed to the image of Christ.
Since the redeemed in the eternal New Order will never be able to choose between good and evil, and like God will never be able to make choices contrary to their new nature (which will be perfected at the resurrection), how will all saints in the restored Eden escape the classification of "robots"? You do understand that at the end of this age, Sin will finally die forever!? That the Law of Sin and Death will be no more?
You Shirley will not be a happy camper in the New Order....being so perfectly conformed to the image of Christ.