An Article on free will

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. So they cant have the Faith of Heb 11:6 duh
Man can please God with faith

Hebrews 11:6 (LEB) — 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:4–13 (LEB) — 4 By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he was approved that he was righteous, because God approved him for his gifts, and through it he still speaks, although he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he did not experience death, and he was not found, because God took him up. For before his removal, he had been approved as having been pleasing to God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, having been warned about things not yet seen, out of reverence constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family, by which he pronounced sentence on the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to a place that he was going to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived in the land of promise as a stranger, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow heirs of the same promise. 10 For he was expecting the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith also, with Sarah, he received the ability to procreate even past the normal age, because he regarded the one who had promised to be faithful. 12 And therefore these were fathered from one man, and he being as good as dead, as the stars of heaven in number and like the innumerable sand by the shore of the sea. 13 These all died in faith without receiving the promises, but seeing them from a distance and welcoming them, and admitting that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth.


you assume all are in the flesh at all times
 
Makes me thing of common grace.

The doctrine of common grace pertains to the sovereign grace of God bestowed upon all of mankind. In other words, God has always bestowed His graciousness on all people in all parts of the earth at all times.
 
"you assume all are in the flesh at all times" has to suggest that @brightfame52 IS also in the flesh.

I wish they would tell us of their "born again" experience. Jesus told Nicodemus you must be born again.

@brightfame52... a little light reading for you.

But what does the Scripture actually say about the logical order of new life and man’s responsibility in attaining it? Which comes first, new life or faith? Let’s observe:



Ezekiel 18:30-32

“Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “Repent, Turn away…Rid yourselves…”
  2. “…get a new heart and a new spirit.”
Verse 32 makes it even more simple:

  1. “Repent and…”
  2. “…live!”
Life comes from repentance, not the other way around.

Acts 11:18

When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “Repentance unto…”
  2. “…life”
The Gentiles were not granted life unto repentance, but just the opposite according to the text. And the gospel is the means God grants mankind the ability to believe. He sent the gospel first to the Jews and then the Gentiles which enabled their faith response (Rom. 1:16, 10:14-17). (Anticipating those who might invoke Act 13:48, please read THIS.)

John 5:40

“yet you refuse to COME TO ME TO HAVE LIFE.”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “Come to me…” (through faith)
  2. “…to have life.”


John 6:53

“I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “Unless you eat…drink” (by faith)
  2. “…you have not life in you.”


John 6:57

“so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “the one who feeds on me…” (by faith)
  2. “…will live”


John 20:31

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “these are written…” (scriptures)
  2. “…that you may believe…”
  3. “…by believing you may have life…”
Life clearly is a fruit of faith and repentance, not the other way around.

Acts 15:9

“He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “He purified their hearts…”
  2. “…by faith.”
It does not say He purified their hearts by regeneration so as to make them have faith. Clearly a purified heart is a fruit of faith, not the other way around.



John 1:12-13

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

The right to be born of God is given only to those who believe.

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “…all who did receive him…who believed…”
  2. “…he gave the right to BECOME children of God…”

You are not even given to right to become a child of God, much less be born again as his child, UNTIL you “receive him” and “believe in his name.” And while placing our trust in Christ is man’s responsibility, the work of regeneration is all of God’s doing. It does not come by way of inheritance, marriage, works or striving (Rom. 9:30-32).

Galatians 3:26


“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus…”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “You are all sons of God…”
  2. “…through faith in Christ…”
Obviously, becoming a son (born of God) is a fruit of faith, not the other way around.



John 12:36

“Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “Believe in the light…”
  2. “…so that you may become children…”


Ephesians 1:13

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “when you heard the message of truth…when you believed
  2. “you were included in Christ…you were marked in him…”
For more on how to better understand the biblical doctrine of predestination presented in Ephesians 1, watch this.



Galatians 3:2, 5

“I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?… So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “…received the Spirit…”
  2. “…by believing what you heard…”


2 Corinthians 3:14-16

“But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “…anyone turns to the Lord…” (by faith)
  2. “…the veil is taken away.”


1 Timothy 1:16

“But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “…those who would believe in him…”
  2. “…may receive eternal life.”


Colossians 2:12


“…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “…baptism, in which you were also raised…”
  2. “…through your faith…”


James 1:18

“He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”

The order clearly laid out is as follows:

  1. “…give us brith…”
  2. “…through the word of truth…”
Calvinists teach the word of truth will certainly be rejected by the unregenerate, thus how can the apostle say that the word may be the means of new birth? Birth must precede the word if Calvinism is true, and that is not what the text clearly indicates.

The Philippian jailer inquired, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). If Paul was Calvinistic he should have replied, “You can do nothing to be saved. You were born corpse-like dead in your sin and a dead man can do nothing. If God makes you alive then you will be convinced to believe our gospel.” But Paul does not hesitate to simply say, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Believe so as to have new life. Repent so as to live! That is the gospel appeal sent for all to hear it and respond.



Now the link these came from is https://soteriology101.com/2016/03/09/does-regeneration-precede-faith/

Titled does Regeneration precede faith.

Ity goes on about Calvinism... and even comments "Examples of other points where Calvinists simply do not agree among themselves:"

Certainly you have your fre will to continue in your beliefs... but the Bible verses above dispute you belief.
It is clearly true Brightfame52 puts the cart before the horse and that he/she is unable to account for the scriptural data
 
Man can please God with faith

Hebrews 11:6 (LEB) — 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:4–13 (LEB) — 4 By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he was approved that he was righteous, because God approved him for his gifts, and through it he still speaks, although he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he did not experience death, and he was not found, because God took him up. For before his removal, he had been approved as having been pleasing to God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, having been warned about things not yet seen, out of reverence constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family, by which he pronounced sentence on the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to a place that he was going to receive for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived in the land of promise as a stranger, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow heirs of the same promise. 10 For he was expecting the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith also, with Sarah, he received the ability to procreate even past the normal age, because he regarded the one who had promised to be faithful. 12 And therefore these were fathered from one man, and he being as good as dead, as the stars of heaven in number and like the innumerable sand by the shore of the sea. 13 These all died in faith without receiving the promises, but seeing them from a distance and welcoming them, and admitting that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth.


you assume all are in the flesh at all times
Amen brother preach it from the rooftops
 
HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO PLAY THIS GAME?

Cart before the horse. You must believe the Real Gospel, not the Calvinist manmade fake gospel, before you can be saved.
There is not a single verse of scripture which puts salvation before faith but that does not stop Brightfame52 from proclaiming it

Advocating for another gospel
 
Mans will isn't free to do good by nature, that is spiritual good, any good that glorifies God, so scripture sys of us by nature, dead in sin Rom 3:12

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Ps 14:3


They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Matt 19:7

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

In the state of innocence[pre fall/death] the will of man was free to that which was good and evil : in man fallen and dead in sin, his will is only free to that which is evil:

Gen 6:5

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

The word heart leb:


inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

  1. inner part, midst
    1. midst (of things)
    2. heart (of man)
    3. soul, heart (of man)
    4. mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
    5. inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
    6. conscience
    7. heart (of moral character)

Notice this evil was continually,it was enslaved to evil, his will

This evil is beyond cure Jer 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jer 13 23

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Mans will by nature which is evil cannot change ! So the will isnt free from doing evil continually.
 
Mans will isn't free to do good by nature, that is spiritual good, any good that glorifies God, so scripture sys of us by nature, dead in sin Rom 3:12

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Ps 14:3


They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Matt 19:7

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

In the state of innocence[pre fall/death] the will of man was free to that which was good and evil : in man fallen and dead in sin, his will is only free to that which is evil:

Gen 6:5

5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

The word heart leb:


inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

  1. inner part, midst
    1. midst (of things)
    2. heart (of man)
    3. soul, heart (of man)
    4. mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
    5. inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
    6. conscience
    7. heart (of moral character)

Notice this evil was continually,it was enslaved to evil, his will

This evil is beyond cure Jer 17:9

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Jer 13 23

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

Mans will by nature which is evil cannot change ! So the will isnt free from doing evil continually.
For Calvinism, with its very pessimistic view of human nature and moral ability, a problem presents itself when one observes the everyday affairs of men. “The origin of the doctrine of common grace was occasioned by the fact that there is in the world . . . traces of the true, the good, and the beautiful. . . .

How can we account for it that sinful man still retains some knowledge of God, of natural things, and of the difference between good and evil, and shows some regard for virtue . . . .

How can the unregenerate still speak the truth, do good to others, and lead outwardly virtuous lives?” The answer as developed mainly by Calvin: “He developed alongside of the doctrine of particular grace the doctrine of common grace.” It is God’s common grace that explains the virtuous abilities of men and also provides for their needs. “It appears in the natural blessings which God showers upon man in the present life, in spite of the fact that man has forfeited them and lies under the sentence of death.” A favorite verse to justify this notion is “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt 5:45b).

Geoffrey D. Robinson, Saved by Grace through Faith or Saved by Decree? A Biblical and Theological Critique of Calvinist Soteriology
 
When any of us sin, we deserve one thing: eternal separation from God. We deserve to be cut off from experiencing any good from God and to live forever in hell, receiving only his wrath eternally. As Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death.” But the punishment for sin is not immediately felt. Instead, all mankind—regardless of whether they will ultimately receive God’s grace or God’s judgment—will continue to receive many blessings while on earth.

Sometimes those blessings will be physical. Jesus says, in Matthew 5:45, that God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” The Creator of the universe sees to it that all people—those who believe in Jesus and those who have rejected his claims—receive from the abundance of his earth.

God’s grace is also seen in the intellectual realm. Although Satan is “a liar and the father of lies” and “there is no truth in him” (John 8:44), even those who reject the claims of Jesus are not fully given over to falsehood and irrationality. Instead, many who clearly rejected God have made incredible discoveries and inventions. They did so not knowing that they were enlightened by Jesus, “the true light which enlightens everyone” (John 1:9). When we benefit from these advancements, we are benefiting, ultimately, from God’s common grace.

This common grace is seen in many other areas of life: the moral realm (people are not as evil as they could be), the creative realm (we can both produce and appreciate many different kinds of good and beautiful things), the societal realm (many communities, institutions, and governments protect and provide for their members and constituents), and even the religious realm (Jesus tells his followers in Matthew 5:44 to pray for their persecutors, showing that God answers many prayers that are prayed for the benefit of unbelievers).

Although common grace does not save people, God’s delaying his judgment allows many to come to salvation: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Such common grace already demonstrates a large measure of God’s goodness and mercy toward all mankind. His continual pouring out of blessings on all people will show him as just on the day of judgment when he finally punishes those who rejected him. Finally, as in all things, God’s bestowing common grace on all people demonstrates his glory through their imitation of his character in their many activities. Therefore, we can appreciate and enjoy the manifestation of God’s grace through all people, recognizing that ultimately God deserves the praise and glory for these blessings.


Wayne A. Grudem, Christian Beliefs: Twenty Basics Every Christian Should Know
 
Jesus is begetter of Faith, its for His Seed Heb 12:2

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God

The work of God is absolutely awesome!

I'm blessed by your post, there. Hebrews 12:2 is profound in so many ways!

Jude wrote similarly with "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 1:3).

Jude proclaims not multitudes of many individual distinct faiths as the free-willians or Arminians preach.

Jude proclaims the glorious work of God which is in accord with “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (Lord Jesus Christ, John 6:29).

Faith comes from God. The Word of God causes faith/belief. This is Truth (John 14:6).

But wait, there is more.

And that is there has always been one gospel and it is the eternal gospel. Whoever repents and trusts in the Lord for their salvation and calls upon His name in faith is forgiven and credited with righteousness, being set apart in the Son. They are set apart, being in Christ, based on His work on the cross, who came down to earth as a man and atoned for the sins of all people.

Notice that Ozias wrote "all people" thus Ozias indicates non-saints as well as saints.

Jude indicates the saints only.

Free-will is a conjured concept of the traditions of men (Matthew 15:9).

In Truth (John 14:6), the Almighty God is Sovereign (Genesis 1:1) in man's salvation and affairs of man (Daniel 4:34-35)! PRAISE THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF THE FAITH!!!
 
The work of God is absolutely awesome!

I'm blessed by your post, there. Hebrews 12:2 is profound in so many ways!

Jude wrote similarly with "Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 1:3).

Jude proclaims not multitudes of many individual distinct faiths as the free-willians or Arminians preach.

Jude proclaims the glorious work of God which is in accord with “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (Lord Jesus Christ, John 6:29).

Faith comes from God. The Word of God causes faith/belief. This is Truth (John 14:6).



Notice that Ozias wrote "all people" thus Ozias indicates non-saints as well as saints.

Jude indicates the saints only.

Free-will is a conjured concept of the traditions of men (Matthew 15:9).

In Truth (John 14:6), the Almighty God is Sovereign (Genesis 1:1) in man's salvation and affairs of man (Daniel 4:34-35)! PRAISE THE AUTHOR AND PERFECTER OF THE FAITH!!!
nope faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

God is at work in those who believe, not those whom God gives faith. Belief is up to man.

1 Corinthians 1:21
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

Romans 10:14

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.

Ephesians 1:13
And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

2 Timothy 3:15
From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

John 20:31
But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.


next fallacy from the fatalist.
 
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