An Article on free will

Eternally-Grateful said:
The gospel is not the book

The book gives us the gospel.
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Semantics.

One does not walk into Barnes and Nobel to buy the gospel ("good news") one goes to buy the bible to read the gospel.
The "good news" that are incorporated into the history... along with all we need to know.

But many people call that Holy Book many things... just like one would hardly walk in to but The Scriptures... which is also accurate.
 
Eternally-Grateful said:
then why is he not powerful enough to teach everyone his truth. and them force them to make a decision?
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Your question inherently denies the Word of God as per these blessed sayings of God “you did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16) and “I chose you out of the world” (John 15:19, includes salvation).

God is sooooo powerful that we children of God say to our God no purpose of Yours can be thwarted (Job 42:2).
 
Fred said:
If one is empowered by the Holy Spirit means they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
The New Covenant makes no such distinction that you think it does.
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It is clear that you have no real understanding of the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is pretty sad.
 
mailmandan said:
It's you who is confused. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1) Faith is not works. Faith is believing and trusting, yes. Trusting results in doing/works yet these works are not inherent in faith. Faith is faith and works are works. Roman Catholics also error by saying faith is not simply believing and trusting but includes works. By that erroneous logic, one would conclude that faith "is" baptism, faith "is" multiple acts of obedience, faith "is" works which is false and culminates in salvation by works/works righteousness.
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That is really bad. Please explain how it is possible to place your trust in God without doing what God says.
 
Kermos said:
Your question inherently denies the Word of God as per these blessed sayings of God “you did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16) and “I chose you out of the world” (John 15:19, includes salvation).

God is sooooo powerful that we children of God say to our God no purpose of Yours can be thwarted (Job 42:2).
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You @Kermos and @Eternally-Grateful and myself and not one person who has ever posted here, and no misister, Rabbi, Priest or Pope within the past 1900 years has been a disciple that “you did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16) and “I chose you out of the world” (John 15:19, includes salvation). was originally addressed to until Mankind... possibly under the guidance of Satan to mess with our minds and bring security where many times it is not deserved....You @Kermos are adding to a meaning that was not the original intent.

@Eternally-Grateful respectfully asked you " then why is he not powerful enough to teach everyone his truth. and them force them to make a decision?" and you... instead of offering a reasonable answer or suggestion fall back on your copy and paste
that does not apply to you, EG, Me or the others here.

I submit... that He lays out the offer. He offers guidance in the four corners of the Holy Bible. But he loves us enough to have geiven each of us... including you... free will THAT YOU SEEM TO THINK OF AS A CURSE TO DAMNATION
Two reasons make me say this.

#1. IF and it is a big IF, the Heavenly father did predestine each of us then the truth would be that He would be the one having me write these words.... in support of free-will.
#2. Fact.... In order to have the faith... as is told in Heb 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
And Ill even toss in the NWT which agrees and says
6 Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please God well, for whoever approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him.

And there can be no better support for Free Will than to have the faith to believe... which if you are predestined
this verse would mean nothing. (Do you need further explanation of this?)
 
Fred said:
If one is empowered by the Holy Spirit means they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
The New Covenant makes no such distinction that you think it does.
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Wrong:

@Jim 's reply to you is correct "It is clear that you have no real understanding of the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is pretty sad."

If you had the indwelling of the Spirit then you would know the difference.
 
MTMattie said:
Wrong:

@Jim 's reply to you is correct "It is clear that you have no real understanding of the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is pretty sad."

If you had the indwelling of the Spirit then you would know the difference.
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One needs to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit in order to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
 
The boldface is mine.

BDAG (3rd Edition): be strengthened in power (i.e. with ability to function) by the Spirit Eph 3:16. Hence the Spirit given the Christian can be called pneuma dunameōs, i.e. in contrast to an unenterprising spirit, pneuma deilias, God offers one that functions aggressively, 2 Ti 1:7; cp. 1 Pt 4:14 (dynamis, page 262).

The Gentiles were given the Holy Spirit before they were water baptized (Acts 11:17; 15:8)



Here's more:

New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (NIDNTT): Paul could speak of serving the law of God in the power of the Spirit in gratitude to God through Christ (Rom. 7:25; cf. 7:1-24; Rom. 8:2) (1:335, Command, H.H. Esser).

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT): the Spirit is for Paul the power of the new life (2:209, dikaiosynē, Schrenk).

Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: In conversion the believer is made new, brought from death to life (Eph. 2:1, 5), by the power of God's Holy Spirit (Regeneration, page 569).

Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: (3) The subject of power in Scripture may be viewed under the following heads:...(f) committed to those who, on becoming believers, were "empowered" by the Spirit of God, are indwelt by Him, and will exercise it hereafter for God's glory (Power, page 869).
 
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Fred said:
The boldface is mine.

BDAG (3rd Edition): be strengthened in power (i.e. with ability to function) by the Spirit Eph 3:16. Hence the Spirit given the Christian can be called pneuma dunameōs, i.e. in contrast to an unenterprising spirit, pneuma deilias, God offers one that functions aggressively, 2 Ti 1:7; cp. 1 Pt 4:14 (dynamis, page 262).

The Gentiles were given the Holy Spirit before they were water baptized (Acts 11:17; 15:8)



Here's more:

New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (NIDNTT): Paul could speak of serving the law of God in the power of the Spirit in gratitude to God through Christ (Rom. 7:25; cf. 7:1-24; Rom. 8:2) (1:335, Command, H.H. Esser).

Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (TDNT): the Spirit is for Paul the power of the new life (2:209, dikaiosynē, Schrenk).

Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: In conversion the believer is made new, brought from death to life (Eph. 2:1, 5), by the power of God's Holy Spirit (Regeneration, page 569).

Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: (3) The subject of power in Scripture may be viewed under the following heads:...(f) committed to those who, on becoming believers, were empowered by the Spirit of God, are indwelt by Him, and will exercise it hereafter for God's glory (Give, page 869).
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great references
 
Jim said:
Matthew 15:9 says not one word about Free will. But it does speak to your teaching.
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The Word of God is good unto salvation (Romans 1:16); moreover, any words/concepts beyond the scope established by the Word of God are enshrined within the traditions of men leading to worship in vain (Matthew 15:9).

No Word of God states man was imparted a free-will to choose towards God, so free-will is dead within the traditions of men boundaries; therefore, the Lord's words "in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men" (Matthew 15:9) most certainly applies to your Free-willian Philosophy.

Free-will is a conjured concept of the traditions of men leading to worship in vain (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 SAVIOR JESUS!!!
 
Kermos said:
The Word of God is good unto salvation (Romans 1:16); moreover, any words/concepts beyond the scope established by the Word of God are enshrined within the traditions of men leading to worship in vain (Matthew 15:9).

No Word of God states man was imparted a free-will to choose towards God, so free-will is dead within the traditions of men boundaries; therefore, the Lord's words "in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men" (Matthew 15:9) most certainly applies to your Free-willian Philosophy.

Free-will is a conjured concept of the traditions of men leading to worship in vain (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 SAVIOR JESUS!!!
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Yet he allows us to post on here.... to you.

Wonder why?
 
Red Baker said:
@synergy @Jim @MTMattie @Johann @Kermos @civic @GodsGrace @Eternally-Grateful

Actually having not posted for a few days, but reading all that has been posted, I know that most are making a mess of the truth, of free justification, versus the evidence of that free justification by Christ alone, and the system God had ordained that we live under to know our free justification by grace alone, without works, which is by faith, showing it self with fruits of the Spirit, without which one denies Christ, though with his lips professes Christ.

Titus 1:16​

“They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

Armenians and Calvinists equally are guilty of corrupting the pure gospel of Jesus Christ, though Armenians much more so. Neither Luther nor Calvin and certainly not any on the Armenian side, preached the pure truth, which is not easily done and maintain a consistent stance on this truth, which Peter proved that to be so, along with Barnabas, who heard Paul many times over defend the gospel of Christ. Peter proved to be faithful after Paul's rebuked him before the brethren. Consider Justification as it is used in different senses in the scripture.


JUSTIFICATION:....Purpose to justify the elect. (Rom 8:29-30; Acts 15:18); Christ satisfies God’s justice. (Rom 3:24,26; 2nd Cor 5:21); God applies righteousness. (Eph 4:24; 2 Pet 1:1) in the new birth; Works prove justification. (Rom 2:13; James 2:24) during our life as a believer. Elect proclaimed completely righteous. (2 Tim 4:8; Rev 19:8) At the last day

As far as God was concerned, God viewed the OT saints righteous IN CHRIST before the law, Christ, or truly before they were ever born into this world, they were loved by God with an everlasting loved that God had for his Son, since the elect were members of his elect body. If this is not so, pray tell me how could Abraham been a friend of God without God viewing him righteous IN CHRIST, he could not.

1) Legal justification from our sins and condemnation is by grace alone apart from any/all works. Works cannot be mixed with grace and still be called the grace of God, it must be free of all works.

Romans 11:5,6​

“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

What are consider works? Any commandment which said: "This DO and live, sin, and die".....If a religious sect commands certainly works from sinner before they are born again, and commands certain works from them to maintain their salvation, then they have a system of works, and this system varies greatly among different sects, but it still is a system of works if they teach~"This DO and live, sin and die".

2) Legal justification from our sins and condemnation was secured 100% by Christ for God's elect. It was by the obedience of ONE PERSON that secured eternal life for God's children, children of his grace.

Romans 5:19​

“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

The passage before us is of the highest importance. It forms a striking conclusion to all that goes before, from the beginning of the 12th verse, and asserts, in plain terms, two grand truths, on which the Gospel in all its parts proceeds, though by many they are strenuously opposed, and by others only partially admitted. In the 12th verse, the Apostle had said that death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. In the 13th and 14th verses, he had shown that to this there is no exception; and had further declared that Adam was the figure of Christ who was to come. In the following verses, to the end of the 17th, he had asserted the opposite effects that follow from the sin of the one and the righteousness of the other. In the 18th verse, he had given a summary of what he had said in the preceding verses. Condemnation, he had there affirmed, had come by the offense of one, and justification by the righteousness of one. But as it would not be readily admitted that either a curse or a blessing should come on men on account of the sin or righteousness of another, he here explicitly affirms this truth, which was indeed included in his preceding statements, but being of so great importance, it was proper that it should be declared in the plainest terms. It is grounded on the constituted unity of all men with their covenant-heads. By the disobedience of Adam, those who were one with him in the first creation were made sinners. In the same way, by the obedience of Jesus Christ, they who are one with Him in the new creation are made righteous. This 19th verse contains the explicit declaration of these two facts, and the appellations‘ sinners’ and ‘righteous’ must be understood in the full extent of these terms. Here, then, these two doctrines of the imputation of sin and of righteousness,which is taught throughout the whole of the Scriptures, is exhibited in a manner so clear, that, without opposing the obvious meaning of the words, they cannot be contested.

So, if it was by the obedience of ONE PERSON, then we must not add another person to what Christ secured for his people by adding works to our legal justification from sin and condemnation.

What are works, any commandment that man has an "ACTIVE PART IN" is consider as work by man.

3) Is faith consider a work on man's part? Yes, since man has an active part in his faith and faith is a commandment for us to do and to increase in.

Matthew 23:23​

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

1st John 3:23​

“And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

Besides, our faith is mixed with sin even at our most holy acts of obeying God, and God's law demands perfection before it can justify a sinner.

Also, in our natural flesh dwelleth no good thing, not one ~ and it is impossible for our flesh (the Old Adam) to obey and do spiritual acts pleasing to God, impossible. This is not my opinion, but God's very own testimony concerning our flesh. One must be born again, before they can do spiritual acts pleasing to God. Read Romans 3:10-18; 8:4-13, etc.

Must come back to finish.
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It is written The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them (Proverbs 20:12), so only the new creature in Christ can rightly hear and accurately see. You accurately wrote "One must be born again, before they can do spiritual acts pleasing to God" near the conclusion of your post.

Lord Jesus is known to say "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Mark 4:9).
 
@Kermos

You accurately wrote "One must be born again, before they can do spiritual acts pleasing to God" near the conclusion of your post.
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Yes, which actually means one must be saved before the can perform spiritual acts. Like Jesus tells us who it is the Hears the word of God Jn 8:47

47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

Now to be of God is to be saved.
 

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