Originally posted by Othniel
Here lies the error...the Bible says "Lean not on your own understanding." That means when it comes to theology, any argument which rests on "think about it" is doomed to fail. The inherent nature of God's paradoxes is that we cannot understand them. To us, we cannot have free will, and have God be omniscient...but to say such a dreadful thing is to limit the power of God. I will do no such thing.
The Bible is full of stories about people who choose or do not choose. Without free will, we make those stories lies. Without free will, God is the cause of sin, and therefore owes us salvation.
To argue about this is useless. "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels." (2 Tim 2:23)
If you want to believe that you don't have freewill, then believe you don't. Meanwhile, let those of us who want to strive for God, strive. We know it is not by our own strength, but a gift. Meanwhile, we will pray for you that you do not grow lazy and forget that we must strive after our goal and work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
Peace to all who seek it,
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