Free will... not in scripture!

[rwc109]

Ben you say " SO THEN as through one man's transgression came condemnation to ALL MEN (because all men SINNED, Rm5:12), EVEN SO justification of life came to all men. For if by the transgression of the one,death reigned through the one, much more those who RECEIVE the abundance of grace and WHO RECEIVE the gift of righteousness will reign through the One, Jesus Christ." There it is --- salvation in a nutshell. The equaters "SO THEN / EVEN SO" assert that "justification CAME to ALL MEN, in exactly the same quantity that CONDEMNATION CAME to ALL MEN"; but while all were condemned because ALL SINNED, only those who RECEIVE the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness, only THEY will reign with Jesus (be saved)."

SO Adam took the knowledge of good and evil [although he did not sin i diong so because he was innocent until after eating] and by his act all men had the knowledge of good and evil by which we can no loger calim to be innocent in sinning, thus we die vecause the wages of sin is death [but thre is resurrection and the mercy of God goes on and on]

and all men are justified just the same to LIFE by Jesus Christ [eventually]
but Israel is redeemed firts to act as a poyal incorruptible immortal priesthood MINISTERING to everyone else...

So the remnant of Israel hAVE to receive the holy spirit of truth in THIS lifetime so as to be READY with their lamps burning bright[holy righteous 'saints' of tribal Isarel, firtsfruits ] for the return of Christ

EVERYYONE else gets to DIE for their sins and is resurrected in the second resurrection to be redeemed by God pouring out His spirit on ALL flesh then , so everyone is saved just the same way, but the 144,000 of tribal Israel are FIRST so that they can serve others as priests.

One has to ask how many priests are also KINGS!

1Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

 

[rwc109]

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
[ Isaiah 45:7 ]

Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
[ Lamentations 3:38 ]

 

[Ben johnson]

The term 'chosen' in the bible refers explicitly to Israel, God's chosen people, in particular to the 144,000 which Rev 7:9-10 LISTS as ribal [genetic] israel with deliberate EXCLUSION of the two tribes responsible for abominations before God, Dan and Ephraim, there can be no ambiguity because Rev 7:1-10 shows that israel is redeemed FIRST hence identifying them as the chosen firstfruits to God , yje royal priesthood that ministers in the redemption of billios in rev 7:9-10

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus; if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and HEIRS according to the Promise." Gal3:28-29

"By their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles." Rom11:11

"For the Lord has commanded us: 'I have placed you as a light for the Gentiles; that you should bring SALVATION even to the end of the Earth.' " Acts13:47

...and you were contending that SALVATION was EXCLUSIVE, and also not Jesus' message???

 

[Ben johnson]

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
[ Isaiah 45:7 ]

Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?
[ Lamentations 3:38 ]

Ra means TROUBLE in: Deut31:1, 1Sam16:14, 1Sam16:15, Job 5:19, Psalm 27:5 41:1 71:20 78:49 88:3 107:26, Prov12:13, Jer2:27&28 11:12 11:14 51:2, Lam1:21.

Ra means ADVERSITY: Psa 10:6, Psa 94:13, Ecc 7:14

Read the CONTEXT --- "thesis/antithesis"; first, "LIGHT --- DARKNESS"; then "PEACE --- what?" What's the opposite of PEACE? Trouble!

NASV translators write it: "The One forming light and creating darkness; causing well-being (footnoted 'PEACE') and creating calamity..."

Light/dark peace/evil? Nope; light/dark peace/calamity. It's the only understanding that works

In Lamentations 3:38, "good" is "TOWB" --- prosperity, happiness; what you read as "EVIL", is, once again,RA'.

God is NOT the "author of evil"; but is sometimes the author of adversity/calamity...

 

[armothe]

I can choose to ignore this thread, or respond. I've exercised my free will to respond.

-A

 

[R.E.Taet]

Actually "freewill" is in the Scriptures 17 times. The freewill offering, an offering given of freewill I assume.

What you won't find in the Scriptures is "Calvinism."

 

[tcampen]

An informal tally puts freewill squarely ahead of omniscience (Calvinism). What an unintended, yet delightful, surprise.