Free Will

[mjhgecko]

Beautifully Created
Born free, Free to move inside a small cell, as the matrix of life plays out.
Like artificial intelligence with a fundamental flaw incoded in it’s programming.
Assistance was sought form the manufacturer. After diligent research and careful examination of the users giude it was determined that the manufacturer is fully aware of the defectively assembled product. A product designed to generate a total reliance on the engineer to keep it functioning. An attempt is made to circumvent this dependence. A pogram is purchased form a competitor. The software is user friendly but causes damage to the hard drive. Good News arrives from the manufacturer. A new version is available, not immune to viruses but with a built in firewall. Soon conflict arises between the old hardware and the new version 3:16. System resources running low! Please Save Now! System is shutting down!

 

[Dmckay]

Did we have any choice in the important matter of our existence on this planet?

NO

Did we choose our parents, our nationality, our inherent strengths and weaknesses, the era of our birth, our circumstances?

NO

Do we have absolute control over our bodies, other people or our lives in general?

NO

Do we have absolute control over nature or the universe?

NO

Can we prevent death from occurring at all?

NO

Although we have a will that can make 'decisions', is anyone all-knowing or wise enough to always make the perfect choice before God?

NO, for we are all born into moral and spiritual darkness and stubbornness, being influenced by invisible forces, and with a body of flesh that is totally controlled by sin and death (Romans 3:9-20, 23; 5:12; 7:5; 8:5-8; 11:30-32; Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:17-19)

But for those who are believers in God and His Son's sacrifice for all humanity, whereby He has conquered sin and death, they have been set free from the influence of sin and death in their body of flesh, and they have received God's Holy Spirit to empower them and fill them. So surely believers are free to make the right choices, aren't they? They made the choice to believe in the first place, didn't they?

ABSOLUTELY SPEAKING - NO! Faith is solely a gift of God, so that no one can boast before Him (Ephesians 2:8-9). Believers have been chosen by God before they were even born (John 15:16; Romans 9:11; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 1:4). No one seeks out God of their own accord (Romans 3:11-12), so no one has chosen God or Christ. All were infirm sinners when Christ died for all (Romans 5:6-8). And it is God who makes ready beforehand the good works that we should be walking in, so that believers are God's achievement, not their own (Ephesians 2:10). In our present bodies of sin and death, the flesh is still hostile to God's law and cannot submit to it (Romans 8:7-8), and we are all naturally slaves to Sin and Death (Romans 7:8-20).

Although the believer in Christ has been set free from sin and death, THIS IS WHOLLY OF GOD! All of it is accomplished by God's Spirit through Christ's Sacrifice. Anything that is of faith or of the Spirit, and is therefore righteous and good, is WHOLLY OF GOD! We can do nothing of ourselves (John 15:5). Believers have been rescued and transported out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, but this rescue mission and spiritual enlightenment is ALL OF GOD (Colossians 1:12-14). Eonian life is a gracious gift (Romans 6:23). It is God Who is operating within the believer to will as well as to work for the sake of His delight (Philippians 2:13). So even the future rewards for walk and service will be wholly of God - as ALL IS OF GOD!

God is the Supreme One Who is operating all in accordance with the counsel of His will (Ephesians 1:11).

He is the Saviour of ALL elect mankind and He will therefore eventually save and justify every elect human by His grace in accordance with His glorious plan (1 Timothy 4:9; Romans 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 15:22).

So much for 'free will'!

The only true free will is that which is in complete subordination to God's will. Therein lies real freedom.

 

[armothe]

He is the Saviour of ALL mankind and He will therefore eventually save and justify every human by His grace in accordance with His glorious plan. He will also reconcile every creature in His universe to Himself through Christ's cross, so that God shall be truly ALL IN ALL

So let me get this straight. You believe:

- Every human that ever existed will go to heaven (Universalism).

- Christ died on the cross for the sake of animals (plants?) too?

-A

 

[goodnews]

So let me get this straight. You believe:

- Every human that ever existed will go to heaven (Universalism).

- Christ died on the cross for the sake of animals (plants?) too?

-A

As a believer in the full grace of God, perhaps I can answer your question. Yes every human being that ever existed will recieve salvation. That is simply because there sins have been covered by the blood of christ and God has not imputed their trespasses against them.

Christ tasted death for EVERY MAN, it doesn't say that Christ died for animals and plants. Romans 8:21 speaks of kosmos which is subjected to vainity (the captivity of sin) and how ALL groan for the hope awaiting them.

 

[armothe]

As a believer in the full grace of God, perhaps I can answer your question. Yes every human being that ever existed will recieve salvation. That is simply because there sins have been covered by the blood of christ and God has not imputed their trespasses against them.

Christ's death did indeed cleanse everyperson's sins, whether they realize it or not. However, that's not the end-game. The whole point of dealing with sin was so man could be restored to a relationship with God. Yes, everyone's sins are forgiven, but if the steps towards a relationship with God are not taken; they will be lost.

-A

 

[goodnews]

Christ's death did indeed cleanse everyperson's sins, whether they realize it or not. However, that's not the end-game. The whole point of dealing with sin was so man could be restored to a relationship with God. Yes, everyone's sins are forgiven, but if the steps towards a relationship with God are not taken; they will be lost.

-A

will be lost?

heck that ARE lost, and so was I!

[font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

But guess what!

God has subjected this creation only TEMPORARILY to vainity

God's final plans is giving EVERYONE HOPE

[/font][font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]8:20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,


WHAT HOPE?

If you believe endless torture or annihilation their aint nothin to hope for.

let's read of the this hope that ALL the kosmos has in the next verse

[/font][font=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.


Did you know that EVERYONE without exception is going to WORSHIP Jesus and swear alligance to Him as Lord, Now if that isn't a relationship, they I don't have one with God.

Read ALL of Isaiah 45 and Phillipians 2
[/font]

 

[armothe]

will be lost?

Yes, will be lost. As in people actually have a choice to be in a relationship with God or not. Their fates are not yet sealed until they die.

Did you know that EVERYONE without exception is going to WORSHIP Jesus and swear alligance to Him as Lord, Now if that isn't a relationship, they I don't have one with God.

You will have to provide further explanation as this just hasn't been the case. I can name several people who don't worship Jesus the Christ.

-A