Sorry, didn't read. People at my church do. Now I have a question, what do you think I mean by react?
I don't know. Why don't you define and defend your position instead of asking questions/averting?
The will is a faculty within every human being. Choice is an acting upon the will. Everyone has absolute freedom of choice, meaning nothing hinders them from making a willing choice, but no choice can be made outside the influence of the will. Read some literature on this. Start with Edwards'
Freedom of the Will. These are basic distinctions that are necessary if one expects to have valuable conversation in these matters.
Matthew 7:13-14, why does Jesus say "enter" if we are unable to?
James 4:8, How can a person "come near to God" if they are unable to?
John 3:20-21, Jesus is speaking about conversion in verse 21. So if a person "comes to the light" then that shows they can move in the direction of Christ. It's freewill.
Commands do not imply the ability to keep those commands. That is an Arminian
assumption that has been obliterated by both theologian and Scripture time and time again. Simply pointing to commands and saying, "Look! Free will!" is not an argument, much less a true one. Commands imply and require freedom of choice, but not free will (see above). Rather, Scripture says that "The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law,
nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh
cannot please God." That is talking about the will, which in turn prevents choice in the direction of the good. It is plain as the sun is bright.
Give me a Scripture that contradicts it.
Sure. I am absolutely prepared to back up my statements with Scripture and logic, since that is what theology is supposed to be, rather than making unsupported claims and then throwing the burden of proof upon others. I will play your game, though.
Scripture: God "works out
everything in conformity with the purpose of his will" (Eph. 1:11). That's just one example; I can give you several more if that statement from the Holy Spirit isn't enough.
Logic: If God is omniscient and omnipotent, yet did not will (ordain) everything that comes to pass, then something or someone else—something or someone greater than God—did. If God's control only comes through his foreknowledge (which, by the way, does not mean what you think it means biblically; I would suggest you doing a word study on that), then God is not in control of anything, but merely the great, albeit very wise, reactor in the sky. If God's foreknows without willing, then there was clearly a time when God did not foreknow, suggesting that he had to learn, a horrid blasphemy even to suggest. Rather, God through the Scripture declares, "I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times what is still to come" (Is. 46:10b). Now, this sounds like mere foreknowledge, but look at the next statement for clarification about what he means. "My
purpose (i.e., will) will stand, and I will
do all that
I please." He does not will because he foreknows, but foreknows because he wills. It is the only scheme that makes logical and biblical sense.
