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To: Blogger

If you're saying that we are neither completed determined nor completely free, then we are agreeing. But I don't think you are saying that, or you're qualifying it such that it free will is meaningless.

We have capabilities, capacities, and conscience. I think you have limited the first two into a framework that is deterministic.

Do you really believe that only saved Christians can choose to do anything other than evil?


8,049 posted on 01/29/2007 6:30:48 PM PST by D-fendr
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To: D-fendr

The unsaved can not decide to do things with the motivation of glorifying the One that they deny. They may do good things. They have that "spark" of the likeness of God within them that brings about some good works. However, more often it is man doing what seems right in His eyes; which is most often selfish and self-serving. Man says to God, I don't need you. I will build my own tower to Heaven. God says to man, go for it, knowing that with each brick rather than growing closer to Heaven they are sinking deeper to Hell.

So, as far as your comment that my qualification makes free will meaningless, I would submit that it is as far as the definition most people try to give it and the qualification is what is true. We are both free but not free. Only the saved can choose to do good with a motivation that desires to be glorifying to God. Only the saved can follow after God. The lost will not ever turn towards God unless the Spirit draw them first. They are dead to the truth and bound by sin.

There is a difference between "can you" and "will you." In a conversation, I can say "can you accept what Scripture says?" Well, for most people being able to hear and understand the Word of God is not a problem. Physically, the can understand the words and know what it is saying. However, will they? Different issue. If they are not willing to even consider the truth of Scripture, they will not accept it as true. They can understand it. Nothing is holding them back. But they won't.

Nothing holds the lost back from salvation but themselves. Nothing brings the saved to salvation but the mercy and intervention of God.


8,052 posted on 01/29/2007 6:55:53 PM PST by Blogger
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