“I think he tried to seriously consider every verse and tie them together into a systematic theology that dealt comprehensively with the entire bible.”
God forbid we do something like that!
“I’m with Alamo-girl on this one, though, to a large degree. I think both predestination AND free will are within scripture, and that we make a mistake in any system which doesn’t completely account for each of these.”
If only you’d take the time to study such things, instead of making such contradictory statements! How does it follow that if God predestinates all things by His immutable will, that God does not predestinate all things by His immutable will?
And what is “free will” to you? Obviously, if you had such a thing, properly defined, you would stop sinning and would be a saint among men. If free-will is but a thing with a “little” power to do things, it is the same, as Luther says, “As if one should say, “Free-will” is that which is not
free. Or as if one should term fire cold, and earth hot.” It is not even logical to speak in these terms, as no matter how you view it, your will, when not in the hands of God, is in “the snare of the devil... taken captive by him at his will.” So how is your will “free” if you, by necessity, desire to sin and keep on sinning, even against your spiritual will given to you from on High? And how does one who is previously a “child of wrath,” utterly sold under sin and spiritually dead, come to possess a holy thought that he never once had before? If God gave it, how can you claim it and make it a condition that you yourself must achieve through your own power?
Php_1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Eph_1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
And if God reveals Himself to you, how can you deny that He is the Christ? And if you say that God must give you grace so that you can have a choice, from what good thing in you does that choice come from? Some hidden goodness in your foul and wretched soul? Or, are you saying that God temporarily regenerates your soul, so that you can discern spiritual things and come to a “fair” choice, before immediately being put to death again?
If one has “free will” why do Christians freely will to sin?
I never get tired of asking that question even though I never get a response.
Free will is not the ability to choose as God wishes, but the will expressing itself.