You must differentiate between the redeemed will of a believer and the corrupt will of a lost man, a man dead in trespasses and sins. Be careful of what the Apostle Paul referred to as “will worship” in Colossians 2:23. Below is what Pastor Don Fortner has written on “will worship.”
“I can think of nothing in all the world more foolish, more debasing to humanity, more dishonoring to God and more assuredly damning to the souls of men than idolatry. It is pathetic to see men and women worship- ping gods that other men have made, dumb gods made by the hands of ignorant men! Idolatry is hideously evil! “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they,but they see not:They have ears,but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They that make them are like unto them; so is everyone that trusteth in them” (Psa. 115:4-8). I have seen poor people in Mexico crawl on their knees before a statue of Mary, burning candles before it as they prayed. The pope of Rome attributes his life to Mary. I repeat, idolatry is hideously evil! But the most abominable form of idolatry in the world is that which Paul calls “will worship.” Will worship is the worship of yourself!
“Those who attribute salvation, in whole or in part, to the will, the work, or the worth of man are the most abominably evil idolaters in the world, for they worship themselves. Free-willism is the worship of yourself. Legalism is the worship of yourself. Free-will, works religion makes man his own savior, for it makes the will, the work, and the worth of man to be the determining factor in salvation.
“If your salvation, in whole or in part, is looked upon by you as something that is dependent upon, or determined by, your will or your works, you are lost, a Christless, graceless soul, an idolater (Gal. 5:1-4). You may talk about God and grace, Christ and redemption, the Holy Spirit and regeneration, but you really worship yourself. Your trust is in your decision. Your confidence is in your goodness. Your peace is derived not from what Christ has done, but from what you have done. In your opinion the thing that separates you from the damned is not the will of God, the work of Christ and the grace of the Spirit, but your own will, your own work, and your own worth.
“I urge you to flee from your idolatry. Smash to pieces the gods of free-will, good works and human worth. And trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone as your Savior. Seek salvation on the basis of grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone!”
You may talk about God and grace, Christ and redemption, the Holy Spirit and regeneration, but you really worship yourself. Your trust is in your decision. Your confidence is in your goodness. Your peace is derived not from what Christ has done, but from what you have done. In your opinion the thing that separates you from the damned is not the will of God, the work of Christ and the grace of the Spirit, but your own will, your own work, and your own worth.
While I believe it is the epitome' of hilarity to watch Catholics attempt to use the bible to attack other religions I too have to take exception to a thing or two here...
You may talk about God and grace, Christ and redemption, the Holy Spirit and regeneration, but you really worship yourself.
I don't believe that for a second...And I see know scripture that would back up your claim...
Your trust is in your decision. Your confidence is in your goodness.
No truth in that at all...I trust in the one who gave me the opportunity to make that decision...And it doesn't include a drop of goodness on my part because there is none...
Your peace is derived not from what Christ has done, but from what you have done.
That's ridiculous to make a claim like that...I could have chosen to follow Buddha and not ended up with any peace...Peace doesn't come from me...It comes from God...
In your opinion the thing that separates you from the damned is not the will of God, the work of Christ and the grace of the Spirit, but your own will, your own work, and your own worth.
You are partially correct...I am not saved because it is the will of God...God wishes all would be saved but that ain't happening...
The rest of that applies to Catholics but it does not apply to born again Protestants...