I mentioned that there were two different Greek words that were translated as "free will". And, yes, Strong's DOES relate the word to free will:
authairetos
adjective
1) voluntary, of free choice, of one's own accord http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G830&t=KJV
Thayer's Lexicon help says:
That they are not used in terms of salvation, is beside the point as the discussion has been about there being any free will by man. I wanted to respond to the false, in my view, assertion that "nowhere in the Bible is free will mentioned" and to counter the disparagement, again in my view, of those who hold to the doctrine of sola Scriptura. We have already seen comments on this thread that mock SS and who point to the disagreements going on here between non-Catholics to demonstrate its failure. I don't agree with them that SS is to blame for conflicting doctrines among Christians.
How I define salvation is no different than what the Bible says - it is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and not by works. I have no desire to argue predestination versus free will as I have already noted I believe the truth is in the realm that our present finite minds can only get a glimpse. I know that without faith it is impossible to please God and he that comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).
I hope you have a blessed day.
Free will is not mentioned. The word is willing or volunteering. And it's not used in the salvation experience. So those are poor examples and my assertion is not false. What you failed to respond to was how "free will" is used in salvation. Are you willing to say man comes to God on his own volition? Are you willing to say the dictionary is wrong? That is what we've heard.
Protestants need to read and understand their confessions. Don't blame me if you don't like being a Protestant. I'll stick with the confessions.
We have already seen comments on this thread that mock SS and who point to the disagreements going on here between non-Catholics to demonstrate its failure.
No, we haven't seen any disagreement on sola scriptura. What we have seen are some who believe they are so right and everyone else is so wrong that it's an absolute embarrassment. The reason the Westminster and London Baptist Confessions were written was to articulate the points of Protestantism. Somehow Protestants have this weird idea that we just drift along which is absolute nonsense. Protestantism found its systematic theology in Calvin which was transcribed into the confessions. The real issue is that Protestants are just as dumb about their teachings as Catholics are about theirs. There isn't a dog's hair width of difference between the fundamentals of Catholicism and Protestantism today. If it wasn't for that Mary thing everyone would be thanking the Pope.
Free will, after all, is a Catholic idea via Pelagius. Protestants just adapted it. That should make one think - I would hope.