Our Free Will

[cheese_sdc]

God in His infinite Wisdom, gives to each of us a mind, intellect and freewill. With our will we are to seek God’s WIll [Isa 43; 7 & 21].

What does this mean for us; for you personally?

In my experience, a decision made completely out of free will (define it however you’d like it) is as rare as a Louisiana snowstorm in July. I can count on one hand the number of free will decisions I’ve made in my life.

All the rest have come about as a product of family, environment, culture, or other conditioning.

 

[Bernard_Lyons]

Bernard, even atheists can quote from the Bible. I’m trying to have a reasonable conversation with you and all you do quote from Scriptures.

Instead of answering my questions you go off and sling more verses…

As for none being righteous:

Luke 1:5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
Luke 2:25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
Matthew 13:17 Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

Here we see many who were righteous (And I’m not including Noah).

I am not interested in Bible verse slinging but I am up for a good conversation.

Regarding your own quoted texts,I would not have a quarrel with the “saved” being willing in the day of his power" : for whether NT or OT saints : we all are likened to "Abraham our father "(Romans 4:1)
That is father to both to the circumcision ;and the uncircumcision .

( verse 12) “And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only,but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham ,which he had being yet uncircumcised”

Is it not prior to ;or before a people are seen to possess " righteousness which is by faith " that the subject of " free will" ;that is the unsaved not those already saved?
Especially since Abraham is seen in verse 12 ,as being righteous ,before evidencing that righteousness.( in being circumcised)

As Abraham is our example ,what of Deuteronomy 26:5 " A Syrian ready to perish was my father,and he went down into Egypt ,and sojourned there with a few ,and became there a great nation,great ,mighty and populous"

Would he not have perished a Syrian ,save for the LORD?
Then I would say except The Lord make willing ( both Old Testament and new) we would all in like manner perish.

Finally you touch on Noah.2Peter 2:5 " a preacher of righteousness"
Was not Noah preaching in the building of an Ark,the righteous judgement of The Lord,upon the world of the unGodly?

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Regarding your own quoted texts,I would not have a quarrel with the “saved” being willing in the day of his power" : for whether NT or OT saints : we all are likened to "Abraham our father "(Romans 4:1)
That is father to both to the circumcision ;and the uncircumcision .

( verse 12) “And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only,but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham ,which he had being yet uncircumcised”

Is it not prior to ;or before a people are seen to possess " righteousness which is by faith " that the subject of " free will" ;that is the unsaved not those already saved?
Especially since Abraham is seen in verse 12 ,as being righteous ,before evidencing that righteousness.( in being circumcised)

As Abraham is our example ,what of Deuteronomy 26:5 " A Syrian ready to perish was my father,and he went down into Egypt ,and sojourned there with a few ,and became there a great nation,great ,mighty and populous"

Would he not have perished a Syrian ,save for the LORD?
Then I would say except The Lord make willing ( both Old Testament and new) we would all in like manner perish.

Finally you touch on Noah.2Peter 2:5 " a preacher of righteousness"
Was not Noah preaching in the building of an Ark,the righteous judgement of The Lord,upon the world of the unGodly?

Bernard, you said there is none righteous by quoting Paul. I showed you many righteous in the same Scriptures.

I see you just put verses together again.

Goodbye.

 

[SecretCatholic]

God in His infinite Wisdom, gives to each of us a mind, intellect and freewill. With our will we are to seek God’s WIll [Isa 43; 7 & 21].

What does this mean for us; for you personally?

God Bless you,
Patrick

It means we’re free to burn in Hell.

Sorry- couldn’t resist!

I interpret the above as: We are given the power to choose so that we can choose goodness (God), which is what we are made for, instead of evil.

There is only one thing to choose, really- but the fact that we are actually doing the choosing, even if there are many influences around us, seems to be important.

 

[Bernard_Lyons]

God in His infinite Wisdom, gives to each of us a mind, intellect and freewill. With our will we are to seek God’s WIll [Isa 43; 7 & 21].

What does this mean for us; for you personally?

God Bless you,
Patrick

For me the 43rd chapter of Isaiah ,in which your verses 7&21 are placed,could not do more to disprove the free will of man( in relationship to Godward).
Instead do we not see the God of Jacob, in particular ,addressing his chosen Israel?
And in his own( free will) sovereign choice :the LORD in favour of Israel, has bypassed ,even given for a ransom ,the other nations round about.
43:3,4
"For I am the LORD thy God,the Holy one of Israel,thy Saviour :I gave Egypt for thy ransom,Ethiopia and Seba for thee.

Since thou wast precious my sight,thou hast been honourable,and I have loved thee:therefore will I give men for thee,and people for thy life"

Nevertheless even with Gods favour : Israel 's own ( free will: to sin) will prevailed.(verse22)

“But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me ,O Israel”

Despite returning hatred for love,the LORD promises mercy: “I ,even I,am he that blotteth out thy transgressions”(25)
Therefore,I believe your own verses ,relate specifically to those still in the mind of God,who like unto Jacob,the LORD is determined yet to bless( verse 6)

" I will say to the north ,Give up;and to the south,Keep not back:bring my sons from far,and my daughters from the ends of the earth"

Verse 7 " Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory,I have formed him; yea,I have made him"

Where ,may I ask is the will( or even unwillingness) of man in this “creation” of God?

Verse 21 “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise”

Who are they?

They are in the wilderness and the desert( verse20) where he quenches their thirst, and gives to drink there: " to give drink to my people,my chosen"