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Does God Have "Free Will"?

Discussion in 'Calvinism & Arminianism Debate' started by thatbrian, Feb 20, 2018.

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  1. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Or make Himself become an Open Theist God.....
     
  2. thatbrian

    thatbrian Well-Known Member
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    So, an unregenerate man has the ability to live without sin. Is that right?
     
  3. utilyan

    utilyan Well-Known Member
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    God's sovereignty is so great he can institute any system he wants...........AS LONG AS ITS CALVINISM.

    Even God doesn't have a choice, God must kneel before Calvinism.
     
  4. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    No, rather that God instituted that system....
     
  5. FollowTheWay

    FollowTheWay Well-Known Member
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    I think the foundational questions are:
    1. What is sin?
    answer - acting contrary to the will of God.

    2. What is truth?
    answer - what God defines it to be. If there is no all-powerful, all-knowing God there is no absolute truth.

    God acts according to His sovereign will. He alone has the ultimate form of free will. He also cannot sin because doing so would be acting against His own will.
    The truth is defined by God. Therefore He cannot lie.
     
  6. utilyan

    utilyan Well-Known Member
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    Cause you SAY SO, Just like you qualify yourself elect.

    God didn't tell you, Yeshua says so.
     
  7. Reformed

    Reformed Well-Known Member
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    Actually, that is not a bad definition. It is not only biblical, it is logically. Think about it for a moment. No orthodox Christian will say that God can sin. We know the ramifications if God ever sins. Why cannot God sin? The Bible says that God is holy. Holiness is inherent to His nature. Ergo, God cannot sin because His holy nature will not allow it. That is not a Monergist statement, it is simply an unassailable fact.

    God does not possess a free will in the way that we interpret the term. When we think of free will we usually juxtapose a decision we need to make against all available alternatives and make the decision that we believe is in our best interest. God does not need to do that. Eph. 1:11 says He works all things after the counsel of His own will. God does not need to consider all available options. God's will is perfect. He just acts according to His predetermined plan.
     
  8. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    If God does not have free will no one does and free will is a fantasy.

    This is the end product of the theologies of man.

    Isaiah 55
    8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
    9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
     
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  9. thatbrian

    thatbrian Well-Known Member
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    I fully agree.
     
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  10. JonShaff

    JonShaff Fellow Servant
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    2 Timothy 2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting.
     
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  11. thatbrian

    thatbrian Well-Known Member
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    What is "infighting"? Should one get as angry as Paul at legalism, or should he put on his Mr Rogers cardigan? Should Baptists debate Presbyterians?
     
  12. JonShaff

    JonShaff Fellow Servant
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    I'm just going to be frank. It's a stupid question. Does God have free will? What does that even mean. GOD IS GOD and you are not. HE does whatever He pleases. Stop putting Him under a microscope. Bow your knee to Him and Worship Him and He will privilege you with revelation of Himself. (I'm using "you" generally)
     
  13. JonShaff

    JonShaff Fellow Servant
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    Infighting:


    : prolonged and often bitter dissension or rivalry among members of a group or organization
     
  14. thatbrian

    thatbrian Well-Known Member
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    I like frankness, so tell me, frankly, can God lie?
     
  15. JonShaff

    JonShaff Fellow Servant
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    God cannot and does not desire to Lie.
     
  16. thatbrian

    thatbrian Well-Known Member
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    Thank you. I agree.

    Unregenerate men cannot and do not desire to please God.

    Neither have the "free will" that Arminians and Pelagians claim they do.
     
    #76 thatbrian, Feb 21, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2018
  17. JonShaff

    JonShaff Fellow Servant
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    Ok?
     
  18. thatbrian

    thatbrian Well-Known Member
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    Remove the question mark, and we are all set.
     
  19. JonShaff

    JonShaff Fellow Servant
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    Maybe I've heard free will too many times here lately, but that word is losing any type of meaning to me.
     
  20. InTheLight

    InTheLight Well-Known Member
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    Once again, please explain why millions of unregenerate people baptize their infants, attend church, pray, take communion, etc. if they do not desire to please God. I'm not saying they are pleasing God, I am saying they desire to please God. Why aren't these people desiring to please God?

    Sent from my Pixel 2 XL
     
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