Pilate's positions had the power, but he lacked the will power to supersede Gods plan
Free Will?
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by tj harris, Feb 17, 2015.
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Scripture is not contradicted. Pilate's power office was stated. Not his ability to do right by God -
The will is lock-step with the nature. Within that nature, the will freely moves...
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Apple trees produce apples, peach trees bring forth peaches, pear trees pears, &c.
Jesus used trees as a prime example. Trees produce what's inside of them. Unless someone's will is changed, they won't change. Only God can make their nature change... -
Limited free will is taught in the scripture:
Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
HankD -
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Nehemiah 2:4 Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 2:6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
This wicked king did good. He actually sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and gave him the materials to do so:
Nehemiah 2:8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
This is a choice that the king made in answer to the request of Nehemiah. -
HankD -
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Look, sinning is a choice and I don't deny that. But none of us, even after salvation, has the ability not to sin. It's infused within our flesh, seeps through our pores. The soul has been made 'white as snow', but the flesh is still corrupted in sin. The flesh still has desires to please the flesh, but the soul wants to please God. When the flesh raises up(sins), the soul, by the working of the Spirit, brings the flesh back under subjection.
--And this I do because of the good news, that a fellow-partaker of it I may become; have ye not known that those running in a race, all indeed run, but one doth receive the prize? so run ye, that ye may obtain; and every one who is striving, is in all things temperate; these, indeed, then, that a corruptible crown they may receive, but we an incorruptible; I, therefore, thus run, not as uncertainly, thus I fight, as not beating air; but I chastise my body, and bring [it] into **servitude, lest by any means, having preached to others -- I myself may become disapproved.(1 Cor. 9:23-27 YLT)
**servitude is subjection in the KJV -
The word power-exousia does not simply indicate the right but the actual ability and authority to make a decision and carry through (Friberg, UBS and LS Lexicons).
It is used of God's ability and authority.
Acts 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
HankD -
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Similar with Pilate. Jesus could have probably talked his way out of crucifixion. Jesus made no argument for his own release. He left Pilate to his bonded will. Pilate was afraid for his own being. Pilate was always going to choose crucifixion. It was built in to his nature. It was Pilate's desire, inclination, his will. Which was in bondage to sin. His two decisions were....1. Crucify Jesus and save himself or sacrifice his position, possible his life. Save Jesus...doing something selfless to save Jesus, which Jesus being God, this would be doing a selfless act for God. The world is enmity with God James 4:4. Pilate was the enemy of God. He could not choose to do good by God. -
But take the sin of adultery, we have both the ability to choose, and the power not to commit this sin.
Some do, some don't. Saved and/or unsaved.
HankD -
From God's perspective, it was prophesied of old than His Son MUST die. And NOTHING Pilate could say or do was going to stop it. Crucifixion was the prophesied method of His death. Psalms 22, John 12:32, Isa. 53:12, Matt. 15:28 affirms it. Pilate and Ananias acted freely within their wills. -
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