Isn't it amazing to think that free-will diminishes God's sovereignty?
Oh, wait, you apparently do believe that.
If we draw your theology into a parallel with governance then either the State is sovereign and you have no free-will (ala ObamaCare), or the mere act of being able to choose whether to eat "bad fats and sugars" nullifies the sovereignty of the State.
Do you see how ridiculous your stance is now? Whether or not I can eat "evil fattening foods" has no bearing on the sovereignty of the State; but the same confluence that you have regarding sovereignty/free-will is exactly the same as the Statists --who worship the state as their god-- have embedded into their mind and therefore hate, just as you do, the very concept of free will.
LOL..read that again.. who is sovereign over your free will? Who has the last word on your salvation? Sovereign God or your free will???
Most of us have been raised to worship at the altar of free will and choices
The fact is that all choices are made within a restricted set of circumstances
A man jumping off the empire state building can not exercise free will half way down.
Did you chose your sex? Did your chose your parents? Did you choose your country or city of birth? Did you chose your intelligence?
All of these things were predestined by your creator
He set up for you that parameters of the decisions and choices that will be available to you.
He could have had you born in India to Hindu parents in a low class. You never would have had an opportunity to go to school or to make the life choices you make today. You may never have heard the gospel to be saved.
Acts 17 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
All of our choices are governed by our preferences. Our preferences are part of that same creative process of the Father
Have you read the twin studies?
I read one that blew me away
Two brothers separated at birth. both had the same IQ, Both the same level of education, both loved firefighting (one was a professional and one a volunteer), both married women similar in appearance and both wives were named Jean. Both men had the same number of kids...and both drove red cars
Now these studies are done to show us the effects of genetics.
I know the designer of genetics. And His name is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He is the great "I AM"
God has designed each of us in such a way that we will have preferences that will lead us to certain choices.
Because of the fall men will never seek God
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
In order for man to choose Christ he must have a preference for Christ. But the fall removed that preference. Man is spiritually dead.He can not choose life
Jhn 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Note here that Jesus says a man cannot SEE the kingdom of God. Man can not desire or choose what he can not see
So God gives those that are His a New heart
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
God then gives us a heart that will desire Him.. A heart that can see Him and choose Him...
Our will was put in bondage in Eden. The will we have is the will of Adam. Only the new birth gives us a truly free will. The desire and the will to choose Christ
I find it so interesting that people resent the idea that God has foreordained our eternity. If our father so loved us to foreordain our present, how much more important is our eternity?
LOL..read that again.. who is sovereign over your free will? Who has the last word on your salvation? Sovereign God or your free will???
Most of us have been raised to worship at the altar of free will and choices
The fact is that all choices are made within a restricted set of circumstances
A man jumping off the empire state building can not exercise free will half way down.
Did you chose your sex? Did your chose your parents? Did you choose your country or city of birth? Did you chose your intelligence?
All of these things were predestined by your creator
He set up for you that parameters of the decisions and choices that will be available to you.
He could have had you born in India to Hindu parents in a low class. You never would have had an opportunity to go to school or to make the life choices you make today. You may never have heard the gospel to be saved.
Acts 17 26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
All of our choices are governed by our preferences. Our preferences are part of that same creative process of the Father
Have you read the twin studies?
I read one that blew me away
Two brothers separated at birth. both had the same IQ, Both the same level of education, both loved firefighting (one was a professional and one a volunteer), both married women similar in appearance and both wives were named Jean. Both men had the same number of kids...and both drove red cars
Now these studies are done to show us the effects of genetics.
I know the designer of genetics. And His name is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. He is the great "I AM"
God has designed each of us in such a way that we will have preferences that will lead us to certain choices.
Because of the fall men will never seek God
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
In order for man to choose Christ he must have a preference for Christ. But the fall removed that preference. Man is spiritually dead.He can not choose life
Jhn 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Note here that Jesus says a man cannot SEE the kingdom of God. Man can not desire or choose what he can not see
So God gives those that are His a New heart
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
God then gives us a heart that will desire Him.. A heart that can see Him and choose Him...
Our will was put in bondage in Eden. The will we have is the will of Adam. Only the new birth gives us a truly free will. The desire and the will to choose Christ
I find it so interesting that people resent the idea that God has foreordained our eternity. If our father so loved us to foreordain our present, how much more important is our eternity?
Well, Paul and Peter disagree with you, my FRiend.
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, sattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are CHOSEN ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF God the Father, by the sanctifying work of thw Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood..." "...for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God's purpose according to HIS CHOICE MIGHT STAND, NOT BECAUSE OF WORKS, but because of HIM WHO CALLS."..."So then, it does not depend on the man who wills (CHOOSES) or the man who runs (WORKS), but on God who has mercy,"..."So then, He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires."
Of course, Paul heard your same arguments back in the first century, "You will say to me then, 'Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?" Obviously, they have proven that it cannot be this way! After all, this would not be fair. May want to check Paul's answer. Too bad, folks. Get over it, God can do whatever He wants and it is perfectly just, because He is the definition of just. Or do you wish to stand in judgment upon Him?
Yes, the free will argument is as old as man. Free will is a myth man concocted to derive a sense of independence from God, a freedom that is non-existent. And, when confronted by its error, recently the charge is thrown up, "This is nothing but Islam!". Sorry, God's management is biblical. Islam is an error of Satan as surely as "free will". Of course, God is managing and using it for His purpose, but we are told to identify it as wrongheaded.
And, of course we have heard the, "Well, are you saying God made a mistake then?" Not at all. The ones displaying the mistake are the agents He is using. And they are everywhere. Nevertheless, just as the darkened Jews were used to crucify the Hope of Israel by the plan and management of God, the unfortunate blame will be laid at the feet of the Jews and Romans, Muslims and "free willers".
Who made up the rule that one cannot be blamed for something one is compelled to do? Where exactly does that passage exist? How does blame transfer to Adam's progeny knowing that he is the only one who actually did it? We must let the text teach us, not the other way round. The Almighty is Holy and Just.