Comments on: The “Free Will” of Man http://www.pantokrator.org/2005/06/25/the-free-will-of-man/ Pantokrator.org ~ The Christianos.org Blog ~ 2 Timothy 4:2 Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:44:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: BA http://www.pantokrator.org/2005/06/25/the-free-will-of-man/#comment-212 BA Mon, 14 Nov 2005 03:03:33 +0000 http://www.pantokrator.org/?p=30#comment-212 DOGpreacher, First off, I hold to the fact that Scripture is the only authority. Though I do read what Christians have written historically, I do not put as much weight on those writings as some may. However, I was not trying to "correct" anyone as I wasn't trying to factor in what someone has written historically on this subject. Also, I did not see fit to start quoting 100s and 100s of verses on the subject matter. This debate has raged on for 100s of years and godly men on both sides have written on the subject. I was merely stating my opinion/position on it. In addition, I was in no way stating that this is some sort of balance scale and if more verses are on one side then that side wins. That is ridiculous. On the contrary, I was stating that there is only one truth and that truth may violate human understanding. (i.e. man has 100% free will and God is 100% sovereign). In fact, it is the Word that is true, not your finite mind (comprehension/understanding) or my finite mind or any other person's finite mind. So if you want to argue that everything must make sense to you then you can, however, I disagree. The Word of God is the only thing that is true and all our understanding must bend to that truth. I will say it again, the Word of God never contradicts itself. Something that may appear to be a contradiction is actually a lack of human understanding (comprehension). In fact, we may not even have the ability to fully understand it. In addition, if you somehow think you can rightly divide the Word of God like no other man has been able to...I would challenge you on that. If that were the case, you should be able to put an end to some of the long debating subjects within Christendom. AMDG DOGpreacher,

First off, I hold to the fact that Scripture is the only authority. Though I do read what Christians have written historically, I do not put as much weight on those writings as some may. However, I was not trying to “correct” anyone as I wasn’t trying to factor in what someone has written historically on this subject.

Also, I did not see fit to start quoting 100s and 100s of verses on the subject matter. This debate has raged on for 100s of years and godly men on both sides have written on the subject. I was merely stating my opinion/position on it.

In addition, I was in no way stating that this is some sort of balance scale and if more verses are on one side then that side wins. That is ridiculous. On the contrary, I was stating that there is only one truth and that truth may violate human understanding. (i.e. man has 100% free will and God is 100% sovereign).

In fact, it is the Word that is true, not your finite mind (comprehension/understanding) or my finite mind or any other person’s finite mind.

So if you want to argue that everything must make sense to you then you can, however, I disagree. The Word of God is the only thing that is true and all our understanding must bend to that truth. I will say it again, the Word of God never contradicts itself. Something that may appear to be a contradiction is actually a lack of human understanding (comprehension). In fact, we may not even have the ability to fully understand it.

In addition, if you somehow think you can rightly divide the Word of God like no other man has been able to…I would challenge you on that. If that were the case, you should be able to put an end to some of the long debating subjects within Christendom.

AMDG

]]> By: DOGpreacher http://www.pantokrator.org/2005/06/25/the-free-will-of-man/#comment-204 DOGpreacher Tue, 01 Nov 2005 18:30:21 +0000 http://www.pantokrator.org/?p=30#comment-204 This is sad, to say the least. I am (tongue in cheek) appalled to see that you feel you can correct Luther & Edwards in one fell swoop.....and that without any exegetical work in the scriptures....well.....without scripture at all. When you infer that there are scriptures on "this side", but there are more on "that side", this shows your lack of understanding. ALL the scriptures are on one side of this issue OR the other, period. If they are not, then the 'Word of God' is indeed contradictory, and so much for ALL your arguements. If one finds scriptures that "appear" to teach contradictory doctrine, ONE has not "rightly divided the Word of Truth"! This is sad, to say the least. I am (tongue in cheek) appalled to see that you feel you can correct Luther & Edwards in one fell swoop…..and that without any exegetical work in the scriptures….well…..without scripture at all.

When you infer that there are scriptures on “this side”, but there are more on “that side”, this shows your lack of understanding. ALL the scriptures are on one side of this issue OR the other, period. If they are not, then the ‘Word of God’ is indeed contradictory, and so much for ALL your arguements. If one finds scriptures that “appear” to teach contradictory doctrine, ONE has not “rightly divided the Word of Truth”!

]]> By: ChristWeb » Blog Archive » Christian Carnival http://www.pantokrator.org/2005/06/25/the-free-will-of-man/#comment-54 ChristWeb » Blog Archive » Christian Carnival Sat, 02 Jul 2005 01:49:59 +0000 http://www.pantokrator.org/?p=30#comment-54 [...] f Jesus, as this and a more recent post explores. Christendom Blogosis discusses what the The Free Will of Man really means in relation to the Scripture and God’s Sovere [...] [...] f Jesus, as this and a more recent post explores. Christendom Blogosis discusses what the The Free Will of Man really means in relation to the Scripture and God’s Sovere [...]

]]> By: ChristWeb http://www.pantokrator.org/2005/06/25/the-free-will-of-man/#comment-51 ChristWeb Thu, 30 Jun 2005 00:06:24 +0000 http://www.pantokrator.org/?p=30#comment-51 <strong>Christian Carnival</strong> Politics Viewpoint tries to explain why Doug Ireland, an Atheist, makes the claim that Christians shouldn't be imposing their moral and religious views on others. Thomas Jefferson's authorship of the Declaration of Independence tops the list of what ... Christian Carnival

Politics Viewpoint tries to explain why Doug Ireland, an Atheist, makes the claim that Christians shouldn’t be imposing their moral and religious views on others. Thomas Jefferson’s authorship of the Declaration of Independence tops the list of what …

]]> By: Affective http://www.pantokrator.org/2005/06/25/the-free-will-of-man/#comment-46 Affective Sun, 26 Jun 2005 03:13:07 +0000 http://www.pantokrator.org/?p=30#comment-46 I agree, man does have free-will, but post-lapsarian (fall) he will only choose self. Augustine provides a wonderful definition of sin: he calls it concupisence (self-love) positively, and negatively he identifes it as "privatio" (privation) of "original righteousness." It is this continual inward focus of man's will that Luther picks up on in "Bondage of the Will". In other words there are competing affections at work in the heart of man, all motivated by "love of self" (so concupisence); until something (one) extrinsically breaks in upon this vicious circle of self--it will continue on receiving its just reward--eternity separated from God (hell). For Luther, this extrinsic force of course is God, and He uses the instrumentality of His Word to enflame the heart of the recipient with His love--once this occurs, the stirred heart is now able to respond back in love (cf. I Jn 4:19) being captured by the love of Christ. I agree, man does have free-will, but post-lapsarian (fall) he will only choose self. Augustine provides a wonderful definition of sin: he calls it concupisence (self-love) positively, and negatively he identifes it as “privatio” (privation) of “original righteousness.” It is this continual inward focus of man’s will that Luther picks up on in “Bondage of the Will”. In other words there are competing affections at work in the heart of man, all motivated by “love of self” (so concupisence); until something (one) extrinsically breaks in upon this vicious circle of self–it will continue on receiving its just reward–eternity separated from God (hell). For Luther, this extrinsic force of course is God, and He uses the instrumentality of His Word to enflame the heart of the recipient with His love–once this occurs, the stirred heart is now able to respond back in love (cf. I Jn 4:19) being captured by the love of Christ.

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