Do the non-elect have free-will?

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2ndTimothyGroup

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Feb 20, 2021
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Will is something that belongs to God in is life 😊 that lives in every person.

His will is not our will its his

Only the one who does the will of the father will be saved.

Therefore any other will is not free

Hmmm . . . I don't get it. Too deep for me, I guess. :)
 

2ndTimothyGroup

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Well the choices I make I've already made them in God's eyes.
What I see the Bible reporting is that God isn't a simple bystander that watches things unfold. He is more than that: God creates exactly what is written in His pre-written, pre-arranged Plan. It isn't that God sees into the future, it is that He creates what He has Planned.
 
Dec 18, 2023
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What I see the Bible reporting is that God isn't a simple bystander that watches things unfold. He is more than that: God creates exactly what is written in His pre-written, pre-arranged Plan. It isn't that God sees into the future, it is that He creates what He has Planned.
bystander has nothing to do with it 😊

God has people living outside of time for Good reason

Matthew 10:19-20

New International Version



19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, 20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.


 

2ndTimothyGroup

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In a nutshell, the following is my understanding:

Our Father is eternal and He created all souls in His eternal realm. All souls were created by Him and for Him. To understand election, we must keep in mind our pre-existence. There was an earth age before the one we’re living in now. At that time, we were all in our spiritual bodies, just as we will also be changed back into our spiritual bodies (in the twinkling of an eye) when Jesus returns at the 7th trump, which will be the third and final age (eternity). Continuing…. In the first earth age, Lucifer rebelled against God and many followed him—but, not all. Those who chose to remain faithful to the LORD, God predestined for salvation. These are the Elect. God destroyed that first earth age and created a new one and He put in place a plan to bring as many people as possible back to Himself by giving “whoever“ both a Savior (JESUS) and free will to choose Him. God sent His Son to die for all of us. That’s how much God loves us.

For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
I can see that you've put some thought into your Bible. This too, is another good example for others to follow. :)
 

selahsays

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What I see the Bible reporting is that God isn't a simple bystander that watches things unfold. He is more than that: God creates exactly what is written in His pre-written, pre-arranged Plan. It isn't that God sees into the future, it is that He creates what He has Planned.
Yes, very true and thanks for that.

…. And Satan continues to try to thwart our Father’s gracious plan, but we know that Satan will be destroyed in the end. God will always have the victory, and in Him, so will we, those of us who stick with His plan.
The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

- Revelation 20:10
 

Niki7

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Feb 21, 2023
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Why can you not understand that God only chose some, not all, people for His purpose. …like the apostles, the prophets, or whatever He needed them to accomplish for Him. Are you jealous of the Elect? Look at Paul. He was chosen. Was his life easy? heck no. And Jeremiah—he was called the weeping prophet. Why can’t you understand that? and by the way, no one knows whether or not they are Elect. God loves ALL of His children—ALL that believe in Jesus.
First of all, your premise that my understanding is not equal to yours, is, once again, a personal comment that illustrates your frustration with the fact that you cannot convince me to believe as do you. You consider your view to be superior even though there is nothing in scripture that will agree with it.

Here is something from Paul that explains what awaits EVERY BELIEVER:

6Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God,a which He destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9Rather, as it is written:
“No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no heart has imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. I Corinthians 2

You believe God has special people yet every single one of us is saved for what? I asked you why are we saved and you did not answer. Yet, the answer is in a verse you posted yourself. We are saved to conform to the image of God's Son. So in whatever way God decides that will happen in our life, He will work towards that end and while some may appear 'special' to you, we see from the scripture above that God has made the same promise to every single person who is His no matter what there name is.

Perhaps you might also recall the parable that Jesus gave about the hiring of men to work in a landowner's fields in Matthew 20.

A landowner goes out early in the morning and hires men, agreeing to pay them the daily rate - a silver coin for a day’s work.
He hires them at various times throughout the day - 9am, 12pm, 3pm and 5pm and promises all of the workers a fair wage.
When the end of the day came, the landowner said to his manager to pay the workers, starting with those who had been hired last. Those who began working at 5pm were given the daily rate - one silver coin.

When it came to those who had been hired first (early in the morning) they thought that they were going to receive more. When they too were given the standard daily wage they began to grumble. They were angry because they had done a lot more work than those who had started later in the day.
The landowner did not listen to their complaints and reminded them that they had agreed to the daily rate of pay when they were hired. He said, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?”
The landowner then says, “The last will be first and the first will be last.”

This parable is Jesus explaining what the kingdom of God is like. So, you need to understand that God is not showing some kind of favoritism with elect while those whom you consider not elect, will receive less.

Every person will receive from God what is fair and just according to their life on earth....saved or not. The difference being that those who are saved...considered elect because they are saved....might get nothing but will still be with God...you can find that in scripture.

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, trusting Him alone for salvation, believing that His sacrifice is the full payment for your sins – you are one of the elect.

Every person who has accepted Jesus as their Savior is elect. Your nonsense of elect and non-elect is not in scripture anywhere.

There is nothing found in scripture that indicates we need to be concerned about whether or not someone is elect. God calls all to believe and to receive Jesus by grace through faith.


16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2: 8-9

What has actually been discussed, debated and even argued about, is whether or not a person believes to become 'elected' or that person is elected and therefore caused to become a believer.

Saving faith, a believer in Christ, indicates that person is elected...although the debate goes on and on and on as to how exactly that occurs as I stated in the above paragraph.
 

selahsays

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May 31, 2023
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I can see that you've put some thought into your Bible. This too, is another good example for others to follow. :)
I was rereading some of the posts on this thread and, lo and behold, I had accidentally given you one of those “old” (alarm clock) reactions. Oops! I fixed it, and I apologize. :giggle: and thanks for the kind words.
 

2ndTimothyGroup

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Feb 20, 2021
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sorry my apologies I'm just a young pilgrim on my travels 😊

You owe me no apologies! I am truly just extremely busy writing these papers on the Bible. I only have 13 to go and I'm done. And I look forward to it . . . as rewarding as it is, it has become very tiring.

Anyway, I love your attitude. You have a good and positive vibe that emanates from your presence, here. As said, it is very positive, not to mention absolutely necessary. True Christians are those who are kind and gentle, and strive for peace. You are a rare, very rare presence in Christian forums. Do these things more and more! You are a good example for me to follow. :)
 
Dec 18, 2023
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You owe me no apologies! I am truly just extremely busy writing these papers on the Bible. I only have 13 to go and I'm done. And I look forward to it . . . as rewarding as it is, it has become very tiring.

Anyway, I love your attitude. You have a good and positive vibe that emanates from your presence, here. As said, it is very positive, not to mention absolutely necessary. True Christians are those who are kind and gentle, and strive for peace. You are a rare, very rare presence in Christian forums. Do these things more and more! You are a good example for me to follow. :)
I've learnt the art of seeking The lord in everything and waiting for an answer for years, im a hard nut to crack 😊. There nothing I can't learn to tolerate, and when it's something new I have to learn to tolerate, that's normally when I sometimes fault, but it may last a day at most, before I rise above it.



Sometimes I do fault but this is extremely rare.

I practice prayer all day long 😊

I don't think it was the will of the father for anyone to be somebody else, I do believe it was the will of the father to be always under his wing
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,628
1,906
113
I've learnt the art of seeking The lord in everything and waiting for an answer for years, im a hard nut to crack 😊. There nothing I can't learn to tolerate, and when it's something new I have to learn to tolerate, that's normally when I sometimes fault, but it may last a day at most, before I rise above it.



Sometimes I do fault but this is extremely rare.

I practice prayer all day long 😊

I don't think it was the will of the father for anyone to be somebody else, I do believe it was the will of the father to be always under his wing
Outstanding! I love hearing people talk about themselves in positive and healthy ways. No doubt . . . you give off good vibes. Way to go, brother, or sister. :D
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,628
1,906
113
I was rereading some of the posts on this thread and, lo and behold, I had accidentally given you one of those “old” (alarm clock) reactions. Oops! I fixed it, and I apologize. :giggle: and thanks for the kind words.
Thank you! I was going to ask about that but thought, nah . . . it isn't important. But you know, what IS important is that you are again showing that you have heart with no stone within it. You are thoughtful, kind, and considerate of others. I love it!!! You are so rare.
 
Dec 18, 2023
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Outstanding! I love hearing people talk about themselves in positive and healthy ways. No doubt . . . you give off good vibes. Way to go, brother, or sister. :D
lol that's ok I try my best all tho I'm only a sister when I'm a gentleman lol

But still i do like to dance there's no harm in being a tooth fairy 😀