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That doesn't mean that a person can't respond to the gospel message by making a decision to believe in Christ.
The simple unadulterated truth is that it is not possible to decide to believe in ANYTHING. It is not a choice or decision within our capability. We truly believe whatever we truly believe. What we truly believe has nothing to do with what we CLAIM to believe by our decisions or choices.
The simple unadulterated truth is that it is not possible to decide to believe in ANYTHING. It is not a choice or decision within our capability. We truly believe whatever we truly believe. What we truly believe has nothing to do with what we CLAIM to believe by our decisions or choices.
You miss the point. A person hears the Gospel and believes it (if he believes it). Therefore, he decides to place his faith in Christ for eternal life. That is what is meant by believing in Christ. Not believing that he existed, but believing that he died on the cross for our sins.
God has given us the free will to accept or reject Him, follow Him or don’t follow Him. Jesus makes it very clear.
16 Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. 17 If anyone wills to do His will,he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. (John 7:17)
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37)
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ”Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)
To those who say there is no free will, define what you mean by 'Free will.'
We all have the freedom to make decisions that are consistent within our nature. So the unbeliever willfully chooses sin. The believer willfully chooses God. It's contingent on whether or not they can see the goodness of God. Pelagius said that one could freely see the good or the bad and he could choose. The Bible says sin blinds us.
Yep, the Gospel to the natural man is foolishness, isnt that sinful response ? 1 Cor 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
So again the will of man is a slave to sin, his response to the Gospel proves it. He ridicules the Gospel, not believe it.
I suggest that you think long and hard about what you're saying, because it is most definitely not sinful to believe in Christ as a result of hearing the gospel, the purpose of which is to lead a person to belief in Christ.
I suggest that you think long and hard about what you're saying, because it is most definitely not sinful to believe in Christ as a result of hearing the gospel, the purpose of which is to lead a person to belief in Christ.
I suggest that you think long and hard about what you're saying, because it is most definitely not sinful to believe in Christ as a result of hearing the gospel, the purpose of which is to lead a person to belief in Christ.
The natural man is as spiritually blind as the apostle Paul was physically blind after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. Ironically, Paul was a Jesus-hater before that. And no, he didn't just decide to believe one day.
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