Hi Ed,

You write so nice!:D

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The problem with this quote is that the author is not taking into account the fact that we do not stand in our own strength. We have the "dunamis" of the Holy Spirit within to draw upon.


I Agree,as dearly loved children the Holy Spirit enables us to first know His will and second empower us to do His will ,this is what I consider free will.

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You see, it really is God's program to weak sinners from beginning to end.


Amen!

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No human being could enter into the salvation of God. The Word becomes incarnate and does what is impossible for any man to do.


Yes.. we learn this in Ephesians 1:13

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

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No human being would or could come to God in and of himself apart from God. The Holy Spirit calls men unto salvation.


I agree and notice that if Christ is drawing us He will raise us up on the last day this I believe is the covenant of promise that is threaded throughout God's word.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.John 6:44

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No human being could stand the assaults of the evil one and the threefold enemies of our souls - the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Holy Spirit indwells us to give us the power to resist and be
victorious.


Amen Ed!

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But unlike the Calvinist paradigm, which completely takes the free will of man out of the picture, our keeping is a matter of our asking to be kept, of our turning constantly to God in prayer asking His mercy, grace, forgiveness and power. We are not robotic beings. We have a free will. That
is one way in which we are "in the image of God."


Free will is not removed from man it is given as part of this anointing of our new birth. Actually the ability to be able to turn or repent constantly does not come from natural man's free will, but God's will and power ,only as He enables us are we capable of doing His will.

Jeremiah helps us to understand the work of the Holy Spirit as the holy Spirit does the work of moving us to repentance.

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for Surely after that I was turned, I repented;and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.Jer31:18-19

Robots could never respond to God's Love.

I believe Job helps to explain this love in which people run from, thinking that as they follow Him into His garrison of love that they will lose what they call personal freedom. but it is in the confines of His Love that we find personal freedom.

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him. For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face. Job23:8-17

This is really strange when people give victory to their sin, usually they have no problem with, "the devil made me do it ,robot mentality" but somehow they feel God loves us to much to protect us by revealing His will to us and then empowering us to do His will, go figure?

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Phil 2:12-13


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And we never "lose" our salvation. Technically speaking, we are ALWAYS a child of God once adopted into the family of God. But we can turn our backs in our free will choice and as dog return to the vomit of our sins. God no more strong arms us into staying than the father did his
prodigal son.


I agree except I do not blame a free will on sinning against our heavenly Father ,it is this body of sin that lusts after a will that is opposed to the will of our Father.

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.Romans
7:23-25

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The Good News is that God has done what we cannot do and gives us power that we do not of ourselves have. All we need do is call upon Him and we will find a more than sufficient grace and power to persevere to the end.


Amen.

In Christ, garee