Recent content by ivdavid

Not looking at just mankind but looking wholly at all creation, angels included, I believe it's incorrect to attribute the root cause of the fall to satan and his deceptions in the garden - since we'll have to then attribute a cause to why satan fell on his own without any deceptions. What...

True. But at minimum, isn't it sufficient in this case to simply treat it as a placeholder term - where we already do know from Scriptures, 1. that there is nothing good in my flesh 2. and that I am birthed in my flesh alone until the Holy Spirit births me again in my spirit 3. and therefore...

Exactly. So when one denies freewill, they're not exactly denying one's ability to choose - they're only denying that they have any Good options to choose from - since before our rebirth we are in the Flesh and have a Fleshly mind and there is no good in our Flesh.

Central Thought: The flesh generates our desires and counsel before we are birthed in the spirit. Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things (3) after the counsel (2) of his own will (1): There is a...

Central Thought: "Freewill" is misunderstood because we commonly refer to 'will' as indicative of choice whereas Scripture does not. (All numbered references point to the Greek root words from Strong's Greek Dictionary and can be looked up on blueletterbible.org) Luk 22:42 Saying, Father, if...

(I've personally felt it easier to read a series of single central thoughts per post than a single post containing multiple thoughts...just sharing this in case someone thinks I'm spamming...) Central thought: The Protestant Reformation was based on denying freewill and upholding Monergism...

I skimmed through the thread and might have missed this point if already raised - but the error most probably lies in how we interpret the term 'Law'. In response to the OP concerning Rom 6:14, we face a dilemma only if we have to choose between God's grace and God's commandments. And that is...

How do you explain the very concepts of "good", "love", "power over death to stop it" in all their degrees if there was no concept of death - could that at least partially answer the Why? I've heard testimonies where parents say they realized that if they being evil could love their children so...

To be more precise, God can go against Pharaoh's will if he wills evil - but God cannot go against Pharaoh's will if he wills good, for that is what God Himself wills. But yes, I agree with your beliefs on this. I don't find this problematic as it is. But how does one define what is ordinary...

What is mainline Christianity? I mean, Classical Arminianism upholds total depravity too. Lutheran theology terms it differently but upholds the very same doctrine. The doctrine of total depravity or total inability of the flesh is not purely a calvinistic doctrine. I am certain that calvinism...

Why does it seem so? Why would I believe in God's 'intervening' against evil if I believed He was the One causing it? In fact, I don't even hold humans as secondary causes of evil - sinful flesh is the primary cause of man's evil acts. God permitting man to will and act according to his flesh...

It's not because a calvinist defined it so - but I myself believe this is true of God. I don't understand - would you rather He not be absolute in some attribute? What does having 'absolute authority and rule' mean? If some take it to mean that God caused these acts of evil by ruling over them...

Aren't both the above highlighted phrases the same? To be in Christ is to not turn away from God - and to turn away from God is to no longer be in Christ. So, one can know if they're saved as long as they continue believing in Christ for their sanctification and salvation - and this is...

To my knowledge, calvinism does not state God created man depraved - it is sin in the flesh that prevents man from perceiving and obeying God (Rom 8:7-8), and it's a commonly agreed fact that God is not the author of sin. To your second point, how is God responsible for 'allowing/permitting'...

You'll have to qualify that statement further - I know you didn't mean it this way, but as a technicality, it would end up being wrong if God's will to harden Pharaoh's heart was against Pharaoh's will to actually do God's will. So God's sovereignty cannot subdue good, because that would be God...