I never got the impression that you believe we really don't have free will. My thoughts on your series are that you have studied the Bible and understand better than a lot of folks that God is always in control, even tho he gave us free will. He is sovereign and alway will be. I enjoyed your series very much Chad.
I'll have to go back and read the entirety of the parts of this to make accurate commentary, but I'll make a few comments on this part that I read. You insinuate that a slave has no free will, which I would disagree with. He has no freedom to act on some of his choices, or has his actions limited. But there seems to be a conflagration here between freedom and free will. A slave has the free will to choose to act in any way he chooses. Those choices could cost him his life, but the choice is still his to make, limited as it may be at times. Israel was enslaved at times, but they were never stripped of the free will God gave all men. Paul and the apostles were jailed and imprisoned, yet exercised their free will to choose to die rather than deny Christ. Will and works are different things altogether.
I never got the impression that you believe we really don't have free will. My thoughts on your series are that you have studied the Bible and understand better than a lot of folks that God is always in control, even tho he gave us free will. He is sovereign and alway will be. I enjoyed your series very much Chad.
Thank you Patricia.
I'll have to go back and read the entirety of the parts of this to make accurate commentary, but I'll make a few comments on this part that I read. You insinuate that a slave has no free will, which I would disagree with. He has no freedom to act on some of his choices, or has his actions limited. But there seems to be a conflagration here between freedom and free will. A slave has the free will to choose to act in any way he chooses. Those choices could cost him his life, but the choice is still his to make, limited as it may be at times. Israel was enslaved at times, but they were never stripped of the free will God gave all men. Paul and the apostles were jailed and imprisoned, yet exercised their free will to choose to die rather than deny Christ. Will and works are different things altogether.
Definitely worthwhile points. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the rest.
Love this discussion....