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RFK Jr.
by Pilgrim - Thu Sep 14, 2023 6:56 PM
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China
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Joined: Sep 2003
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Annie Oakley
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OP
Annie Oakley
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,300 Likes: 33 |
Exposition
The question of the freedom of the will, or the power of the human will to obey God, and to do that which is good, is intimately connected with the subject of the misery of man, and claims our attention next in order. It is also necessary to know what ability man possessed before the fall, and what he has since, that, having a correct knowledge of the effects of the first sin, we may be the more excited to humility, and to an earnest desire for divine grace and guidance; and also to true gratitude to God. For this doctrine of the liberty of the will, brings us to a consideration, not of the ability and excellence of man, but of his weakness and misery. Of free will The principal question and object, in this discussion, is, Whether man can now, in the same way in which he separated himself from God, also return to him by his own strength--accept of the grace that is offered him by God, and recover for himself the position which has been lost by sin o? And also, whether the will of man be the chief cause why some are converted, whilst others continue in sin; and why, both among the converted and the unconverted, some are better than others? in a word, whether the will of man be the cause why men do good or evil, whether in this, or in that manner?
The Pelagians, and others of a similar character, reply to this question, That so much grace is given by God, and left by nature, to all men, that they can of themselves return to God, and obey him: neither are we to seek for any other cause than the will of man, as the reason why some receive and retain, whilst others reject and disregard, divine aid in forsaking sin, and do, after this or that manner, resolve upon and execute their own counsels and deeds.
The holy Scriptures, however, teach a wholly different doctrine, which, as we understand it, is, that no work acceptable and pleasing to God can be undertaken, and performed by any one, without regeneration and the special grace of the holy Spirit; neither can there be any more or less good in the counsels and actions of any man, than God of his own free grace chooses to produce in them; nor can the will of any creature be inclined in any other direction than that which seems good to the eternal and gracious counsel of God. And yet all the actions of the created will, both good and bad, are performed freely. That this may be the better understood, let us inquire:
What is freedom of will, or free power of choice?
What is the distinction which exists between the liberty which is in God, and that which is in his rational creatures, angels and men?
Is there any freedom of the human will?
What kind of freedom of will is there in man; or how many degrees of free-will are there in man, according to his fourfold state?
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Entire Thread
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Q.6–8 Origin of Man's Wickedness
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:29 PM
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Q6 Exposition
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:29 PM
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What was the state in which God originally created man?
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:29 PM
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For what end did God create man?
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:29 PM
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Of the image of God in man
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:30 PM
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Re: Lord's Day 3—Heidelberg Catechism
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:30 PM
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How the image of God may be restored in us
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:30 PM
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LD 3—Q7 Man's depravity
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:31 PM
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Re: Lord's Day 3—Heidelberg Catechism
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:31 PM
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What was the sin of our first parents?
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:32 PM
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What were the causes of the first sin?
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:32 PM
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Re: Lord's Day 3—Heidelberg Catechism
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:33 PM
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IV. Why did God permit sin?
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:34 PM
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Of sin in general
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:35 PM
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What is sin?
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:35 PM
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III. How many kinds of sin are there?
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:35 PM
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Of Actual Sin and the remaining distinctions of Sin, with its causes a
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:36 PM
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Certain Rules to be observed in relation to the Sin against the Holy Ghost.
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:36 PM
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What are the causes of sin?
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:37 PM
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What are the effects of sin?
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:37 PM
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Q8 Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:37 PM
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Of free will
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:40 PM
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Re: Lord's Day 3—Heidelberg Catechism
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:41 PM
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Re: Lord's Day 3—Heidelberg Catechism
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:42 PM
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Is there any freedom of the human will?
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:43 PM
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Re: Lord's Day 3—Heidelberg Catechism
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chestnutmare
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Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:45 PM
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