Myth of Free Will & Man’s Will Free Yet Bound

“What do you think your song will be when you come to heaven? Blessed be God, that he gave me free-will; and blessed be my own dear self, that I made a good use of it? O no, no! Such a song as that was never heard in heaven yet, nor ever will, while God is God, and heaven is heaven.” - What Will Be Your Song by Augustus Toplady -  Or maybe Amazing Free Will (:-)

The Myth of Free Will
Walter Chantry

Most people say that they believe in “free will.” Do you have any idea what that means? I believe that you will find a great deal of superstition on this subject. The will is saluted as the grand power of the human soul which is completely free to direct our lives. But from what is it free? And what is its power?

THE MYTH OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL FREEDOM

No one denies that man has a will — that is, a faculty of choosing what he wishes to say, do, and think. But have you ever reflected on the pitiful weakness of your will? Though you have the ability to make a decision, you do not have the power to carry out your purpose. Will may devise a course of action, but will has no power to execute its intention.

Joseph’s brothers hated him. They sold him to be a slave. But God used their actions to make him a ruler over themselves. They chose their course of action to harm Joseph. But God in His power directed events for Joseph’s good. He said, “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Gen 50:20).

And how many of your decisions are miserably thwarted?

By saying that your will is free, we certainly do not mean that it determines the course of your life. You did not choose the sickness, sorrow, war, and poverty that have spoiled your happiness. You did not choose to have enemies. If man’s will is so potent, why not choose to live on and on? But you must die. The major factors which shape your life cannot thank your will. You did not select your social status, color, intelligence, etc.

Any sober reflection on your experience will produce the conclusion, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but THE LORD DIRECTETH his steps” (Prov 16:9). .     …  Read Whole Article Click Here or you can continue with 2nd Article Excerpt first; both by Author – Walter Chantry

Man’s Will – Free Yet Bound
by Walter J. Chantry

For more than fifteen hundred years the Church has engaged in a heated debate over the freedom of man’s will. The major issues came to general attention in the early fifth century when Augustine and Pelagius did battle on the subject. Through medieval times the nature of man’s freedom received a great deal of attention. As they studied the Scriptures, Bernard and Anselm made significant contributions to the doctrine of the human will. In the sixteenth century the freedom or bondage of the will was one of the chief issues dividing Reformers and Roman Catholics. To the mind of Martin Luther, it was the key to his dispute with Rome. In the seventeenth century the nature of man’s freedom was at the heart of the debate between Arminians and Calvinists. The conflict surfaced again in the eighteenth century during the Great Awakening. Finney’s approach to revival in the nineteenth century led the church astray through a misunderstanding of the human will. So too the nature of man’s will continues to bring intense disagreement between Reformed and Fundamentalist believers.

A proper understanding of the content of the gospel and the use of GOD-honouring methods in evangelism are dependent on one’s grasp of this issue. ….

Read 2nd  Article  Click Here

Read: Man’s Will in Conversion

Do not look at his Appearance 1 Sam 16:7

1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  NKJV

Do not look to your abilities or lack of them or any cowardice you may have. Our Lord does not need your strength or ability or skilled voice or quick thinking.
Just be willing to be used by Him and trust in the unseen work He is performing as you speak.
Therefore hold closer to the scripture than human wisdom and your past experience.
Free up God to work mightily by only using His word, which may even offend or be insufficient in man’s thinking, so that God will get all the glory and the results will be visibly His.
Live more in the invisible spiritual realm and less in the earthly. Trust in the angels about you and the Spirit to move men’s hearts than in any wisdom and techniques you may have or lack. Work on developing a heart of love to God as David had the puts Him first in all and trusts Him completely in all things.

1 Sam 16:23 And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him.  NKJV

Hmmm…   for years this has meant little to me but today it speaks volumes.

The mere presence of David playing was soothing to Saul. Our presence should be the presence of the Spirit to people. It may not always soothe and may convict. But either way we are the salt, we are the light, to people.  We are Christ to them, we should be effecting other people.  They should sense the presence of the Spirit by our being among them.
Do we radiate Christ as we could?  Are we having an effect on the world and people around us, our governors?

What could we do that we would have more effect on people as David did Saul?

I have to think much more on this strange passage, there is so much more possibility in it.
The Spirit left Saul but he sensed that lost comfort in David. David was good to Saul yet Saul ultimately ignores this and persecutes him, though Daivid was no threat to Saul and would not harm him. It was God who was Saul’s enemy yet he turned it toward David his own servant who showed him kindness.

What does it say about us if the world is kind to us?

Admonition, Exhortation, Reproof and Rebuke

Thoughts to Consider on Admonition, Exhortation and Reproof

Lev 19:17 You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. NKJV

We need more and better training on how to give and accept admonition, correction and confrontation from each other in the church. It often seems that a person who is criticized, admonished, or corrected by another, especially when convicted of its truth, may become embarrassed that they did not already know it, or feel attacked rather than supported. This unnecessary sense of embarrassment or shame may tempt them to become defensive, not wanting to be wrong; they may react or go to anger toward the other person. This may result in their retaliating by judging the other to be insensitive, unloving, arrogant, judgmental or harsh, even when they were not. In fact the reality is often just the reverse.

How exactly do you act and speak that will ensure the one you are pointing out a fault to, will see you as humble or gentle or caring?  Does anyone ever feel that someone is being humble who is telling him he acted wrongly?? Or telling him some truth he did not know? The mere fact you see something he does not,

Can God Make or Cause Evil Justly?

God Makes and Uses Evil Justly and Without Sinning Himself

Dan 4:35  All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven  And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him,”What have You done?”   NKJV

Eph 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, NKJV

Is 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: 7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Is 46:10-11 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. (KJV)

Lam 3:37 Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it?  NKJV

Jer 18:11 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: KJV

Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it? (KJV)

1 Sam 2:25 Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them. NKJV

1 Sam 16:14-15 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD terrorized him. 15 Saul’s servants then said to him, “Behold now, an evil spirit from God is terrorizing you. NAS

The Saint’s Jewel – Thomas Shepard

The Saint’s Jewel

Showing How to Apply The Promise

TO THE READER

Reader, the body may as well subsist without the soul, as the soul can without a promise; and as the body is not wearied with bread, (being the staff of life,) thought it hath it every day for nourishment, so, likewise, the fainting, hungry soul can never be cloyed with feeding upon the promises.  For which cause I have also adventured this little Sermon, not doubting but it may reap its due fruit from those whose heart are rightly affected; which God granting, I shall account my labor abundantly requited.  Farewell.

Thomas Shepard.         April 2, 1655.

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2 Cor. vii. 1, “Having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

The apostle Paul in the former chapter exhorteth the Corinthians to beware of unbelievers; and he gives a double argument for it, one from the unequalness of it, the other from the promises, as in my text, “Having these promises.”

In these words are three parts:

1. A loving appellation, in these words, “Having these promises dearly beloved.”
2. A gracious exhortation, “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
3. An argument for instigation or motive, that he useth to press his exhortation, which is from the nature of the promise.   That which is in the last part of the division is first in order of the words, and therefore we will look upon the words as they lie in order; and so from the last part and first words I shall handle this doctrine.

That God made many promises unto his people.

I am come to you this day not to set out unto you the excellency of wit or learning, or the creature; but the excellency of a naked promise, according to that, (2 Pet. I. 4,)  “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises.”
Now, all the promises of God unto his people are such as concern the body, or the body and the soul.  Those that concern the body are with this limitation, that is, so far as concerns God’s glory and the good of our souls; but for the body and soul, consider that place,  “For the Lord is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory, and no good will he withhold from them that live uprightly.”   (Ps. 1xxxiv. 11.)

I come to the reasons why God hath thus made many promises unto his people; and they are three.

The first reason is this: that his people might have…. Click here to Finish

Does Your Brain Add to Your Asthma?

Does Your Brain Add to Your Asthma Problems?

Simply hearing words like “wheeze” can cause asthmatics to experience more severe asthma symptoms, according to a study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin.

Study Reveals Specific Parts of Brain Involved

The study shows a link between two brain regions and the physiological processes of asthma. Previous studies have shown that stress adversely affects people with inflammatory diseases like asthma. Inflammation has also been shown to affect the brain.

But this is the first study that makes a link showing the specific brain circuits involved in the connection between asthma and the emotions.

Emotional Reactions to Words

Researchers employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brains of six asthmatics. They were asked to inhale ragweed or dust-mite extracts, and then shown three types of words:

Assurance of Being Born Again

The problems that occur in relation to the topic of Assurance are due partially to centuries of mass acceptance of false doctrines. These include the perversion of the Arminian gospel of easy believism and the inner revelatory full assurance that accompanies the on demand regeneration of the one “receiving Jesus”. Another is the ambiguous way assurance has been presented. The recent lack of the clear precise teaching that was in the Westminster Confession of Faith, which distinguishes between the certainty of faith one has in conversion, and one’s own personal assurance of being in a state of grace. These have been blurred into the same thing. The fact that one theologian has used the term applying to the one that another man has used to apply to the other has not helped. Though they both may agree concerning the distinctness of these two matters, the lack of agreement on a proper term has left confusion. It would be more clear to use, “assurance of faith” for saving faith and “assurance of hope or sense” for one’s surety he is truly born again. Some define assurance of faith as that certainty we may arrive at that confirms to us we have been converted by God’s Grace. Whereas saving faith is that infallible belief and trust in Christ and His word at regeneration.
The fact is that most historical theologians agree there are these two different subjects. We must make certain that we properly understand what an author meant by the terms he used and the terms we choose to use, so that our listeners are fully aware of what we are talking about at the time. This is of primary importance, because to give a man a false assurance of being in a state of grace, simply because we confused the term with the certainty of saving faith he should have, can be the deception that damns one eternally. And at least it certainly deprives him of the benefits of drawing nearer to Christ through self examination and ultimately by having that true fullness of assurance of our being indwelt by the Spirit that we may obtain.
A second matter is the semantic of full assurance versus assurance. Some would be clear to say that full assurance is not of the essence of saving faith, just some measure of personal confidence or hope must be. Some would say there is a hope or confidence or surety that grows in degrees and full assurance is the final stage when one never doubts again. Still others say the full assurance may be lost or diminished. These words only point out with what difficulty this topic is explained or fully understood. This issue is not as dangerous a misconception as the first, but let us see if ….
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Is The Mode Of Baptism Illustrated In Scripture, and Who Gets Baptized?

The Mode Of Baptism Illustrated In Scripture, and Who Gets Baptized?

1 Peter 3:20…in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us — baptism(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,  NKJV

How does Baptism save us? We are not born again by water baptism; but it is the symbol or picture of the real ark; Jesus who saves us. Water baptism is the symbol for what really happens to the believer. It can not cause one to be saved.

It is not the water or putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience.

“The like figure”:  the figure of baptism or being saved by water was a boat afloat, not immersed. The point is, it is not the water, but the response of conscience that is Baptism! A good conscience; not water that can only wash the flesh.

Not the putting away the filth of the flesh:  which is to say, what saves us is not the water in the symbol, but the answer of a good conscience; is what this text teaches!

The same is true of 1 Cor.10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;…

How were all people, including children baptized? They were baptized into the covenant family  by obedience.  The answer of a good conscience. Moses is a type of Christ, as was the ark. They were baptized by obeying the symbol of being safely taken  through judgment. Believers are saved by the efficacy of Christ who passed through the judgment of God for them and paid their penalty. We can do nothing to merit this salvation. Only Christ could get us pardon from the judgment that came upon those in the flood and those dying in the Red Sea; and the judgment to come upon all who do not obey Him. According to Paul and Peter what was done in the OT baptism and was an act of good conscience in obeying and doing the type or sign or symbol of that regeneration that truly pardons us from final judgment.

These texts says nothing of immersion. It speaks of obedience from the heart!!  The only way water baptism can be said to save us is as a type of the real baptism of the Spirit in regeneration.

The passage through God’s judgment which was procured by another; Noah and his ark, or Moses and his parting of the Sea were types.

The obvious mistake of those who state baptizo always means immersed, is manifest as we saw in the baptizo at the Red Sea where they were  on dry ground.

Pharoah’s Egyptians were immersed in judgment, while God’s people were said to be baptized as they walked on dry ground through the parted Red Sea. The only water for the covenant people here would have been the sprinkling overspray from the held back waters.  Immersion is more clearly a sign of judgment than baptism in scripture.

Baptism in these passages does not mean immersion in water but the answer of a good conscience toward God. Water baptism does not convert us, it does not unite us to Christ in his death or burial. That is the old heretical teaching of baptismal regeneration.

We see the contrast in this verse of water baptism with the non-immesion, non-water baptism of the Spirit. Acts 1:5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” NKJV

So we see there is more than one distinct useage and meaning for the word baptism in scripture. One is Read Whole Article Click Here

Reproof in Preaching-Do We Love Reproof or Sin

“Your Word is completely pure, and Your
servant loves it.” Psalms 119:140

Do we love the holiness of the Word? The Word is
preached—to beat down sin, and advance holiness.
Do we love it for its spirituality and purity? Many
love the Preached Word only for its eloquence and
notion. They come to a sermon as to a performance
(Ezek. 33:31,32) or as to a garden to pick flowers;
but not to have their lusts subdued or their hearts
purified. These are like a foolish woman who paints
her face—but neglects her health!

Do we love the convictions of the Word? Do we
love the Word when it comes home to our conscience
and shoots its arrows of reproof at our sins? It is the
minister’s duty sometimes to reprove. He who can
speak smooth words in the pulpit—but does not know
how to reprove, is like a sword with a fine handle, but
without an edge! “Rebuke them sharply!” (Titus 2:15).
Dip the nail in oil—