>> >> In Scripture it is written that one day every knee shall bow and every >> mouth confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:10-11) >> > LOL, are you being an apostate now Minimus? If that scripture is law and > will happen no matter what, then it follows we have no free will (notice > it says "every", I think that means "all"?). And "free will" of humans > is part of doctrine, isn't it? (and now lads we'll see Minimus Dickus > twisting his body and his mind in order to show us that a circle has got > vertices! Don't miss this FANTASTIC show! It's only 1.99 dallahs!).
Wow, I thought you understood more than you do, apparently. Free will applies while we yet breathe. After that, judgment. That's when the knees bow and tongues confess, as it were---yes all of them, yes many of them (if not most of them) involuntarily. Even yours, tough guy. It's much better and more rewarding to do it freely before the big weenie roast. ;) The irony of free will is that your freedom is to surrender your will to God, or not. Everything else is pretty much deterministic. You will either serve the flesh and its laws, or serve God in spirit and truth. Of course, if you're a real disciple, you'll fail many times since the willful surrender is a daily, constant decision with many opportunities to foobar (Peter is a very heartening example---talk about a serial screw up who triumphed eventually), and you're asked to do the latter (serve God) while you're still in the former (the flesh). Romans 7 and all that. But you get the Get Out of Hell Free Pass by faith, and your place in the heavenly realms is determined by the spiritual fruit you bear. I will gladly admit, I screw up all the time, struggle much with the basic concepts of being nice and loving even my enemies---it's all very contrary to our natural inclinations--- and have no monopoly on righteousness. I'll be lucky to be a toilet repair man in Heaven. :) But at least I'm on the right side of eternity, and occasionally hear the still, small voice of He Who Build the World. Hope to see you there, friend, should we never have an opportunity to meet in this life. It's up to you. Don't make the common egotistical mistake of thinking you're somehow tougher than God or the devil. Free will, you bet. But it will cost you total obedience, whichever way you go, whether you realize to whom you are a slave, or not. One of many reasons I take with a brick of salt every doctrine with the word "Free" in front of it (free will, free love, free trade, free health care----they all cost you everything you've got, but technically preserve you're "right to choose"). :) - Publius "It ought never to be forgotten, that a firm union of this country, under an efficient government, will probably be an increasing object of jealousy to more than one nation of Europe; and that enterprises to subvert it will sometimes originate in the intrigues of foreign powers, and will seldom fail to be patronized and abetted by some of them. Its preservation, therefore ought in no case that can be avoided, to be committed to the guardianship of any but those whose situation will uniformly beget an immediate interest in the faithful and vigilant performance of the trust." [Federalist Papers #59] _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[email protected] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
