Is belief a choice?

[PeanutGallery]

Biblical free will is the power to freely choose, without external force or constraint, what one prefers.

...

One is free to choose or reject God's witnesses; God's witnesses are the internal and external forces.

 

[Carbon]

I choose chocolate ice cream because I prefer it. Period. The preference is the "evidence" by which I choose, and preference is never forced.

You like chocolate ice cream. So you chose it. But you didn't choose your taste buds.

 

[Eleanor]

You like chocolate ice cream. So you chose it. But you didn't choose your taste buds.

Free will is not about my taste buds, it's about my freedom to choose what I prefer.

Right, God gave me the taste buds.
And I still freely chose what I prefer, the meaning of free will.

Free will is not about the origin of the preference, it is only about the ability to choose the preference.

 

[GeneZ]

Well I personally do not believe that any man has the ability to choose to believe.

Yet you choose to believe that? Makes one wonder. What irony.

What hyper-Calvinists miss is the Biblical reason why we can not choose to believe.
We can not choose to believe until God's power of grace opens the door for the soul to make a choice to believe. Or, to not believe.
Before Grace is made operational the conclusion will always default one way without choosing.

Grace is the power of God given to man to accomplish what God would like have done that man in himself does not have the ability to do.

Here is one example of the power of Grace.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ​

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may ​

rest on me." 2 cor 12:9​

So, what holds back the unregenerate human soul from believing in Christ?

In two words? "The Flesh."

True total depravity would have to say.... "The Flesh, and The Soul."

It is why Jesus saved the soul, but crucified the flesh!

Calvinists are stuck with what amounts to an early stage primitive theological understanding of the depravity of man.
It needed more work, but was made at that time to look great when standing next to the corrupted moronic RCC theology.

It was only a start in the right direction walking away from the Vatican.

Truth does not change.

Misunderstanding of truth must go through a process in clearing off the dross to get to the pure gold and silver.

 

[Eleanor]

One is free to choose or reject God's witnesses; God's witnesses are the internal and external forces.

That one is free to choose, without external force or constraint, what one prefers is the meaning of free will as presented in the Bible.

 

[GeneZ]

You like chocolate ice cream. So you chose it. But you didn't choose your taste buds.

The soul is not dealing with physical preferences when it comes to spiritual matters.
Thoughts concerning salvation must come from the soul of a man.

 

[Eleanor]

Yet you choose to believe that? Makes one wonder. What irony.

What hyper-Calvinists miss is the Biblical reason why we can not choose to believe.

Who says they missed it?

 

[Eleanor]

The soul is not dealing with physical preferences when it comes to spiritual matters.
Thoughts concerning salvation must come from the soul of a man.

Did I indicate they were?

 

[Carbon]

Free will is not about my taste buds, it's about my freedom to choose what I prefer.

Obviously, you didn't get my meaning.

 

[Eleanor]

duplicate

best I can do for a mistake with the way this forum is set up.

 

[Eleanor]

Obviously, you didn't get my meaning.

Did the rest of the post miss your meaning?

 

[PeanutGallery]

That one is free to choose, without external force or constraint, what one prefers is the meaning of free will as presented in the Bible.

God's witnesses, presented in the Bible, testify and reprove the world; one is free to believe or reject the witnesses.

 

[Eleanor]

Did the rest of the post miss your meaning?

Wanna' spell it out for me?

 

[Eleanor]

God's witnesses, presented in the Bible, testify and reprove the world; one is free to believe or reject the witnesses.

Yes, they do not prefer them, so they do not choose them.

 

[Carbon]

Yes, they do not prefer them, so they do not choose them.

It's quite simple, isn't it.

 

[David1701]

One is free to choose or reject God's witnesses; God's witnesses are the internal and external forces.

Define "free", in the context of your claim, thanks.

 

[PeanutGallery]

Define "free", in the context of your claim, thanks.

Choosing of their own volition, as opposed to God decreeing/ordaining their decision.

 

[fastfredy0]

Re: Everyone who has heard the salvific message has the ability to choose (select from possible alternatives) to believe leading to salvation.

Ro 8:7?

Romans 8:7 the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot,
The verse shows God has determined the choice that we freely make. It may sound contradictory or lawyerly but put another way ... God convinced men to not believe in Him via giving man a depraved nature. Man still makes the choice, man still does what he desires most according to his depraved nature. God controls man's desires and therefore man in such a way that man gets to choose what he desires most concerning salvation. God regenerates a man and he will choose to believe salvificly.
Analogy ... you don't care for spinach and would NEVER choose to do so ... unless I offer you 10K to eat some. You now freely choose to eat the spinach. You choose and I control what you choose.

Aside: I think the question might better be phrased:

Is belief a choice [controlled entirely by God]?​

Choice: To select from a number of possible alternatives; decide on and pick out.

 

[fastfredy0]

psychologically speaking, saving faith, just as well as any other kind of faith, is forced consent.

Premise 1: Force is a "power made operative against resistance; exertion."
Premise 2: Carbon has salvific faith
Conclusion: Carbon is being "forced" to believe salvificly as we speak.

Question: So, you feel someone is 'forcing' you to believe now? That you are currently "resisting"?

 

[Carbon]

Premise 1: Force is a "power made operative against resistance; exertion."
Premise 2: Carbon has salvific faith
Conclusion: Carbon is being "forced" to believe salvificly as we speak.

Question: So, you feel someone is 'forcing' you to believe now? That you are currently "resisting"?

Ill try to explain this more shortly. Have to run out with my wife. I'll be back.