God has given us many opportunities to repent of our sins here and now. Each time we sin and repent, we learn a bit more about ourselves and the nature of good and evil. When we die however, we meet God face-to-face and our sins are exposed to the white-hot fire of God's love. If its refining power to purify us from our arrogant pride is recognized, we say humbly to God, "Thy will be done" and approach it. If, however, we perceive it as a threat and flee, God says, "THY will be done". At death, there are no more cycles of sin and repentance. At death, God gives us complete knowledge of our sins and their consequences. From this sort of thinking, there arises the Catholic tradition that teaches that any choice to reject God after seeing Him face-to-face is irrevocable.
The idea of "post-mortem movement" (a la CS Lewis) seems very unlikely other than at death, we enter into a short state in-between heaven and earth where . . . things can happen.
Can you tell me who holds to the liberationist view of free will? I’ve encountered more of the thinking that true freedom is only found in Christ, and any idea that we have of being free without Him is actually just enslaved to Sin/Death instead of God.
The answer is between the two extremes. God is the initiator of Grace, but he awaits our response to His action in repairing the breach. Most of the time, human response is indifference/cold heartedness. Being indifferent to God I believe is more dangerous position, because you are not moved at all by the Holy Spirit. At least someone who is openly hostile to God, in a way believes that God exists. You cannot be mad at something that is not real.
If we choose to continue to turn our backs on God, it is not because God is no longer there, it is we refuse to be open to the source of all life and renewal. So we choose to stay in our state and let the poison of sin seep into every part of of our lives and very being, resulting in either totally depravity or misery (or both). That illness is the result of our own turning inward and selfishness and is self imposed. Repentance means turning around and facing God with humility, and acknowledging we are in an impossible situation and that the solution lies beyond the faith of our human efforts.
Both the rejection and acceptance of grace is an act of free will. Letting it be our choice of whether or not we claim the gift of salvation then does not negate the gift of free will. Both gifts from God are then affirmed in this manner.
Please share with us how there can be free will where humans are to blame in light of modern science that clearly shows how are brains can be changed and built by environment, epigenetic expression, trauma and childhood adverse experiences, history from 5 minutes ago to much longer, an individuals ability to act with serious denial/lack of awareness of their actions. and the character, disorders, cognitive capacities they were given. Grace required!
God has given us many opportunities to repent of our sins here and now. Each time we sin and repent, we learn a bit more about ourselves and the nature of good and evil. When we die however, we meet God face-to-face and our sins are exposed to the white-hot fire of God's love. If its refining power to purify us from our arrogant pride is recognized, we say humbly to God, "Thy will be done" and approach it. If, however, we perceive it as a threat and flee, God says, "THY will be done". At death, there are no more cycles of sin and repentance. At death, God gives us complete knowledge of our sins and their consequences. From this sort of thinking, there arises the Catholic tradition that teaches that any choice to reject God after seeing Him face-to-face is irrevocable.
The idea of "post-mortem movement" (a la CS Lewis) seems very unlikely other than at death, we enter into a short state in-between heaven and earth where . . . things can happen.
Can you tell me who holds to the liberationist view of free will? I’ve encountered more of the thinking that true freedom is only found in Christ, and any idea that we have of being free without Him is actually just enslaved to Sin/Death instead of God.
The answer is between the two extremes. God is the initiator of Grace, but he awaits our response to His action in repairing the breach. Most of the time, human response is indifference/cold heartedness. Being indifferent to God I believe is more dangerous position, because you are not moved at all by the Holy Spirit. At least someone who is openly hostile to God, in a way believes that God exists. You cannot be mad at something that is not real.
If we choose to continue to turn our backs on God, it is not because God is no longer there, it is we refuse to be open to the source of all life and renewal. So we choose to stay in our state and let the poison of sin seep into every part of of our lives and very being, resulting in either totally depravity or misery (or both). That illness is the result of our own turning inward and selfishness and is self imposed. Repentance means turning around and facing God with humility, and acknowledging we are in an impossible situation and that the solution lies beyond the faith of our human efforts.
Both the rejection and acceptance of grace is an act of free will. Letting it be our choice of whether or not we claim the gift of salvation then does not negate the gift of free will. Both gifts from God are then affirmed in this manner.
Please share with us how there can be free will where humans are to blame in light of modern science that clearly shows how are brains can be changed and built by environment, epigenetic expression, trauma and childhood adverse experiences, history from 5 minutes ago to much longer, an individuals ability to act with serious denial/lack of awareness of their actions. and the character, disorders, cognitive capacities they were given. Grace required!