Jeff's Wrap Up: The Bible Teaches Libertarian Free Will (Part 12 of 12)

Thank you Dan and Turretinfan for engaging in this debate on Does The Bible Teaches Libertarian Free Will and edifying the body of Christ. We like to also thank you the listener for setting time aside and joining us for this debate.

Just for a quick closing thought, we must remember this is an in house debate that has gone on for centuries in Christendom.  This is not a test of Christian orthodoxy but is still a very important secondary understanding.  We are called to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind so we must wrestle with this understanding as revealed to us in Scripture.  This is what Dan and Turretinfan has done here in this debate.  They have challenged the opposing view while expounding their own position to the edification of the body for the glory of God.

What is not up for debate is the means of saving faith.  We all here agree that salvation is through Jesus Christ and Him alone.  The reformers taught that there are 3 components to true saving faith:

1)      Knowledge-one must hear and understand the gospel message

2)      Believe-one must believe the truth of the gospel message

3)      Trust-One has to put his trust sole in the life and death of Christ for his salvation

Romans10:9-11 reads:

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  For the scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” NASB

Romans10:14 says:

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? NASB

We can’t put our trust in a prayer or in our church attendance or in sacraments. We must put all our trust in Christ and Christ alone.  He must be Lord of our lives which results in a life of obedience.

John 8:31 reads:

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, ”If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of mine.” NASB

And Luke 9:23:

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” NASB

We all must decide whether we will submit now as friends to the Lordship of Jesus Christ or later as foes, but make no mistake one day we will all bend the knee to His Lordship.

Thanks again to our debater’s and God Bless.