We don't have freewill, therefore we must deny our will and repent of our Sin daily.
If we have freewill that is not subject to the influence of sin, then we would not have to deny ourselves.
Yes, we are free agent. Free to do whatever our heart desire according to our own nature.
The freewill of the thief is to steal.
Likewise the freewill of the sinner is to sin.
Both feels totally fine in the things they do.
We think we are being free when we smoke , but in truth we are a slave to whatever master us.
I think I am being free to play computer game, but in truth I am a slave to whatever master me.
So then do we go on and live a life as a hermit? Isolating ourselves from the world?
By no means. For in doing so we a slave to asceticism; slave to this notion that it will set us free.
Like a wolves that is locked in a cage, we can't wait to devour the sheep outside.
Our inclination is still nonetheless towards evil.
There is this joy in true freedom.
There is no coercion involved.
There is no coercion involved.
There is joy even to drink a cup of water.
You are not in a constant want. You are not in a rush to seek anything other than the peace you have with God.
Freedom in a sense, is not free to do many things.
But being still and content.
You don't have to go anywhere.
Psalm 23:1-2
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
Unless we are born again into a new creation, we must never be allow to be free to do the things we do.
For every inclination of the Heart is towards evil.
And an evil heart is free to do nothing but evil.
Free Will is everything good in God.
But when it comes to man, freewill of man is nothing but evil.
Therefore if anyone wants to be my disciple, he must hate his father and mother, yes even himself.
We hate ourselves because of the things we do as a result of sin.
Therefore we plead with God not my will be done but thine oh Lord.
David Brainerd consciousness of Sin.
Oh that I would die now. For to live another day is to sin against God another day.
"Lord's day, May 17. [At Millington]
Spent the forenoon at home, being unable to attend the public worship. At this time, God gave me some affecting sense of my own vileness and the exceeding sinfulness of my heart; that there seemed to be nothing but sin and corruption within me.`Innumerable evils compassed me about: my want of spirituality and holy living, my neglect of God, and living to myself. -- All the abominations of my heart and life seemed to be open to my view; and I had nothing to say, but, `God be merciful to me a sinner.' -- Towards noon I saw, that the grace of God in Christ is infinitely free towards sinners, and such sinners as I was. I also saw,that God is the supreme good, that in his presence is life; and I began to long to die, that I might be with him, in a state of freedom from all sin. Oh, how a small glimpse of his excellency refreshed my soul! Oh, how worthy is the blessed God to be loved, adored, and delighted in for himself, for his own divine excellencies!"
Though I felt much dullness, and want of a spirit in prayer this week; yet I had some glimpses of the excellency of divine things; and especially one morning, in secret meditation and prayer, the excellency and beauty of holiness, as a likeness to the glorious God, was so discovered to me, that I began to long earnestly to be in that world where holiness dwells in perfection. I seemed to long for this perfect holiness, not so much for the sake of my own happiness, (although I saw clearly that this was the greatest, yea, the only happiness of the soul,) as that I might please God, live entirely to him, and glorify him to the utmost stretch of my rational powers and capacities.
~ David Brainerd
"Lord's day, April 25. [5] This morning I spent about two hours in secret duties, and was enabled more than ordinarily to agonize for immortal souls; though it was early in the morning, and the sun scarcely shined at all, yet my body was quite wet with sweat. I felt much pressed now, as frequently of late, to plead for the meekness and calmness of the Lamb of God in my soul; and through divine goodness felt much of it this morning. O it is a sweet disposition, heartily to forgive all injuries done us; to wish our greatest enemies as well as we do our own souls! Blessed Jesus,may I daily be more and more conformed to thee. At night I was exceedingly melted with divine love, and had some feeling sense of the blessedness of the upper world. Those words hung upon me, with much divine sweetness, Psal. lxxxiv. 7. `They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.' O the near access that sometimes gives us in our addresses to him! This may well be termed appearing before God: it is so indeed, in the true spiritual sense,and in the sweetest sense. I think I have not had such power of intercession these many months,both for God's children, and for dead sinners, as I have had this evening. I wished and longed for the coming of my dear Lord: I longed to join the angelic hosts in praises, wholly free from imperfection. O the blessed moment hastens! All I want is to be more holy, more like my dear Lord. O for sanctification! My very soul pants for the complete restoration of the blessed image of my Saviour; that I may be fit for the blessed enjoyments and employments of the heavenly world.
`Farewell, vain world; my soul can bid adieu;My Saviour's taught me to abandon you.Your charms may gratify a sensual mind;Not please a soul wholly for God design'd.Forbear to entice, cease then my soul to call;`Tis fix'd through grace; my God shall be my all.While he thus lets me heavenly glories view,Your beauties fade, my heart's no room for you.'
"The Lord refreshed my soul with many sweet passages of his word. O the new Jerusalem! my soul longed for it. O the song of Moses and the Lamb! And that blessed song, that no man can learn, but they who are redeemed from the earth! and the glorious white robes, that were given to the souls under the attar!`
Lord, I'm a stranger here alone;Earth no true comforts can afford;Yet, absent from my dearest one,My soul delights to cry, My Lord.Jesus, my Lord, my only love,Possess my soul, nor thence depart;Grant me kind visits, heavenly Dove;My God shall then have all my heart.
~ David Brainerd
I am an old sinner; and if God had designed mercy for me, he would have called me home to himself before now.~ David Brainerd
"God's grace is the originating cause of regeneration; the sinner's faith is the immediate effect. Unfortunately, many Christians think and speak as if it worked the other way around—as if a free-will act of faith from the sinner were the determining factor that enables God to bestow His saving grace." - Dr. John MacArthur
The law reveal our Sin in us. That we may learn that the inclination of our will is always towards Sin.
Roman 7:5-6
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.
6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter.
It is something in God that draws us to worship Him.
As we fix our gaze upon our Lord, ever so filled with awe, we worship the one who truly have freewill.
Even though our will is in bondage to Sin, we can have hope that He who start the good work in us will finish it.
We will inherit freewill from Him who loves us in the final glorification.
The truth will indeed set us free.
Matthew 11:28-30 New King James Version
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Perhap Paul has realise something we hasn't ?
30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
2 Corinthians 11:22-30
New Living Translation (NLT)
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.[a] 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
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