> This is probably the most balanced commentary yet posted in the last
> few weeks. Contrary to what some may think of JWs as a whole I do not
> automatically think if Armageddon came today all trinitarians would
be
> killed. Only God makes that determination.

On what basis?

Well, Jesus spoke of "doing the will" of his Father at Matthew 7:21-23
and we have 1 John 4:15, John 3:16, 36

So whoever does the will of God, which includes exercising faith in the
ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, keeping oneself without "spot" from
the world (James 4:4), trying to make disciples (Matt. 28:19,20),
repenting of sin, congregating together (Heb. 10:24,25)......

so we all have to determine what these things include in our lives. How
do we put faith in Jesus' ransom sacrifice? What does "faith without
works is dead" mean? How do we avoid "friendship with the world"?,
etc...

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Bart Goddard wrote:
> gkmcnees@comcast.net wrote:

> snip

> Your God supports and sustains the exact same "evil",
> but in this case it is real evil, because it is the
> evil exercise of man's evil will.
>
>
>
>>>If God is
>>>going to "change him" then he doesn't have the freedom you
>>>claim for him.
>>
>>Yes, God only changes those who believe. And He does not change them
>>(read that regenerate them), until they believe, as I have shown by a
>>multitude of Scriptures.
>
>
> Your Scriptures don't say that. If a man changes from
> unbelief to belief, then he has changed and this is the
> most important change there can be. Yet, you require him
> to do this on his own (that is, commit a work) before God
> acts.
>
> Free will = works righteousness.
>
>
>
>>Well, I don't agree. I believe that one of the good gifts that God has
>>given man is free will. Since God knows what every free choice will be
>>under every circumstance throughout eternity future (read that
>>infinite time as we know it), God has planned each and every event
>>throughout the future.
>
>
> And here you have God planning the universe around man's
> decisions. Free will gives man power over God. This is
> another major flaw in the doctrine.
>
> Bart

George

Augustin's belief is slightly different:

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf105.pdf

From The Treatise On The Spirit and The Letter

Chapter 58.—The Free Will of Man is an Intermediate Power.

Let us then, first of all, lay down this proposition, and see whe