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CovenantInBlood said:
But the text does NOT say, "The Spirit forced their bodies to change direction," which is the impression your interpretation gives it. The Spirit prevented them, but it does not say HOW they were prevented. And indeed, the Spirit never prevents people from doing things by forcing them to do something other than what they are currently willing themselves to do. So while their desire to go was thwarted, it is not as though the Spirit dragged them away in chains. They were not forced, against their own volitional ability, to do something which was completely opposed to their own natures. They did not look on as their bodies began to do what they never had any intention of doing. Rather, the Spirit, by whatever means (whether directly or indirectly) limited their options and they had to choose to do something else, using their own volition.

I agree it does not say they were dragged away in chains. I am not being that dramatic. But as I showed what the word means in this scripture, it doesnt mean they were persuaded to do what they actually wanted to do.

NASB:

Act 16:6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;

Act 16:7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;

What do these words mean? Do they actually mean that the Spirit made them do what they already desired to do? So actually they did not want to preach in asia or go into Bithynia?

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CovenantInBlood said:Deut 2:30-34
But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us(Israelites) pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day.
And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee: begin to possess, that thou mayest inherit his land.
Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz.
And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his people.
And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones, of every city, we left none to remain:

Sihon wasn't forced to do anything against his will. God hardened Sihon in Sihon's OWN DESIRES.[/quote]

Why would God have to harden someone more? It makes no sense. If the reprobate soul will have no desire to do the Will of God, why would God have to 'infuse' some other hardening? It says the Lord hardened his spirit and made his heart obsinate. If it already was like that, why would the Lord have to make it harder and more obsinate? I do not understand this.


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CovenantInBlood said:He CHANGES THEIR INCLINATIONS, Joe! Indeed, that's exactly what regeneration is! But for the reprobate, he hardens them in their own natural inclinations.

Again, How and why would one(reprobate) have to be 'more' hardened in what they already are? Is this like God nailing the coffin shut when it is already closed?

Take those in Matthew 7 who desired to worship and do things for the Lord. Their will/inclination whatever we call it was doing what the Lord has wanted, and yet the Lord cast them away and said He never knew them. Here is an example of a reprobate person, who did desire to serve the Lord, yet Christ cast them away.

There never was a sinner half as big as Christ is as a Savior.