Proper Use of Mind and Will

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts [mind of our soul] enlightened, that you may know [understand] . . . " (Eph. 1.17-18).

"For they that are after the flesh mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit [and spirit] the things of the Spirit [and spirit]. For the mind of the flesh is death; but the mind of the Spirit [and spirit] is life and peace" (Rom. 8.5-6 ASV).

"Gird up (our) minds" (1 Pet. 1.13). "Take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Cor. 10.5). The defeat of Elijah encountered under the broom tree was due to the excessive working of his mind (1 Kings 19). "Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee" (Isaiah 26.3). "Have no anxiety about anything" (Phil. 4.6). Let the peace of God maintain your heart and mind (v.7). "Brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" (v.8). "A sound mind" (2 Tim. 1.7 AV); "with all lowliness of mind" (Acts 20.19 AV).

"I will put my laws into their minds" (Heb. 8.10).

"You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die" (Gen. 2.16-17).

One's own ideas, all are "will-worship" (Col. 2.23 ASV).

"To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1.12-13). You can't declare with your will to God you are irresistibly selected or search for salvation which originates with you, but if man, upon hearing the gospel, is willing to accept what God offers to him, he shall be saved.

"Let him who desires take the water of life without price [freely]" (Rev. 22.17). "You refuse to come to me that you may have life" (John 5.40).

Man can respond because God's grace is sufficient for us all. "How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!" (Matt. 23.37b) "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us" (2 Pet. 3.9a); "who is the Saviour of all men" (1 Tim. 4:10); "for the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men" (Tit. 2.11).

God wishes no one "to perish but that all should that all should come to repentance" because He "desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth" (2 Pet. 3.9b; 1 Tim. 2.4).

John 1 speaks of man trying to will himself into salvation while John 5 and Revelation 22 refer to accepting God's will. Hence, no contradiction exists between these two. Therefore, the concept of total depravity is false as is irresistible grace, unconditional election and limited atonement.

The only way for believers to lose themselves in God is for the Highest to be satisfied, and it matters not to what the degree the humble be brought down.

What falicitates malevolent working? The condition is characterized as a "place" (Eph. 4.27 ASV) or "opportunity" (RSV) or "ground". Passivity is brought in by "whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin" (James 4.17).

Reducing the activity of your will to wait for some untold force causes you to lose the activity of your free-will and self-control when that force causes you to do something you should not do.