| The Free Will Question |
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There are two extremes of thought on free-will. (click on numbers for scriptural refs) - We have autonomous free-will
- We have no free-will
Both sides will give scriptural backing for either view. When one looks at the Omniscience and Sovereignty of God in parallel one has to consider how one then views it and of course the salvation of man comes into the equation and again there are ample proof-texts to support both camps of thought.
If we look at this within the concept of salvation;
If we assume 1. then it is inferred our choice/will can override the will of God. The famous proof-text used here is "I have put before you life and death, blessings and cursings, choose life so that you may live"(1)
If we assume 2. then it is inferred we are merely victims to circumstance and really have no choice in the matter hence the predestination.
Both views are wrong IMO.
Our choices are always governed by circumstance.
Many use the analogy of the sin of Adam & Eve that they freely chose to disobey God. Do you think God had to revert to a Plan B? No, He already knew what would happen. Prior to eating of the tree of KoG&E, they were obedient servants and did not know the consequences of the eating except that they would die. The circumstance in the Garden was, the serpent deceived Eve who in turn, when she did not drop dead, offered it to Adam who in turn must have thought, "hang on a bit, what did God really mean?" (poetic licence). We all know the story from there, or do we?
The other extreme of this is what I like to call the "devil made me do it" syndrome see that was what Eve did.
That is a long topic on its own, I may post a separate thread on that.
The Eden story in itself shows that the temptation was planted including the other tree. Many lose focus of the other tree. So there was a command, the tree(s) and the serpent. Have you ever wondered why God never made a hint to the other tree? He merely said of all the trees you may eat of except...(2)
So the occupants were subject to choice foreordained by God. Now if God is Omniscient, He also knew about the serpent so God was not caught by surprise either.
Moving on through the OT up to the new testament we see that Jesus said You did not choose me I chose you(3), no man came come except the Father draw him(4) and no man comes to the Father but by me(5). Look at when he calls the disciples, what did He say
F O L L O W M E It was a commandment.
Twins can grow up in a Christian home attend all evangelical services be exposed to essentially the same things their whole life, one becomes a Christian the other not. Was it choice or was it God?
I would go on the side of God. There is a story of exactly this in the OT.
We all then will assume the one that does not "choose" right is destined to hell but that too is another topic. We also need to take into account the parable of the Prodigal son, there are two layers to the story, not just one.
For those that believe we are merely victims of circumstance, it is close but unfortunately that leaves one to apportion all the blame to the devil for wrongdoings and all the good to God. Aka robot.
The truth is found somewhere in between these two viewpoints.
Our will is merely free in its nature, it is not really free. You are not free to chose your birth parents neither the country you are born in. In this respect it is predestination. What follows, is circumstances ordained by God that will either lead you to Him or not. We preach and teach the good news but even then it says, seeing they shall not see and hearing they shall not hear(6). So do not be offended when it appears someone rejects the good news you share with them, if God is not doing the drawing, no matter how good you are at sharing, they will not see or hear it. All we do is sow seed, some of us may be used to water and others may be used to harvest but in all God is the author and finisher(7)(8).
When we look at the conversion of Paul(9), it is a model of how God moves. No one can tell me Paul was seeking God when it happened. I can hear some of you saying the disciples and Paul were exceptions, remember God is not a respecter of persons(10) neither is He a man that He should lie(11).
From this viewpoint, I have heard so many say what's the point in sharing then if God is all in control? We are His body, we are His instruments(12). We share and I like to do it only when the Holy Spirit gives me unction to speak. Usually the door is opened by Him and then it is a whole lot easier.
So in summary, we have a "free-will" subject to external influences and subject to the will of God.
If we truly had free will, the Cross would not have been necessary, think about it.
Blessings |
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