Free Will… Do we have free will and what are the consequences?
Psalm 11:4, "יהוה is in His holy temple; יהוה throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men."
Trial and being enticed/tempted are 2 different things, this experience is a trial, temptation is the desire to do evil, Yah guides none to evil, it is one's own desire that makes evil a desirable thing. James explains it better than I can;
James 1:12-18, “Blessed is the man who does endure trial, for when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life which the Master has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is enticed, “I am enticed by Yah,” for Yah is not enticed by evil matters, and He entices no one. But each one is enticed when he is drawn away by his own desires and trapped. hen, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death. Do not go astray, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of light, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of turning. Having purposed it, He brought us forth by the Word of truth, for us to be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures.”
Joshua 24:15, “And if it seems evil in your eyes to serve יהוה, choose for yourselves this day whom you are going to serve, whether the mighty ones which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the mighty ones of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But I and my house, we serve יהוה.”
John 7:17, “If anyone chooses to do His desire, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is from YHWH, or whether I speak from Myself.”
“chooses” is word #G2309 θέλω thelo (the'-lō) v., ἐθέλω ethelo (e-the'-lō) , 1. to determine, i.e. choose or prefer., 2. (by implication) to wish, i.e. be inclined to., 3. (sometimes adverbially) gladly., 4. (impersonally for the future tense) to be about to., 5. (by Hebraism) to delight in., {literally or figuratively; as an active option from subjective impulse; whereas G1014 properly denotes rather a passive acquiescence in objective considerations}, [apparently strengthened from the alternate form of G138], KJV: desire, be disposed (forward), intend, list, love, mean, please, have rather, (be) will (have, -ling, - ling(-ly)) , Root(s): G138, Compare: G140, G1014
Hebrews 11:24-27, “By belief, Mosheh, having become great, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh, choosing rather to be afflicted with the people of Yah than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, deeming the reproach of Messiah greater riches than the treasures in Mitsrayim, for he was looking to the reward. By belief, he left Mitsrayim, not fearing the wrath of the sovereign, for he was steadfast, as seeing Him who is invisible.”
1 Corinthians 10:13, "No trial has overtaken you except such as is common to man, and YHWH is trustworthy, who shall not allow you to be tried beyond what you are able, but with the trial shall also make the way of escape, enabling you to bear it."
Genesis 2:16-17, “And יהוה Mighty commanded the man, saying, “Eat of every tree of the garden, but do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it you shall certainly die.”
Genesis 4:7, “If you do right, will it not be accepted? If you don’t do right, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it.”
Deuteronomy 30:19-20, “I have called the heavens and the earth as witnesses today against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore you shall choose life, so that you live, both you and your seed, to love יהוה your Strength, to obey His voice, and to cling to Him – for He is your life and the length of your days – to dwell in the land which יהוה swore to your fathers, to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Ya‛aqoḇ, to give them.”
Psalm 9:7-8, “But יהוה abides forever, He is preparing His throne for judgment. And He judges the world in righteousness, He judges the peoples in straightness.”
Malachi 3:16-18, “Then those who reverenced יהוה spoke often one to another, and יהוה paid attention and heard them; and a Book of Remembrance was written in His presence of those who gave reverence to יהוה, and who thought upon His Name; And they will be Mine! says יהוה of hosts. In that day when I make up My jewels I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you will return, and again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who servesיהוה, and him who does not serve Him.”
This is a test to see who is fit for the Kingdom of Yah. For the Gospel is about how to enter the Kingdom of Yah.
Matthew 10:7, “And as you go, proclaim, saying, ‘The Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”
Mat 4:17, "From that time יהושע began to proclaim and to say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”
Matthew 24:14, "“And this Good News of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come."
Mark 1:15, “and (John) saying, “The time has been filled, and the Kingdom of Yah has come near. Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
Luke 4:43, “And He said to them, “To the other cities I also have to bring the Good News: the Kingdom of Yah, because for this I have been sent.”
Luke 8:1, "And it came to be, afterward, that He went through every city and village, proclaiming and bringing the Good News of the Kingdom of Yah, and the twelve were with Him,"
Revelation 11:15, “And the seventh messenger sounded his trumpet, and there came to be loud voices in the heaven, saying, “The Kingdom of this world has become the Kingdom of our Master, and of His Messiah, and He shall Kingdom forever and ever!”
Yah knows the end from the beginning;
Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made it all, beautiful in its time. Even the ages He has put in their hearts, except that no one finds out the work that Yah does from beginning to end.”
Isaiah 46:10, “declaring the end from the beginning, and from of old that which has not yet been done, saying, ‘My counsel does stand, and all My delight I do,”
Yahshua was even tried and remained steadfast and faithful!
Hebrews 4:14-15, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest Who has ascended into the heavens: Yahshua the Son of YHWH, let us hold fast our profession. For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all ways tempted as we are--yet was without sin."
Matthew 4:1-11, “Then יהושע was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tried by the devil. And after having fasted forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. And the trier came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of יהוה, command that these stones become bread. But He answering, said, “It has been written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of יהוה. (Deu 8:3) Then the devil took Him up into the set-apart city, set Him on the edge of the Set-apart Place, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of יהוה, throw Yourself down. For it has been written, ‘He shall command His messengers concerning you,’ (Psa 91:11) and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, so that you do not dash your foot against a stone.’ (Psa 91:12) יהושע said to him, “It has also been written, ‘You shall not try יהוה your Strength.’ (Deu 6:16) Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain, and showed Him all the Kingdoms of the world, and their esteem, and said to Him, “All these I shall give You if You fall down and worship me. Then יהושע said to him, “Go, Satan! For it has been written, ‘You shall worship יהוה your Strength, and Him alone you shall serve.’ (Deu 6:13) Then the devil left Him, and see, messengers came and attended Him.”
Matthew 26:36-46, “Then יהושע came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray. And He took with Him Kĕpha and the two sons of Zaḇdai, and He began to be grieved and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My being is exceedingly grieved, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me. And going forward a little, He fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I desire, but as You desire. And He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Kĕpha, “So, were you not able to watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into trial. The spirit indeed is eager, but the flesh is weak. Again He went away, a second time, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is impossible for this to pass unless I drink it, let Your desire be done. And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. And He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Still sleeping and taking rest? See, the hour has come near, and the Son of Aḏam is delivered up into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go. See, he who delivers Me up has come near.”
Hebrews 5:5-8, “So also the Messiah did not extol Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him, “You are My Son, today I have brought You forth. (Psa 2:7) As He also says in another place, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Malkitseḏeq,” (Psa 110:4) who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His reverent fear, though being a Son, He learned obedience by what He suffered.”
John 13:15-17, “For I gave you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is an emissary greater than he who sent him. If you know these teachings, blessed are you if you do them.”
John 15:18-24, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, for that reason the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they shall persecute you too. If they have guarded My Word, they would guard yours too. But all this they shall do to you because of My Name, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father as well. If I did not do among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin. But now they have both seen and have hated both Me and My Father.”
Matthew 10:23-31, “And when they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For truly, I say to you, you shall by no means have gone through the cities of Yisra’yl before the Son of Aḏam comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Be‛elzebul, how much more those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For whatever is covered shall be revealed, and whatever is hidden shall be made known. What I say to you in the dark, speak in the light. And what you hear in the ear, proclaim on the house-tops. And do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the being. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both being and body in GĕHinnom. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground without your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear, you are worth more than many sparrows.”
James 1:2-8, “My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the proving of your belief works endurance. And let endurance have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in naught. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Yah, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it shall be given to him. But he should ask in belief, not doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For that man should not think that he shall receive whatever from the Master – he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
Hebrews 12:3-17, “For consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and faint in your lives."4, You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."5, And you have forgotten the appeal which speaks to you as to sons, “My son, do not despise the discipline of יהוה, nor faint when you are reproved by Him,"6, for whom יהוה loves, He disciplines, and flogs every son whom He receives.” (Pro 3:11-12) "7, If you endure discipline, Yah is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?"8, But if you are without discipline, of which all have become sharers, then you are illegitimate and not sons."9, Moreover, we indeed had fathers of our flesh disciplining us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live?"10, For they indeed disciplined us for a few days as seemed best to them, but He does it for our profit, so that we might share His apartness."11, And indeed, no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but grievous, but afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."12, So, strengthen the hands which hang down and the weak knees, Isa 35:3."13, and make straight paths for your feet, lest the lame be turned aside, but instead, to be healed."14, Pursue peace with all, and pursue apartness without which no one shall see the Master."15, See to it that no one falls short of the favor of Yah, that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, by which many become defiled,"16, lest there be anyone who whores, or profane one, like Ěsaw, who for a single meal sold his birthright. 17, For you know that afterward, when he wished to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it with tears.”
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