What does “free will” mean?
Free will simply means that a person has the ability to choose.
Is “free will” Biblical?
Well, let us look at Scripture.
John 3:14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 .) That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 .) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 .) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 .) He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT is condemned already, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(clearly there is a CHOICE THERE to be made…..to believe or to not believe)
What purpose would there be for God to create a world JUST to destroy part of that world? Why create a people just to condemn to death part of those people? Answer? He didn’t. Man brings condemnation and destruction upon himself through his denial of Jesus Christ. Through his unbelief. This is clearly stated in the 17 vs. above.
Consider what Paul said in 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Timothy……..2:1 .) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 .) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 .) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 .) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 .) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 .) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
(note above……….”who would have ALL men to be saved” and “who gave himself a ransom for all)
Paul said: Romans 1:16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 .) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(clearly there is a CHOICE THERE to be made…….to believe or to not believe)
To deny “free will” is to say that when Adam sinned by disobeying God, he was simply doing “the WILL OF GOD.” Why would God punish someone for doing His will? Does that make sense?
Ecclesiastes 7:29) Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
(note that man “sought out” sinfulness…..must needs be man had a choice)
Josh McDowell had the following to say about creation, evil, and God’s love for us:
The Scriptures make it plain that God did not create the world in the state in which it is now, but evil came as a result of the selfishness of man. The Bible says that God is a God of love and He desired to create a person and eventually a race that would love Him. But genuine love cannot exist unless freely given -- through free choice God allows us to accept His love or to reject it.
This choice made the possibility of evil a reality. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they did not choose something God created, but, by their choice, they brought evil into the world. God is neither evil nor did He create evil. Man brought evil upon himself by selfishly choosing his own way apart from God’s way.
Consider these words from Deurtonomy……7:12) Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: 13 .) And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
(again, clearly a choice to be made……….)
Free will simply means that a person has the ability to choose.
Is “free will” Biblical?
Well, let us look at Scripture.
John 3:14) And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 .) That WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 .) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 .) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 .) He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT is condemned already, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
(clearly there is a CHOICE THERE to be made…..to believe or to not believe)
What purpose would there be for God to create a world JUST to destroy part of that world? Why create a people just to condemn to death part of those people? Answer? He didn’t. Man brings condemnation and destruction upon himself through his denial of Jesus Christ. Through his unbelief. This is clearly stated in the 17 vs. above.
Consider what Paul said in 1[SUP]st[/SUP] Timothy……..2:1 .) I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 .) For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3 .) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 .) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 .) For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 .) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
(note above……….”who would have ALL men to be saved” and “who gave himself a ransom for all)
Paul said: Romans 1:16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation TO EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 .) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
(clearly there is a CHOICE THERE to be made…….to believe or to not believe)
To deny “free will” is to say that when Adam sinned by disobeying God, he was simply doing “the WILL OF GOD.” Why would God punish someone for doing His will? Does that make sense?
Ecclesiastes 7:29) Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.
(note that man “sought out” sinfulness…..must needs be man had a choice)
Josh McDowell had the following to say about creation, evil, and God’s love for us:
The Scriptures make it plain that God did not create the world in the state in which it is now, but evil came as a result of the selfishness of man. The Bible says that God is a God of love and He desired to create a person and eventually a race that would love Him. But genuine love cannot exist unless freely given -- through free choice God allows us to accept His love or to reject it.
This choice made the possibility of evil a reality. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they did not choose something God created, but, by their choice, they brought evil into the world. God is neither evil nor did He create evil. Man brought evil upon himself by selfishly choosing his own way apart from God’s way.
Consider these words from Deurtonomy……7:12) Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: 13 .) And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
(again, clearly a choice to be made……….)