Do we really have free choice?

I like the question does God have the power in His Sovereignity to give man a choice? If He has all power?

 

Who defines God? I guess that is the root of the problem. If we define God, then He can be just as small as we want to make Him.

If God defines Himself, then He is the God that He says He is. So who defines God?

 

mmm ...

You have spent a lot of human logic upon the desire to define God . . .

But, we can agree that He has defined Himself in His Word.

God bless

Wayne

 

An excellent question it is, but the premise is wrong so a definitive answer can't be given. God can do what He wishes, but He will not take "free will" from man, but can, and will use "mans will" for His own purposes. Judas Iscariot comes to mind, however Jesus chose Judas because he foreknew what Judas would do. God did not force Judas or make him a robot with no choice. Judas chose, and God knew beforehand what Judas would do, and predestined Judas to be judged.

We see just the opposite happening with Saul of Tarsus. God knew beforehand what Paul would do, and let Saul be a player in the stoning of Stephen, and afterwards the chief tormentor and enemy of the "Kingdom Church". Foreknowing this God had plans for this enemy of His, but He had mercy on Saul of Tarsus, and predestined Him to become My Apostle Paul. God can be kind and will have mercy on whom He will have mercy, Exodus 33:19, and Romans 9:15.

Judas chose and willed, and God allowed Judas to do his (Judas) own will, and Judas will be judged. God did not show Mercy on Judas. Saul chose and willed, but God showed Mercy on Saul/Paul, for He had a very specific purpose for Him to accomplish, just as He did Judas. God is omnipotent.

In certain cases God has allowed us to foreknow certain events. How can we foreknow? Because God has preordained certain events. Judas is guilty and will be sentenced by God, and God is a God of Justice. We know Judas will be sentenced to the "second death". God predestined this. Paul? He waits no trial to be sentenced. Paul awaits his crown, and his rewards at the awards ceremony for God has predestined this man He had Mercy on.

Both made their choice in their own "free will", but it is God that determined in His Mercy, and Grace that His will, would be done. Psalms 89:14, "Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face."

 

This proves God is omnipotent, and also shows He makes or appoints at anytime that which is His will. He didn't do this with Paul, now did He? God does choose us, but we still have our will. Did God not choose King Saul, but Saul rebelled going after idols. God let Saul have his own way, and can we say God predestined David before he was formed in the womb?

God can do anything He wishes, and can predestine from before the beginning, or predestine what is foreknown afterwards. Do you believe God was talking to, or about you, when He was talking to His people Israel in the Old Testament? Are we all Jeremiah? I'm not even Jewish.

How do you explain the parables in Matthew 25? This shows we must make choices, and those choices will decide our final destination. God uses certain events, and certain people to bring about His purpose in the appropriate time. He has I believe already chosen the 144,000 thousand, and the anti-christ. I'm sure I am none of them. I'm on my own, and it is just he and I. I chose Him when He called. Being foreknown now, I am predestined to be like Him.

 

Amen ituttut...........

 

"Free"

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.​

John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.​

"indeed"...

3689 ​

o;ntwj ​

ontos {on'-toce} ​

Meaning: ​

1) truly, in reality, in point of fact, as opp. to what is pretended, fictitious, false, conjectural 2) that which is truly etc., that which is indeed ​

HankD

 

Guess we'd have to go to "if, if's and but's were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas", former Dallas Cowboys Quarterback, and Howard Cosell tormentor.

 

Just Love His Word too. If we confess Jesus Christ our repentance is in Him to everlasting life.

 

And I hope you had a Merry Christmas also. From what you say, "I do not deny God's commanding us to choose", we agree, and you have put it in terms I have not done, but I accept what you say. You are well versed in His Word, and see what many that are "justified" in Christ believe. But I believe His Word also and see what He allows me to see.

Let me lay out what I believe, from the beginning, which has to do with election, and to whom election belongs. Jesus Christ was elected, and called, Isaiah 42:1-6. God gave Jesus for a covenant for His people (Israel), for a light to the Gentile's. His elect as we see in Isaiah 44:1, Jacob was chosen in advance for God's purpose is Israel to bring forth His elect Jesus Christ. So from this is the reason I don't believe we all have been predestined in this manner. God's purpose is to save all, John 3:16, and I believe this verse shows our "choice in our free will".

Parenthesis my insertion - John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave (Predestined) his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish (free will), but have everlasting life."

 

loved = 1. God had such a special , supreme , love that he willed
world = 2. that , of all races , his whole people should be saved
gave = 3. by appointing his Son to be an all-sufficient Saviour
whosoever = 4. making it certain that all believers whatsoever , and only they
have = 5. shall effectively have all the glorious things he intends for them . ( taken from an abridgement of Owen's classic called "Life By His Death ". Prepared by H.J. Appleby )

 

"...God is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish..." We know what God's will is, so if His will is that all should be saved (none should perish) then why do people die without Christ? Because God allows us free will to choose. At least it would appear so to me. I didn't learn any different in my Greek classes. Sorry for being late in the post, but this is my offer.
:saint:

 

John Morris, pay no attention. The Bible does not say "any of the elect" would perish...this is eisegesis expected from a reformer in interpreting Scripture. You have the correct understanding.

 

I'm a "free willer" and I don't "think" like you claim I do. I believe John has the correct context, and it is your interpretation of the text that has your theological thumbprint on it.