Could someone please explain the concept of 'free will' to me?
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Humans and angels have free will in that they have complete freedom of choice in whatever they choose, at the end of the day it all boils down to this; each free will creature has the choice between following God and good, or sin and Satan. Eccl 7v29, Isaiah 53v6, Matt 23v37
Satan made the free will choice of sin and rebellion, while living in God's very Presence! Isaiah 14v12-14, Ezek 28v12-16.
So, we see that man's will is free, though not necessarily his actions. Gal 5v17.
Satan made the free will choice of sin and rebellion, while living in God's very Presence! Isaiah 14v12-14, Ezek 28v12-16.
So, we see that man's will is free, though not necessarily his actions. Gal 5v17.
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The will is constrained by many factors, so calling it free is really a misnomer.
On the other hand, the results of humanity placing self will above the
will of God are clearly laid out in Scriptures, from beginning to end.
It is not so very difficult at all to see the depravity of man's will when in opposition to God.
Secularists would call it human nature, which equates to what the Bible identifies it as the natural man.
On the other hand, the results of humanity placing self will above the
will of God are clearly laid out in Scriptures, from beginning to end.
It is not so very difficult at all to see the depravity of man's will when in opposition to God.
Secularists would call it human nature, which equates to what the Bible identifies it as the natural man.
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K
The Bible teaches we have free will, we can choose to follow or not follow Him. Read the following verses...
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways…then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live…(Duet 30:15-19).
If we couldn't choose this entire portion of Scripture would be a moot point. Clearly, we can choose good or evil, to obey or not.
If a man is righteous and does what is lawful and right….he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD….The person who sins shall die….But if the wicked turn away from all their sins…they shall surely live; they shall not die. Ezekial 18
If we turn away, if we no longer choose sin, again, the choice is put before us. The next verses put a fine point on it...
Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord GOD, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live?… Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord GOD. Turn, then, and live.
“The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks”
Solomon is said to have done “evil in the eyes of the Lord” because “his heart had turned away from the Lord…” (1 Kings 11:6, 9)
Similarly, the ultimate reason Zedekiah “did evil in the eyes of the Lord” and “did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet” was because he became “stiff-necked and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord…” (2 Chron. 36:12–13).
In Isaiah the Lord says, “Oh, rebellious children…who carry out a plan, but not mine; who make an alliance, but against my will, adding sin to sin” (Is. 30:1).
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often I have desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matt. 23:37)
Clearly we have free will, we can make a choice, just as the Bible says.
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The basis of free will is found in Genesis chapter 1. God created mankind in His own image. Therefore human beings are what is called "free moral agents". Adam could choose to either obey God or disobey him. However he was warned of the consequences. Adam CHOSE to disobey God (along with Eve) and all human beings are now subject to sin and death (Rom 5:12). But the ability and capacity to make moral choices remains.
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B
I don't know if this helps.
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Romans 7:18-24 ESV
It's pretty clear from this and other scripture that we what we have is a will in bondage, which isn't actually free.
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Romans 7:18-24 ESV
It's pretty clear from this and other scripture that we what we have is a will in bondage, which isn't actually free.
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My understanding is that free-will is a term used to explain that God gave all men a choice to accept Jesus or reject Him. For most Christians this is a 'no-duh', but there is a bunch of people called 'Calvinist' who teach (falsely) that Jesus only died for a special few. They, of course believe that they are one of those special ones who can do pretty much what they want and still go to Heaven (because they are one of the special ones.) There are many of them right here CC. This thread is going to be a long one for sure.
They also call themselves the "Predestined Elect" as well as "Calvinist". The rest of us believe that Jesus died so that all could have a chance to go to Heaven. We believe in free will to choose Jesus for everyone.
They also call themselves the "Predestined Elect" as well as "Calvinist". The rest of us believe that Jesus died so that all could have a chance to go to Heaven. We believe in free will to choose Jesus for everyone.
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Self will = free will? You can do it God’s way...or your own way.
Genesis 4:4-7
Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.
Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.
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Doing it your way is exactly what self will is. Now, calling free will a misnomer does not mean people do not have a choice 
It is just that there are many things we do not get to have a choice about at all, because our will is constrained by many factors, and also the fact that the most important choice we make in this life is in choosing God's will over our own.
It is just that there are many things we do not get to have a choice about at all, because our will is constrained by many factors, and also the fact that the most important choice we make in this life is in choosing God's will over our own.
Doing it your way is exactly what self will is. Now, calling free will a misnomer does not mean people do not have a choice It is just that there are many things we do not get to have a choice about at all, because our will is constrained by many factors, and also the fact that the most important choice we make in this life is in choosing God's will over our own.
It is just that there are many things we do not get to have a choice about at all, because our will is constrained by many factors, and also the fact that the most important choice we make in this life is in choosing God's will over our own.
See post #6 above Men are born into bondage.
Men are born into bondage.
Romans 2:14-15
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.
For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.
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@VickyK and @Magenta
God works all things after the counsel of HIS WILL - Eph 1:11
Its not of him that willeth or him that runneth but GOD that shows mercy - Rom 9:16
The son quickens whom HE WILLs - John 5:21
We have the impression of freewill.
We are only FREE, when Jesus is fully illuminated in us.
God works all things after the counsel of HIS WILL - Eph 1:11
Its not of him that willeth or him that runneth but GOD that shows mercy - Rom 9:16
The son quickens whom HE WILLs - John 5:21
We have the impression of freewill.
We are only FREE, when Jesus is fully illuminated in us.