Free Will

FREE WILL

Consider the following Bible reasons validating the fact that God gives each individual the right to choose good or evil. Moses said to Israel, “I have set before you life and death-choose life” (Deuteronomy 30:19). John 3:16 is the champion verse of free will.

Read the following:

Romans 2:6-16, Malachi 3:6, Romans 9-11, Joshua 24:15, Psalm 119:30, Isaiah 7:15, Isaiah 66:3, Matthew 16:24, 1 Corinthians 7:37 and Revelation 22:17.

If divine election is true for Gentiles, why go to church, or witness, or evangelize? If God has already determined who will go to Heaven and who will go to hell, why pray, why read the Bible?

Divine election is a fact for some of the Jewish people who are a “remnant”, but it simply does not apply to gentiles.

God began his covenant with the Jewish people with Abraham. Abraham was selected out of paganism to become the father of all who believe. At the time Abraham was chosen, he had no knowledge of God, and so could not have chosen God. God chose Abraham. Abraham’s “election” is easy, God had to begin somewhere. God began in Genesis 12 with the father of all who believe “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you, and in you all families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Isaac & Ishmael: Paul presents the case for election with the birth of Isaac and Ishmael. The Arabs are descended from Ishmael, while the Jews (God’s chosen people) are descended from Isaac (the younger son). This started a feud between the Jews and the Arabs that has continued until this day. While both were the sons of Abraham, Isaac was born supernaturally by the power of God and was chosen to lead the “children of promise” (the Jews).

Jacob & Esau: For this is the word of promise, “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to the election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her. “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” (Romans 9:9-13) Paul makes clear in Romans 9:11 that this was done “that the purpose of God according to election might stand. God knew that Esau would be a wild man who would produce the Edomites, who would attack the children of Israel as they came out of Egypt, bound for the promised land. Esau’s descendants would produce a lineage that would attack and destroy Jews for centuries to come. Esau’s descendants included Haman, who attempted to have all the Jews living in Persia killed. Adolph Hitler was a descendant of Esau, which is recorded by John Toland in his book (Adolph Hitler).

Divine election & the Jews: Romans 9-11 is a codicil intended exclusively for the Jewish people. The Bible speaks of Israel as an elect nation. Isaiah wrote “For Jacob My servant’s sake, and Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name.” (Isaiah 45:4) Jesus said “And unless those days were shortened (the tribulation), no flesh would be saved, but for the elect’s sake (the Jewish people) those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24:22)

Free Will: Romans 9:17-19, For the Scripture saith of Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, “Why does He find fault? For who has resisted His will?”

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) It is apparent that not all men will come to repentance, like Pharaoh, some will choose to reject God, and follow humanism, secularism, hedonism, materialism, Satanism, aetheism and many, many other so-called gods and religions.

As for the word harden in Romans 9, Paul says “You will say to me then, why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will? But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? (verses 18-21)

Lessons from the potter. A pot cannot give advice to the potter, anymore than a human can find fault with what God does in the persons life. You may not understand what God is doing, but you are just the pot. God has absolute sovereignty in your life. Sovereignty means He can do what He wants, when He wants, if He wants, as long as He wants without explanation to you or anyone else, ever. You are given the opportunity to turn from your evil ways, but if you don’t it is just for God to destroy you.

If all God wanted to do was send people to hell, He would not have given us His word (the Bible), nor sent His Son (Jesus) to die for our sins so that we could come to repentance. If we fail to come to repentance, God has every right to condemn us to hell and will most certainly do so.