Free Will
There could
hardly be a more controversial subject for many people than the term
"free
will." It is of utmost importance then, to be well versed in
understanding this emotionally charged term.
You may well be very surprised by what you find in this study.
Always, pray for enlightenment from the Holy Spirit, as well as
for protection against the barbs of the enemy which are sure to come.
Genesis
2:16,17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of
the garden thou sovereignty freely eat: But of the tree of the
knowledge
of
good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou
eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
KJV
As you can
see, even to the word "commanded," God immediately taught man there
would be limitations and responsibilities placed upon him and his
activities. Most people will
see and attempt to argue intelligently from both the Old and New
Testaments, that God also instituted the concept of freewill
as early as in Genesis, where God tells Adam to name the
animals in the garden. And it is here that we can seen the first flaw
in someone attempting to say man was granted free will. Why? Let us be
reminded that God had already instituted a command, to instill into
Adam, the knowledge of responsibility.
Another important word, "choice" must now be added. God allows us
and requires of us, many choices, just as Adam was given the
opportunity to exercise, but never, are we allowed absolute freedom of
will.
GENESIS 2:19 And out of the ground the
LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air;
and brought [them] unto Adam to see what he would call them: and
whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that [was] the name
thereof. KJV
This then is a continuation of the
other
commands that Adam had been given. We need to accept that God placed
Adam into the garden to tend it and keep it in Godly condition.
(cf. adam.html) From the very
beginning then, God has wanted mankind to be obedient and also to
utilize the intelligence that is native to, and raises mankind to be
separate and superior to animals. (See also, Psalm 8 in the Bible).
As we delve deeper into this matter we must find some scriptural reason
for the beginning of the free will doctrine, or prove that the term is
invalid.
PHILEMON
1:14 But without
thy mind (strong
#1106) would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it
were of necessity, but willingly. KJV
G1106
γνώμη gnōmē gno'-may From G1097; cognition, that
is, (subjectively) opinion, or (objectively) resolve (counsel, consent,
etc.): - advice, + agree, judgment, mind, purpose, will.
Now look very closely at this passage as it appears in other
versions of the Bible!
PHILEMON 1:14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in
order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own
free will. (RSV)
PHILEMON 1:14 and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as
of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness, (YLT)
PHILEMON1:14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything,
that your goodness should not be as it were by compulsion, but of your
own free will. (NASB)
Nothing in any version we are looking at above, denotes that man
has free will. While we can read those words, the fact is
that only God is accredited with having free will. The emphasis is
always on man's servitude and humility before God.
BLESSINGS CONTINGENT UPON OBEDIENCE
Exo_15:26;
Exo_19:5; Exo_20:6; Exo_23:22; Lev. 26:3-43; Deu_4:1; Deu_4:40;
Deu_5:10; Deu_5:29; Deu_7:9; Deu_7:12-15; Deu_11:26-28; Deu_12:28;
Deu_15:4; Deu_15:5; Deu_28:1-14; Deu_29:9; Deu_30:1-10; Deu_30:15-20;
Jos_1:8; 1Ki_2:3; 1Ki_2:4; 1Ki_3:14; 1Ki_8:23; 1Ki_9:3-9; 1Ch_22:13;
1Ch_28:7; 1Ch_28:8; 2Ch_7:17-22; 2Ch_26:5; 2Ch_27:6; 2Ch_30:9;
2Ch_31:10; Job_36:11; Pro_3:1; Pro_16:7; Isa_1:19; Jer_7:3-7; Jer_7:23;
Jer_11:1-5; Jer_12:16; Jer_15:19-21; Jer_17:24-27; Jer_22:4; Jer_22:5;
Jer_22:15; Jer_22:16; Zec_3:7; Mal_3:10-12; Mat_10:22; Mat_24:13;
Mar_13:13; Col_1:22; Col_1:23; Heb_3:6; Heb_3:14; Heb_6:11; Heb_6:12;
Heb_10:36; Rev_2:10;
Nothing has contradicted the theology
of man lacking free will. We can now read a passage that may lend
credit to that idea.
Phi 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved,
as ye have always obeyed not as in my presence only, but now much more
in my
absence, work out
your own salvation with fear and trembling . KJV
Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to
do of his good pleasure. KJV
Here
in verse 12, we can see highlighted in blue, a reason for some to claim
a power stemming from free will that causes a lot of misunderstanding.
The reason for this is rooted in egotism and the quest for
godlike emotion. If however, the verse is read for proper syntax
one will find that nothing is farther from the truth.
How does one work out one's own salvation? It is explained in the
very next verse (13). One becomes aware that it is God working
within the person through the Holy Spirit, and seeks that
guidance, rather than one's own will.
Let us take a moment to view and review again from Genesis. The
reason is simple, Satan, in the form of a serpent, made a major
contribution to the idea of humans having a free will.
1. In his dialogue with Eve in the garden of Eden, did not
the serpent literally coerce the woman in partaking
of the forbidden fruit by
accusing God of dishonesty? And does this not equate to the
emotions of potential fear and jealousy on the part of God? Think very carefully
about this aspect in the light of the following. (cf eve.html )
Genesis
3:22
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know
good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of
the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: KJV
2. In considering why such a statement should come from God, we
must travel back in time to recall that Satan had already caused a
major insurrection in the original heavenly court. The
result was his being cast out of that abode along with a third of the
angels who had chosen to follow him.
3. Is it not reasonable to seek out exactly why God would take
the stance that was taken?
I ask you to evaluate what follows with an open mind and then make your
decisions based on not only theological suggestion and logic, but that
you inquire in humble prayer if you have read the truth.
One of the greatest attributes of God is sovereignty. God had
already created all the things and beings that were in existence.
This made God the absolute ruler by virtue of experience and ability
that could not be duplicated by any other being(s). Only
jealousy could be a motivating factor to change the status quo.
(See Isaiah14:12+ and Ezk 28:13-15).
The pattern of good versus evil was/is in place. There can be no
further competitive area. That is to say, only the results of a
battle begun long ago, can have any validity in our lives.
We are not God. We can never be God. Satan sought to become not
only equal to, but a separate God. He failed! But he did become
a god of sorts, and the scriptures teach this. 2 Corinthians 4:4
refers to Satan as "the god of this world."
What are the attributes of this "god"? Simply put, all the
opposites of the gentleness, love and sacrificial living that Jesus the
Christ offered in total obedience to his father. This is the
attitude we should have, and share with each other to the glory of
God. But do we live this sort of life, in preparation for an
eternal life in the new heaven of some future time we can't completely
understand? Do we seek as did fallen angels, the impossible dream
we read about in Isaiah 14?
The scriptures abound in both revelations of good and evil, and
warnings of what to be aware of and how to seek out the truth of this
war for the possession of the souls of mankind. We are
not possessors of free will. In one way or another,
there is a constant influence/presence of each side attempting to gain
our choice to follow the offered path of living.
We know we will not live forever on this earth. The Bible teaches
us exactly why this is so. It is our "responsibility of choice"
to follow one path or the other. We do not come to making such a
choice with ease. There are many trials and tribulations
involved, and unless we understand what is taking place as we go
through
our individual life experiences, we can easily fall prey to making the
wrong choices. What is the answer? It depends on who you
are and how you choose to live. It depends on how you decide to
join forces within the spiritual realm. You can follow the path
of those who travel the wide road of the supposed good life , or you
can tread on the straight and narrow path of the "Good Shepherd." (Mat
7:13,14).
Allow me to offer a
suggestion from the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Jos 24:15 And if it seem
evil unto you to serve
the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will
serve; whether the gods which your fathers
served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the
Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:
but as for me and my house, we will serve the
LORD. KJV
Joh 10:27 My sheep
hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. KJV