Questions for Christians only: If you believe in free will, please support it with scripture?

Answer 1

I do not believe in free will, so I guess that lets me off the hook with providing scripture references. Free will verses can be looked at in the light of predestination and God remains ruler of the universe, but predestination, if looked at in the light of free will, makes for a very weak God that submits to our wills rather than his own. I don't trust man's will. Original sin take care of that long ago.

Answer 2

There is scriptural evidence that people are sometimes denied free will. In the story about Moses and Pharaoh in the book of Exodus God sent many plagues on the Egyptians because Pharaoh disobeyed God's commands. However Pharaoh did NOT have free will to obey God because God "hardened" Pharaoh's heart.

"The LORD had said to Moses, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt." Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let the Israelites go out of his country." --Exodus 11:9-10

The Egyptians were punished anyhow and very severely. God killed all the firstborn.

Answer 3

Notice Isaiah 66:3-4:

"...Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not."

God called, but the ones being talked about here did not answer. Rather they chose their own way! Even though God called, men still had the ability to choose.

Notice 2 Peter 3:9
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

Since it is God's will that no one be lost, all would be saved if we did not have free will. But many will be lost (Matt. 7:13-14).

Notice also, Joshua 24:15:
"...choose you this day whom ye will serve..."

We have the ability to choose who we serve.

Our ability to make choices is evidenced throughout the Bible. Think about this. There are many, many commands in the Bible. Why would God give commands and issue laws if men had no choice or control over their own obediance?

The Gospel is to be preached to everyone, not just a few or the elete! (Mark 16:15) He that accepts, believes and obeys this message will be saved. (Mark 16:16) "Whosoever will" has an invitation to "come" to the water of life and spend eternity in heaven. The problem though, many will not, choosing the pleasure of sin over service to God.

Answer 4

i think of of this is abit unfair which you should declare that each and each individual christians are like this. they on the on the spot are no longer. What you do could desire to realize is that we (christians) are only time-honored human beings; all born in sin. as quickly as you advance genuine right into a christian it doesnt advise which you on the on the spot are one hundred% suitable, basically Jesus replaced into suitable. as quickly as you openly say which you're a christian it does advise that human beings will seem at you better heavily and watch what you're doing, only approximately to locate some style of fault just so as that they are able to declare no to that faith. this is why christians could desire to attempt to teach those which you may make errors, yet that they on the on the spot are no longer doing it purposely and that they choose for to strengthen and apologise to God for messing up. regardless of the undeniable fact that there are some people who declare to be christians yet they on the on the spot are no longer somewhat, interior the quite a few case they are yet they have long previous some distance flung from God and start to do what they choose for and this could furnish christians a bad call. yet God is conscious who's and who isnt basic, so indoors the top they're going to be found out. i desire this helped you abit:)

Answer 5

Jer.7:23-26: "This word I did express in command upon them[Israel],saying: 'Obey my voice,and I will become you God,and you yourselves will become my people; and you must walk in all the way that I shall command you,in order that it may go well with you' but they did not listen to me, and they did not incline their ear, but they kept hardening their neck"(It would have to be free will to obey. They didn't listen that was there decision)

Rev.22:17 'let anyone hearing say:come! and let anyone thirsting come; let anyone that wishes take life's water free.' (The choice is not foreordained;it is left to the individual.)

Hoped this helped some.

Answer 6

God desires all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:3-4). If man has no free will then everyone should have been saved since God desired it and would have pre-programmed everyone to accept Him.

Answer 7

You can't support this with one or two Scriptures. The Bible is replete with people who chose free will and made decisions with or without God wisdom.
Jonah ran away from God.
Elijah ran away from his fight with Jezebel and her followers.
Jesus used His free will to be obedient to God.
Balaam became greedy, hoping this will please Him AND God.

Ultimately, it is your choice to go your own path.

Answer 8

In the 6th Chapter of John Jesus is expaining the meaning of His Body and Blood and repeating that if you do not eat His flesh and drink His blood there is no life in them......
v.56 For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. 57 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. 58 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. 59 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead. He that eateth this bread, shall live for ever. 60 These things he said, teaching in the synagogue, in Capharnaum.

61 Many therefore of his disciples, hearing it, said: This saying is hard, and who can hear it? 62 But Jesus, knowing in himself, that his disciples murmured at this, said to them: Doth this scandalize you?

later on Jesus goes on to say: 66 And he said: Therefore did I say to you, that no man can come to me, unless it be given him by my Father. 67 AFTER THIS MANY OF HIS DECIPLES WENT BACK; AND WALKED NO MORE WITH HIM. 68 Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you also go away? 69 And Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

This is an action of the free will to reject what Jesus Christ said to them repeatedly. They rejected it after giving it thought.
Jesus did not force these people to believe Him, everyone that has the ability to reason has a choice to make on their own.

Answer 9

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jesus Christ, son of God, stands at the door and knocks.
He doesn't kick it in. He doesn't try the knob. He knocks.

*IF* any man opens the door then He will come in.