2007-02-28 03:27:06 · 13 answers · asked by crazyhayashi 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To understand a bit about free will and how it exists alongside Gods Providence and Plan, you need to read the verse about
All are invited, few are chosen.
Free will is basically given to us by God to accept or reject him as our creator. This is the all are invited part.
Now, once in a while we see Gods hand move upon someone that never would have chosen the right path on their own. We see this in the Apostle Paul. Paul was chosen by God to do his will and his way. Again, the verse states that few are chosen by this method, but it does happen. In these instances, no matter how the person felt before God chose to make himself known to them, they certainly cannot deny God after he has made himself known to them.
Sometimes we all wish that God would make himself known to us. but concidering all the pain and torture that the Apostle Paul went through after his conversion, I really wouldnt want that.
So, for most of us, we use our free will to accept or reject God and our lives only change when we allow God in and reject our fleshly sinful self.
For a very few of us, we have no choice, we were of the few chosen and a very good example of this is the Apostle Paul.
2007-02-28 03:39:20 · answer #1 · answered by cindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God's plan for us should by all means affect our choices, but , no, it does not control them...We make a conscious choice to serve God and to do his will when we learn what that will is. In no way are we forced by God to make that choice. However, once we have, we should serve and love him whole souled, with all of our heart, mind, and strength...which means learning more and doing everything we can to show our love and dedication. It is still with free will. At any time we have the ability to change our mind. Are there consequences...of course, but we know ahead of time what those consequences are, so it is still our free choice...
Matthew 24:13: "But he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. "
John 17: 3: "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ."
*Pre-destination is not a Biblical teaching, you have the choice right up until the door is closed what you will do, God has not intervened in your choices, it is wholey up to you what you choose...
God has put all the information we need in His Word, the Bible. It is up to us to search for it and find it! And then to apply it to our lives if we choose life.
2007-02-28 11:37:33 · answer #2 · answered by wannaknow 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fortunately for us, God's sovereignty works against our free will to bring a damaged man unto himself in spite of our sinful nature and therefore guilt before the Lord. He would be totally justified in destroying the entire human race, but for some reason he has not, predestining those that he will effectually call -- and keep -- as his own. This is salvation (for some, not all) from eternity to eternity, and the rest are left in their sins, robots under the control of Satan and the ways of the world.
2007-02-28 14:16:50 · answer #3 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a question I've struggled with for a while... how can I truly have free will if all of my actions have been pre-destined? Does God simply influence my decisions or does he make them for me? In either case, I really don't have absolute free will...
2007-02-28 11:36:49 · answer #4 · answered by MishMash [I am not one of your fans] 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God can't have a perfect immutable plan *and* allow humans to have true free will at the same time. It's logically impossible.
2007-02-28 11:32:50 · answer #5 · answered by Laptop Jesus 2.0 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It works with our freewill choice: God said He will never make anyone do anything they don't want to do.
PS: If it somehow controlled everyone, then everyone would be a Christian.
2007-02-28 11:36:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well this is the old predestination brouhaha. It has not been resolved and has also become a matter of faith. Science for the time being is keeping an open mind as we probe deeper and deeper in to the human brain
2007-02-28 11:33:12 · answer #7 · answered by The Stainless Steel Rat 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
More like control them.
2007-02-28 11:30:43 · answer #8 · answered by chris p 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since God didn't create us robots and his name means "he who causes to become" then I would have to go with "he works with our free will" - but I'm just using my "human logic". But really, being human, I don't have any other logic to work with....
2007-02-28 11:39:22 · answer #9 · answered by CHRISTINA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Work with our free will.
2007-02-28 11:33:16 · answer #10 · answered by Java Chip 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋