2007-06-20 12:38:33 · 10 answers · asked by ccrider 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
curiousperson, I can't PM you, but I know what the free will arguments are, and you've sidestepped the question and left me to imply that our will surpasses God's when it comes to salvation. God doesn't want robots, but we all have free will to do evil. But some(?) have the ability to choose God. You're all over the map, and that's a "Having Your Cake" answer that would have only satisifed the characters in your book.
2007-06-21 04:08:10 · update #1
Read Ephesians 1:4-5 and then tell me God gave us free will.
2007-06-20 12:42:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - I think so. Interesting question.
II Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is ... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance".
To me this means that God wishes that everyone would turn from their old life (repentance) and receive the gift of salvation. In fact, the moment at which we decide to accept Him is probably the closest we can find ourselves to the center of His will.
2007-06-20 19:51:01 · answer #2 · answered by getaclueppl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is an excerpt from a new novel, "The God of All Things." This excerpt talks in brief about free will and as for the matter of salvation, this book also deals with this subject at the end of the book.
-----------------------
Marie was thinking and she had a question on her
mind. “I know that we are like God in the sense
that we can create things like God can,” she said, “but don’t
we create things because we need them? God is not in need
of anything. So He is not in need of the things He has made.
If so - why did He create all these things?”
“Why did God create the things He has made when He
doesn’t need them?” said Dr. Singh. “That’s a very good
question. And the answer to that is very simple. God created
all things because He can! He did it because He is God. If
He didn’t create anything - who would know what He can
do? Who would know about His power, might and greatness?
The entire universe and all things in it need God - for
their very existence. God is not in need of us. But we are
certainly in need of Him!”
“That is so true!” remarked Martha.
“Like God we can create many things,” went on Dr.
Singh. “It’s easy to create things that obey us. For example
we create computers and robots and they do exactly as they
are told. The things we make don’t act or behave the way
they want to. They behave and act exactly the way we want
them to. Even if you were to make a tea-pot - that tea-pot
will look exactly the way you intend to make it. It will be
whatever size you want it to be. It will be made of whatever
material you choose to make it from. And it will have
whatever shape you give it. That tea-pot doesn’t have a
choice regarding its shape, size and what else you determine
for it. It’s easy to create such things. But can we create
something that will obey us of its own free will? Can you
imagine a robot that obeys you of its own free will?”
“If it was possible for us to make robots like that and we
made them,” said Jim, “then those robots would probably
choose not to obey us! And if these robots do whatever they
like - there will be chaos and confusion.”
“And that’s the case in the world of man,” said Dr. Singh.
“There is suffering, injustice, disorder, chaos and confusion
because God gave man free-will - and because man makes
the wrong choices.”
“I don’t understand why God gave man free-will,” said
Amy. “It would have been better for us if we didn’t have it!”
Dr. Singh nodded. “Yes, Amy - I agree with you there.
Indeed, it would have been better for us if we weren’t given
this free-will. Frankly I think the animals are better off than
we are. They don’t have to make choices.”
“But aren’t there people who make the right choices?”
asked Marie. “I mean - people who obey and serve God?”
Dr. Singh smiled. “Yes, there are,” he said. “And these
are the people who God loves. They are the best of creation.
Why are they the best of creation? Because they obey
and serve God of their own free will. They obey Him voluntarily
and they do so even without seeing Him. So, by
creating man - God created His masterpiece. A being that
chooses to obey Him of his own free will. By giving man
free-will - God created a creature unlike any He ever created.
The creation of man and giving him the freedom to
choose - proves the greatness of God as a Creator. He can
create whatever He pleases. It’s easy for Him. Because He
is God - and He has power over all things.”
He paused for a few seconds and then he went on, “So
now you should know the answer to the question - who are
we.”
“We are a special creation!” said Richard a little amazed
at the discovery.
Dr. Singh nodded. “So now you know why God created
man,” he said. “He is a special creature who can choose to
obey God of his own free will.”
Amy was thinking about all the evil things that man did.
“I have a question,” she said raising her hand. “If God is so
powerful why doesn’t He stop people from doing evil? Why
does He let people do all kinds of horrible things - like
murder and stealing?”
Richard’s face went a little pale at the mention of the
word - murder. He quickly regained his composure however.
This was a question that even he wanted to ask.
Actually, they all did.
Excerpt taken from chapter 33, The God of All Things
2007-06-20 19:49:50 · answer #3 · answered by curiousperson 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
GOD is a fair & just God. If He wanted a world full of robots who would do whatever He programmed them to do, He could have created it. but what would be the point??
He did, however, give us free will. He lets us choose "our way" or "HIs way".
we can worship Him His way ... "in spirit & in truth" ...
or we can worship Him our way (in the flesh & not fully in truth).
He wants us to choose His way ... completely & with all our heart. He knows our hearts. if we don't put Him first in all we do... He knows. if you are lukewarm... He knows & He will "spue you out of His mouth".
there is a great responsibility in living for God ... not living our way but His.
ignorance IS NOT bliss.... at least not in His eyes.... & His eyes are the only ones that count. He expects us to know His Word.
the kicker is that what ever you choose, you will pay for with your eternal life. it's His Way or the highway (hell).
we all are going to live eternally somewhere.
for me, i choose to live with Him & reap my rewards.... so i read His Word & make appropriate choices.
i am born again the way He says we must be. (ah, yes ...this is the biggie... the most important thing in ALL the world).
in this society, His way of salvation is not the most popular method ... but then who sits in judgment... ah... that would be the LORD.
Jesus warns us ...
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and MANY there be which go in thereat: (Matt. 7:13)
i live holy b/c He says without holiness no man shall see the LORD. this life for all of us determines where we will spend eternity....
and eternity is forever.
2007-06-20 20:07:32 · answer #4 · answered by t d 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our will overrides His will when it comes to our salvation. That's what free will means. God has relinquished control, and given it to us. God desires that every human being be saved. But free will allows us to say to God, "No, your will will not be done. My will will be done instead". That's what sin is - placing my will above the will of God.
2007-06-20 19:45:22 · answer #5 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The entire point of free will is that whatever happens is OUR choice. "As you believe, so shall it be". God provides everything we need to choose Him over temptations, temporal values or pleasures and it is up to us to make that choice. In other words, we reject God; He never rejects those who seek him.
2007-06-20 19:48:18 · answer #6 · answered by OkieDanCer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It equals his in the sense that your will will prevail in your life pertaining to everything not just "salvation".
2007-06-20 19:43:32 · answer #7 · answered by neptune 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, if you choose Him, He'll choose you. It's all up to you, its your choice if you're saved or not.
2007-06-20 19:43:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Fortunately.
2007-06-20 19:41:10 · answer #9 · answered by NONAME 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you get saved, your will and His have lined up
if you don't, your will won't help you
2007-06-20 19:41:31 · answer #10 · answered by Hey, Ray 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋