What are some Hebrew Bible verses that show mans free-will??

Question

What are some good Hebrew BIble(Old Testament) verses that shows us we are not totally depraved beings as the Apostle Paul would have us believe?

Here is my example in Genesis 4:6-7 So the LORD said to Cain: "Why are you so resentful and crestfallen?
If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master."

Far different teaching from God then what Paul has to say in his writings. What are some additional verses/examples in the Hebrew Bible that shows God giving man free-will and the faculties and ability to choose good and evil??

Answer 1

Gen. 2: 16 Of every tree . . . thou mayest freely eat.
Gen. 4: 7 if thou doest not well.
Deut. 11: 27 blessing, if ye obey.
Deut. 30: 19 therefore choose life.
Josh. 24: 15 choose . . . whom ye will serve.
1 Kgs. 18: 21 if the Lord be God, follow him.
Prov. 1: 29 did not choose the fear of the Lord.
Ex. 21: 2 in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
Lev. 25: 10 proclaim liberty throughout all the land.
Ps. 119: 45 I will walk at liberty.
Isa. 58: 6 to let the oppressed go free.
Isa. 61: 1 to proclaim liberty to the captives.
Jer. 34: 8 made a covenant . . . to proclaim liberty unto them.
Jer. 34: 17 I proclaim a liberty for you.
Ex. 25: 2 every man that giveth it willingly with his heart.
Ex. 35: 21 they came . . . every one whom his spirit made willing.
Lev. 1: 3 offer it of his own voluntary will.

Answer 2

You might want to double check on relying on the Old Testament...there's a reason it's called old. In the Old Testament (theologically speaking), there were no Christians...it's impossible. Why do I bring this up? Because Christians TRY (bold, underline, italic try) to live a Christ-like life. This means that, like Christ knew that he was going to die and reign in heaven because that was God's plan for Him, God has a plan for all of us. Laid-out...done...no changing it. And that's the truth of the matter. If not, God wasn't all-powerfull and all-knowing and sovering because He'd have to wait and see what we're thinking of doing (with-out Him knowing) and do it, so that THEN God may see our acts and bless us. That's not quite the way it is.

NOW, (just let me say this is a very sensitive topic, and it would best be talked in person) if you're like me, you believe that God is the greatest and only god. But, in his love, He allows for some leeway in order for us to grow spiritually. For example: Every morning, you put on your socks. Does God know you're goona put on socks? Yup. And so do you. Does God know which color? Yup. But you don't. And so, you make your choice and live out the concequence of it not matching with your pants. So, God won't bother with feeble or triffling tasks. But, suppose you are sinning, doing it all the time, knowingly. God will punish you. God will fix you. God will cure you. But, you must be willing to look for Him. Sure God could snap His fingers and you're on your path to life-long happiness, but that would demean the sole purpose of learning by our mistakes.

As far as the text and comment you made, God does not change...God is constant. So, what he said before (the actual root of the meaning) is alive today. For example, He ordered the sacrifice of lamb once a year for sins (Old Testament), and then He made He said "These dumb people are messing around in my temples and committing scrilege. I'll do it once and for all with the ultimate lamb."...enter Christ (New Testament). Sure things changed, but the idea of comming to God by means of a sacrifice (lamb--->Christ) is still there. As for Bible verses, well.....read the book of Romans as well as Corinthians.

Like I said, this is a very sensitive topic so take what I have written lightly, and ask a mature Christian that you know.

My 2 cents....

God Bless

Answer 3

read the entire book of Genesis it's there I forgot because I have stop reading the Bible

Answer 4

Are you saying that Paul is teaching a conflicting scripture? I disagree. Where does Paul say that we do not have free will? Please let me know, you've made me curious as to where you found that.