What Does the Bible Say About Free Will? Is God in Control?

God dignifies us with free will, the power to make decisions of our own rather than having God or fate predetermine what we do. Consider what the Bible teaches.

God created humans in his image. (Genesis 1:26)

Unlike animals, which act mainly on instinct, we resemble our Creator in our capacity to display such qualities as love and justice. And like our Creator, we have free will.

To a great extent, we can determine our future. The Bible encourages us to “choose life . . . by listening to [God’s] voice,” that is, by choosing to obey his commands. (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20)

This offer would be meaningless, even cruel, if we lacked free will. Instead of forcing us to do what he says, God warmly appeals to us: “O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river.”—Isaiah 48:18.

Our success or failure is not determined by fate. If we want to succeed at an endeavor, we must work hard. “All that your hand finds to do,” says the Bible, “do with your very power.”(Ecclesiastes 9:10)

It also says: “The plans of the diligent one surely make for advantage.”—Proverbs 21:5.

Free will is a precious gift from God, for it lets us love him with our “whole heart”—because we want to.—Matthew 22:37.

Doesn’t God control all things?

The Bible does teach that God is Almighty, that his power is not limited by anyone other than himself. (Job 37:23; Isaiah 40:26)

However, he does not use his power to control everything. For example, the Bible says that God was “exercising self-control” toward ancient Babylon, an enemy of his people. (Isaiah 42:14)

Similarly, for now, he chooses to tolerate those who misuse their free will to harm others. But God will not do so indefinitely.—Psalm 37:10, 11.

The people at the tower had a language and free will before God in the Bible had to pitch them against themselves!

This is contrary to your post!

When God created Adam he wasn't even given absolute Free Will!

Jokanem:
(Genesis 1:26) (Deuteronomy 30:19, 20) Isaiah 48:1 (Ecclesiastes 9:10)
Proverbs 21:5.
Matthew 22:37.
(Job 37:23; Isaiah 40:26)
. (Isaiah 42:14)
Psalm 37:10, 11.

What exactly is this freewill that people go crazy over? Note that every single one of those verses OP conveniently lifted out of context in order to bolster what are his personal theories on the subject apply only as far as those who are under God’s Law.

How can you use the same to argue for free will as far those who are not under God’s Law?

And more importantly, what in the world is this free will when scripture is instead clear that the only choices God has given those under His Law is the choice of obedience or disobedience, nothing else?

AntiChristian:
The people at the tower had a language and free will before God in the Bible had to pitch them against themselves!

This is contrary to your post!

When God created Adam he wasn't even given absolute Free Will!

Unlike the God of the Quran that has apportioned to everyman the number of adultery you will commit. Qadara.

MightySparrow:



Unlike the God of the Quran that has apportioned to everyman the number of adultery you will commit. Qadara.

Yes, like your God that created calamity!

AntiChristian:
The people at the tower had a language and free will before God in the Bible had to pitch them against themselves!

This is contrary to your post!

When God created Adam he wasn't even given absolute Free Will!

See devil! Op did not say "absolute free will".

Dtruthspeaker:


See devil! Op did not say "absolute free will".

Shut up! Are you the OP?

AntiChristian:


Shut up! Are you the OP?

See the lying devil, shouting because he has been caught trousers down lying! So shall your wife and children deceive you into destruction.

AntiChristian:
■ When God created Adam he wasn't even given absolute Free Will!

1. What is free will and what is absolute free will?

Kobojunkie:
1. What is free will and what is absolute free will?

Absolute free will is free will without restrictions!

AntiChristian:
!■ Absolute free will is free will without restrictions!

What then is free will?

Kobojunkie:
What then is free will?

To do anything you feel like!

AntiChristian:
■ To do anything you feel like!

1. Where do you get that from God's agreement/contract with Adam?

AntiChristian:


Absolute free will is free will without restrictions!

Creations do not get absolute free will. The only way to get absolute freewill is for you to have created yourself.

Kobojunkie:
1. Where do you get that from God's agreement/contract with Adam?

What command was Adam given?

AntiChristian:
■ What command was Adam given?

1. Genesis 2 vs 16 - 17 records at least one of them.

AntiChristian:


Yes, like your God that created calamity!

Hahaha

Kobojunkie:
1. Genesis 2 vs 16 - 17 records at least one of them.

So?

AntiChristian:
So?

Your idea of free will does not seem to agree at all with that which is written.

From the beginning man was created with just two choices : obedience or disobedience. Whatever freedom he was expected to enjoy only exsisted if and only if chose obedience meaning that the freedom was denied him in the case that he would chose disobedience. That was the deal.

Given this, it is clear your absolute free wil also has no place in scripture. You can only have what you describe both as free will and as absolute free will outside of a contract/agreement with God, if you are willing to maybe pretend you are the center of your universe and what not.

Dtruthspeaker:


See the lying devil, shouting because he has been caught trousers down lying! So shall your wife and children deceive you into destruction.

Lawag3

AntiChristian:


Absolute free will is free will without restrictions!

Isnt that what Yahweh is supposed to give?
Anyway, what he gave wasn't freewill

Dtruthspeaker:


Creations do not get absolute free will. The only way to get absolute freewill is for you to have created yourself.

Ok, so Yahweh has already determined our fate, right?

NO!
The freewill God gave Adam is found here at- Genesis 2:16-17

“From every tree of the garden you may eat to satisfaction. But as for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it, for in the day you eat from it you will certainly die”

The sacred secret:

Adam is free to do whatever he wants but he must not encroach on the freewill of other humans setting standards regarding RIGHT and WRONG belongs only to God!

So there's nothing Adam can't do except rule over his fellowman even though he will be the father of all other humans the only standard he should uphold is what God set for all.

Adam failed in this regard that's why Jesus had to come in replacement of Adam {1Corinthians 15:45} so since Adam failed to last forever as father of all humans Jesus stepped in that's why he will be called "EVERLASTING FATHER" {Isaiah 9:6} when Jesus walked the earth those around him were so amazed at the power he possessed as a demigod but Jesus told them that even though he was killed and buried in their presence his resurrection came through the power of the SUPREME BEING who is the FATHER and GOD of all! John 20:17

That's what Adam doesn't want he desired to be the God everyone will bow to {Genesis 3:1-5} instead of directing them to his father and God Adam wants to be the one setting the standard so he must return to dust! Genesis 3:19

Kobojunkie:

What exactly is this freewill that people go crazy over? Note that every single one of those verses OP conveniently lifted out of context in order to bolster what are his personal theories on the subject apply only as far as those who are under God’s Law.

How can you use the same to argue for free will as far those who are not under God’s Law?

And more importantly, what in the world is this free will when scripture is instead clear that the only choices God has given those under His Law is the choice of obedience or disobedience, nothing else?

Wetin you dey smoke self?

Kobojunkie:
1. What is free will and what is absolute free will?

Freedom of choice..

It is part of our nature as human beings...

We were created with the ability to make choices..
So what are we expected to choose from?

God created everything in two's..

Old and young
Good and evil
Life and death
Hot and cold.
Big boobs and small boobs
Big and small

Up and down
Light and darkness
Obedience and disobedience
Tight pussy and wide pussy

Etc.
He has placed them in front of us. He encouraged us to seek wisdom so that we will be guided before making any decisions or choice....

End of the he say, the goal is for us to live in peace..

jaephoenix:

Ok, so Yahweh has already determined our fate, right?

God set a fate of life and death. You exercised your freewill to choose death, so go and die.

sonmvayina:


Freedom of choice..

shoo, fly!

Dtruthspeaker:


God set a fate of life and death. You exercised your freewill to choose death, so go and die.

Lawag3

Dtruthspeaker:


God set a fate of life and death. You exercised your freewill to choose death, so go and die.

But you just said Yahweh didn’t give us freewill up there

jaephoenix:

But you just said Yahweh didn’t give us freewill up there

See how blind you atheists are?