Unbelievers and Free will

Often in the discussion regarding Jesus, the Savior of the World, the question regarding Free will will come up.





Here Some thoughts to really consider on Free Will?

(Nehemiah 9:7) “You are the LORD God, who Chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and gave him the name Abraham.”
It was not a matter of Abraham deciding to follow God by his “free will”, it was a matter of God showing mercy and calling him out.


After dozens of similar descriptions in various instances in the Old testament my question is:
Has God changed in Character since then? 
“For I the LORD do not change” 
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever”
the answer is NO. there is no shifting in His nature or character.

Do we really only come to the Father of our own free will?

John 6:44 NO MAN can come to me except THE FATHER that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.
John 6:65 And he added, "This is the very reason I told you that no people can come to me unless the Father makes it possible for them to do so."


Q: So then, if the Father draws men to Jesus, and this is not our Free will choice, then does he also leave some out in order to populate “hell”?

John 12 :32 Jesus: "when I am lifted up from the earth (crucified), I will DRAW ALL PEOPLE TO MYSELF."

(Its very interesting that the word “DRAW” here in both of these verses means to “Drag” - not very “free will-ish”, But in exactly the same was that we were not by our own “free” will included in First Adam, we are not by our own “free” will included INTO Christ.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16).

Jesus says that “the Son gives life to whom he *will” (John 5:21).

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 
1Ti 2:4 Who *will have ALL MEN to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

ethelō: (same word used in John 5:21 “will”) means: to be Resolved/Resolute or Determined, to Purpose, Intend, to Pleasure*)

(Isaiah 46:9) I am God, and there is none like me; (10) declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I WILL DO ALL MY *PLEASURE. 
(Do we really believe that our “free” will can thwart His Ultimate plan? I believe that Love NEVER FAILS.)



(Romans 9:15) For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” (16) So then IT IS NOT OF HIM WHO WILLS, nor of him who runs, BUT OF GOD who shows mercy.
( So it’s not the one who works for their salvation or THEIR WILL TO CHOOSE salvation in Jesus; it’s simply God’s mercy.

And then again, Paul clearly confirms a short while later who His choice is:

Rom 11:32 For God hath concluded ALL in UNBELIEF, that he may have MERCY ON ALL.


Guys, where is our free will in all this??


(2 Timothy 1:9) God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, BUT ACCORDING TO HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE.
That’s why Paul calls Grace and Faith Gifts in Eph 2 – if they were not gifts from start to finish there would be room for Boasting.
Rom 3:26 for the shewing forth of his righteousness in the present time, so that he should be just, and justify him that is of the faith OF Jesus. 
Rom 3:27 Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what law? of works? No, but by law of faith; 
Rom 3:28 for we reckon that a man is justified by faith, without works of law.
(Question: ….and who’s Faith is Paul talking about here that Justifies us? 
Answer: see Vs 26: it's THE FAITH OF JESUS!).


Who chooses who by who’s free will?


(Ephesians 1:4) He CHOSE US in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him

“God from the beginning CHOSE YOU for salvation” (2 Thes 2:13)
(God does the choosing, not us.)


Unfree will...

No person who sees and understands the love of God our Father, wilfully rejects it. It is not a will that is free that reject this love; it is a will in bondage. No person has ever, out of his/her own free will rejected our Lord, rather it is because of  ignorance, because of blindness that some have made uninformed choices. 

Man’s “free” will is simply a product of his past influences: a muslim man who by his “free” will chooses to worship allah is Hardly expressing any “Free” will! He is simply making an informed decision based on His up-bringing! If in his life time – in this age – he hears one of the very many versions of the Gospel and rejects it, was that really a “free” will rejection after a life time of indoctrination inclined to Islam? I doubt it! (I hear Jesus’ words “father forgive them for they are ignorant”…. 
If our “free” will leads to faithlessness then God REMAINS Faithfull.
The good news, however, is that God, and we as his co-workers, are in the business of making the truth plainly known.

He is both willing and able to make Himself known to any and every man, in a way that is as unique as the individual. The good news is that He took, takes, and will take the initiative to do this! 
Romans 10:20: Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, “I have been found by those who did not 
seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” (Our free will???)


Tradition

Christians are taught that the one thing God would never violate, is man’s free will. The erroneous conclusion states that a man’s free will is more sacred and more powerful than God’s eternal purpose. It incorrectly assumes that a person who rejects God is free, for they do so from a FREE will!


Saul (Paul) was described as “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord”. We are not dealing with a weak-willed, indifferent person here. He considered Jesus and Jesus’ teaching to be his enemy and did whatever possible to stop it. Later Paul described himself as the chief of sinners.

Do you think that Paul’s strong opposition and determined will, was a problem for Jesus? 
Can you imagine the Father and Jesus conversing regarding Paul and saying: 
“What will we do! We can’t interfere with his ‘free will’”
Ridiculous!

Jesus knew that Paul’s enmity against Him was rooted in ignorance; He knew that if Paul saw Him for who He truly is, there would be no argument. Jesus knew that Paul did not act from his own “FREE” will, but from deception, and therefore He had no problem with interfering in his life. His stubbornness was no obstacle to the love of God. We all know well what happened!

No wonder that Paul’s whole testimony and message is centered around the initiative of God and not around the contribution of man.
In Galatians he emphasizes that this encounter with God had nothing to do with his decision, but all to do with God’s decision! In fact it was zealously persecuting the church … “But when it 
pleased God … who called me by his grace …to reveal his Son in me.” Gal 1:15, 16


Question: Did God treat Paul differently from the rest of us – does he show Partiality to Paul by messing with his “Free” will?
 Did God change... Just for Paul?

Phi 2:9 – 13: Therefore God has highly exalted Him, and has given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of heavenly ones, and of earthly ones, and of ones under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your own salvation with fear and trembling.
*For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.*

Did you see that last part? “…IT IS GOD who works in you both to WILL and to DO …” 
I am so glad that our Father does not consider my will off limits! 
I’m so glad He influences my desires, my will, my everything.



Cheers