Where is freewill in the bible?

[borntorebel]

Can anyone show me where 'freewill' is in the bible?

May God's power and peace be with you,

Ron

[Leonard]

Sure, Ron: First when God had Gideon march the army 'round in the desert then take them to the watering hole. No one forced any man to drink in any particular way....That's 'free will', but God only took those who drank in one particular way....That's 'election.'

Second when Paul is on one of his missionary trips, seemingly he just went wherever he wanted (free will), because the Spirit had to stop him and give him PARTICULAR DIRECTIONS to head West into Europe rather than back into Asia.

[FaithfulFollower]

Borntorebel,

Free will was granted man the moment we took breath upon this earth. For the first example of free will can be found within the book of Genesis in the writtings about Adam and Eve. For though the snake might have encouraged if not enticed Eve into taking a bite, the choice still remained there for her to choose to do so. As it was Adam's to do as she did.

God created us on account of his loneliness as well as the hope that we might love Him as He did us. Of course, it goes to show how the saying "You hurt the ones you love most," first came into the picture.

There are also many other examples of which could be used. Take for example the story of Ester found within the Old Testament book of Ester.

She was to become queen at more than likely a fairly young age, and had the choice of saving her people or remainning hidden and not paying the price of which her people were to pay on account of the actions of Haman.

Yet another example is that of Jesus Christ, the lamb without sin who came to die for us. Instead of lingering upon the cross bleeding as well as being mocked, he could have called out unto the angels and they would have removed him from his place.

Free will was with us since the beginning. Hope that some of these examples have given you something to think about if not something to broaden your horizons. God Bless. Forgive me if any of this came across as pushy, or perhaps too rash.

With Love In Christ,

Danielle

Edited November 2, 2004 by FaithfulFollower

[Trinity]

Free will was in the garden of eden.

Genesis 2:16

And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are FREe to eat from any tree in the garden;

Genesis 2:17

but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

They could eat of any tree they wanted! But they CHOSE to eat of the bad tree, God didn't want them to eat of the tree let alone forced them to eat of the tree.

And they were FREE to eat of any tree in the Garden

[angels4u]

Amen !

[Dad Ernie]

Can anyone show me where 'freewill' is in the bible?

Greetings Borntorebel,

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Romans 6:12-13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

FREEWILL simply means the ability "TO CHOOSE".

Blessings,

Dad Ernie

[Trinity]

Good post DE

I'm agreeing with DE!!!

Nice post though

[other one]

well, DE pretty much covered my thoughts.

[stevehut]

Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth

[gypc]

I agree with all the above but the real question is..does everyone have a free will. The reason I ask this is Romans 9:10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Or maybe the question...Did judas have free will? or was he chosen from the foundations of the world to be the one to betray Christ?

Notice what Paul says here....18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth

According to this, some people are born to be hardened and some people are born to be shown mercy.

Wow!! I'm gonna be studying this a little more!!!!!

In his love,

Brian