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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Free will and predestination co-exist? | Rom 8:29 | mark d seyler | 178227 | ||
Hi jrankrum, Probibly the best way to approach this question would be to type "predestination" into the search box, and read some of the vast amount of material that has already been written on this website. In the main, there are two popular views of predestination, one that we are predestined for salvation, and the other that the saved are predestined to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ. The sister topic, election, is similar. One popular view is that we are preselected to become "in Christ", the other that those who become "in Christ" share His election. On the one hand, some believe that God has preselected certain people to be saved, and has predetermined the course of their lives to insure that those people will be saved. They would answer that there is no conflict with free will because free will as such does not exist. Man is unable to choose salvation, it must be chosen for him, then he is not only able to choose salvation, but will as a matter of course choose salvation. Others believe that God offers salvation to all, and those that choose to receive salvation will find that the circumstances of their lives have been predetermined to work in them in such a way as to make them like Jesus. They answer that they want to be like Jesus, so they are agreeable to the fact that God has predestined them to be like Him. Therefore, there is no conflict. I suggest carefully reading every passage that refers to predestination, preordained, and such, to see what the Scripture actually teaches. You may wish to check a few different translations as well. I hope this helps! Love in Christ, Mark |
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2 | Free will and predestination co-exist? | Rom 8:29 | DocTrinsograce | 178256 | ||
Hi, jrankrum... I'll throw my hat in the ring here. Following is the orthodox Christian perspective as laid out by the Scriptures: In a nutshell, there is both predestination (election) of God's own people (i.e., the sovereignty of God) and this so called human free will. Before the fall, God created man with the liberty and freedom to choose to do good (God's will) or evil (contrary to God's will). (See Genesis 3:6; Ecclesiastes 7:29.) After the fall, man's nature was corrupt. The net effect of which, made him unable to choose to do those things that please God, in particular those things related to salvation. (See John 6:44; Romans 5:6; 8:7; Ephesians 2:1,5; Titus 3:3-5.) This inability is not based in a lack of freedom, but rather it is based in a lack of desire! Although their will is free, they lack any desire to submit to God. A free will never chooses what it does not want. Praise God that He divinely intervenes in this hopeless situation! When the Holy Spirit regenerates a man, God changes the heart, freeing him from the slavery of sin. As a result, the new believer desires to please God and seeks to obey Him and bring Him glory. Nevertheless, the heart of the believer can still entertain evil during this life. (See John 8:36; Romans 7:15, 18, 19, 21, 23; Philippians 2:13; Colossians 1:13.) In glory the believer will be perfectly and immutably free to only choose good all of the time (Ephesians 4:13). God created and controls everything. He does only as He pleases. Nothing can thwart Him and nothing can coerce Him. His will is completely independent; i.e., no one gives Him advice. Everything fulfills the purposes for which He created them, because He insures that they will. God knows His own infinite worth and, consequently, does everything for His own glory. (See Job 38:11; Psalm 135:6; Isaiah 46:10,11; Matthew 10:29-31; Ephesians 1:11; Hebrews 1:3.) Nothing happens independently of God's providence (Genesis 8:22; Proverbs 16:33; Acts 2:23). What God decrees is entirely independent of His foreknowledge (Acts 15:18; Romans 9:11, 13, 16, 18). The men that God predestines are clearly designated and numbered by Him (John 13:18; 2 Timothy 2:19). This election was before He made the world, and arises out of His free grace and love, through no merit in those thus chosen; in other words, there is nothing in them nor is there anything that they have done or will do that caused God to choose them (Romans 8:30; 9:13, 16; Ephesians 1:4, 9, 11; 2:5, 12; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 2 Timothy 1:9). The wonderful thing is that He not only chooses some men to be saved, but He insures that they WILL be saved, even foreordaining the means of their salvation, unalterably insuring it! (See John 6:64; 10:26; 17:9; Romans 8:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:9,10; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1Peter 1:2,5.) I want to make it clear: Predestination is still mysterious to us. None of what is written above should imply that we have a complete handle on these doctrines. I doubt that anyone can. They rooted deeply in God Himself. We only have any inkling of them because He has clearly revealed them in the Word. But I can assure you of this: We get close to understanding them, though, ONLY when they produce praise of God, reverence and awe of Him, deep humility, and diligent commitment to God's glory. (See Luke 10:20; Romans 11:5, 6, 20, 33; Ephesians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 1:4,5; 2 Peter 1:10.) With those things, the assurance of our salvation that these Scriptural doctrines bring, is a wonderful gift of comfort from our Father. In Him, Doc "The will is not destroyed but rather repaired by grace." --John Calvin "God’s predetermination of second causes is that effectual working of His, according to His eternal purpose, whereby though some agents, as the wills of men, are causes most free and indefinite, or unlimited lords of their own actions, in respect of their internal principle of operation (that is, their own nature), they are yet all, in respect of His decree, and by His powerful working, determined to this or that effect in particular; not that they are compelled to do this, or hindered from doing that, but are inclined and disposed to do this or that, according to their proper manner of working, that is, most freely" --John Owen "Man is nothing: he hath a free will to go to hell, but none to go to heaven, till God worketh in him to will and to do his good pleasure" --George Whitefield "The will is in the chains of an evil human nature. You who extol the free will as a great force are clinging to a root of pride. Man, as fallen in sin, is utterly helpless and hopeless. The will of man offers no hope. It was the will choosing the forbidden fruit that brought us into misery. The powerful grace of God alone offers deliverance. Cast yourself upon God’s mercy for salvation. Ask for the Spirit of Grace that He may create a new spirit within you." --Walter Chantry |
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3 | Free will and predestination co-exist? | Rom 8:29 | kalos | 178267 | ||
The Sovereignty of Man Doc: I get so tired of hearing about the sovereignty of Satan. And the sovereignty of man. It is refreshing to read your posts emphasizing the sovereignty of God, who alone is sovereign. Grace to you, John |
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4 | Free will and predestination co-exist? | Rom 8:29 | DocTrinsograce | 178268 | ||
Thank you for the encouragement, Brother John! "It is surely a worthy view of God, to present Him as sovereign and efficient ruler, who accomplishes all His pleasure, and is never thwarted." --Patrick Hues Mell (1814-1888) "It is not merely that God has the power and right to govern all things but that He does so always and without exception." --John Piper |
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