What do you think? "Do human beings truly have a free will?"?

Question

If “free will” can mean that God gives humans the opportunity to make choices that genuinely affect their destiny, then, yes, human beings do have a free will. The world’s sin status is directly associated with choices made by Adam and Eve. All accounts of the fall of mankind indicate it was as the result of a wrong choice. From that point on, individuals have had the opportunity to choose to follow God or to experience the consequences for not making that choice.

Even in light of God’s choosing Abraham and his descendants, God held individuals accountable for their choices. In the Old Testament, individuals outside of the chosen nation (Israel) were able to choose to believe and follow God (examples: Gentiles that left with the Israelites at the Exodus, Ruth, and Rahab). Therefore, He who chooses (elects) also allows individuals to choose. The Book of Romans is famous for explaining salvation and the sovereignty of God. It uses words like chose, predestined, elect, etc., yet it also holds people accountable for not choosing.

In the section where Romans discusses the sinful depravity of humans, God bluntly states that those outside of salvation are without excuse--“no defense.” This is specifically in light of the rejection of general revelation, showing His existence through His creation (Romans 1:20-21).

In other passages we learn that (1) individuals are expected to choose to believe (John 3:16; Romans 10:11; etc). (2) Individuals have a choice to be foolish or wise (Matthew 7:26). (3) The Scriptures are given to provide instruction for salvation – obviously to be chosen or rejected (2 Timothy 3:15; John 20:30-31). (4) Jesus established the choosing of obedience as a sign of our love for Him (John 14:21).

It is God’s will that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), therefore, it must be someone else’s choice that separates individuals from God. God says we will reap what we sow – we can choose to reap differently (Galatians 6:7-8).

The multitudes of directives given by God assume that the hearers can make a choice to obey or disobey. It seems logical that God could only hold us accountable if we indeed have free will to choose. Therefore, a just God would not declare expectations on those who are not free to choose. It would be unjust for God to then punish those who had no choice in their actions. God, in His absolute sovereignty, created the human race with ability to make genuine and free choices.

-Till He Returns

God Bless

Answer 1

You seem to have a well understanding of free will.  I may not be as well versed in the bible as you are, but from what I have come to experience and realize is confirmed by these passages regarding free will.  

I basically see Free Will as the choice of one of two master to serve.  The ego/self or God/Self.   I take the "devil" as a metaphor for the human ego, which is regarded in the psyche fields of study, as the mechanism of self-interest, self-gain and self-survival.  When we serve God nothing is needed because he provides accordingly.  When we serve the ego there is a great wealth of wants and needs.  That is because the ego needs to acquire energy from outside its self to survive.  The energy of God is Power and it resides within all.

Answer 2

Mankind always chooses sin when left with their own free will.

  The Bible says I am elect according to foreknowledge.

Answer 3

With all due respect brother, I cannot see how anyone struggles with this concept.  We have all been making life changing decisions all of our lives.  That is all exercising free will is.  I know the strictest Calvinists disagree with me, but they are a little kooky anyway.

Answer 4

God cannot exist along with free will. At least not how he is described by Christians.

If God knows everything that is going to happen, then it's set in stone and though it appears we have free will, we dont. our course of action is already set in stone.

Answer 5

was there a question in there?

yeah, we have free will. but you've already pointed that out, and given a lot to back the statement up.

Answer 6

Yes Jesus is the mediator between God and Men, which means that our decisions go thru Jesus the son of Man (read the gospels) and Jesus takes care of the rest with God, which means that God can forgive you because you Choose to believe in his son for redemption! this is the only free will because the Deal is between Us and Jesus, and Jesus deals with God, the agreement between Jesus and God is not a human agreement which means things can be Changed just because Jesus sacrifice!

Answer 7

"I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own"

seems like Jeremiah's prayer is saying there is no free will. It's your religion, not mine.

I have free will

Deist

Answer 8

No, we are dominated by our preconceptions.

Answer 9

I believe we do...

but then, if I am wrong I have no choice in the matter and can't help but to say I believe we do

I believe we do.

It's only really a dilema if you think that God can't be totally sovereign unless we have no free will. I think that premise is not accurate.  

Jesus said "how many times I longed to gather you as a mother hen gathers her chicks, but you were not willing."

Answer 10

Of course we have free will, you could buy a gun within the next hour or so and actually take somebody elses life, that will end up affecting hundreds of other people by your 1 action. God is watching and judging. Yes, we have free will.

Answer 11

And your question would be...?

Answer 12

Of course we do. God was gracious and merciful enough to grant us free will.

Answer 13

It boils down to this.  They have the "free will" to worship that god in the prescribed way or be tortured in h**l forever.  Not my idea of free will, but hey.

Answer 14

Yes we do

Answer 15

You may find the greatest help in Anselm's famous work on the freewill.  

Answer 16

Amen