What does the Bible says about the concept of free will?

[MaxGrit]

God is in charge of the Universe. Only God has true free will to do as He pleases. Man only have the illusion of free will. However, man, bound by time, can only live in the present moment. Thus, from man's perspective, the illusion of free will is functionally real free will.

 

[The Irish Ram]

That's thought provoking. God is indeed untethered, and does things for His pleasure. But even though we are bound by elements, and dimensions, the free will the Bible alludes to is the non interference concerning our pursuit of good or evil.

 

[srlip]

it doesnt mention it, doesn't want anyone thinking about such a thing. just like all other religions. You are supposed to just KNUCKLE UNDER to what your "betters" have told you to do.

 

[Chuckt]

God is in charge of the Universe. Only God has true free will to do as He pleases. Man only have the illusion of free will. However, man, bound by time, can only live in the present moment. Thus, from man's perspective, the illusion of free will is functionally real free will.

Man has power or exousia (the royal right) over his own will.

1 Corinthians 7:37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

 

[MaxGrit]

God is in charge of the Universe. Only God has true free will to do as He pleases. Man only have the illusion of free will. However, man, bound by time, can only live in the present moment. Thus, from man's perspective, the illusion of free will is functionally real free will.

Man has power or exousia (the royal right) over his own will.

1 Corinthians 7:37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

1 Cor 7 says:

7 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
. . .
36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly towards his betrothed, if his[j] passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

 

[hortysir]

God is in charge of the Universe. Only God has true free will to do as He pleases. Man only have the illusion of free will. However, man, bound by time, can only live in the present moment. Thus, from man's perspective, the illusion of free will is functionally real free will.

Man has power or exousia (the royal right) over his own will.

1 Corinthians 7:37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

1 Cor 7 says:

7 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
. . .
36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly towards his betrothed, if his[j] passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

You've simply quoted the same text, but with a more lax and modern interpretation.


We have free will over our eternal destiny.
To choose Him, or not to choose Him

easy, really

 

[MaxGrit]

That's thought provoking. God is indeed untethered, and does things for His pleasure. But even though we are bound by elements, and dimensions, the free will the Bible alludes to is the non interference concerning our pursuit of good or evil.

All throughout the Bible, God interferes with man's will as He pleases to.

 

[MaxGrit]

Man has power or exousia (the royal right) over his own will.

1 Corinthians 7:37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

1 Cor 7 says:

7 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. 20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
. . .
36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly towards his betrothed, if his[j] passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

You've simply quoted the same text, but with a more lax and modern interpretation.


We have free will over our eternal destiny.
To choose Him, or not to choose Him

easy, really

In context it clearly is talking about marriage, not free will. More obvious when you see:

"Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ."

We have an illusion of free will, an illusion that seems perfectly real when viewed by our limited perspective. God is God and elects anyone He pleases for salvation. When God calls, he who was free becomes a slave of Christ. God cannot be rejected.

 

[PostmodernProph]

God is in charge of the Universe. Only God has true free will to do as He pleases. Man only have the illusion of free will. However, man, bound by time, can only live in the present moment. Thus, from man's perspective, the illusion of free will is functionally real free will.

who made you post that?....

 

[Mr. H.]

Our nature, our history, our future isn't something to be blithely written across pages of manuscript only to be blindly adhered to...

It resides in the cosmos above our heads and the ground beneath our feet.

 

[MaxGrit]

God is in charge of the Universe. Only God has true free will to do as He pleases. Man only have the illusion of free will. However, man, bound by time, can only live in the present moment. Thus, from man's perspective, the illusion of free will is functionally real free will.

who made you post that?....

God.

 

[Avatar4321]

God is in charge of the Universe. Only God has true free will to do as He pleases. Man only have the illusion of free will. However, man, bound by time, can only live in the present moment. Thus, from man's perspective, the illusion of free will is functionally real free will.

Yet, the Bible doesn't say that at all.

Instead it says "Choose this day whom you will serve, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"

As well as countless other verses already mentioned.

In fact, the whole point of the Atonement is to give us liberty. Because of the Atonement we do have power to choose good and evil. Without it, we could do only evil.

 

[Avatar4321]

God is in charge of the Universe. Only God has true free will to do as He pleases. Man only have the illusion of free will. However, man, bound by time, can only live in the present moment. Thus, from man's perspective, the illusion of free will is functionally real free will.

who made you post that?....

God.

If God did so, you are not accountable for your actions. None of us are.

If we are not accountable for our actions, then God is not just for punishing us.

If God is not just, He ceases to be God.

 

[Chuckt]

God cannot be rejected.

What do you mean God cannot be rejected?

1 Samuel 8:7 And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Oh bother.

 

[Chuckt]

That's thought provoking. God is indeed untethered, and does things for His pleasure. But even though we are bound by elements, and dimensions, the free will the Bible alludes to is the non interference concerning our pursuit of good or evil.

All throughout the Bible, God interferes with man's will as He pleases to.

And He interferes with man's will in the tribulation and they don't repent.

Revelation 16:9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

God didn't change their will and they still are resisting God.

 

[Chuckt]

God is in charge of the Universe. Only God has true free will to do as He pleases. Man only have the illusion of free will. However, man, bound by time, can only live in the present moment. Thus, from man's perspective, the illusion of free will is functionally real free will.

who made you post that?....

Himself.

 

[DriftingSand]

it doesnt mention it, doesn't want anyone thinking about such a thing. just like all other religions. You are supposed to just KNUCKLE UNDER to what your "betters" have told you to do.

No. God has given man the opportunity to choose a path:

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."

Joshua made a conscious choice.

 

[DriftingSand]

This thread is really that age old debate over predestination vs. free will. I find truth in both concepts. Ultimately, it's God's will, not man's, that shall be done.

 

[Avatar4321]

What I find interesting is that the OP asked what the Bible says about the concept of free will and he is the one who hasn't actually pointed to a verse where the Bible supports his position.

 

[RandomVariable]

Without Free Will we would be God, or angels, or something like that.