Recently, we had been studying the many mentions of God saving ALL men and reconciling them ALL to God. And how you could make a strong case to say that eternal punishment is actually age long punishment designed for corrective purposes.
If you see God in this light, it makes his plan much greater and fuller than when you see him just choosing a small group and giving them eternal life and then torturing everyone else forever that isn't part of that small group.
Is man's will really free?
What is free will?
The ability or discretion to choose; free choice.
The power of making choices that are neither determined by natural causality nor predestined by fate or divine will.
Here is the question: Man has a will, but is it “free”?
In Isa 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil. I am Jehovah, that doeth all these things.
Somehow, God foreknew that a group of his created angels, with Lucifer as the leader, would rebel and be cast down and deceive man. God foreknew all of this. And He created them any way.
For an example. please look at these two verses of scripture.
2Sa 24:1
And again the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah.
God is angry at Israel and moves David against Israel.
1Ch 21:1
And Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.
Satan takes a stand against Israel by using David.
These two verses are describing the same event. We think David had free will. The scriptures seems to say he doesnt.
These verses teach against free will. These are but a few. There are many more that say the same thing.
Exo 4:11
And Jehovah said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh a man dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? is it not I, Jehovah?
Pro 16:4
Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Pro 16:9
A man's heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.
Pro 19:21
There are many devices in a man's heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.
Lam 3:37
Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
Isa 14:24
Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:
Regarding Cyrus
What do we remember about Cyrus?
King of Persia
How to desire to build a couple to God and Jerusalem
Didn't even know God
Completed what God told him to do without even realizing it
Regarding Pharaoh
Exo 7:3
And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
God hardens Pharaoh's heart to display His signs and wonders.
God wills it and Pharaoh carries it out. Pharaoh would be considered a vessel of dishonor. Yet he still seems to do God's will, right?
God’s words to Nebuchanezzar
Remember how Nebuchadnezzar had made an image of gold and got everyone to bow down to it. Everyone except for Shadrach Meshach in Abednego??
Well we know God humbled Nebuchadnezzar and by Daniel 4:35, Nebuchadnezzar was straightened out as to who really ran the show.
Dan 4:35
and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Another example of a vessel of dishonor? Yes
But God did a humbling in his heart to make him realize who really called the shots.
Regarding Judas
Jesus is speaking here:
John 13:18
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled: He that eateth my bread lifted up his heel against me. (Ps 41:9)
“Judas betrays Jesus and is pre-chosen and was merely fulfilling his responsibility as set out by God in songs 41: 9. Judas was merely doing what God expected and willed him to do.
Vessel of dishonor?
And God needs someone to put Jesus on His cross. And it's pre-ordained.
Mat 27:3
Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Does anyone have a different rendering of that verse? He repents himself?
After realizing that he had truly delivered the Messiah to his death, Judas repented and gave back the money. Yes, too late to rectify his mistake, but still he repented.
Mar 14:21
For the Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.
God wills it but still punishes? Yes
But Jesus is last words on the cross were "father forgive them for they know not what they do".
Did Judas commit the unpardonable sin? Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is not betraying Jesus (as Judas did) but claiming that the power of Jesus comes from Satan (Mark 3:22-30).
Mat 12:32
And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world (age), nor in that which is to come (age).
The sin of Judas was great, but it was not unforgivable.
Do we really make the decision to accept Jesus?
Rom 3:10-11
10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God;
Rom 11:32
For God hath shut up all unto disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.
All are shut up into disobedience!
The word "all" must mean only those who accept his mercy? Or is it all?
Eph 2:5
even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved),
Eph 2:8
for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Phi 2:13
for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.
It suggests that he works to put his will into our hearts or lives to do his bidding. If this is the case do we truly have free will?
Joh 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.
No one come to me except the Father draw him…DRAG HIM!
Do we choose Him or does He choose us?
John 15:16
Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
This is the bluntest affirmation that man does not do the choosing.
Eph 1:4
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love:
Notice that God chooses us before the earth is formed. He already knew that Adam would spill his big glass of red wine long before the garden of Eden. Jesus' death on the cross wasn't PLAN B!
Did they have free will? Nope, God chose them long before the earth was formed!
John 6:37
All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
##Eph 1:10-11
10 unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in him, I say, 11 in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will;
John 12:32
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto myself.
Notice in this verse how we willingly choose to come unto Jesus….NO! HE HAS TO DRAW (to drag) US!
Notice who he draws to himself. ALL MEN!
So the implication in this verse seems to be that if someone hasn't come to Christ yet, if it's not their fault or time.
Rom 8:20-21
20 For the creation (anything created) was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
He has to choose us because we are ensnared by the bondage of corruption
Wouldn't this violate our free will?
Luk 15:4-6
4 What man of you, having a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and his neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.
What if that sheep desired to be a rebel? Does he or she have that right? What if they don't want to come back…Is it fair that Jesus goes after them and violates their free will?
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