People often say that we have to choose God or Christ and that we have to choose good over evil. I’ve heard statements like “God loves us so much that He gave us a free-will to choose Him or reject Him.”
Now, as I’ve shared many times, I agree that we make choices. We make choices all the time. In addition to this, every choice we make is ‘free’ from other people in that we can make our own choices in relation to others.
However, there is a fatal flaw in considering these choices we make to be a ‘free-will.’ The flaw is that God is not another human being that we can be ‘free’ from. Okay, Mr. Christian…If we have to make a ‘free-will’ decision, then let’s break down who God actually is. I pose this question: How can we make a free-will decision, independent of God when all is out of God?
For instance, time influences every single decision we make, correct? How can we make any decision that is not influenced by time? Well then, how is any choice that we make ‘free’ from the control of time? Its not!
Well, where did time come from and Who holds it?
1 By many portions and many modes, of old, God, speaking to the fathers in the prophets,
2 in the last of these days speaks to us in a Son, Whom He appoints enjoyer of the allotment of all, through Whom He also makes the eons; -Hebrews 1: 1-2
God created time through His Son. Thus, the making of the eons. Not only that but all is out of God as Romans 11:32 declares. So, back to my point about God not being ‘another human’ that we can be free from. I would believe that most Christians believe that God created everything and everyone. However, they also think that God created every human being to be able to make independent choices without His influence, as this is the definition of ‘free will.’
However, if God created time and everything else is also out of God, then how can a creature be placed in time and every circumstance that comes out of God and yet, be free from that time and circumstance that is out of God?
So, free will proponents say that time is out of God and God creates all things. However, the creature that God places in time and creation are ‘free’ from the influences of it and ultimately of God. Not possible.
Not to mention that we ourselves live, move and exist in God (Acts 17:28). How could we possibly be free from the being in which we live, move, and are? So, we are subject to time and every circumstance that is out of God and we live, move, and exist in God. Therefore, the choices that we make are influenced and not free.
32 For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all.
33 O, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How inscrutable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
34 For, who knew the mind of the Lord? or, who became His adviser?
35 or, who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid him?
36 seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is all: to Him be the glory for the eons! Amen! -Romans 11:32-36
Romans 11:35 says that nobody gives anything to God first. This includes our choices. God gives us all and we give back to Him the choices that He has given us to make based on time and circumstances that come out of Him. Not robots! Clay!
GOD HIMSELF GIVES TO ALL LIFE AND BREATH AND ALL (ACTS 17:25).
Let’s end with some verses in Paul’s letter to the Philippians:
28 and not being startled by those who are opposing in anything, which is to them a proof of destruction, yet of your salvation, and this from God,
29 for to you it is graciously granted, for Christ’s sake, not only to be believing on Him, but to be suffering for His sake also,
30 having the same struggle such as you are perceiving in me, and now are hearing to be in me. -Philippians 1: 28-30
In verse 28, Paul makes it clear that salvation is being talked about. Then, Paul says that IT IS GRACIOUSLY GRANTED to be believing on Him. Graciously granted by who? God. So, how is it a free-will choice to believe when this believe can only be had if God grants it or gives it to you?
The truth is that human free-will is a farce. One can only believe if God gives them belief. This is not a free-will choice but instead, the will of God. God chooses who will believe and when. We just perform that action planned by God from the beginning.
Do you still believe that salvation begins with human choice and belief? What if I gave you a verse that explains that God chooses who will have aionion life first, then gives them belief to fulfill His already made plan? Well, here it is:
48 Now on hearing this, the nations rejoiced and glorified the word of the Lord, and they believe, whoever were set for life eonian. – Acts 13:48
Here, in Acts 13:48, God sets life eonian first, then those that God chose believe. Remember, this is not ‘eternal life.’ We put on immortality and that is how we know that we will live forever with God. However, eonian life is the special salvation given to those that believe. However, God chooses those for this special salvation of eonian life, then gives them belief. Christians believe that ‘our choice’ apart from God gives us eternal life. They got it all wrong.
Here’s one more for you regarding salvation:
12 So that, my beloved, according as you always obey, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence, with fear and trembling, be carrying your own salvation into effect,
13 for it is God Who is operating in you to will as well as to work for the sake of His delight. – Philippians 2: 12-13
Paul, in the above verses, tells us to carry our own salvation into effect. Does that mean that we save ourselves by our ‘uninfluenced’ decision for Christ? NO!!!! Paul says that it is God Who is operating in you to will as well as to work for the sake of His delight. We can’t even will or want God unless He operates in us to do exactly that.
Where does all this lead? It leads to God working every detail of every creature’s life from beginning to end in order to bring all creation to the glorious end described in Philippians 2: 9-11. Every creature bends the knee to Christ and every creature acclaims Jesus is Lord for the glory of God.
Every creature does this because because every creature is eventually saved by Christ!
9 Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name,
10 that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean,
11 and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father. – Philippians 2: 9-11
Grace and peace.
Saved ignoble 
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