A lack of choice?

[B-A-C]

An honest discussion on free-will.

As most of you already know, I'm a free-will supporter. But there are scriptures we should be able to discuss.

I believe in God's sovereignty.

1. Proverbs 21:1 (NASB95)​

"The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes."

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2. Proverbs 16:9 (NASB95)​

"The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

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3. Proverbs 19:21 (NASB95)​

"Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand."

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4. Psalm 37:23 (NASB95)​

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way."

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5. Romans 9:10–12 (NASB95)​

"And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, 'The older will serve the younger.'"

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6. Jeremiah 10:23 (NASB95)​

"I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps."

It seems that (sometimes at least) God directs people to do certain things. I believe this can be because of decisions we make sometimes.

7. Exodus 8:15 (NASB95)​

"But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the Lord had said."
Pharaoh initially hardened his own heart.

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8. Exodus 9:12 (NASB95)​

"And the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses."
Later, God actively hardens Pharaoh’s heart.

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9. Exodus 10:1 (NASB95)​

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants, that I may perform these signs of Mine among them.'"
God explains His purpose in hardening Pharaoh’s heart—to display His power and signs.

This progression—from Pharaoh hardening his own heart to God hardening it—illustrates both human responsibility and divine sovereignty working together.
Now while I don't doubt that God controls all of these things... we still have the choice to sin or not.

1Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Does God control whether you eat scrambled eggs or oatmeal for breakfast? I don't know... I know sometimes people (including myself) don't always make
the healthiest choices. Is that because God made me have a piece of cake for breakfast, or is that because I made a bad decision?

When God told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit (knowledge of good and evil) but they did it anyway.. was that because God made them do exactly what He told them not to do. Or was it because of their own free-will choice?

I do believe there are certain things God plans in advance. Nothing catches God by surprise. In fact I would say every prophecy in the Bible about future events (even future events that are now in the past) are part of God's sovereign plan.

But does God cause people to sin? I don't think so. Does God choose certain people to go to hell/the lake of Fire in advance? I don't think so.

We still have the ability to choose.

Josh 24:15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Deut 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

 

[Brad Huber]

The Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts. Some choose to listen and obey and some choose not to. Those that listen and obey usually turn out better overall spiritually. Yet sometimes God sends a deceiving spirit to bend an already bent spirit onto a path of destruction for themselves and those with him/her.

 

[Garee]

An honest discussion on free-will.

As most of you already know, I'm a free-will supporter. But there are scriptures we should be able to discuss.

I believe in God's sovereignty.

1. Proverbs 21:1 (NASB95)​

---

2. Proverbs 16:9 (NASB95)​

---

3. Proverbs 19:21 (NASB95)​

---

4. Psalm 37:23 (NASB95)​

---

5. Romans 9:10–12 (NASB95)​

---

6. Jeremiah 10:23 (NASB95)​

It seems that (sometimes at least) God directs people to do certain things. I believe this can be because of decisions we make sometimes.

7. Exodus 8:15 (NASB95)​

---

8. Exodus 9:12 (NASB95)​

---

9. Exodus 10:1 (NASB95)​

This progression—from Pharaoh hardening his own heart to God hardening it—illustrates both human responsibility and divine sovereignty working together.
Now while I don't doubt that God controls all of these things... we still have the choice to sin or not.

1Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Does God control whether you eat scrambled eggs or oatmeal for breakfast? I don't know... I know sometimes people (including myself) don't always make
the healthiest choices. Is that because God made me have a piece of cake for breakfast, or is that because I made a bad decision?

When God told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit (knowledge of good and evil) but they did it anyway.. was that because God made them do exactly what He told them not to do. Or was it because of their own free-will choice?

I do believe there are certain things God plans in advance. Nothing catches God by surprise. In fact I would say every prophecy in the Bible about future events (even future events that are now in the past) are part of God's sovereign plan.

But does God cause people to sin? I don't think so. Does God choose certain people to go to hell/the lake of Fire in advance? I don't think so.

We still have the ability to choose.

Josh 24:15 "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

Deut 30:19 "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

I would call it a lack of the right choice. as it is written "I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;"

Choosing death and not life They did their own will . . . not "thou shall not" the will of the invisible Holy Father.

Deuteronomy 30:14-16 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.;See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

They ate of the meat or bread of their own will and not the meat of the Father.

He gave to His Son of man the daily bread empowering Jesus the son of man to both hear and understand the will of our invisible God and empower him to finish it to the Father's good pleasure. both to will. . to do (finish)

John 4:31-34;In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
;Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?;Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

A freed will can bring glory to Christ the faithful creator of wills .

 

[Curtis]

6. Jeremiah 10:23 (NASB95)​

Jer 10:23 I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

It seems that (sometimes at least) God directs people to do certain things. I believe this can be because of decisions we make sometimes.

The scripture tells us.....

Psa 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

If a person delights themselves in the Lord, He will give them the desires of their heart, not that whatever you desire before you delight yourself in the Lord, but after you delight in Him, God's desires for you will be given to you. Now, after that, whatever you desire will also be God's desire for you.

Another way of God directing man's steps