Free Will

You are sovereign but at the same time You require man to be responsible for his actions. FATHER, train ____’s mouth to explain this oxymoron to others.

You, FATHER, most definitely interfere with man’s liberty (Gen 20:6) doing as You please. Direct ____ to unpack Numbers 22 – 24. “…Balaam was willing, yea, anxious, to accept Balak’s offer and thus sin against God and His people. But Divine power ‘withheld’ him… (Num 22:38)…(23:12,20)” (ref#152, p118). Note: more Scripture to allude to: 2 Chron 17:10, Gen 35:5. It is “possible for God to ‘withhold’ men from sinning and yet not interfere with their liberty and responsibility” (ref#152, p119).

Speed ____, FATHER, to put forth a correct definition of “free will.” The problem is with man’s own wisdom; He thinks from his own vantage point. Being “free” means to him being able to live as he pleases. (ref#152, p120). But, in reality, real freedom is “being delivered from the bondage of sin” (ref#152, p119). “True liberty is not the power to live as we please, but to live as we ought” (ref#152, p120)!

Prevail upon ____, FATHER, to teach the great truth that man has no moral and spiritual abilities, but he does have natural ability (ref#152, p124). Biblical examples of man’s spiritual and moral inability can be found in: Gen 37:4; 2 Pet 2:14; Rom 8:8; Eph 4:18; Matt 12:34. But, if a man can think rationally and has a conscience that is able to influence him he is responsible for his decisions.

“Here then is the ground of human accountability—the possession of rationality plus the gift of conscience. It is because the sinner is endowed with these natural faculties that he is a responsible creature; because he does not use his natural powers for God’s glory, constitutes his guilt” (ref#152, p124-125).

“The heathen will not perish because they have not believed in Christ, but because they failed to live up to the light which they did have—the testimony of God in nature and conscience” (ref#152, p130).

“…since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful,…” (Rom 1:20-21 NKJV).