Random Thoughts on the Really Good News

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) The term “free will” has gone the way of the word “love” in the English vocabulary. The terms have been so misused that few have a clue what is intended when the words are used in conveying biblical truth. Read 1 Corinthians 13 for what biblical love involves but that is not what I want to post about today. When I use the term free will of mankind I mean those things God allows mankind to self-determine.  God does not give that right to mankind for all things.  Some things, especially the eternal things, God reserves for Himself.  For instance it is clear to me in studying Scripture that man does not self-determine his birth nor does he self-determine his eternal destiny. God is solely responsible for both.  It is also clear to me that the choices we make after our birth and before our ...

“For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. So then it does NOT DEPEND ON THE MAN WHO WILLS or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” (Romans 9:15-16) Many Christians are convinced by their teachers that obtaining mercy and compassion from God is a matter of their own “free will” choice. They are wrong and do not believe God. Above, God clearly says His compassion and mercy is NOT dependent on the man "who wills”  , or how a man chooses to “run” (how he lives his life). God's mercy and compassion is dictated by who He is and what He wants.  And in Chapter 11 he tells us…. “For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to ALL. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be ...

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) This was written almost 2000 years ago by the Apostle Paul. Several years ago I decided to learn from Paul’s letters exactly what he, the wise master builder, had laid upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. Then compare it to the doctrines of Christianity, both Catholic and Protes...

"He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world...In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ...according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us...according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will..." (Ephesians 1:4-9) Unfortunately Christianity has made salvation an act of man's free will rather than the will of God. All we can do is come to the knowledge and believe what God has done for us. Some come to the knowledge of His salvation in this life, ALL in the next. Either way it is a time to rejoice and to praise Him for "the glory of His GRACE" . Note above that it is God who makes "known to us the mystery of His will" … and has "predestined" us to be sons. So what is the will of God? “…God our Savior; Who WILL have ALL MEN to be saved, and to come unto the kn...

“…it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13) It is interesting to me that some otherwise intelligent Christians actually think God gave humans “free will” in regard to their eternal destiny. And have the foolish idea that if He did not, then humans are merely automatons. They speak of “free will” as if it is a doctrine found in Scripture and yet cannot produce one verse which says so. God is the only being with absolute free will. Those who believe God gave mankind “free will” or “free moral agency” in relation to eternal destiny do not believe God…they prefer to trust men. Now let’s get something clear. By “free will” I am referring to “self-determination” which means being free to choose without regard to ANY outside influence. Tell me, you who think you are saved as a result of your “free will”, did you get up one day, and apart from any influence whatsoever, just decide to ask God to save you. Of course not, you were...

"For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope," (Romans 8:20) Note that creation (this includes mankind) was "not willingly" subjected to vanity.  There was no free will of man involved, as I read it.  God subjected His creatures to vanity.  And God will deliver them from it! The free will of men has nothing to do with salvation either. What does God "will" in regard to salvation? "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:3-4). All other Scripture should harmonize with this - and it does!