“Free Will...Part 1 of 4”

This is a writing that technically is not in the usual form of a devotional. It is a thought provoking teaching about Free Will. This is the first installment and the rest of it will be posted on on the next three Thursdays. I would like to suggest that you make a copy of this and save it where you can read it whenever you feel moved to and really think it over. Please feel free to make comments as you study. You can post then in the comments or mail them to me and I will post them for you. ( corinnemustafa@gmail.com  )

God bless

Corinne

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7/17/14

I was challenged with a question and a couple of statements that sent me seeking and searching the Word of God. 

• The question, “Is God in control of everything?”
• The statements; God allows bad things to happen to us to teach us lessons and when no one knows what else to say when things bad do happen they say God is Sovereign.

None of these set right in me, so that question and those statements started me seeking and searching to find answers.  I would ask that you would read all that I have found with the help of the Holy Spirit, please consider, chew on and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you before disregarding.

 

A question I propose to you...If God was in control of everything would you have free will?  Would you have a choice?  Would you be able to choose your path?

First I did some seeking on what the definition of the following words meant.

• Control-To exercise authoritative or dominating influence over; to adjust to a requirement; regulate; to hold in restraint
• Everything- all that exists
• Sovereign- A: one possessing or held to possess sovereignty                      B: one that exercises supreme authority within a limited sphere                      C: an acknowledged leader

Sovereignty-

1:    supreme excellence or an example of it
2 a: supreme power especially over a body politic

2 b: freedom from external control      

2 c: controlling influence

Choice-

1: the act of choosing: 

2: power of choosing:

Free Will-

1: voluntary choice or decision (I do this of my own free will)

Question, did God give you free will, did he give you a choice?  If God was in control would we then have free will or a choice?  When God created the heavens and the earth he gave the earth to man to have dominion over.

And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, 

and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man]; 

and have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, 

and over every living creature that moves upon the earth. 
Genesis 1:28

The heavens are the Lord's heavens, 

but the earth has He given to the children of men.  

Psalm 115:17

 When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established,

    What is man that You are mindful of him,
and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?

    Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], 

and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

    You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet. 

Psalm 8:3-6

 It has been solemnly and earnestly said in a certain place, 

What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man 

that You graciously and helpfully care for and visit and look after him?

    For some little time You have ranked him 

lower than and inferior to the angels; 

You have crowned him with glory and honor 

and set him over the works of Your hands,

    For You have put everything in subjection under his feet. 

Now in putting everything in subjection to man, 

He left nothing outside [of man's] control. 

But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him [man].  

Hebrews 2:6-8

Written by 

Kathryn Hanson

End of Part 1
Part 2 will be posted on Thursday, July 24.