There's a lot written about free will, God's love for us, that in the end, God's plans will be achieved. Here's a restatement of the points made throughout The Cornish Vicar's Daughter...
- The way we live our life is left up to us. But God may intervene in our lives where he decides this fits his plan. So he may save us from the consequences of our foolishness (the police car that stops a drunk driver before he harms anyone). Or deal with our rejection of God by boxing us into a situation where we see no human help will save us. And then with our minds open to God, he provides someone to lead us to faith.
- God knows how we will live our lives from the start of time. He know those who will dies in faith and so go to heaven. And those who will reject him and end up in hell.
- God wishes everyone would have belief and so end up in heaven but he knows and accepts that this will not be the case. Yes, strange though it may seem, not everything God would like to happen does. God has the power to force belief but to exercise this would violate his perfect love for everyone. Love implies freedom and that wins over the wish for someone's well-being. Not easy to accept, not the way the World would have God work, but God's ways are not the ways of the world. And what seems unfair to us, simply proves our minds aren't anywhere near God's. A parent might drag a child determined to walk on a cliff edge to safety. And put up with a fury tantrum. Because of the parent's love. But later in life, do nothing to prevent a disasterous marriage or participation in an extreme sport. God takes the same view. As adults we have to take responsibility for the way we live our lives and there can be no reprieve for those who die having rejected God, despite all the opportunities they had to accept him.
- God is never disappointed, never surprised by anything. He may be sad for those who reject him but he know the outcome is perfect justice.
Here are some Bible verses on God's knowledge...
Colossians 1:10
So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
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Here are some Bible verses on free will...
Proverbs 16:9
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
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Why did God give us a free will?
God gave people a free will, so that we could make our own choices.
When God created mankind, He gave him something very unique. Man received a free will, so that he could make his own choices according to his own free will.
The Fall occurred because man used his free will to listen to Satan. Nevertheless, the way of salvation was made by Jesus Christ with that same free will.
You reap what you sow
God, who has all power and all wisdom, has given each person a free will, which God respects within His laws. Having a free will does not mean that we can do whatever we want without suffering the consequences, because even though we have a free will, we are still responsible for the choices that we make. We can choose to sow whatever we want, but we cannot choose what we will reap.
“For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7-8.
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