INDUCTIVE TOPIC BIBLE STUDY
IS FREE WILL BIBLICAL?
By Dennis
Schmidt 11/2006
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This paper discusses such topics as God's sovereignty, man's goodness, who Jesus died for, free will scriptures, and what we are to
do with predestination. All
scriptures are from the King James' version Bible.
INDUCTIVE
COMMENTS:
THEME: God is the Sovereign ruler of the
universe to do whatever He wills, to whomever He wishes, in any way He wants,
without any input from man by non existing free will.
Romans 9:15-19 "For he saith to Moses, I
will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will
have compassion on whom I will have compassion. {16} So
then it is not of him that willeth, nor of
him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. {17} For the
scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I
raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name
might be declared throughout all the earth. {18} Therefore hath he mercy on
whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
{19} Thou wilt say then unto me, Why
doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?"
PURPOSE: God is sovereign to save, whomsoever he
wants to save with no man having an input by free will which does not exist.
Ephesians
1:9-11
"Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according
to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: {10} That in the
dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and
which are on earth; even in him: {11} In whom also
we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the
purpose of him who worketh all things after the
counsel of his own will:"
KEY VERSE:
Romans 9:20-21 "O man, who art
thou that repliest against God? Shall the
thing formed say to him that formed it, Why
hast thou made me thus? {21} Hath not the potter power over the clay,
of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour,
and another unto dishonour?"
WHO: God written mostly by Bible authors
John, Luke, and Paul
TO WHOM: Elected Christians
WHAT: God predestinated plan to save the Elect
and allow the sinners to be lost
Ephesians 2:7 "That in the ages to come
he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus."
The elect will praise God forever
WHY:
For God’s own purpose and pleasure (His love and His glory)
Ephesians 1:5 "Having predestinated us
unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to
the good pleasure of his will," Predestinated by God for His will
WAY: God’s grace to the Elect
Christians by His predestination plan of salvation, sanctification, perfection,
& glorification
Romans 8:29-30 "For whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
{30} Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom
he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them
he also glorified." God does it all without man’s efforts or his
will.
Foreknow->Predestinate->To Jesus
image->Called->Justified->Glorified
WHEREAS: Christians should enjoy God’s love
and live their life in praises and thanks.
Romans 8:31 "What
shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can
be against us?" God
chooses who to be savd, and no one can succeed against God’s Elect
WHERE: Heaven and earth
WHEN: Before the foundation of the world, after
the creation, and forever
Ephesians 1:4 "According
as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" Before
creation
WHILE: Mankind thinks they are in control
of their salvation by non existent free will.
PAPER
OUTLINE:
I) IS GOD TRULY SOVEREIGN?:
II) DOES MAN ACCEPT OR
RECEIVE JESUS AS SAVIOR?:
III) DOES GOD FORESEE
MAN'S GOODNESS AND REWARD HIM WITH ETERNAL LIFE?:
IV) WHO DID JESUS DIE FOR?:
V) WHAT ABOUT THE FREE WILL
SCRIPTURES?:
VI) WHAT DO WE DO WITH
PREDESTINATION?:
OTHER
PAPERS THAT DISCUSS THESE TOPICS SEE:
See my paper: "Some Saved
and Some Lost God's Sovereignty" for more information on this subject.
See my papers: "God
Plans for His Purpose. Who Harden Pharaoh's Heart?"
for more information on this subject.
See my paper: "Plan of
God" for more
information on this subject.
See my paper: "God Will
Receive All the Glory" for more information on this subject.
See my paper: "Salvation
Biblical Word Glossary" for more information on this subject.
See my paper: "Bible Books & Topics - Subject Cross Index" for more information on this subject.
I) IS GOD TRULY SOVEREIGN?:
Sovereignty = God's power to govern without man's intervention.
God created people for wrath and destruction or created people for eternal
life. Following are examples of
God's sovereignty, for His purpose, without any determination from those
chosen:
[1] ABRAHAM:
While living with people who worshipped many gods.
See my
paper: "Justification of Faith - Old Testament
Doctrine" for
more information on this subject.
Genesis 12:1-3 "Now the
LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country,
and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house,
unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great
nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and
thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him
that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of
the earth be blessed."
[2] JEWISH NATION:
Chosen above all people. What happen to
other nations? They were lost and God's people were the only blessed people. Israel
will be blessed again in the future.
See my paper:>
"Christians
are Not Under Law, but Jews can Cultrally Keep God's Commendments" for more information on this subject.
Deuteronomy 14:2 "For thou
art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee
to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are
upon the earth."
Romans 11:25-27 "For I
would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should
be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel,
until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
{26} And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall
come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away
ungodliness from Jacob: {27} For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall
take away their sins."
[3] JEREMIAH:
Appointed to be a prophet before his existed.
Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I
formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I
ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."
[4] JOHN THE BAPTIST:
He was given the Holy Spirit while unborn.
See my paper: "Apostles
Baptism" for more
information on this subject.
See my paper: "Baptism for
Forgiveness of Sins" for
more information on this subject.
See my paper: "Holy Spirit
Baptism" for more
information on this subject.
Luke 1:15
"For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink
neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost,
even from his mother's womb."
[5] ALL BELIEVERS:
Appointed unto eternal life before creation.
See my paper: "True Gospel
for Salvation by the Imputed Righteousness of Jesus" for more information on this subject.
Ephesians 1:4 "According as
he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we
should be holy and without blame before him in love:"
[6] PAUL: He
was killing Christians when God called him. This shows God's mercy & grace.
Grace = God's unmerited favor to us.
See my paper: "Grace" for more information on this subject.
Acts 9:15
"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he
is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and
kings, and the children of Israel:"
[7] JUDAS ISCARIOT:
His attitude and life prior to Jesus' betrayal.
See my paper: "Unpardonable
sin" for more
information on this subject.
John 6:70-71 "Jesus
answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a
devil? {71} He spake of Judas Iscariot the
son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the
twelve."
[8] ESAU:
God's choice not based on his future good and bad deeds.
See my paper: "Some Saved
and Some Lost God's Sovereignty" for more information on this subject.
Romans 9:10-16 "And not
only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our
father Isaac; {11} (For the children being not yet born, neither
having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to
election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) {12} It was said
unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. {13} As it
is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. {14} What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God?
God forbid. {15} For he saith to Moses, I
will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on
whom I will have compassion. {16} So then it is
not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth
mercy."
[9] PHARAOH:
God's choice for showing His own glory, power, and authority. Pharaoh was made
for ruin without any reply to God.
See my paper: "God Plans
for His Purpose. Who Harden Pharaoh's Heart?" for more information
on this subject.
Romans 9:17-25 "For the scripture
saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up,
that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be
declared throughout all the earth. {18} Therefore hath he mercy on whom
he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
{19} Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet
find fault? For who hath resisted his will? {20} Nay but, O
man, who art thou that repliest against God?
Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why
hast thou made me thus? {21} Hath not the potter power over the clay,
of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour,
and another unto dishonour? {22} What if God,
willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering
the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: {23} And that he might make known
the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared
unto glory, {24} Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also
of the Gentiles? {25} As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people;
and her beloved, which was not beloved."
II) DOES MAN ACCEPT OR
RECEIVE JESUS AS SAVIOR?:
Does man accept Jesus as Savior or does God choose man to be saved? The
bible states that man receives only when God offers.
See my paper: "What is a
Born-Again & How to Become One?" for more information on this subject.
John 1:12
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
John 6:40-45 "And this is
the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth
the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him
up at the last day. {41} The Jews then murmured at Him, because
he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. {42} And
they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father
and mother we know? how is it then that he saith,
I came down from heaven? {43} Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur
not among yourselves. {44} No man can come to me, except the Father
which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. {45}
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all
taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath
learned of the Father, cometh unto me."
III) DOES GOD FORESEE
MAN'S GOODNESS AND REWARD HIM WITH ETERNAL LIFE?:
See my paper: "What Does
God Really Want?" for
more information on this subject.
See my paper: "Questions
& Answers on Law, Faith, & Liberty" for more information on this subject.
These scriptures show man is only evil and can
not do good.
Man is born a sinner and then
will sin as his natural self and his evil will does. How can evil do not good? How can an omniscient God look down
the ages to see some one who will believe except He intervene with changing the
person by His grace?
Psalms 14:1-3 "To
the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable
works, there is none that doeth good {2} The LORD looked down from heaven
upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and
seek God. {3} They are all gone aside, they
are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth
good, no, not one."
Psalms 53:1-3 "To the chief Musician upon Mahalath,
Maschil, A Psalm of David. The
fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt
are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none
that doeth good. {2} God looked down from heaven upon the children of
men, to see if there were any that did understand,
that did seek God. {3} Every
one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there
is none that doeth good, no, not one."
Isaiah 53:6 "All we
like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own
way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
Isaiah 64:6-8 "But we
are all as an unclean thing, and all
our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the
wind, have taken us away. {7} And there
is none that calleth upon
thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold
of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of
our iniquities. {8} But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are
the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work
of thy hand."
Romans
3:10-18 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no,
not one: {11} There is none that understandeth,
there is none that seeketh after God.
{12} They are all gone out of the way, they are together
become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no,
not one. {13} Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit;
the poison of asps is under their lips: {14} Whose mouth is
full of cursing and bitterness: {15} Their feet are swift to
shed blood: {16} Destruction and misery are in their ways:
{17} And the way of peace have they not known: {18} There is no fear
of God before their eyes."
The men who can not follow God are doing their natural
evil, self-centered, and fleshly acts which is because of their being born with
sin and are sinners. They can not
do good because the scriptures show they are evil.
John
8:44-47 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was
a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because
there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a
lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a
liar, and the father of it. {45} And because
I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. {46} Which of you convinceth
me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not
believe me? {47} He that is of God heareth
God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are
not of God."
The order to follow
God is you can hear God's words and believe on Jesus. This applies
to making a choice for good for God or having faith which is
from God to man just as grace is from God to man.
2
Corinthians 4:3-4
"But if our gospel be
hid, it is hid to them that are lost: {4} In whom the god of this
world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light
of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine
unto them."
Scriptures show man's total depravity. Grace is one way from God towards
man. We can only receive the gift
when God send it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace
are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should
boast."
IV) WHO DID JESUS DIE FOR?:
One drop of Jesus blood is sufficient to save all man. No one in hell was saved
by Jesus blood. Jesus died for Christians only.
See my paper: "Did Jesus
Die Spiritually?" for more information on this subject.
See my paper: "Resurrection"
for more information on
this subject.
Isaiah 53:11-12 "He shall
see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my
righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. {12} Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he
shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul
unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin
of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life."
V) WHAT ABOUT THE FREE
WILL SCRIPTURES?:
Webster's defines will as: determination and controlling one's
actions. Since, all men are not saved, then who are
all men?
See my paper: "Plan of
God" for more
information on this subject.
Matthew 3: 5-6 "Then went
out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
{6} And were baptized of him in Jordan,
confessing their sins."
All Judaea did not go out
Herod. All must refer to many or different kinds of people: Jews, Gentiles, rich,
poor and Kings.
1 Timothy 2:4 "Who will
have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
1 Timothy 2:1-6 "I exhort
therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks, be made for all men; {2} For kings, and for all
that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in
all godliness and honesty. {3} For this is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; {4} Who
will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
{5} For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus; {6} Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due
time."
2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is
not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance."
If God is not willing, who can stop God's will? The text show that God
to be patient.
VI) WHAT DO WE DO WITH
PREDESTINATION?:
We do not know who God elected for eternal life. God gave us the commission
to tell others and He will respond on His part. Those save, should then praise
God's for his grace toward them.
See my paper: "God Will
Receive All the Glory" for more information on this subject.
Mark 16:15-16
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the
world, and preach the gospel to every creature. {16} He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned."
This last verse sums up God's order.
First man hears the word.
Then those God ordained, elected, and called will believe.
Acts 13:48
"And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified
the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
HOW TO BE SAVED:
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life."
Romans 3:23-25 "For all
have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; {24} Being justified freely
by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: {25}
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God;"
Romans 3:27-28 "Where is
boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. {28} Therefore we
conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
Romans 10:9-10 "That if
thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe
in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be
saved. {10} For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation."
Romans 10:13
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved."
Man deserves death and punishment, separation from God, for sin. God's love
and grace has saved some and all other's will be lost.
Those that are the saved, will repent (change) of their sins and will call
upon the Lord. They will pray to
Jesus something like this: Father,
I know I am a sinner. I asked for
your forgiveness and help me to repent.
Come in to my life and be my Lord.
Help me to speak to others about your paying for my sins on the
cross. In Jesus name I ask
this. Amen.
If you prayed that pray and trusting in the promises of God's word, the
Bible, you are one of the called, elected, and chosen.
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This page is maintained by Dennis Schmidt. Please send your questions or
comments to (dennisschmidt@att.net).