It matters not what the CHOICE is...it matters that the choice is AVAILABLE.In Joshua 24:15, you attempt to insert "free will" into the text of choosing the YHWH; however, read it more carefully, GodsGrace, for the passage reveals:
- choose the evil ("gods") on one side of the river
- or
- choose the evil ("gods") on the other side of the river
Joshua concludes with a declarative statement indicating the power of God with "as for me and my house, we will serve YHWH" (Joshua 24:15 no "free will" for Joshua does not say that anyone chooses YHWH God).
THUS JOSHUA 24:15 IS A PROOF TEXT THAT A PERSON CAN ONLY CHOOSE EVIL AT BEST!
This is an easy concept to grasp.
Deuteronomy 8:19
19“It shall come about if you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish.
20“Like the nations that the LORD makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the LORD your God.
Is listening a matter of free will?
Or does God also force you to listen to Him?
Why would the above state: BECAUSE YOU WOULD NOT LISTEN....as if the person had a CHOICE to listen or not.
Maybe you could also exegete
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
19“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,
20by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Please note that God told Moses to say that the Israelites had THE CHOICE of life and death...and they are advised to CHOOSE LIFE.
Again, we are faced with a free will choice to make.
Also note how we serve God:
By obeying His voice and by holding fast to Him....
That also sounds like free will: both to obey and to hold fast.
The eternal purpose was salvation through Christ...In Genesis 1:31, God says "God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good", yes, indeed, it was very good for the plan of the coming of we believers Blessed Adonai Yeshua Messiah was underway (1 Peter 1:19-21, Ephesians 3:8-12)! That is amazing that the Apostle Paul wrote "in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:11).
1 peter 1:19-21
17If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
18knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers
,19but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the bloodof Christ.
20For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
Please notice that each one's work will be judged, impartially since God is impartial. Romans 2:11
It was known from the foundation of the world that man would sin and require a savior. The above says nothing else.
What?In Genesis 2:16-17, we find the complete declarative statement of God thus: "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." Here is the components:
- Command: "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely"
- Command (exception ["but"] to previous Command): "from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat"
- Prophesy/punishment (predictive ["for"] and conclusive ["for"]): "in the day that you eat from it you will surely die"
The word "for" is not a conditional "if" (even so, "if" does not denote ability). The word "for" is in Genesis 2:17; therefore, the punishment for disobedience is prophecy.
Forget Greek...do you understand simple English??
WHY would God give Adam a CHOICE if God had already predestinated what Adam would do??
IF you eat of it DOES denote ability.
IF you go to the store ... means you have the capability to go to the store.
Plan B? What are you talking about?God did not say "oh no, Adam and Eve at from the tree which I forbade them to eat. What am I going to do? I need to come up with a plan B." That is how I perceive that you interpret the scripture; on the other hand, scripture reveals that it's all a part of God's wonderful plan of communion!
THE ACTIONS OF ADAM AND EVE WERE PART OF GOD'S PLAN TO BRING REDEMPTION BY THE BLOOD OF THE UNBLEMISHED LORD JESUS CHRIST TO A REBELLIOUS PEOPLE.
By your understanding God created Adam and Eve so they could sin so He could plan on saving only those HE want to with the blood of Jesus?
Could you post some verses please.
I've never heard of this.
PART I