Predetermination or freewill?

[RubberDuckey]

Are we a line of events that God made for use or are we free to choose? I think that we are free to do just about anything we want. Of course there are prophecies that have, are and going to be fulfilled. But what is the point of life if you can't learn your mistakes or learn others, Love God or not, or or even as simple as posting this thread? What are your thoughts?

 

[Disciple]

predetermination and free will.. We have free will to choose but almighty God has already predestined it to happen.

 

[RubberDuckey]

predetermination and free will.. We have free will to choose but almighty God has already predestined it to happen.

How could everything we do already be set to happen if we have freewill?

 

[Disciple]

Maybe its beyond man's understanding.

 

[RubberDuckey]

Maybe its beyond man's understanding.

That's what I was just thinking. There is no way for us to know. In the story of Job God says we can't comprehend him. That's philosophy for ya! Try to know the impossible!!! lol I still like to hear other peoples opinions.

 

[Angelina]

predetermination and free will.. We have free will to choose but almighty God has already predestined it to happen.

I like your interpretation of this subject Disciple!

I asked a well respected Elder of my Church this same question, when I was a young Christian and he said that he did not know but it was definitely something that he was going to ask God about when he got to heaven.

He put it to me this way...Perhaps when we reach heaven, there may be a sign over the gate saying "All who will...enter in." and on the other side, when we have entered, there may be another sign saying, "Predestined before the foundation of the world". :)


Blessings!

 

[burningfire]

Romans 8:29-30------

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [sup]30[/sup] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

I think that God has predetermined who will work for a specific purpose that he wants to fulfill and others are left with free will to choose to be a Christian or not.

 

[Disciple]

Thats an interesting thought..
'who art man to know the mind of God?'

 

[gregg]

Romans 8:29-30------

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [sup]30[/sup] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

I think that God has predetermined who will work for a specific purpose that he wants to fulfill and others are left with free will to choose to be a Christian or not.

GREAT REPLY i allways knew someone was out there with the right response

 

[Templar81]

Sicne being a Christian and living the Christian life is all about the choice we make then I woudl have to go with free will, though with some pre0-destination in there when it comes to the big picture, but when it comes down to individual people we can all make that choice: Accept Jesus and enter the kingdom of Heaven or decline and end up in Hell.

 

[Butch5]

Are we a line of events that God made for use or are we free to choose? I think that we are free to do just about anything we want. Of course there are prophecies that have, are and going to be fulfilled. But what is the point of life if you can't learn your mistakes or learn others, Love God or not, or or even as simple as posting this thread? What are your thoughts?

Man has the free will to choose God. This was the original faith. The idea of things being fated was a gnostic belief that the early church fought vehemently. Even when Augustine tried to bring it into the church hit was rejected. It wasn't until Luther that the doctrine finally made inroads into the church, Calvin likewise propagated this doctrine.
As far as predestination goes, it doesn't speak of salvation, it speaks of those who loved God ,as mentioned in Romans.

Romans 8:28-30 ( KJV )
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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.
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.

In this passage, Paul is addressing the Jewish Christians in the church at Rome. He is encouraging them and point out something from the past. He say "We know" that God works all things together for good to those who love Him. The first thing we need to notice is t hat Paul is speaking of people who already love God, it is those whom He predestines, and He predestines them to be conformed to the image of Christ. It says nothing about God choosing who will or will not be saved. Paul goes on in verses 29-30 to give proof of what he said in verse 28. Those God foreknew,(literally, knew before, or in the past, ie. Moses David, Isaac, Jacob, etc.) He predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ, He also called, justified, and glorified them.


So, man does have free will, God predestined those who choose him through their free will.

 

[tomwebster]

Romans 8:29-30------

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [sup]30[/sup] And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

I think that God has predetermined who will work for a specific purpose that he wants to fulfill and others are left with free will to choose to be a Christian or not.

Yes, and He determined that by what they accomplished in the first Heaven and earth age.

 

[aspen]

Are we a line of events that God made for use or are we free to choose? I think that we are free to do just about anything we want. Of course there are prophecies that have, are and going to be fulfilled. But what is the point of life if you can't learn your mistakes or learn others, Love God or not, or or even as simple as posting this thread? What are your thoughts?

We have freewill in our thoughts, feelings, and behavior; yet limited by our environment.