45: Free Will: A Divine Gift or an Illusion?

Few theological debates ignite as much passion as the question of free will. Are we truly free to choose, or has God predetermined our destiny? In this episode, we examine Ephesians 1:3-5 and explore whether divine sovereignty means God selects individuals for salvation apart from their choice—or if Scripture tells a different story.

Does the Bible affirm human free will? If so, how does that fit with God's plan? Using key biblical passages and a thought-provoking analogy, we unpack how God's sovereignty and human responsibility work together. Tune in as we challenge common misconceptions and seek a biblical understanding of what it means to be "chosen in Christ."

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to the Ready for Eternity
podcast, a podcast and blog dedicated to
inquisitive Bible students exploring
biblical truths that might not be fully
explored in typical
sermons or Bible studies.

(00:20):
My name is Eddie Lawrence.
Does God control every decision we make,
or do we truly have free will? Some say
our choices are just an illusion, but
what does the Bible really teach?

(00:40):
Few theological debates stir as much
passion as the question of free will. Do
we truly have the ability to choose, or
has God already determined our eternal
fate? In the last episode, we examined
Ephesians 1, verses 3-5, and the claim
that God's sovereignty means He

(01:03):
personally selects each individual's
destiny apart from their own choice. But
is that really what Scripture teaches?
If God is in control, does that mean our
choices are just an illusion? The Bible
tells a different story. One word, divine
sovereignty and human responsibility are

(01:26):
not at odds. To correctly understand
Ephesians 1, verse 4, where it says, "For
He chose us in Him before the foundation
of the world," we must
grasp two key concepts.
First, we need a biblical understanding
of God's sovereignty. And second, we must

(01:47):
consider whether God allows humans to
make their own choices. Do we choose to
follow God, or does He choose who will
follow Him? What does the Bible say about
human free will? We don't have to wonder
if humans have free will or not. The
Bible tells us very plainly.

(02:08):
Consider the following verses.
If you do what is right, will you not be
accepted? But if you refuse to do what is
right, sin is crouching at your door. It
desires you, but you must
master it. Genesis 4, 7.
I call heaven and earth as witnesses
against you today, that I have set before

(02:30):
you life and death, blessing and cursing.
Therefore, choose life, so that you and
your descendants may live. Deuteronomy
30, 19. But if it is unpleasing in your
sight to serve the Lord, then choose for
yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your father served

(02:51):
beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the
Amorites in whose land you are living. As
for me and my house, we will serve the
Lord. Joshua 24, 15. Then Elijah
approached all the people and said, "How
long will you waver between two opinions?
If the Lord is God, follow Him. But if

(03:15):
Baal is God, follow Him." But the people
did not answer a word. First Kings 18,
21. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills
the prophets and stones those sent to
her, how often I have longed to gather
your children together, as a hen gathers
her chicks under her wings, but you were

(03:35):
unwilling." Matthew 23, 37. Submit
yourselves then to God. Resist the devil
and he will flee from you. James 4, 7.
The Lord is not slow in keeping His
promise as some understand slowness, but
is patient with you, not wanting anyone

(03:56):
to perish but everyone
to come to repentance.
Second Peter 3, 9.
Does the Bible say that humans have free
will? What do you think?
Could you read the Bible and nothing but
the Bible and conclude that humans have
no ability to choose? Free will, as

(04:19):
presented in these passages, is the
God-given ability to choose between
obedience and disobedience, life and
death, blessing and curse. It involves
personal responsibility for one's
decisions with real consequences, yet
operates within God's overarching will,

(04:41):
offering opportunities for repentance and
guidance toward righteousness.
So if we have free will, in what sense
has God predestined us?
Since it's clear from the Scriptures that
we have free will, Ephesians chapter 1
verses 4 and 5 cannot mean that God chose

(05:03):
which individuals He will save. If God
did the choosing, then
we don't have free will.
Yet free will is a concrete biblical
reality. Paul gave us a big clue when he
said that God has chosen us
"in Him" that is, in Christ.

(05:24):
In Him means the same thing as in
Ephesians chapter 1 verse 3. Christ is
the place, if you will, where blessings
are found. The best sense of these verses
is that God chose all who are in Christ
and predested them for adoption. He did

(05:46):
not select us individually. He has left
that choice up to us. Instead, He selects
all who are in Christ.
In effect, God chose all who chose Him.
The following analogy helps to explain
this. Imagine a town where severe storms

(06:07):
are common. A wise and benevolent town
founder builds a large, sturdy storm
shelter in the center of town. He then
makes the following declaration.
I have chosen this shelter as the place
of safety in our town.
This shelter will protect and save anyone
who enters during a storm. I have

(06:30):
predestined that all who enter this
shelter will be safe from the coming
storms. The choice to enter is yours, but
know that I have prepared this place for
you. Consider how this
analogy parallels what God has done.
The founder, God, has made a choice and

(06:51):
predestined an outcome, but not for
specific individuals.
The safety is available to all, but
requires a personal choice to enter the
shelter, that is, to choose Christ.
Those who are in the shelter, in Christ,
are chosen and predestined for safety,

(07:13):
that is, salvation. The founder's choice
of the shelter as the means of salvation
precedes any individual's choice to enter
it. Paul isn't describing God choosing
individual people for salvation or
condemnation before time began. Like the
analogy of the storm shelter, God chose

(07:35):
all who respond in faith and are in
Christ. Ben Witherington comments, "The
concept of election and destiny here is
corporate. If one is in Christ, one is
elect and destined." Paul is not talking
about the pre-temporal electing or
choosing of individual humans outside of
Christ to be in Christ, but rather of the

(07:58):
election of Christ and what is destined
to happen to those, whoever
they may be, who are in Christ.
Likewise, Klein Snodgrass observes,
"Individuals are not elected, and then
put in Christ. They are in
Christ and therefore elect."
God's sovereignty and human free will are
not opposing forces, but complementary

(08:20):
truths woven throughout Scripture.
God has indeed predestined a people for
salvation, but that calling is found in
Christ and the invitation stands open to
all who choose to enter. The Bible
consistently affirms
human responsibility.

(08:41):
The Bible consistently affirms human
responsibility, urging people to choose
life, obedience, and faith.
Just as a storm shelter offers safety to
any who step inside, God has prepared
salvation for all who come to Him.
The question is not whether God has made

(09:03):
the choice, but whether we will.
Thanks for listening to the podcast. We
hope this episode has deepened your
understanding of Scripture. If you found
this content valuable, please share it
with your friends. For more biblical
studies, visit our website at
ReadyForEternity.com. That's the word

(09:25):
"ready," the number four, and the word
"eternity." ReadyForEternity.com. Be sure
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out on Twitter. That's all for now. Keep
studying your Bible, growing closer to
God, and getting ready for
eternity. See you next time.