Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
God told Adam and Eve they could eat of every tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 2 options for interpretation:
1) They were not physically able to eat from the tree.
2) The were physically able, but were not allowed to eat of the tree.
Obviously it's number 2. They chose to eat and did. They had the free will to obey or not obey and they chose not.
Human kind was made in God's image. God is not a physical being, though. We were made in His emotional, spiritual image.
Does God have free will? Can He do anything He wants? Or does some other power put limitations on Him? If there is a limiting to God He is not God.
If we are made in his image, then, we are free to do as we wish (within the confines of this physical world, of course. God placed that restriction on us when He put us in physical bodies).
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
God will always provide a way for us to chose to not sin. It is always our choice because He always makes an option available.
John 7:17 If any man will (choose to) do his (God's) will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
NIV John 7:17 Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.
Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
Revelation 3:20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
If, wants, and will mean you have the choice to open or not, to be a disciple or not, to choose God or false gods.
Romans 13:2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
This doesn't say judgment is brought on those God chooses to bring judgment on. It says if you choose to rebel against proper authority God will punish you.
Romans 10:9-10 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
If means you have a choice not to. This is a persuasive argument that tells you the results of your choices.
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Again, this is a call to choose to turn from evil.
John 1:12-13 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The believing and receiving came first, then the becoming the child of God.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
If you choose God you will receive these blessings.
"This offer would be meaningless, even cruel, if we lacked free will. Instead of forcing us to do what he says, God warmly appeals to us:"
Ezekiel 18:30-32 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!
Yet another passionate call for repentance, for choosing God.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: (God helps us in our weaknesses) for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (speaking in tongues)
27 And he that searcheth the hearts (Jesus) knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit (The Father) , because he (Jesus) maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God (The Father).
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God (loving God comes first), to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. (He calls us to His purpose after we love Him)
29 For whom he did foreknow (foreknew what? That they would choose to love Him), he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son (God determined from teh beginning that those who choose to love Him will become like Jesus), that he (Jesus) might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate (pre decided to become like Christ), them he also called (If you choose to love God, He already decided you would become like Christ and would be given a job to do): and whom he called, them he also justified (when He gives you a job, He declares you to be righteous) : and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Luke 13:3 ESV "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."
Acts 2:38 ESV "And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Wouldn't it be cruel to tell them to repent if God won't let them? Wouldn't it be pointless if they didn't actually have a choice?
John 8:24 ESV "I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”" They clearly had a choice to believe or not
