How can I reconcile my faith with my recent conclusion that free will is an illusion?

chase1635321 said:

I would request that the answers focus on the reconciliation, rather than arguing that free will does exist.

Thanks for your responses

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become a Calvinist?

edit: hah someone already said that. well it seems like a possible solution.

chase1635321 said:

I would request that the answers focus on the reconciliation, rather than arguing that free will does exist.

Thanks for your responses

Click to expand...

Look, because we do not know as much as God, even God the Son and Holy Spirit didn't, they and we have to proceed as if we do have a choice, cause there is just no other way to go about it...

"We" "don't know" is the problem, none of us know as much as Father God does, except maybe the other two members of the trinity do (now)... We will never know as much as him or them, until we cross over, and not until that time...

So, as for us, we have to proceed as if we do have a choice...

Cause we "don't know"...


I do not understand how this is interfering with your faith, could you explain more maybe, please...?

God Bless!

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (RSV)
I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20 (RSV)
If you will, you can keep the commandments,
and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
He has placed before you fire and water:
stretch out your hand for whichever you wish.
Before a man are life and death,
and whichever he chooses will be given to him.
For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power and sees everything;
his eyes are on those who fear him,
and he knows every deed of man.
He has not commanded any one to be ungodly,
and he has not given any one permission to sin.

chase1635321 said:

It's not a matter of

It's not a matter of pre-meditation but rather that the lack of free will implies that people are predestined to heaven or hell since the beginning of time, and we ultimately don't have any choice in the matter.

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Consider a basic different understanding of what predestination means.

God predestined those who would accept Jesus to spending eternity with Him.

God predestined those who would not accept Jesus to spending eternity separated from Him.

Optimax said:

Consider a basic different understanding of what predestination means.
God predestined those who would accept Jesus to spending eternity with Him.
God predestined those who would not accept Jesus to spending eternity separated from Him.

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Take off your doctrinal goggles and read Ephesians 1 again.

chase1635321 said:

I would request that the answers focus on the reconciliation, rather than arguing that free will does exist.

Thanks for your responses

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Well I was going to discuss free will with you, but you've given no reasons why you no longer believe in it.

I think any God that does not allow us free will, but still punishes us, would be a monster. I'd rather not believe in a God than believe in a God like that. But, then again, I believe in free will.

chase1635321 said:

I would request that the answers focus on the reconciliation, rather than arguing that free will does exist.

Thanks for your responses

Click to expand...

Probably Calvinism.

Jipsah said:

Take off your doctrinal goggles and read Ephesians 1 again.

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Eph 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:
Says He chose us.
Who is "us"? Those who are born again.
How did He chose us?

2 Thess 2:13-14
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.KJV

People are called when they hear the gospel or good news about Jesus. However few upon hearing about Jesus chose to accept Him and experience salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Those who receive Jesus, and are born again experience salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth are the people who are "chosen".

That is why Jesus said as recorded in Matthew that many are called, but few are chosen.

Matt 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. KJV

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,KJV

It is only after a person is born again and considered among the chosen that they are predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

Winken said:

Before the beginning of space and time, GOD.

GOD created.
GOD sustains.

Now read Romans 10:8-11

Did we make that possible?

Now read Romans 8:1, John 5:24, Ephesians 2:8-9.

Romans 9:8.

Even the Faith to believe comes from Him.

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Yes, faith is a gift by which you believe in the Son, it is the work of God that you believe in Christ whom He sent.
John 6:29
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

And since scripture says about the church this here about your faith which is His spiritual gift to you.

Romans 12:3New King James Version (NKJV)
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.