Does God have a free will?

[Dave L]

God does not lie, so if he said he will not, he will not? By believers do you mean demons who believed in Jesus?

Only those redeemed by Christ recognized by the gift of faith.

 

[truefiction1]

This means God chose to have a brain while not having one.

Yes, sort of. It's not possible for our created brains to comprehend the nature of the Un-created Creator. We can neither comprehend the Divine Essence, nor the Divine Persons. God is simply beyond all comprehension by creatures. What is impossible to us is not impossible to God. To be subject to determinism on the basis of nature is applicable to creatures, but not to the Creator.

 

[zoidar]

God moves all including the will. It cannot move itself.

I hope you don't believe God also moves the will of a serial killer to keep murdering.

 

[Eloy Craft]

Yes, God is pure act. No potential. God is spirit. He doesn't think God knows. All knowing.
Brains ( human ) are for thinking. Human will informed by the intellect converts potential to act.

 

[Dave L]

I hope you don't believe God also moves the will of a serial killer to keep murdering.

It's part of his wrath on the world. Nothing moves of itself. He moves all according to his plan.
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” Isaiah 45:7 (KJV 1900)

 

[DamianWarS]

Does God have a free will? Does he will his attributes? Or do his attributes determine his will?

I believe God does not have a free will. Because He is love. And He is perfect. And any change in his will determined by love and righteousness would be to imperfection.

free will in practice is used to describe sovereignty over choices. We can turn free will into something that is impossible but this is not beneficial and it would mean we should stop using the term altogether calling it a logical facility and think of something else to use. It's a word (2 words actually) that carries meaning, I would rather approach it with meaning we can grasp than approach it with a concept so abstract that even God can't touch it. God is sovereign so he has free will.

the question I think you really want to approach here is that if God doesn't have free will then certainly we don't (and I think this puts it in the strawman category). Using your definition of free will, free will itself doesn't exist so it would be a moot point but if we approach the concept in a more practical way it turns into simply do we have power over the choices we make? I think this is a more beneficial question that has real answers over abstract non-sense like can God make a rock so big that he can't lift it because anyone who asks that question just misses the point.

 

[Dave L]

free will in practice is used to describe sovereignty over choices. We can turn free will into something that is impossible but this is not beneficial and it would mean we should stop using the term altogether calling it a logical facility and think of something else to use. It's a word (2 words actually) that carries meaning, I would rather approach it with meaning we can grasp than approach it with a concept so abstract that even God can't touch it. God is sovereign so he has free will.

the question I think you really want to approach here is that if God doesn't have free will then certainly we don't (and I think this puts it in the strawman category). Using your definition of free will, free will itself doesn't exist so it would be a moot point but if we approach the concept in a more practical way it turns into simply do we have power over the choices we make? I think this is a more beneficial question that has real answers over abstract non-sense like can God make a rock so big that he can't lift it because anyone who asks that question just misses the point.

God freely chose according to his nature all that will ever be and its assigned path. This is the basis for his omniscience. So he is not learning anything from what he planned and created. This plan is unchangeable being perfect. ny change would deny omniscience and his perfection.

 

[zoidar]

It's part of his wrath on the world. Nothing moves of itself. He moves all according to his plan.
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” Isaiah 45:7 (KJV 1900)

... Not evil, calamity

 

[Dave L]

... Not evil, calamity

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36 (KJV 1900)

Can you think of any examples of this?

 

[zoidar]

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” John 3:36 (KJV 1900)

Can you think of any examples of this?

It's about the day of judgement.

 

[visionary]

I think this is backwards. Because he can choose his attributes without a brain.

Which attributes are without brain power?

 

[visionary]

If he decides to be perfect it is before he has a brain. He is perfect and planned all according to that.

seriously?????? The very definition of perfect must by application involve brain power.

 

[Dave L]

seriously?????? The very definition of perfect must by application involve brain power.

God doesn't have a brain according to those who say he wills his attributes.

 

[Dave L]

Which attributes are without brain power?

Let's say it this way. God has a perfect nature and this determines his will.

 

[Dave L]

It's about the day of judgement.

What about the wrath you see all around you. The wrath of God ABIDES = presently. Also in the future present.

 

[zoidar]

What about the wrath you see all around you. The wrath of God ABIDES = presently. Also in the future present.

It's the result of sin and evil my friend.

We were all children of wrath. (Eph 2)

 

[Dave L]

It's the result of sin and evil my friend.

We were all children of wrath. (Eph 2)

Not those who believe in Christ.

 

[zoidar]

Not those who believe in Christ.

Eph 2
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

 

[Dave L]

Eph 2
1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Those chosen for salvation must be saved. Limited wrath.

 

[bling]

Where?

Numbers 23:19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?