Does God have free will?

[splat]

If the compatabilist view of free will is that we always act according to our strongest desire and because of that our will is not truly free, then does not God also act according to His strongest desire? How then is God's will free?

Look forward to your comments.

 

[Eddie L]

If the compatabilist view of free will is that we always act according to our strongest desire and because of that our will is not truly free, then does not God also act according to His strongest desire? How then is God's will free?

Look forward to your comments.

The bible never refers to 'freedom' in the sense of a libertarian free will. It refers to freedom in the sense of righteousness. In that sense, God is absolutely free.

 

[Living in the Light]

Does God have free will?

God IS free will.

 

[splat]

Does that mean that when we go to heaven and finally stop sinning we will have free will to righteousness as well?

 

[Eddie L]

Does that mean that when we go to heaven and finally stop sinning we will have free will to righteousness as well?

Not in a libertarian sense, but in the sense that our only influence will be from the Spirit of God. We will then be pure, or finally free.

To ever be "free" in a libertarian sense, to us, is to again be in bondage to sin, because ANYTHING that operates independently from the Spirit's influence is operating in sin. To us, choices indicate the power that is driving the chooser, and the driver is never neutral.

 

[elopez]

If the compatabilist view of free will is that we always act according to our strongest desire and because of that our will is not truly free, then does not God also act according to His strongest desire? How then is God's will free?

Remember, compatibilism still thinks there is free will, just not in the libertarian sense. So we act of our desires but we are still free. And yes, I would say that God also acts of His strongest desire. We can say, for example, that that would be creation. God's will is free as well, as He endows us with such freedom in the first place.

 

[bradfordl]

Why do RC's answer in the 'Ask a Calvinist' forum? Have the rules changed since last I haunted these environs?

 

[Skala]

Why do RC's answer in the 'Ask a Calvinist' forum? Have the rules changed since last I haunted these environs?

Bradford...long time no see

 

[splat]

To ever be "free" in a libertarian sense, to us, is to again be in bondage to sin, because ANYTHING that operates independently from the Spirit's influence is operating in sin. To us, choices indicate the power that is driving the chooser, and the driver is never neutral.

Interesting definition of sin. There are certainly things that would appear to be neutral like "taking a stroll" or "drinking a glass of water".

 

[splat]

I suppose the next question might be "does Satan have free will"?
If not then does he have any influence on him than God? If thats Satan's only influence then logically following that then Satan can't sin. Hmmm.

 

[Eddie L]

I suppose the next question might be "does Satan have free will"?
If not then does he have any influence on him than God? If thats Satan's only influence then logically following that then Satan can't sin. Hmmm.

Satan can only sin. The Spirit is not among his infuencers.