The gift of free will
Theres a lot of scripture on the foundation of the world and before the foundation of the world.
Through seeking this out, did God give us the gift of freewill. Or did He choose His own people regardless of free will?
I personally believe that God gave the gift of freewill.
For He forknew the elect, and surely knew who would respond to Him.
That is because God knows the beginning to the end and knows us all from the outer layer to the innermost part of our heart.
Therefore for us who have a relationship with God , we can have the assurance that He is watching us because He knows us. God not only knew us before we were born.He knew us before the foundations of the world.
God knows us.To know us has deeper layers and in Christ we are set free and comforted by that.
Adam & Eve had the gift of free will, but since fallen, all mankind is under the bondage of sin and death. Our sins drives us away from the Holy God.
So I can believe God foreknew who would receive Him from those that would not so as to get the gospel t them that would believe, and even then, the Father has to draw or drag them to the Son to reveal His Son to them so they can believe in Him and be saved so that means our believing in Jesus Christ is also a work of God.
John 6: 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
There was a woman that I had used to work with that had believed she had to clean up her life first before coming to & believing in Jesus Christ. I had never asked her why she believed in that way but I have come across some believers that preach that sinners are to repent from all sins in coming to Jesus Christ to believe in Him and so she may have had thought she was to repent from all sins BEFORE coming to Jesus to believe in Him..
I cannot recall exactly what I had said to her but it was in the neighborhood that Jesus came to save sinners from their sins so they can come to Him for eternal life too. She did not believe me but a day later, she must have talked to another co worker that confirmed the word planted and she then believed and was saved because I could see the joy of her salvation on her face as she proclaimed that I was right.
Anyway, this scripture comes to mind.
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood
, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Scripture testifies that believers are not born by the will of the flesh nor the will of man; hence there is no free will in this when we are sinners as the Father draws us unto the Son to reveal His son to us so we can believe in Him & be saved.
The Father knows whom would receive Him from those that prefer their evil deeds and that is why not every one will hear the gospel, but we can rest assured that no one in hell would have believed if they had heard the gospel.
Here is an example of God's working in the early days of the Church in the Book of Acts.
Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. 10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
The Father knew whom were seeking Him from those that were not. This is why Jesus said not to preach the gospel to those who declare that they do not want to hear it.
Matthew 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Of course, one can always leave an offer for those that do not want to hear it then, that they can call on you when they do want to hear it or ask questions about our faith.
1 Peter 3: 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
