The masses want a god that fits what their nature tells them a good god is. They serve the god “I” and don't seem to know the God of the bible. When they talk about salvation it's almost always I... I... I! I accepted Jesus, I'm a soul winner etc. The I gods believe they can save themselves with their own reasoning and free will. The doctrine of free will is a doctrine of self salvation, even if those promoting the doctrine don’t claim to believe in self salvation, or that salvation is based on works.
Not everyone that believes the self salvation doctrine of free will is intentionally going against sound biblical teaching. Many that believe the unbiblical doctrine of free will have often believed the doctrine of self salvation without even knowing it’s an unbiblical doctrine. This is often because they let others do their thinking for them and have not taken the time to seek the truth from the scriptures.
God often allows things to happen, so His predestined purpose will come to pass. He also at times interferes with free will because He is in control. I will post a small number of the many scriptures that deal with free will, or the lack of free will. Some people may ask themselves why I didn’t go into passages like Jonah in the belly of the whale and several others, but many of those passages would be deserving of their own article and the intent of this article is to post some basics to motivate those with a love for the truth to search and study the scriptures for themselves.
Exodus 4:11
"And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf,
or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?"
Prov. 16:4
"The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil."
Mark 4:9-12
"And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, they
that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto
you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without,
all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and
hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and
their sins should be forgiven them."
John 6:39
"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."
John 10:26-28
"But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
John 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that
you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the
Father in my name He may give you."
2 Thess. 2:9-12
"Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they
received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall
send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned
who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
Rom. 9 9-23
"For this is a word of promise: 'At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.' And
not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; ( For
the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of
God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; ) It was said
unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau
have I hated. What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he
saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on
whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth,
but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same
purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might
be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy,
and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For
who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall
the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter
power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto
dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured
with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make
known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto
glory,"
Rom. 11:8
"( According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they
should not see, and ears that they should not hear; ) unto this day."
Will you continue to put your faith in the "I" god for self salvation, or will you repent and
let Jesus save you? The word repent does not mean to trust in your own reasoning and use free
will to accept Jesus. It means to change your mind and turn from your evil ways. Will you choose
your own free will and put your faith in your own decisions and works to save yourself, or will you allow
Jesus to save you? Will you continue to think you can hinder God and tell Jesus you’ll accept him
when you’re ready, or will you get down on your knees and beg Jesus to accept you?
Isaiah 55:8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For
as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my
thoughts than your thoughts."
Proverbs 3:5-7
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all
thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes:
fear the LORD, and depart from evil."
