Free will is a profound concept that reflects the ability of human beings to make choices that shape their lives and destinies. The Bible provides numerous passages that highlight the importance of free will, showcasing God’s desire for His creation to love and follow Him voluntarily. In this blog post, we will explore 30 powerful Bible verses about free will and go into related topics such as what the Bible says about free will, examples of free will in the Bible, and the contrast between free will and predestination.
What Does the Bible Say About Free Will?
The concept of free will is said throughout the scriptures, demonstrating that God has given humanity the ability to choose between right and wrong, obedience and rebellion, life and death. From the Garden of Eden to the teachings of Jesus, free will is a recurring theme.
One of the earliest examples is in Genesis 2:16-17, where God commands Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This command emphasizes the existence of choice and the responsibility that comes with it. In Deuteronomy 30:19, God explicitly presents the choice between life and death, blessings and curses, urging His people to choose life.
Free will is a gift that comes with accountability. Galatians 6:7 reminds us, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” This verse highlights the responsibility that accompanies our choices and actions.
Examples of Free Will in the Bible
The Bible is filled with stories of individuals exercising their free will—for better or worse. Here are a few notable examples:
1. Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-6): Adam and Eve exercised their free will when they chose to eat the forbidden fruit, despite God’s command. Their choice brought sin into the world, demonstrating the profound consequences of free will.
2. Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:6-7): God warned Cain about the sin lurking at his door, but Cain chose to ignore the warning and killed his brother Abel.
3. Joshua’s Challenge (Joshua 24:15): Joshua presented the Israelites with a choice: “Choose this day whom you will serve,” urging them to serve the Lord willingly.
4. The Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-22): When Jesus invited the rich young ruler to give up his possessions and follow Him, the man exercised his free will by choosing to walk away.
5. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39): Even Jesus demonstrated the exercise of free will when He prayed, “Not as I will, but as You will,” submitting His will to the Father’s plan.
These examples illustrate the significance of free will in shaping our spiritual journeys and the eternal outcomes of our decisions.
Bible Verses About Free Will
Here are the 30 Bible verses about free will, written out with references to the version used (New International Version – NIV):
1. Genesis 4:7
- “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
2. Deuteronomy 30:19
- “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”
3. Joshua 24:15
- “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
4. 1 Kings 18:21
- “Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’ But the people said nothing.”
5. Proverbs 3:5-6
- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
6. Proverbs 16:9
- “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
7. Isaiah 1:19-20
- “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
8. Jeremiah 29:11
- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
9. Ezekiel 18:30-32
- “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways,’ declares the Sovereign Lord. ‘Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.”
10. Matthew 7:13-14
- “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
11. Matthew 11:28-30
- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
12. Matthew 22:37
- “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'”
13. Mark 8:34
- “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
14. John 3:16
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
15. John 7:17
- “Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”
16. John 8:36
- “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
17. John 15:16
- “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
18. Acts 2:38
- “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
19. Acts 17:30
- “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”
20. Romans 6:16
- “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”
21. Romans 10:9-10
- “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
22. 1 Corinthians 10:13
- “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
23. Galatians 5:13
- “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”
24. Philippians 2:12-13
- “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
25. Colossians 3:23
- “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
26. 2 Timothy 2:26
- “That they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”
27. Hebrews 4:7
- “God again set a certain day, calling it ‘Today.’ This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
28. James 1:13-15
- “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
29. James 4:7-8
- “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
30. Revelation 22:17
- “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”
Bible Verses About Free Will vs. Predestination
The interplay between free will and predestination has been a topic of theological debate for centuries. While the Bible affirms human free will, it also emphasizes God’s sovereignty and foreknowledge.
- Romans 8:29-30 – “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
- Ephesians 1:4-5 – “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
- 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
These verses demonstrate the tension between God’s predetermined plan and the free will He grants to humanity. While God’s will is ultimately sovereign, He invites us to participate in His plan through the choices we make.
Conclusion
The Bible presents a clear message about the importance and responsibility of free will. God has endowed us with the ability to choose, and with that ability comes accountability for our actions. As we reflect on these Bible verses about free will, let us remember that every decision we make has eternal significance.
Understanding the balance between free will and God’s sovereignty can deepen our faith and inspire us to live lives that honor Him.
May these scriptures guide and encourage you as you navigate the choices before you, always striving to align your will with God’s perfect plan.
Read also: 30 Bible Verses About Purpose