Freewill

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live. [Deuteronomy 30:19]. NKJV

The concept of free will is a profound and foundational element of human existence, deeply explored in theology, philosophy, and psychology. It distinguishes humanity from all other forms of life, highlighting our capacity to make moral choices and shaping our relationship with the divine. In theological terms, free will is closely tied to the nature and attributes of God. Most religious traditions affirm that God-infinitely wise, powerful, and benevolent endowed humanity with free will. This gift allows for authentic love, genuine faith, and meaningful relationship. For love to be real, it must be freely given and received, which is why free will plays such a vital role in the divine-human dynamic.

God’s divine mandate for mankind is to redeem him from a fallen and depraved world, to save man from himself and bring him home. To accomplish this, human free will is essential. Without autonomy, mankind would be robotic, detached from moral responsibility, and incapable of love and probably even hate. Without choice, there would be no need for redemption, no basis for judgment, and no grounds for condemnation. Free will, then, is not only valuable but necessary. It elevates humanity above the rest of creation and is treasured by the Lord.

From the beginning of time, God has always granted free will to sentient beings. In [Revelation 12:7] we witness a celestial conflict: a great war in heaven resulting in the fall of Lucifer (Satan) and a host of angels who chose to rebel. This demonstrates that even angels have the freedom to accept or reject God. Likewise, in the Garden of Eden, God did not prevent Satan from influencing Adam and Eve. Instead, He allowed human choice to unfold, even at great cost. God’s way is not to override the freedom of His creation but to permit it temporarily, with full justice ultimately revealed at the appointed end time. No path goes unaccounted for.

People often ask: “Why is there so much evil in the world? ” The answer is deeply rooted in free will. Humanity has the freedom to act, and tragically, the human heart is often hardened and self-centered. Without free will, the world would be a colourless, a one-dimensional plane. There would be nothing to redeem and no one to save. As evil itself cannot exist without good, it is by nature, the corruption of everything that is good. Just as rust only exists on a car, evil exists as a distortion of what was once whole. So when someone asks why a perfect God would allow evil, what they’re really asking is: Why isn’t the world already a paradise? But the good news is, there is such a perfect place - free from evil, perfect in every way. It just isn’t this world.

Understanding the importance of free will and the weight of responsibility it carries is vital. Some hold to the doctrine of determinism, which claims our actions are shaped entirely by external forces. But this view strips us of responsibility and is inconsistent with God’s call to moral accountability. While philosophy may entertain such notions, God’s word reveals a different picture. Free will sharpens when moral decisions are at stake, revealing our spiritual trajectory and, perhaps, even our final destination.

Many believe that by keeping the Ten Commandments, performing good deeds, or practicing a religion faithfully, will gain them entry into heaven. Whilst a noble idea per se, this belief misses the mark and is an incomplete view of salvation. Carrying around a load of unforgiven sin in life while clinging to partial truths is perilous. Taking unforgiven sin into the afterlife is truly devastating. A religious systems can enslave the mind if not grounded in full gospel truth, and rigid thinking, no matter how devout, can lead a soul to perish in ignorance. There’s a profound connection between God’s judgment and man’s free will. Divine justice will be perfect, and it will be a direct consequence of how we exercised our freedom. 

As many will stand before God with only a superficial understanding of truth, the faithful and devout souls who pursued salvation through human effort and religious ritual will be met with condemnation. And although human achievement sounds admirable, what we truly and really need is divine accomplishment. 'For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. [Ephesians 2:8] Religion will never be religious enough. Good works will never be good enough [Isaiah 64:6]. Salvation by God’s grace is our passport to eternal life. Because we cannot save ourselves, God intervenes, offering Jesus Christ as our advocate and redeemer.

Calvary is where the love of God meets the needs of man, and the cross is where the mercy of God brings absolution to the human soul. It’s the bridge between heaven and earth.

The salvation offered at the cross is a divine miracle, a heavenly intervention into our earthly condition. It’s not something we can earn or wrestle for as it’s a free gift. The challenge however lies in its simplicity and It’s purity that many struggle to accept.

Free will isn’t just for choosing careers, partners, or lifestyles, its greatest purpose is to choose to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who finished the redemptive work at Calvary, defeated death, and opened the gates of Heaven to all who believe.

And Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” [John 14:6]

All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out. [John 6:37]