If God is really in control in every detail and aspect of our lives, how can we say that we still have free will? But if we have full control of our lives and choices, how can we say that God is in control? Don’t these ideas negate each other? Let me explain from some of the words of Ravi Zacharias.
“My freedom is not absolute, my freedom is qualified”
Our free will is given with parameters. We never asked for certain things in our lives but we were given it. I am placed here in the Philippines, a Chinese-blooded Filipino, I never asked for my looks, my gifts, I never asked for my parentage and my language but I was given it. So immediately, we know that our freedom is not absolute, to an extent, we are contained.
God’s sovereignty still reigns in our lives. His sovereignty and our free will are not mutually exclusive from each other. They exist because they are not absolute. At some point there are things in our lives that were given to us not by our choice. We have to understand this in order for us to fully grasp the idea of free will and God’s sovereignty, Lordship and control over our lives.
But freedom comes with a price. Even if it is free and it is a gift, won’t you want to be grateful to the Giver in any way? The only thing we can do with our freedom is to please the Giver with it.
Billions of people here on Earth. We are free to choose. Look at what’s happening around us – in all of this, God is sovereign over all our lives.
About Sean
i am curious to know what your views are on free will with regard to salvation.
What do you mean? Can you elaborate a bit further? Maybe I can make an article on it =D
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soteriology. you should definitely do a piece on it, seeing how much thought you put in your writings.
I think I would disagree with the statement that God’s sovereignty is not absolute.
I have given a fuller reply to these question here at: http://two-opposite.blogspot.com/2011/05/f-god-is-really-in-control-in-every.html
Brader. you need scripture if you want to relay a point like this.
Hey Les,
Took it out of Ravi Z’s message. I couldn’t get any scripture out of it coz he didn’t cite any regarding this specific chunk out of his message too. If you could direct me to any you know, please feel free to do so. Thanks bro!