Free Will exist in Predestination (3)

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If this is your first time reading this article, you might want to read up the other parts first. You can follow this links to Part-1 and Part-2
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How does FREE WILL work in a predestinated environment? To answer this, we have to establish that FREE WILL is synonymous to FREEDOM of CHOICE.

Using the example of Adam in the Garden of Eden, God placed Adam in this vast garden and commanded that he can eat of every tree that is in the garden, except the Tree of Knowledge, which is in the center of the garden. (Gen 2:9)

God has given Man the free will to choose not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge but man’s decision was effected by the fact that, the Tree of Knowledge was planted in the middle of the garden where man is more likely to pass by this Tree when he walk about in the garden.

Thus, man was predestined to SIN, not because it is God’s will but the influence of the environment where the Tree was placed, gives the opportunity for man to access the Tree or its vicinity more often (the shortest distance between 2 extreme points, often passes thru the center). Then at an opportune time the Snake, entices the woman and she made the wrong choice, thus, causes SIN to creep into the world.

Simply put it, God has predestinated that Man will sin against Him as well as predestinated Man will not sin. God places man in the garden, with all the trees and animals then gives man the freedom of choice.

Illustrated in the diagram beside, the BLUE line is the consequence of “Good” decision, while the RED line is that of “Bad” decision. Each decision (GREEN circle) in life is influence by some external forces or events. These external influences are dynamic and can be taken advantage by the devil (in the case of the snake).

While it is God who predestined the outcome of each decision, it is man who will have the freedom to make that choice.

So, God knows that man will sin but not of His will. Man could have chosen not to eat of the fruit of Tree of Knowledge but because of external influence, man failed to choose wisely.

In conclusion, while our lives are predestined we need to know that God has covered all possible outcomes of our decisions. So choose wisely and make the Lord glad. This affirms that God is Omniscience.

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You can continue reading this article by following this link to Part-4, Part-5 and Part-6 ===========================================================