Difficult Questions – Sovereignty vs. Free Will

• How much say do we get?
• Can our choices interfere with God’s plan?
• How much control does he have over human life?

Bible verses on God’s Sovereignty:

John 6:44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day”

Proverbs 16:33 “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord”

Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted”

Acts 4:27-28 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place”

Bible verses on Free Will:

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”

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”

Revelations 3:20 “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Genesis 2:16-17 “And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

There is this great ability that God has called – Foreknowledge:

1 Peter 1:1-2 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, ² who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”

• God knows everything ahead of time
• That he makes choices based on this foreknowledge

God has a plan:

• We may mess up on some of our life choices
• But it won’t affect God’s plan

Here is the big thing to realize:

• We will all be held accountable for our sinful choices

Romans 14:12 “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”Matthew 12:36 “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”