Getting past the lie of free will is essential to come to see the marvelous truth of the promise of the salvation of all men.  Those that cling to the false doctrine of man having a free will,  have a very small God.  Such a God would therefore be dependent upon his own creation and their actions to accomplish the Lord’s will in their life.  But is that what the Scriptures teach?  Most certainly not as this post will touch on the basics.

1Co 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

It is the Lord who has devised the means and the timing of how and when He will save every man.

2Sa 14:14  For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him (i.e. Saved). 

The end is the gathering together of all God’s people in unity.  That glorious event that occurs in the  lake of fire has already been declared from the very beginning.  The Lord is a powerful God not like the ones we invent in our carnal minds.

Isa 46:9  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Isa 46:10  Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

The Lord is in charge and He gets His pleasure done. God Almighty, our Lord and Savior does not need anyone’s help to accomplish His will in the earth and in the hearts of men.  He is working all things and is sovereign over all His works.

Psa 115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

Yet carnal minds don’t and can’t believe this.  When we first begin speaking the truth of the salvation of all men and the absolute sovereignty of the Lord in ALL THINGS, we will get push back from a carnally minded world that the Lord has purposefully blinded.

1Jn 5:19  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

1Jn 5:20  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Only a few are given the ears to hear and  eyes to see the truth of God’s plan for mankind.  These truths and the plan of salvation of all are foolishness to the natural man not given the precious gifts of faith and spiritual understanding.

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

A very common push back those speaking the truth face is responding to those claiming it is up to man to repent and choose of himself to believe the gospel.  While some Scriptures taken by themselves seem to say this, like Jos 24:15 which says “choose this day whom you shall serve:.  Yet the real truth is found only in the SUM OF THE WORD (Psa 119:160) and applying Peter’s warning here about making doctrines off one verse.

2Pe 1:20 (CLV) knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation

Sure man makes choices but all those choices are caused consistent with the SUM of the Scriptures.  We have matter of fact verses telling us we have nothing to do with choosing to follow the Lord.

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you

Isa 43:10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

The Bible is chock full of verses that tell us to choose the right way and to obey the Lord. Yet we are also told, our choosing righteousness is not in ourselves.  It is 100% up to the Lord.

Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

True faith is not something any man chooses.  The true faith is a gift of the Lord.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

This gift is given to those who not only did not deserve it but were  not looking for the true Jesus.

Rom 10:20  But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me

But what most never see about faith is it is never OUR faith, it is always about the faith OF Jesus Christ.  Big difference.  We are given a measure of Christ’s faith, that is the faith that matters and all that counts and what the Scriptures are speaking about.

Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Those chosen of God and in fact ALL MEN are the Lord’s workmanship.   He is the potter and we the clay and everything we think do and say is all from the Lord. 

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Pro 16:9  A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Isa 64:8  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

We can nothing apart from the Lord.  Even the bad things we do are His work in us.  Here is a post on http://www.truthinscripture.com  that covers the “bad things” and who is causing them very thoroughly.

Who is Responsible for Evil?

Sure the Lord wants all men to repent and guess what? The Lord gets what He wants but only on His timeline not a deluded carnal man’s version of free will. Here are three point blank witnesses to this truth.

Psa 135:6  Whatever the LORD pleases He does, In heaven and in earth, In the seas and in all deep places.

Job 23:13  “But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 

The  Lord needs nothing from any man or anybody to accomplish His work.  He has already declared it and we and every man are just living it out now.

Act 17:24  God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Act 17:25  Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

Psa 139:16  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

It is the Lord’s desire to bring every man to repentance and save every man.  That He will do exactly on  the  timetable He has declared from the  beginning.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Here is that order:

1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

1Co 15:23  But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.

1Co 15:24  Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.

Even repentance, the necessary first step is all given to man by the Lord when the Lord has determined to grant that repentance.  It is up to Him not to the deception of man’s free will.

2Ti 2:25  in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,

Act 5:31  Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins

Rom 2:4  Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Act 11:18  When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

As clay in His hands, the Lord turns us into destruction on  purpose in order to turn us back (grant repentance) but only in the appointed times.

Psa 90:3  Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. 

Isa 63:17  O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

This is all part of the wonderful works to the children of men.  These are all God’s work in us and in our flesh (the deep).  He creates the storms and provokes our flesh in order to bring us around to seeing our need to a Saviour and our dependence on Him in All Things.

Psa 107:24  These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25  For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
Psa 107:26  They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27  They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28  Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:29  He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30  Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
Psa 107:31  Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Both our rebellion and our obedience to the Lord is caused by the Lord.  He is making us lie down in His pastures when our time has come.

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

It  is grace that is chastening us and teaching us and ultimately causing us to return to the Lord and begin to walk in obedience.  Hence the true grace of God is seen.

Heb 12:6  FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

Tit 2:12  chastening (the word really means chastening not teaching) us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

So the only way one begins to obey in truth and in spirit is to be chastened and scourged of the  Lord.  Which is why it is a blessing that judgment is now on the real house of the Lord.

1Pe 4:17  For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

The promise of the New Covenant in Christ shows this as well.  You will notice there  is no you do anything in this promise, it is all I WILL SAYS THE LORD.  He is working all things, even salvation  in the lives of those He has chosen for salvation  in this age.

Eze 36:23  And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.

Eze 36:24  For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.

Eze 36:25  Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

Eze 36:26  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Eze 36:27  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

Eze 36:28  Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

Eze 36:29  I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you.

It is 100% the Lord.  The circumcision of heart is done by  His hands and  not the delusion of man’s free will doing it.

Col 2:11  In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ

Those that think it is up to them are not the true circumcision as such ones still have confidence in flesh,

Php 3:3  For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

The true Jews are those circumcised by the hand of God.

Rom 2:28  For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;

Rom 2:29  but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

One day all men will be given to come to know and to see these mysteries of the kingdom of God.  But for now these truths are not given for everyone to see.  Faith is a gift as is the eyes to see and ears to hear.

Pro 20:12  The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both.

Pro 1:23  Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Those whom the Lord has blinded in this age will stay blind until the Lord has ordained them to see and to hear the things of the Spirit.  One of the hardest things we first learn is this principle and that we cannot give to anyone what the Lord has given to us.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The Lord is working to bring about His good and perfect will in the lives of every man that has ever lived.  He will do it and bring it  all to pass exactly on schedule.  In that rejoice if you are able.

1Ti 4:9  This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.

1Ti 4:10  For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe (now). 

1Ti 4:11  These things command and teach.

Comments or questions are welcome.   You can also email me directly at peterjwilson56@gmail.com.