How Does Our Free Will Work in God’s Plan? (Part II)

In our last episode (https://christianquestions.com/doctrine/1436-how-does-our-free-will-work-in-gods-plan-part-i/) , we laid out a scriptural foundation for how human free will works by considering two Old Testament accounts. First, we looked at Joshua and how he was called upon by God to lead Israel after the death of Moses. His choosing to closely follow God’s direction in this task made him a great leader. This showed us the profound value of always using God’s word and His will to guide us. Second, we looked at the account of Adam and Eve and their sin. Their poor choices showed us how easy it is for us to apply our free will in self-destructive ways by listening to other voices that oppose godliness. Now we get practical and examine free will in relation to our Christianity, as well as free will in relation to the rest of the world.

As Christians, our free will is meant to be shaped and elevated by the teachings of Jesus. Scripture calls us to “continue in his word,” reminding us that discipleship requires direction, discipline and a conscience trained by truth. Understanding how God guides our free will helps us see that He does not override our choices; instead, He surrounds our path with the “guardrails” of providence—Scripture, conscience, correction and the influence of His spirit (https://christianquestions.com/character/1403-quench-the-spirit/) . These guardrails don’t force us to stay on the road, but they can lovingly prevent us from drifting into danger.