Much theological debate has raged over the issue of our freedom of choice, and how it relates to God’s ability to know and predict the future accurately. Many theories have thus surfaced, some of which range from random predestination, to the belief that it does not matter whether a person desires to be saved or not, since each person’s destiny has already been decided by God. These unfounded theories and suppositions have led to a gross misinterpretation of the character of God, and have led some people to give up hope altogether.
The scripture alone can explain these truths so that none need err in regards to our eternal destiny, for God has clearly stated that a way of escape has been opened up for every member of the human family. No one is preferred above another because of race, class, social standing, church, reputation, history, upbringing, or even genetic and hereditary factors. The ground at the cross is level, and therefore all men stand as equals before God, being born in sin and shapen in iniquity, and because of this, all are in dire need of His grace and mercy.
It is true that God extends mercies to the generations of the righteous, but this is not to the exclusion of those who do not know Him personally, for He has plainly stated that provision has been made for the stranger who desires to serve and honor Him. Let’s read:
Isaiah 56:3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I [am] a dry tree.
56:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose [the things] that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
56:5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
The prophet Hosea echoes the same sentiment, for the plan of salvation was designed to be applicable and to be restorative to all who are willing, with no bias or preferences whatsoever on the part of God. Let’s read:
Hosea 1:10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people, [there] it shall be said unto them, [Ye are] the sons of the living God.
However, there are some fundamentals about the power of God that we should first understand, before trying to study our freedom of choice as it relates to God’s foreknowledge. For starters, God accurately sees and knows the end from the beginning, and therefore is able to predict with unerring accuracy what each of us will or won’t do. This fact is clearly stated and demonstrated in the scriptures in several different places. Let’s read:
Isaiah 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,
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.
For instance, in the case of pharaoh, The Lord accurately predicted the stubbornness with which the Egyptian king would meet the requests of Moses and Aaron. Let’s read:
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
3:19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand.
3:20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go.
This singular ability is often misconstrued to mean that because of this, God then manipulates situations so that His predictions may come to pass. This erroneous and gross misinterpretation of how God uses His power must of necessity be refuted at the outset, so that the way can be paved for a rational and reasonable study of the bigger issue of freedom of choice. In the experience of pharaoh, many people have incorrectly concluded that, because of the way the scriptural passages relative to this incident were written, that God deliberately hardened pharaoh’s heart in order that the prophecy of his stubbornness might be fulfilled. Let’s read:
Exodus 4:21 And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go.
This passage of scripture, removed from the many other verses to the contrary has become a major stumbling block for many people, even Christians, and as a result, some have passed over the other Biblical evidences about pharaoh’s naturally stubborn disposition. Let’s read:
Exodus 8:13 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields.
8:15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This [is] the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
Exodus 8:31 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and he removed the swarms [of flies] from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one.
8:32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.
Exodus 9:33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the LORD: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.
9:34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.
Exodus 10:7 And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?
10:16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.
10:17 Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and entreat the LORD your God, that he may take away from me this death only.
What we are observing in these passages is a deliberate effort to ignore all factual evidences, that would show pharaoh beyond the shadow of a doubt, that there is an intelligent, all-wise God at work in the miracles being displayed in behalf of his people. But Pharaoh will not listen to God, neither to Moses, neither to his own magicians, when they make a public complaint against his irrational behavior. The same sun that melts butter hardens concrete, and with every new evidence of the power of God, displayed in a factual, non-disputed way, we are free to believe or to harden our own hearts.
In the case of king Nebuchadnezzar, we have a totally different reaction, when he was brought face to face with the undeniable interposition of God in behalf of the three Hebrews. The same pride as in pharaoh, the same manifestation of God’s power, and just as in Egypt, God’s people are caught in the cross hairs. But with the king Nebuchadnezzar, an entirely different response emerges, in that he humbles himself before The mighty God, and as a result, he will walk right through the pearly gates with a crown on his head, sitting right next to Daniel, Abraham, Job, and the three Hebrew boys he once tried to barbecue. Let’s read:
Daniel 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, [Is it] true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; [well]: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who [is] that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
The rulers in that part of the world now known as Iraq, have always been very radical in their religious beliefs, and have been historically violent in their opposition to anyone who dared to question their authority. Beheadings in that part of the world have occurred for centuries, over minor misdemeanors, such as cooking the wrong food. Let’s read:
Daniel1:10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which [are] of your sort? then shall ye make [me] endanger my head to the king.
So when these three Hebrews who were brought to Babylon as captives, stood up to the king and respectfully defied his laws which were coercing them into idolatry, Nebuchadnezzar was stung with rage and pride, and so he decided to turn up the heat, seven times hotter than it usually was. Let’s read:
Daniel 3:19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
3:20 And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace.
3:21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
3:22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
3:23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
But with a new and vivid manifestation of the power of The eternal God, a completely different attitude surfaces in Nebuchadnezzar, unlike what we saw in the history of Pharaoh who persisted in blind stubbornness and
unreasoning rebellion. Let’s read:
Daniel 3:24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.
3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
3:26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
3:28 [Then] Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed [be] the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
3:29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
The same evil spirit that was manifested in pharaoh was also displayed by many of the Hebrews, who after seeing with their own two eyes, the irrefutable miracles of Christ, decided not to believe, regardless of the factual evidences given. In the raising of Lazarus from the dead, those who were present that day got the clearest evidence that the power operating in Christ was of God, yet in their blind stubbornness, their reaction was to try and kill the evidence, rather than submit to what was obviously a direct appeal from God to their intelligence.
After Lazarus was raised from the grave where he had been buried for four days, the Jews then had opportunity to inspect him, to chat with him, to touch and handle him, to make certain that he was not a ghost. But like pharaoh, a deliberate decision was then made by many of them not to believe, and in this way their hearts were hardened. God supplied the required evidence, just like with pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, and they hardened their own hearts. Let’s read:
John 11:14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is
dead. 11:15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
11:43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
11:46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
11:48 If we let him thus alone, all [men] will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
11:49 And one of them, [named] Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
11:53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
John 12:9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.
12:10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death.
And so it is, that because the scriptures explain the fact that we are free moral agents, that we are now ready to study our topic for today, God’s foreknowledge and our freedom of choice. When Christ was about to be crucified, several players came upon the stage of action of their own free will, including Judas, Peter, the mob, the other disciples, the cock that crew, the soldiers who parted His garments, and a host of related incidents and activities which were all accurately predicted hundreds of years before, based on what God saw in His omniscience.
No one was coerced to act their part, and God did not set in motion situations that would force the choices and decisions of any. They all acted their part unprovoked, and un-coerced, not because God made them do it, but because He previously saw them doing it. Let’s read:
Matthew 26:14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
26:15 And said [unto them], What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Matthew 27:3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What [is that] to us? see thou [to that].
27:5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
27:6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.
27:7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.
27:8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.
27:9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
27:10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.
Here is the prophecy that predicted what took place between Judas and the priests, several hundred years before any of the actors were born, and long before their great grand-parents started dating. Let’s read:
Zechariah 11:12 And I said unto them, If ye think good, give [me] my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty [pieces] of silver.
11:13 And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty [pieces] of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
John 13:18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
13:21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
13:22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped [it]. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave [it] to Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon.
This action by Judas was also accurately predicted by God hundreds of years before, yet no coercion and no forcing of the will is being used to implement what God has seen in ages past. Let’s read:
Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me.
The word “Friend” is critically important to the issue we are studying, as it pertains to this particular prophecy. Let’s read:
Matthew 26:47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
26:50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.
Again we read of the accuracy of God’s all-seeing power, and His consequent ability to accurately predict the future actions of individuals, animals, and even nations, without interfering with their freedom of choice in order to force a fulfillment of His prophecies. Let’s read:
Mark 14:27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
14:28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
14:29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet [will] not I.
14:30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, [even] in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
14:31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
But not long after, all of the actors came upon the stage of action and played the exact role that was predicted and specified by God. The cock is in place at the exact distance, so that his crowing will be heard by Peter, and Peter’s seat at the fireside is vacant, waiting to be filled by one and only one person. Let’s read:
Mark 14:66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
14:67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
That’s one down and two more to go, but according to
Christ’s accurate and specific prediction, the cock is going to wait patiently for three denials from Peter, before he crows again, and so he sits perched in the darkness, in his favorite tree, waiting for the third denial, and here it comes. Let’s read:
Mark 14:69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is [one] of them.
14:70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art [one] of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth [thereto].
14:71 But he began to curse and to swear, [saying], I know not this man of whom ye speak.
14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
As a matter of fact, there were instances when God challenged the human agent on His ability to accurately predict the future, by actually discouraging certain players from acting their predicted parts. Let’s read:
Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
26:25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat:
22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
22:33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
22:34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
Some of us may be wondering what all of these things mean, and what bearing does it have on our eternal salvation. The fact is that we are the arbiters of our own destiny, regardless of what God knows, and therefore we can live in faith and full assurance of eternal life, based on what He has promised and stipulated in His word. Let’s read:
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Whosoever reads this passage of scripture can have the full assurance of salvation, if we are willing to submit to the purifying process of salvation. It means that any catholic, any Anglican, any Methodist, any Jehovah’s witness, any shepherd’s rod, any Adventist, any evangelical, any Muslim, any Taliban, any Buddhist, any atheist, and any individual from any background, can come to Christ to be saved eternally, and to all who choose to serve Him with a willing mind and free choice, an abundant entrance into God’s kingdom is guaranteed. This fact about the plan of salvation is made very clear throughout the scriptures. Let’s read:
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
10:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
It is of critical importance therefore for us to have a clear understanding of the conditions laid down for receiving immortality, so that we can look forward to Jesus second coming with joyful expectation. The word of God is crystal clear when it comes to eternal life and the means whereby it can be obtained. Let’s read:
Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Romans 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Revelation 22:14 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
And then the method by which God’s commandments are kept on a continual basis is also given in the plainest language possible. Let’s read:
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
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.
These conditions are not given in parable form, but are made plain, so that even a child can read and understand them. If we desire to have eternal life, which only God can give, we will need to keep His commandments, through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, and the indwelling Christ. It’s that simple. Of all the world’s almost seven billion people, Christians and others included, God already knows who amongst them will be saved, however, His foreknowledge does not prevent anyone in any way, from exercising their freedom to choose either life or death.
It’s all up to us individually, and if by the grace of God we choose life by choosing Christ, then we can rest assured that when Jesus comes, we will be saved in His kingdom. This is the essence of the good news of salvation, which God sent and certified through His Son Jesus Christ. Let’s read:
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand.
10:29 My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.
10:30 I and [my] Father are one.
We therefore end with two passages of scripture that call on us to use our freedom of choice to choose life, for God stands ready and waiting to accept every member of the human family, who submits to Christ and His every word. Let’s read:
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
30:20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, [and] that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he [is] thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.
22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.
May God add His blessing to the study and doing of His every word. God bless!