Do we have freewill?

Journey for truth

Do we have freewill?

Firstly the concept of freewill that is prevalent in the world where man's will is strong enough to override God's will is a pagan / blasphemous concept and is not something that the Bible teaches.

Many theologians prefer to use the term 'human will' instead of 'free will,' as 'free will' can imply a level of independence that doesn't align with biblical teaching.

The human will is not truly free because it is bound by our sinfulness and depravity (which we will explore in the next section). In this sense, we are 'free' only in our ability to choose sin, but we are incapable of choosing righteousness apart from God's intervention.

An analogy to describe our human will is to compare it to a prisoner in a cell. Can you be free in prison? Well, you could say there is some freedom, but it is still contained within the walls. There is freedom to walk within the walls, to think about certain things, to act in certain ways and even cultivate relationships with others in a certain manner. There is freedom, yes, but it is all freedom within the prison. There is no freedom to get out and leave.

A person who is unsaved or unregenerate is free, but only within the parameters of their fallenness, where they choose the categories of sin and the nature of their behavior consistent with being a sinner. It is a freedom that is contained.

The only thing that can break that freedom is the intrusion of God's sovereign power. God performs a miracle life-changing / will-changing work in whomever He wills and for whomever He wills. He does this through means of repentance and faith that He Himself generates, not apart from them.

The salvation of a sinner is a complete act of God, in which the prison bars are suddenly opened and the sinner is set free to live a righteous life.

When one is born again, he or she can experience true freedom and can freely choose what is right.

Here is a quick explanation from John MacArthur on freewill;

"No, God doesn’t give people free will if you take it to mean that they can choose anything they want. I would define free will as this: every human being has the freedom to choose whatever sin he wants. That’s free will. You can choose whatever sin you want to choose, you just can’t choose not to sin (because our sinful nature affects every part of us, making it impossible to live completely free from sin without God’s intervention). So yes, there’s free will, but there’s only free will within the framework of depravity and corruption. The one thing you can choose is to get out of there. For that, you have to cry for the mercy and grace of God to extract you, which God does by His own sovereign love and power. Sinners think they have free will, but the Bible defines sinners as being in bondage to sin. It is a bondage to sin so profound that the only thing they can choose is which sin to commit."

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Freewill

Our freewill is enslaved by our depravity

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The doctrine of election versus free will

Freewill

Journey for truth

Freewill

The question of free will and God’s sovereignty has long been debated among Christians. Does man truly have the ability to choose freely, or is every decision ultimately governed by God’s will?

The Bible makes it clear that human will is not independent or absolute—it is bound by sin and unable to choose righteousness apart from divine intervention. While we have the capacity to make choices, our will is enslaved to our fallen nature, and only God's sovereign grace can set us free.

Throughout Scripture, we see that salvation is not initiated by human will but by God's electing purpose. Left to ourselves, we would never seek God (Romans 3:10-12).

Our desires govern our choices, and without a regenerated heart, those desires are always inclined toward sin. Yet, in His mercy, God sovereignly changes the hearts of those He calls, enabling them to truly choose Him. This raises an important question—how do we reconcile God’s sovereignty with human responsibility?

While some view these truths as contradictory, Scripture upholds both. God predestines and elects, yet man is still responsible for his choices.

Just as Jesus is both fully God and fully man, and Paul’s writings were both his words and God’s inspired truth, divine sovereignty and human responsibility coexist in a way that may be beyond our comprehension. Rather than attempting to resolve this mystery, we must embrace both realities as biblical truth.

In the following articles, we will explore the nature of human will, the impact of sin on our choices, the doctrine of election, and how these truths should shape our understanding of salvation and Christian living.

Do we have freewill?
Our freewill is enslaved by our depravity
Our Freewill is motivated by our Desires
How do we reconcile God’s sovereignty with the freewill of man?
The doctrine of election versus freewill

Dangers of women preaching?

Journey for truth

Dangers of Women preaching?

The topic of women preaching in the church is one that sparks significant debate in today’s society, particularly as cultural movements challenge traditional biblical interpretations. Many churches face pressure to redefine or reinterpret roles within the church, particularly regarding women in teaching and leadership positions.

Again this discussion is not about diminishing the value or spiritual equality of women, as Scripture affirms both men and women are equal in their standing before God (Galatians 3:28). Rather, it is about faithfulness to God’s design for roles within the church and the home as laid out in His Word.

Why does this matter? Because when a church begins to compromise on clear biblical teaching in one area, it often opens the door to compromising on other critical doctrines. There are dangers of ignoring or altering God’s Word on this issue.

Churches that compromise on this teaching may also compromise on other teachings.

It isn’t a coincidence that a church like Corinth and many churches today that permit women to speak also compromise on other doctrines.

It is likely that if you deny the teachings of scripture on one issue, or if you are biased towards one issue, or if you are ignorant of one issue, then you would have no hesitation in compromising on other issues.

Men tend to become less motivated to do anything.

Men's failure to lead in the home and in the church, and to lead in the way Jesus would lead, has been a chief cause of the rejection of male authority.

Ephesians 5:25-26 (NKJV)
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.

This passage highlights the spiritual responsibility of husbands to guide their wives with the Word of God.

However, it is possible for women to go beyond their biblical roles when they become frustrated with Christian men (especially their own husbands) who fail in this responsibility.

In such situations, it is natural for women to take the initiative. However, they must also demonstrate a certain "submissive influence" which may come as a form of encouragement to empower weak men. This is important to say because most women out of frustration would rather demean and mock men, which demotivates them even more.

Throughout the Bible, men are susceptible to becoming intimidated by women - when they came to arrest Jesus, Peter pulled a sword out and prepared to die for Him. Soon after, a little girl questioned him and he ended up denying Christ. Elijah after his battles with hundreds of prophets of Baal on the mountain top, when Jezebel (the wife of King Ahab, known for promoting the worship of Baal and persecuting the prophets of God) sends him a letter and he runs for his life.

It is important for men to take full responsibility for their leadership roles and to be accountable for their actions. Men should be priestly leaders in their families and churches.

In conclusion, the issue of women preaching is not about questioning their value or spiritual equality, but about upholding God's clear design for roles within the church and home. When churches compromise on this teaching, they often compromise on others, leading to doctrinal drift and confusion.

Faithfulness to God’s Word means honoring the roles He has given, with men leading as Christ-like shepherds and women supporting and encouraging in their God-given capacities. This isn’t about cultural preferences but about obedience to Scripture, preserving the integrity of the gospel, and glorifying God through His perfect design.

Other related articles:

Women in Ministry

Historical Role of men and women

Let the women keep silent?

Adam was formed first and Women being deceived.

What about women who have the gift of teaching?

But are we not all one in Christ Jesus?

But what about the great women in the Bible?

But what about the great women in the Bible?

Journey for truth

But what about the great women in the Bible?

Another rebuttal to the argument for women in pastoral ministry relates to women in the Old Testament who held leadership positions, such as Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah.

It is true that these women were chosen by God for a special service to Him and that they stand as models of faith, courage, and, yes, leadership. However, when it comes to pastors in the church in the New Testament era, the authority of women in the Old Testament is irrelevant.

In the New Testament Epistles, God presents a new paradigm for his people, the church, the body of Christ, and that paradigm involves a unique authority structure that does not apply to Israel or any other Old Testament entity.

A similar argument is made in the New Testament about Priscilla and Phoebe.

In Acts 18, Priscilla and Aquila are presented as faithful ministers for Christ. The argument is often made that since Pricilla’s name is mentioned first before her husbands (Aquila) she was in an authoritative position.

But this is not the case,  her name was mentioned first possibly because she was more prominent in ministry than her husband. Regardless, when we look at the account of the couple sharing the gospel with Apollos (Acts 18:26) they did so at their own home.

There is no mention in the Bible that Priscilla ever pastored a church, taught publicly or became a spiritual leader of a congregation of saints.

Additionally, at the end of Romans, Paul introduces us to Phoebe, a woman who is referred to as a 'servant' of the church in Cenchreae.

The Greek word used for 'servant' is 'diakonos', which is often translated as 'deacon' in many English versions of the Bible. Some argue that this indicates her holding a significant position of authority within the church.

However, it is important to distinguish between the general service roles, which could be filled by any devoted member of the congregation, and the pastoral leadership roles, which involve specific doctrinal teaching and authoritative decision-making.

While Phoebe's role was undoubtedly important and indicates the high regard Paul had for her, it does not necessarily imply that she fulfilled the same functions as a pastor or an elder within the church. This distinction is crucial in understanding the specific leadership roles outlined in the New Testament.

Other related articles:

Women in Ministry

Historical Role of men and women

Let the women keep silent?

Adam was formed first and Women being deceived.

What about women who have the gift of teaching?

But are we not all one in Christ Jesus?

Dangers of Women preaching?

But are we not all one in Christ Jesus?

Journey for truth

But are we not all one in Christ Jesus?

Galatians 3:28 (NKJV)

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

People who advocate ordaining women as pastors often cite this verse; however, it does not explain the roles of men and women in the church rather it simply states that there are no biases or distinctions to be made between believers.

It is said that in Biblical times, some people, namely Jews, and males in general, were viewed as more valuable and significant than others. Pagans also believed that only men would be saved and that only women could be saved if they were linked to men.

The gospel, however, destroys all prideful thinking. When a person becomes one with Christ, he or she also becomes one with every other believer that belongs to Christ. The Lord does not discriminate based on race, social class or sexual orientation in our spiritual worth, privilege, or value.

The gospel is available to men and women equally, and everyone has direct access to Christ.

Similarly, there are no spiritual distinctions based on gender. The Bible recognizes believing women as full spiritual equals of believing men. Furthermore, Christianity has raised women to a status they never enjoyed in ancient times by affirming their inherent worth, protecting their rights, and giving them a significant role in the ministry and life of the church.

But you might ask? How can you claim such a thing when passages such as 1 Timothy forbid women from teaching or exercising authority? The answer lies in the balance of the role of women and the influence they have on childbearing.

1 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)

Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Why childbearing? It is apparent from society that most children are influenced by their mothers during their early years. Mothers play a very important role in influencing how their children grow up and live their lives. While men are to preach God's truth to the world bringing about change, women play an equally prevalent role in shaping future generations.

In conclusion and according to the Bible, there are only two areas where God established men's headship, the home and the church. Other than those areas and dimensions, there is no difference in our possessions and privileges as believers in Christ.

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Historical Role of men and women

Let the women keep silent?

Adam was formed first and Women being deceived.

What about women who have the gift of teaching?

But what about the great women in the Bible?

Dangers of Women preaching?

What about women who have the gift of teaching

Journey for truth

What about women who have the gift of teaching?

This is another argument used to support women in pulpits because of their gifting in terms of speaking ability. It might seem compelling, but keep in mind that just having a gift does not imply you are called to exercise it. There can be 30 good teachers in a church, but that doesn't mean they should all become pastors.

It is clear that some women are gifted teachers otherwise it wouldn't mention how to control or regulate those gifts within the church.

Paul explains in 1 Timothy that women are not to teach and to remain silent because God has ordained a pattern for assembly in the church. It is not that women are incapable, dumb or less-gifted. It simply means that God has created women to play a different role in the church.

It is important to be careful here, since Scripture contains a number of notable exceptional women. However, the exceptions and plain teaching of passages like 1 Timothy 2:12-14 show that the exceptions are just that - they are exceptions.

The norm should be men in leadership and teaching positions in the church. The ministry of a woman who has been gifted and called by God should be recognized. But even so, she will have an attitude of submission to male leadership and her focus ought to be to teach women and children.

In conclusion, the question of women teaching in the church is not about their abilities, intelligence, or spiritual gifting. Many women are indeed gifted teachers and have played vital roles in the life of the church throughout history.

However, the structure of the church as outlined in Scripture reflects God's intentional design for order and roles, not a measure of value or capability.

A woman with the gift of teaching can and should use her gifts to glorify God within the framework He has set—whether by teaching other women, nurturing children, or contributing to the spiritual growth of the church in supportive and complementary ways.

This is not a restriction but a unique and honorable calling that contributes to the health and vitality of the church.

God has designed men and women with distinct and complementary roles, each with its own beauty and purpose. When we embrace these roles in humility and obedience to God’s Word, we reflect His wisdom and glory to a watching world.

Other related articles:

Women in Ministry

Historical Role of men and women

Let the women keep silent?

Adam was formed first and Women being deceived.

But are we not all one in Christ Jesus?

But what about the great women in the Bible?

Dangers of Women preaching?