Is our free will absolute?

[MercyWarrior88]

In Exodus, I read that God made the Egyptian king stubborn so He could perform many miracles and prove His supreme power.

However, everyday, we see on television news of rape, robbery, and gory murder. Why doesn’t God intervene to prevent these things from happening? Do you think that in this new era, God had decided to make our free will absolute?

 

[guanophore]

Do you think that in this new era, God had decided to make our free will absolute?

Our free will has always been sufficient to make a choice for God, or against God. The ancient writers understood that God was omnipotent, and as you have observed, God has the ability to turn man’s heart toward Him, or away from Him. The ancients perceived choices against God as God “hardening” their hearts against Him, because they understood that He had the power to over ride the human heart. But since the Garden of Eden, God has allowed mankind to choose to be with Him, or separated from Him. When people choose against Him, He permits them, which may seem to the outsider as though He has “hardened their heart”.

we see on television news of rape, robbery, and gory murder. Why doesn’t God intervene to prevent these things from happening?

God allows us to choose against Him, and permits the consequences of that choice so that we might be motivated to turn to Him.

God permits evil to occur so that greater good may come. Remember that He allowed His Only Son to be crucified, to purchase our redemption.

 

[Vico]

In Exodus, I read that God made the Egyptian king stubborn so He could perform many miracles and prove His supreme power.

However, everyday, we see on television news of rape, robbery, and gory murder. Why doesn’t God intervene to prevent these things from happening? Do you think that in this new era, God had decided to make our free will absolute?

Romans 9

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses:

I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy; and I will shew mercy to whom I will shew mercy.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith to Pharao:

To this purpose have I raised thee, that I may shew my power in thee, and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.

18 Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will; and whom he will, he hardeneth.

 

[MercyWarrior88]

thanks a lot vico, for these Bible passages. They have opened my eyes. I’m new to this site but I’m learning a lot from you learned people.

 

[po18guy]

Our free will has always been absolute. If not, our capacity to love would be limited. God so desires that we love Him fully and completely, that He granted us the freedom to either reject Him or embrace Him.

 

[hoping4more]

Just reading those versus sounds like God uses predestination. Just saying.

 

[Irishmom2]

However, everyday, we see on television news of rape, robbery, and gory murder. Why doesn’t God intervene to prevent these things from happening? Do you think that in this new era, God had decided to make our free will absolute?

God gave everyone free will. Unfortunately, some people use their free will for evil. God does not wave a magic wand and fix things for us, except sometimes through prayer and petition, but only if it is his will for us.

 

[Mary888]

Must be so cause everyone else wants it (the other’s free submissive to his/hers).

 

[Latin]

God bless every readers of the CAF.
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God is the Ruler of the universe, NOTHING happen in the Universe without God’s permission. – No surprises.
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If our free will would be absolute then we would be the rulers of the universe and God would be our butler.
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We have a limited free will, we free to do everything what God permits us to do.
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An un-regenerated man doesn’t even have a free will and the knowledge to go to Christ for his salvation.
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ACCORDING TO CATHOLIC SOTERIOLOGY AND THE SCRIPTURE
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Our call to eternal life is supernatural, coming TOTALLY from God’s decision and surpassing ALL power of our intellect and will.
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For the gifts of God and our call to Eternal Life is IRREVOCABLE, we can NEVER LOSE our salvation. – DE FIDE Dogma. + Infallible teachings of the Trent. + Rom.11:29; etc.
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God bless every readers of the CAF.

Latin

 

[guanophore]

I’m new to this site but I’m learning a lot from you learned people

I learn something new here every day!

 

[Kei]

The Exodus narrative has a respective action with the pharaoh’s action and God’s action

 

[Benadam]

I would say Jesus’ demonstrated absolute freedom, yet His life on earth was obviously predestined. God’s works are paradoxical. Jesus demonstrated that too.

 

[Edward_H]

Only Mary’s was.

Original sin corrupts the integrality and operative union of the intellect, the will and the sensible appetites.

 

[Benadam]

St. John Paul II taught that true freedom is the ability to do what ought to be done.

 

[stuartbrianhenlis]

I would rather follow God’s Will than my own will. If I follow my will, I get into trouble!

 

[MercyWarrior88]

shalom, Latin. Thanks for replying to my post. I feel bold to refute what is written in your “infallible” source because I can sense that Jesus wants me to do so, using the very words He said to St. Faustina.

Your post talks about predestination. If predestination is true, then the very purpose of the DIVINE MERCY would be defeated. Why did Jesus decide to appear to St. Faustina? I quote Jesus:

"The loss of each soul plunges Me into mortal sadness. Oh, if sinners knew My mercy, they would not perish in such great numbers. Tell sinful souls not to be afraid to approach Me… speak to them of My great mercy. "

"Souls perish inspire of My bitter passion. I am giving them the last hope of salvation, that is, the Feast of My Mercy. IF THEY WILL NOT adore My mercy, they will perish for all eternity. "

Please take note of the phrase "if they will not… " It’s very clear that Jesus is giving us the choice whether to adore His mercy or not. Another quote:

“Before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who REFUSES to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice.”

Again, by using the word “refuse,” Jesus is clearly indicating that we actually have the choice. Final quote:

“Tell sinners that I am always waiting for them, that I listen intently to the beating of their heart… when will it beat for Me? Write, that I am speaking to them through their remorse of conscience, through their failures and sufferings, through thunderstorms, through the voice of the Church. And IF THEY BRING all my graces to naught, I begin to be angry with them, leaving them alone and giving them what they want.”

All these aforementioned quotes of Jesus scream “FREE WILL to choose our fate” to me. However, there’s no doubt in my mind that if God wants certain people to be saved, He would give them all the graces needed so they could successfully work for their salvation.

 

[Rhubarb]

No, our free will isn’t absolute.

I can’t will myself to fly. Or to breathe under water. Our will is constrained in lots of ways.

 

[MercyWarrior88]

Shalom, rhubarb. I wasn’t talking of free will in that sense. I was talking about free will to choose our fate–whether to go to heaven or hell.

 

[Latin]

God bless you MercyWarrior and God bless every readers of the CAF.
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In your post MercyWarrior you are dealing with a VERY IMPORTANT issue.
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IN YOUR POST YOU HAVE STATED:
If predestination is true, then the very purpose of the DIVINE MERCY would be defeated.

IN CONNECTION WITH THE ABOVE STATEMENT YOU ASKED THE QUESTION:
Why did Jesus decide to appear to St. Faustina? - VERY GOOD QUESTION.
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If predestination is true, then the very purpose of the DIVINE MERCY would be defeated. - It is true, I agree with you MercyWarrior.
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SAME STATEMENT WITH OTHER WORDS:
If predestination is true, the DIVINE MERCY is a defeated heretical teachings and wasn’t Jesus who appeared to St. Faustina but a deceiving spirit.
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Of course the opposite is true:
If the DIVINE MERCY is true, then Jesus appeared to St. Faustina and PREDESTINATION written in the Scripture and in Catholic and Protestant soteriology with the related teachings of predestination they are all heresies.
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I believe we both agree with the summary of the above statements:

a. If the DIVINE MERCY is true, then Jesus is the One who are appeared to St. Faustina, and then the PREDESTINATION is heresy.
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b. If PREDESTINATION is true, then the DIVINE MERCY is heresy and a deceiving spirit is the one who appeared to St. Faustina.
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So, which statement is true, statement a. or statement b.?
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I PRESENT SOME TEACHINGS WHICH MIGHT HELP FOR US TO SEE:
The PREDESTINATION or the DIVINE MERCY is true, and to see, Jesus appeared to St. Faustina or a deceiving spirit.
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SOME SAMPLES FROM THE SCRIPTURE:

Rom.8:30;
Those whom He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
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Eph.1:4-5;
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world … He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.
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Eph.1:11;
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.
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John 6:65; … no one can come to Me unless it is granted to him by the Father.
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John 6:44; No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.
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Acts 13:48; … As many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
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John 15:16; You did not chose Me, but I chose you.
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Continue

 

[Latin]

Continuation
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SOME SAMPLES FROM CATHOLIC SOTERIOLOGY:
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The Catholic Church affirms predestination as a DE FIDE Dogma (the highest level of binding theological certainty).

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA

THE CATHOLIC DOGMA. – The predestination of the elect.
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Consequently, the whole future membership of heaven, down to its minutest details, has

been IRREVOCABLY FIXED FROM ALL ETERNITY. Nor could it be otherwise. For if it

were possible that a predestined individual should after all be CAST INTO HELL or that

one not predestined should in the end REACH HEAVEN, then God would have been

MISTAKEN in his foreknowledge of future events; He would NO LONGER be omniscient.
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THE THEORY OF PREDESTINATION prævisa merita

THIS THEORY, CHAMPIONED BY all Thomists and a few Molinists (as Bellarmine, Francisco Suárez, Francis de Lugo):

Asserts that God, by an absolute decree and without regard to any future supernatural merits, predestined from all eternity certain men to the glory of heaven, and then, in consequence of this decree, decided to give them all the graces necessary for its accomplishment. End quote.
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CCCS = Catechism of the Catholic Church Simplified.

Explaining Justification
The grace of God’s Justification CCCS 1990-1991; Justification is God’s free gift which detaches man from enslavement to sin and reconciles him to God.

Justification is also our acceptance of God’s righteousness. In this gift, faith, hope, charity, and OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WILL are given to us.
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The Grace of God’s Call (1996-1998)
Justification comes from grace (God’s free and undeserved help) and is given to us to respond to his call.

This call to eternal life is supernatural, coming TOTALLY from God’s decision and surpassing ALL power of human intellect and will. End quote.
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COUNCIL OF TRENT Session 6 Chapter 8
… We are therefore said to be justified freely, because that none of those things which precede justification-whether faith or works-merit the grace itself of justification.
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Continue