Predestination And Free-Will

Can Our Will Overpower God’s Will?

 
When we first look at John 1:12 it sure looks like it is we who choose Christ:
 

John 1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”

 
But then, when we look at the next verse, we can no longer draw that conclusion:
 

John 1:13 – “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

 
So we can conclude that in John 1:12, God, by His will, converted people into His sons, thereby enabling them to receive Him and to believe on His name. One who is a child of darkness will certainly not receive Him.
 
Then when we read the first chapter of Ephesians, all we see are references to God and His will, not our own will:
 

Ephesians 1:4 – “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 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:”

 
Romans chapter 9 is a section of the Bible that makes no sense at all if we are to believe that man chooses to accept Christ, of his own free will:
 

Romans 9:15 – “For he saith to Moses, I have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I have compassion on whom I have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but God that showeth mercy.”

 
Let us not ignore what God has said through the Old Testament prophets either:
 

Isaiah 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:“

Daniel 4:35 – “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”

 
Summary: This article is a section of a much larger article on the Bible doctrines of Election and Predestination called “Who accepts Whom?“. You are urged to check out that larger article for many other thought provoking questions pertaining these “Doctrines of Grace”. — RM Kane