“Everything I have ever done; I did of my own free will.”
Is that statement a truth in every circumstance, or are there extenuating circumstances within certain situations, actual occurrences where one could say they had no choice in the course of the actions they took because it, whatever “it” was, was forced upon them? This question is extremely important in the light of Romans 14:12.
“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
If a person is given a choice to either obey or die, then that choice is still a free will choice, but now, if that person is given the same choice, yet it is one they love if they do not obey that will die, does that alter the opportunity for free will?
If the Lord Jesus Christ had not died for all mankind, all mankind would have been condemned to eternal damnation.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
That word “forced” is imperative to this discussion, for if someone is forced against their free will, no matter what the situation is, then their free will in that moment has been removed from them and is now in the control of another. Ask any prisoner behind bars or a woman who has suffered the horrific sinful act of rape of this truth.
But no one has ever been forced by the Almighty to be a servant to Him.
The angels who left their first estate, the choice made by Adam and Eve, in a way none of us may ever understand even the decisions of Judas Iscariot and Satan himself were all done by their own free will. Not one of us who have been saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is off the hook, so to speak, when it comes to this matter of accountability, even if we cannot fully comprehend the truth of that verse in relation to John 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.”
We still will be held accountable for how we used the gift or gifts given to us, how we spent the coins entrusted to us, what we did with the pearls of His Holy words. We are not forced to love, to praise His name, to witness to others or live lives separated from the world.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
That word “if” is all encompassing to us, it proves nothing to us, it is not to be used as proof to those in this world, we serve solely out of love for Him who first loved us, and solely for His glory. And the only way that can ever be done is by the action of our own free will.
“Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.” (1st Kings 12:24)
God has told people to not do things that goes against their desires, He has hardened people’s hearts, but I do not believe He has ever, not once in all of human history, sent anyone to hell intentionally disallowing their free will. The only time He will force His will upon the wicked that I am aware of in this regard is mentioned in Philippians 2:10.
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”
Their account will be heard, and then they will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Your account will be heard, and then you will either receive or lose rewards.
To put this in layman’s terms my friends, you are on the job twenty-four seven, the timeclock, once punched at the cross, will not be punched again until after your account is given. And your free will is the determining factor that will cause rewards to either be given to you or removed from you.
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1st Sam. 16:7)
