beloved57
Well-known member
Every time God commanded people to do something or not do something the existence of volition (or freewill) is assumed. When He told the First Parents not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge the fact that they could disobey His commands was a given. No rational being would order an inanimate object to act (on its own) when it lacks the power to respond. If man has no volition all God's commands to man would be predicated on nonsense. Joshua 24:15 says 14 "Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15" If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
To "serve" means to submit ones will to (see also Romans 6:16). When Joshua addressed Israel they both knew Israel had the power either to submit their wills to false gods or the true God. Joshua urged them to make the right choice. The ability to make such a choice (for or against God's will) is precisely what "volition" or "will" is.
Choices are presented to men throughout the whole of the Bible. Every time God commands men to do something or not to do something the existence of human will is reaffirmed. The evidence is overwhelming. Your commitment to the bare literality of words exemplified by your demand "show me a scripture that says (literally) 'man has freewill' prevents you from seeing it. Your unquestioning loyalty to John Calvin's teaching prevents you from thinking for yourself.
Show me the scripture, not assumption