How Free Is God's Will?

The topic of whether God acts freely is a complex one, with arguments both for and against. One argument against is the Problem of Non-God Objects, which states that if the Christian God exists, then the best possible world would be one in which God alone exists, and therefore He would not create anything else. This argument assumes that the value of possible worlds can go on to infinity, and that God's creation of any object distinct from Himself would increase the overall value of the world. However, this argument has been criticised for its assumptions, and for conflating creation with necessity.

Another argument against is the Problem of Divine Lies, which suggests that God could lie to humans for their own good, and therefore humans cannot know whether the Bible is truly God's word. This argument has also been criticised for its misunderstanding of skeptical theism, which does not claim that God can lie to humans for their own good. Instead, skeptical theism holds that due to human cognitive limitations, there is no reason to think that God's reasons for permitting instances of evil or suffering should be obvious to humans.

God's Word teaches that faith is reasonable because trust in God is grounded on substance and evidence

The Bible makes it clear that faith in God is not irrational. Faith in God is based on real evidence and substance, not human intelligence. The Bible teaches that faith is reasonable because trust in God is grounded on substance and evidence.

The Bible says that faith comes from hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). God uses His Word to bring people to Christ and to help His followers grow in Christ (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God's Word is the source of saving faith in God.

The Bible also teaches that God is always with His people (Matthew 28:20). God's presence with His people is a great comfort to believers. God is omnipresent, and His followers can feel His presence as they go about their daily lives.

The Bible further states that God's invisible attributes are clearly seen in His creation (Romans 1:20). The existence of the universe is proof of a living God. The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19).

In addition, the Bible instructs believers to remember God's works (Psalm 78:7). When people look back on their lives, they will see how God has been leading, guiding, and sustaining them.

These biblical truths help produce a reasonable faith in the lives of God's followers. By looking at God's Word, His presence, His creation, and His works, believers can have a rational and logical faith in Almighty God.

God uses His Word to bring people to Christ and to help His followers grow in Christ

The Bible says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. God's Word teaches that faith is reasonable because trust in God is grounded on substance and evidence. The entire "Hall of Faith" chapter in Hebrews 11 presents account after account of people who accomplished great things for God because of their faith. They believed that God was God, and this passage explains how He used each of them because of their faith in Him. These were real people who had "reasonable faith".

There are five important truths about God in the Bible that can help produce a reasonable faith in the lives of His followers. Each of these five certainties requires God’s people to look carefully at the character and nature of God and see what He has promised to those who have put their trust in Him.

Firstly, look at. Only the Word of God can truly produce a reasonable faith in the lives of God’s people. Rational, logical faith in an Almighty God can only be produced and developed by God Himself. Secondly, look in. Once people have put their trust in Christ, they are given the Holy Spirit who dwells in them. That is why it is so important for people to also look in their own hearts to see the work of God in and through their lives. Thirdly, look around. The presence of God with His people is another incredible comfort for believers. Believers only need to look around to recognize the fact that God is there, present with them as they go through their daily lives. Fourthly, look out. All one must do is "look out" into the world to see the clear evidence of God. The existence of the universe itself is proof of a living God. Faith is so much more than an irrational belief in something that isn’t tangible. Lastly, look back. There is one other place to look that visibly demonstrates the existence of a very real and very alive God. When people look back throughout the pages of their lives, they will undoubtedly see the hand of God — leading, guiding, and sustaining them along the way.

The Holy Spirit gives believers the genuine confidence they need to see the hand of God in their lives

The Holy Spirit gives believers the confidence to see God's hand in their lives in several ways:

• The Holy Spirit is a comforter and advocate, providing guidance, strength, and support in times of trouble or need.
• The Holy Spirit teaches and guides believers to understand and live out the teachings of Jesus Christ, helping them interpret and apply the Scriptures to their lives.
• The Holy Spirit convicts individuals of their sinfulness, leading them to repentance and a turning towards God.
• The Holy Spirit empowers believers for Christian living, equipping them with spiritual gifts for service and enabling them to live according to God's will.
• The Holy Spirit sanctifies believers, helping them to become more Christlike and to live a holy life.
• The Holy Spirit gives believers hope, filling them with joy and peace and helping them to abound in hope.
• The Holy Spirit guides believers' prayers, interceding for them when they don't know what to pray for.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are saved, filled, sealed, and sanctified. The Holy Spirit reveals God's thoughts and guides believers into all truth, including knowledge of what is to come.

The presence of God with His people is another incredible comfort for believers

The Bible says that Jesus loves us and wants a relationship with us. He wants to bring people into a loving, saving relationship with Himself. God is with His people, and He is present with them as they go through their daily lives. This is a great comfort for believers.

Creation shouts the reality of a Creator

The Bible is clear that faith in God has substance and is based on real evidence. The Bible teaches that God is the Designer of all life, and we constantly see human designers learning from the Master's designs. The Bible reveals that God judged the world with a globe-covering flood, which has left striking features in the rock record. This Flood was only about 4,500 years ago, and this is supported by soft tissue in marine worms, although evolutionists date them at 551 million years old.

The Bible also teaches that God is the Designer of all life, and we constantly see human designers learning from the Master's designs. For example, the human nose and mantis shrimp armour are both designs inspired by nature.

The Bible’s teaching about an orderly Creator and divine Lawmaker showed that the universe was orderly. This inspired the pioneers of science, most of whom were biblical creationists. Indeed, many scientist-clergy flourished in the Middle Ages, ignorantly called the ‘Dark Ages’ by modern revisionists.

The Bible says, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." This passage is clear about the fact that creation shouts the reality of a Creator. Notice again the phrase "clearly seen".

The object of faith is a Creator God who made the entire universe merely by speaking. The existence of the universe itself is proof of a living God. Faith is so much more than an irrational belief in something that isn’t tangible.

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