Do you have a freed will or are you still bound?
What does God’s word say about this, you will be surprised as his word is contrary to what many believe. There are those in today’s religious circles that profess that those in the world today have a so called “Free Will” to make whatever choices they want. In the Bible, God’s word we see that this is only true in one respect; they can do whatever they want, especially in regards to sin. They cannot in their fallen nature given through Adam come to God; neither do they have the desire to do so! Why is that you may ask? It is because they do not have a “Freed” will, their wills are bound and enslaved to Satan, doing his will only as God’s word declares.
We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. 1-John 5:19 NLT.
How great was the fall of Adam? His sin brought a total darkness of the heart, a spiritual death passed on to all mankind, even to this day.
The total control of the whole earth, over all humans and creatures was given to Satan who Jesus called; “The Prince of this world” Remember that during his tempting of Jesus, he offered the Lord the “Kingdoms of the world” which were his to give.
“I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. Luke 4:6 NLT.
Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants. 2-Timothy 2:26 NLT.
The one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 1-John 3:8 NASB.
Jesus today is plundering Satan’s Kingdom, taking out a people for himself, setting the prisoners free!
And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 NLT. (Note that he saves HIS people-the Elect, chosen by God the Father. “I have revealed you to the ones you gave me from this world. They were always yours. You gave them to me, and they have kept your word. John 17:6 NLT.)
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. John 8:36 NLT.
Only those born of God have a true free will, they have been loosed by Jesus from the Kingdom of Satan, given the gift of the Holy Spirit; their bodies are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, Colossians 1:13 NASB. Who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:14 NLT.
They are the only ones with a free will to serve God or not. Those remaining in Satan’s Kingdom do not have this choice on their own; they can only do Satan’s will as captives, prisoners! The “Good News” is that Jesus sets the prisoners free and when he does they are free indeed, loosed from a “Bound” will, to a true free will. As Christians we can make a free will choice to walk in the Spirit or go back to bondage.This has nothing to do with Satan and his Kingdom but obedience to God’s word. If you embrace the Law through legalism you will “fall from grace”, it will steal your joy, you will lose the liberty of walking in the Spirit but you cannot lose your salvation as some teach falsely! This comes from following the Law and the commandments of men through legalism; this is what had happened in the Galatians Church. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said to them; Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of his death on the cross. Galatians 3:1 NLT.
They went from the liberty that they had in Christ to a bondage being under the Law and the commandments of men.
Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’ Mark 7:7 NLT.
This same legalism has crept into some Churches today, their rules and regulations they have substituted for the liberty our Lord has given to everyone who believes in him. The Law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ! One doctrine that is taught in many Churches today is tithing. I and many other Christians reject this doctrine as it is not taught in the New Testament. Paul the Apostle never used the word “Tithe”; he did however refer to believers giving according to how much the Lord had prospered them. Through faith, if we sow much we reap much, sow little, reap little. The joyful giver gives from the heart and what the Holy Spirit prompts him/her of what to give, it has nothing to do with the tithe. There is an article that will prove that the tithe has no place in the New Testament, it is called “The Tithe Is Illegal “. If anyone with an open mind reads this article they will understand it is a part of legalism and why the Apostle Paul would not say the word “Tithe”, he would not twist the scriptures! You can read it from a link on my site called; The best I have ever read about tithing. Those who collect a tenth or tithe have a secure income, no faith needed but the Apostle Paul walked by faith. God granted that the believers send him support; he also worked with his hands so he would not be an extra burden to them. He never told them to pay him a tithe but appealed to them to give what they had purposed in their hearts to give, I’m sure this was the work of the Holy Spirit through joyful Christians!
Author Ken
March 2013