Few theological debates stir as much passion as the question of free will. Do we truly have the ability to choose, or has God already determined our eternal fate? In a previous article, I examined Ephesians 1:3-5 and the claim that God’s sovereignty means He personally selects each individual’s destiny apart from their own choice. But is that what Scripture really teaches? If God is in control, does that mean our choices are just an illusion? The Bible tells a different story—one where divine sovereignty and human responsibility are not at odds.
To correctly understand “For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4), we must grasp two key concepts. First, we need a biblical understanding of God’s sovereignty. Second, we must consider whether God allows humans to make their own choices. Do we choose to follow God, or does He choose who will follow Him?
What the Bible says about human free will
We don’t have to wonder if humans have free will or not. The Bible tells us very plainly. Consider the following verses.
- If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you refuse to do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires you, but you must master it.” (Gen. 4:7 BEREAN)1
- I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore choose life, so that you and your descendants may live, (Deut. 30:19)
- But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” (Josh. 24:15)
- Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word. (1 Kings 18:21)
- O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! (Matt. 23:37)
- Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
- The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Pet. 3:9)
- For additional passages, click here.
Does the Bible say that humans have free will?
What do you think? Could one read the Bible, and nothing but the Bible, and conclude that humans have no ability to choose? Free will, as presented in these passages, is the God-given ability to choose between obedience and disobedience, life and death, blessing and curse. It involves personal responsibility for one’s decisions, with real consequences, yet operates within God’s overarching will, offering opportunities for repentance and guidance toward righteousness.
If we have free will, in what sense has God predestined us?
Since it is clear that we have free will, vv. 4-5 cannot mean that God chose which individuals He will save. If God did the choosing, then we don’t have free will. Yet, free will is a concrete biblical reality. Paul gave us a big clue when he said that God has chosen us “in him” (in Christ). “In him” means the same thing as in v. 3 – the “place” where blessings are found.
The best sense of these verses is that God chose all those who are “in Christ” and predestined them for adoption. He did not select us individually; He has left that choice up to us. Instead, He selects all who are in Christ. In effect, He chose all who chose Him.
An analogy: Christ is the “place” of safety
The following analogy helps to explain this.
Imagine a town where severe storms are common. A wise and benevolent town founder builds a large, sturdy storm shelter in the center of town. He then makes the following declaration:
“I have chosen this shelter as the place of safety for our town. This shelter will protect and save anyone who enters during a storm. I have predestined that all who enter this shelter will be safe from the coming storms. The choice to enter is yours, but know that I have prepared this place for you.”
Consider how this analogy parallels with what God has done:
- The founder (God) has made a choice and predestined an outcome, but not for specific individuals.
- The safety is available to all, but requires a personal choice to enter the shelter (choose Christ).
- Those who are in the shelter (in Christ) are chosen and predestined for safety (salvation).
- The founder’s choice of the shelter as the means of salvation precedes any individual’s choice to enter it.
God’s choosing is corporate
Paul isn’t describing God choosing individual people for salvation or condemnation before time began. Like the analogy of the storm shelter, God chose all who respond in faith and are in Christ. Witherington comments:
“The concept of election and destining here is corporate. If one is in Christ, one is elect and destined. Paul is not talking about the pre-temporal electing or choosing of individual humans outside of Christ to be in Christ, but rather of the election of Christ and what is destined to happen to those, whoever they may be, who are in Christ.”2
Likewise, Snodgrass observes:
“Individuals are not elected and then put in Christ. They are in Christ and therefore elect.”3
God chooses a people, we choose to enter
God’s sovereignty and human free will are not opposing forces but complementary truths woven throughout Scripture. God has indeed predestined a people for salvation, but that calling is found “in Christ,” and the invitation stands open to all who choose to enter. The Bible consistently affirms human responsibility, urging people to choose life, obedience, and faith. Just as a storm shelter offers safety to any who step inside, God has prepared salvation for all who come to Him. The question is not whether God has made the choice—but whether we will.
References
- Unless otherwise specified, all Bible references are to the Berean Standard Bible.
- Witherington III, Ben. The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on the Captivity Epistles (p. 234). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.
- Snodgrass, Klyne. Ephesians (The NIV Application Commentary Book 10) (p. 49). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.