Free will in the Bible is the concept that humans have the ability to make choices independently, including moral decisions, without being forced or predetermined by God. It is portrayed as a fundamental part of human experience, where individuals are given the freedom to obey or disobey God's commands. For example, in Genesis, Adam and Eve are given the choice to obey God's command not to eat from the tree of knowledge, which they freely choose to disobey, demonstrating free will. The Bible presents free will as linked to moral responsibility, where humans are urged to choose life and obedience to God (Deuteronomy 30:19). In the New Testament, Jesus' invitations to follow Him underscore the exercise of free will, such as in Matthew 4:19 and Revelation 3:20, where responding to Jesus is a choice. While God is sovereign and almighty, the Bible teaches that He does not control every decision to the point of overriding human free will. Instead, humans have the dignity of being able to make genuine decisions, whether to obey God or not, making free will a precious gift that allows love and obedience to be meaningful (Genesis 1:26; Deuteronomy 30:19; Matthew 22:37).
There is also theological discussion on the nature and limits of free will, particularly around concepts like predestination and human depravity, but the core biblical teaching affirms that humans can exercise real choice and are responsible for those choices.
