Understanding Free Will, According to the Bible

What does it mean to have "free will", according to the Bible? Having free will means that God gave you the ability to make decisions on your own. Though God's sovereignty reigns supreme in the universe, He allows us to make our mistakes for ourselves.

God does not prevent people from choosing their own paths. He does not assert His power over your free will. In Isaiah 42:14, it talks about how God exercised "self-control" towards Babylon, an enemy of His people. So even if you choose to follow the path of sin, God will tolerate it for now. But God will not hold back forever.

Bible Verses About Free Will

Throughout the Bible, it talks about how God designed us to have free will. It also talks about how we should lean upon the grace of God to overcome our sinful nature. Have faith in God because He is the foundation of the world. Here are the best Bible verses on free will.

1. Genesis 1:26 KJV

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

2. Proverbs 16:9 KJV

A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.

3. John 7:17 KJV

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

4. Revelation 3:20 KJV

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

5. 1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

6. 1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

7. Joshua 24:15 KJV

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

8. Mark 8:34 KJV

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

9. Genesis 2:15-17 KJV

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

10. James 1:13-15 KJV

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

11. Romans 3:21-24 KJV

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

12. Romans 6:17 KJV

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

13. Romans 6:23 KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

14. 2 Timothy 2:26 KJV

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

15. Ephesians 1:3-6 KJV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

16. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 KJV

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

17. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 KJV

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

18. Titus 1:1 KJV

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

19. Romans 9:1-4 KJV

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

20. Psalms 68:34 KJV

Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

Final Words

Free will is a gift of God. The idea of freedom of choice can only be understood when you realize that God doesn't want slaves. Jesus, the Son of God, gave us instructions for how to break the bondage to sin and live life to the fullest. Since Adam and Eve, our fallen nature have taken us further from God. Only through God's grace can we no longer be slaves to sin. Learn to have faith in Christ. Only through believing in Jesus are we able to break our chains and live in the sunlight of the Spirit. May you experience victory through Jesus today.

God bless!