Church of the Good Shepherd Equip Class

Salvation in Christ, Fall 2026
Thinking About God’s Will, Man’s Will, & Free Will

I   Two Main Views: Incompatibilism and Compatibilism: Eph.1:11; Dt 29:29

Explain what each position believes & how they differ

II   Two Opposite Errors: Limited God/Unlimited people; Unlimited God/Totally limited people:   Gen.50:15 ,17

Joseph and his brothers affirm Eph.1:11

III   Free Will, Freedom of Choice, & True Freedom:  Ro.6:6, 17

- Primary concern – not mundane matters but can the lost freely choose God

- Effects of the Fall – partial vs. total

- Why this matters – A God dependent on His dependent beings; affects ideas of God, sin, salv, grace, mercy

IV   Jesus in Gospel of John: Jn.1:12-13; Jn.3:3,5; Eph.2:8; Phil.1:29; Acts 18:27; Jn.3:16;  Jn.5:39-40; Jn.6:44, 65; Jn.15:16; Jn.8:31-36; Eph.2:1-3; 2Cor.4:4; Cf.1Cor.2:14; Jn.8:43-44; Ro.6:18ff with Eph.6:6;

Jn.1:13 – expressly not of any human effort but God’s will

Jn.3:3,5 – ‘unless’ & ‘cannot’; again denies human effort

Jn.3:16 – not about the will; only addresses the result if one believes

Jn.5:39-40 – Jesus declares problem w/folks who don’t receive His is – unwilling

Jn.6:44,65 – ‘can’t’ unless ‘drawn’ & ‘granted’

Jn.8:31-32 – implication of truth sets you free

Jn.8:43-44 -  devil is father/ want or will what he wants

V   Paul in the Epistles:  Ro.8:6-8; Phil.2:12-13; Ro.3:10-18; Ro.9:10-26; 2Cor.5:7; 

- Compare to Christian’s situation in Phil.2

- Illustration of grace over human will – Ro.9:10-26, Esau/Jacob, mercy on whom I choose

VI   Conclusion: 2Cor.10:5; Ro.3:4; Ro.12:2; Rev.7:15 & 22:3

Thoughts captive to obedience; minds transformed by renewing of Wd; time coming when God’s will/my will total harmony (Rev.7:15; 22:3)

VII   Additional References - God Sovereign Over All:

– Showing God’s determining of everything in history: 1Kg.12:15; 1Chron.29:10-12; 2Chron.36:22; Ps.33:8-11; 135:6; Isa.14:24, 27; 40:13-17, 21-26; 41:2-4; 44:6-8; 45:9-10; 48:3; Jer.18:1-11; Lam.3:37-38; Dan.2:21, 44; Acts 2:22-23; 4:27-28; 17:24-28; Ro.4:17;  11:36; Eph.111; Rev.3:7

- Over minutest details in everyday life, disasters, life & death, ailments & diseases, political upheavals: Judg.14:1-4; 1Sam.16:14-15; 2Sam.12:11-12; 1Kg.11:14, 23; 22:23; Ps.71:20-21; Ps.139:16; Prov.16:33; 21:1; Lam.3:37-38;  Isa.46:9-11; Jer.1:5; Jer.11:17; 18:11; 19:3-15; 21:5-10;  Dan.4:34-35; Amos 3:6; 9:4  Mt.10:29; 20:23; Jn.9:1-3; Rev.17:17 Acts 1:7; Ro.9:20-21; Ex.4:11; 2Sam.12:15; 2Chron.21:18; Jn.9:2-3; 2Sam.24:15; 1Kg.17:14; Job 38:8-11; Ps.135:6-7; 147:15-18; Isa.29:6; Jer.10:13; 31:35; Nah.1:5-6; Mk.4:39, 41; Rev.11:13; 16:18; Dt.28:48; 2Kg.15:37; 24:2-4; 1Chron.5:26; 6:15; 2Chron.21:16; 24:24; 28:9; Ps.78:60-62; Isa.10:5-8; Jer.43:10-13; 

**AND MANY MORE!