The Narrow Path Ministries

Free choice is what led Adam and Eve into sin that damned the whole world. In the next life, will GOD take that away? If free choice remains, could we again sin in the new life? After all, eternity is a long time.

The last enemy, death, is destroyed, and so is sin (it's sting) at our resurrection. But in all honesty, not knowing what God has in store for "eternity", we can trust wholly in Him and His plan.

SeekingChrist wrote:Free choice is what led Adam and Eve into sin that damned the whole world. In the next life, will GOD take that away? If free choice remains, could we again sin in the new life? After all, eternity is a long time.

Here's the way I see it:

Man was created in the image of God. One of the most basic characteristics of God is the ability to choose. Thus the "image of God" also was created with the ability to choose. God NEVER quashes free will. That may be part of the explanation as to why God seldom sovereignly prevents the atrocities which some people wreak upon others.

Therefore since having the ability to choose is an essential part of a normal person's character, that abilility will continue in the resurrected person.

Our choices tend to solidify our character. If a person practises altruism and love, he will become altruistic and loving person, exempli gratia—Mother Theresa. Can you imagine Mother Theresa as ever having tortures anyone? The reason she would never torture anyone is not that she lacked free will, but rather that such an act would have been contrary to her character. If a person practises hate and cruelty, he will be a hateful and cruel character. If a person practises heavy drinking, he will become an alcholic (even though A.A. philosophy denies this). People normally act according to their character which has been "solidified" (for want of a more accurate term) through the choices they have made.

The apostle Paul wrote:And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Phlp 1:6)

If God has begun a good work in a person, and if the person responds to God's working, and acts accordingly throughout his life in a consistent manner, he will continue to be a devout servant of God throughout eternity, not because his ability to choose will have been negated, but because of the character he has developed throughout his life which has resulted from his Godly choices.

It seems we are repeatedly informed in the scriptures that sin is rooted in the flesh. I would think this problem (source of temptation and sin) will be removed.

James 1:13-14, New American Standard Bible (NASB)

13. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

Again and again the scriptures tie sin to the flesh.

Paul informs us in 1 Cor. 15 that Jesus' resurrection is the "first fruits" of the resurrection to come. To me that speaks of a prototype. It would then follow that we will be like Jesus:


1 John 3:2, New American Standard Bible (NASB)

2. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.


It would be disappointing if we are not changed in our minds and hearts. Paul said we will have a "spiritual body". I'm not sure what this entails, but Jesus' resurrected body could be seen, handled, touched, and seems to have consumed food; I would expect we would have physicality too as Jesus spoke of a heavenly banquet. So I'm thinking we will have physicality without our present flesh that tends toward self and sin.

My two cents; worth price charged.

"In the flesh" is Paul's way of saying "in our fallen nature", not in the physical flesh. After being regenerated and in the process of salvation (or "sanctification" if you prefer) our natures are being changed. In a very real sense, this nature "cannot" sin when it has been perfected. But that does not mean one will not have free will in the next life or that God will sovereignly change the imperfected nature. If it is not perfected at our resurrection, then God will work on it to perfect it; and I don't think it will be perfected at our resurrection, if we do nothing NOW to receive God's enabling grace and coöperate with it—growing in righteousness ("working together with Him).

I used to believe that I would go to heaven at death, because I was covered by Christ's blood, and that God would sovereignly make me righteous. So becoming good in this life was desirable, but not necessary. I now see my former position as self-deception, and possibly demonic deception.

Paidion,

Would you say that hormones and our bodies, including our minds, have nothing to do with motivation to sin?

Galatians 5:19-21, New American Standard Bible (NASB)

19. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20. idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21. envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


Certainly motivation to sexual sin is influenced by hormones. Both depression and anger are known to be influenced by hormonal imbalance. Doesn't the physical body develop a craving for drugs and alcohol? I am not arguing that the mind does not strongly influence our sinful impulses.

I am inclined to agree with Homer and Paidion. If men and women are willingly obedient to God, in this age, whilst the flesh needs to be subdued, I can't see how those same men and women would choose differently after being raised incorruptible. Consistent, loving obedience, as Paidion describes it, must be accomplished at a cost to the flesh, whether that describes the fallen nature or the cravings of our fleshly bodies. And if we practice this while also fighting against the flesh, why would we not continue to practice it absent the fallen nature?

On another note, how do you all think Rev.21:4 applies to the OP's question? My understanding (right or wrong) is that this portion describes our eschatological position. And I realize that this also touches on the idea of God knowing (or not) the future. It seems to indicate that the time of suffering is to end in the fulfilled kingdom. How then, could there remain any possibility of future rebellion, since that would involve suffering?

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” - Rev.21:4

John

Hi SeekingChrist,

That's an interesting line of thinking, but my first thought was, "I don't know and neither does anyone else, and I have nothing to say." However, after reading Paidion's and Homer's posts, it did occur to me that we currently have the free choice to commit murder, rape, arson, child-abuse, etc., and yet most of us would never freely choose to commit those acts. In a sense, we are incapable of doing those things. In the same way, we might become equally incapable of even "minor" sins such as impatience and unkind words as we become more Christ-like.

Singalphile wrote:That's an interesting line of thinking, but my first thought was, "I don't know and neither does anyone else, and I have nothing to say." However, after reading Paidion's and Homer's posts, it did occur to me that we currently have the free choice to commit murder, rape, arson, child-abuse, etc., and yet most of us would never freely choose to commit those acts. In a sense, we are incapable of doing those things. In the same way, we might become equally incapable of even "minor" sins such as impatience and unkind words as we become more Christ-like.

WELL SAID!