Free choice in next life

[Homer]

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!
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+1

[nancyer]

Once we are in heaven with Jesus we will, I believe, have free will and choice, but life there will be so perfect that the choices will not be between doing good or bad, hurting or not hurting, to lie or not to lie, etc. Choices will be among the wonderful, beautiful, spiritual options God will lay before us. I believe we will be called upon, at times, to care for someone still here on earth, to guide someone, to help nudge those still living here towards God's plan for them.

As I write this it occurs to me this would prompt the question will we have the free choice to decide not to do it?. Perhaps, but I believe we will not have the desire to say No to God our Father.

[Michelle]

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.

I'll join the chorus in agreement, Singalphile!

Choices will be among the wonderful, beautiful, spiritual options God will lay before us. I believe we will be called upon, at times, to care for someone still here on earth, to guide someone, to help nudge those still living here towards God's plan for them.

Interesting thought, nancyer. What leads you to believe this?

[nancyer]

Well, I don't believe there will be anything in heaven that would be bad or wrong or ugly and therefore our choices will all be good or good. Not like choices we have here but heavenly choices. Beyond our what our imaginations can conjure up here, but all good. (like the expression 'or else they wouldn't call it heaven').
I also believe in angels. When my son was born, 19 years ago, it was after 3 days of induced labor. When he finally arrived he wouldn't take his first breath. They rushed him out of my room to neo-natal to work on him. Everyone else in the room followed. My mother-in-law swears that after a while a nurse walked in, all the lights in the room got brighter and Dale took a breath. All on his own. He just started breathing. She believes that an angel was with that nurse to save Dale.

[Paidion]

Nancyer, what I am about to ask is in no way negative criticism. I am just trying to understand your thinking.

Do you believe that we go to heaven when we die and become angels?

[jarrod]

This thread, and your comment specifically, has made me think further on this subject than my initial self-imposed mental road block of not knowing.

While I agree with you that most of us would never choose to commit the acts of physical murder/abuse or sexual immorality, I consider the internal man whose heart that would be susceptible to the "major sins" of hating or sexually lusting after another even though the physical line would never be crossed. I would think most of us are not incapable of having those feelings, even if we bring those thoughts under submission to Christ and repent as soon as possible.

Not having a sin nature is so foreign of a thought to me that, while it seems hard to imagine, makes me look forward to that "rest."

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.

[dizerner]

[user account removed]

[Paidion]

The Bible clearly says that eternity is a fate set in stone that nothing can change.

Where does it clearly say that?

[Homer]

Dizerner,

What if the penalty for Adam's sin is physical death for Adam and all the human race. And through Jesus' death on the cross, that penalty (physical death) is wiped out for everyone, both good and bad, in the resurrection? And then all are judged for their own personal sins (rejection of Jesus as Lord) and accordingly go to hell or heaven?

[dizerner]

[user account removed]