Can man's free will control or affect the eternal plan of God?

Can man's free will control or affect the eternal plan of God?

QUESTION:

Does our free will in this temporary earth have control over God’s eternal purpose or will?

ANSWER:

From God’s point of view, his eternal purpose is set. Nothing will ever be able to change the outcome of God’s plan because the Word says, “for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name”, Ps 138:2, and, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”, Mat 24:35. Thus, God’s word is settled, and from its pages we know that at the end of God’s plan there is a new heaven and a new earth, and we know there is an eternal lake of fire. The plan ends with two final outcomes, salvation and restoration or wrath and destruction. 

With this in mind, let’s now consider man’s point of view. Man is part of God’s creation and cannot be above, or outside, of it. The ultimate destiny of every man is bound to the final outcomes of God’s creation which is salvation and restoration or wrath and destruction. This is settled, unchangeable, predestined. But what about free will? How can man have free will if things are set and planned. Well, although God’s plan is set and unchangeable, man can choose his own destiny within the bounds of the set outcome. Man can choose to be selfish or generous. He can choose to hate or love. He can choose to live for himself or learn about God and live for Him. Man can determine his own outcome regarding blessing or cursing, life or death, heaven or hell. The choice is his and he makes it in full knowledge of the outcomes.

So, to answer the original question, based on the two points of view above, we can conclude that although man has free will in the way he chooses to live, and ultimately in his own destiny, his free will has absolutely zero effect over God’s eternal purpose or will? Man’s free will affects his own life, but it cannot affect the ultimate plan and will of God concerning eternal matters. The following verses provide ample confirmation on the matters of man’s free will and/or on God’s eternal, and settled purpose,

• Lev 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord.
• John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 
• Deut 30:19 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:
• Ps 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 
• 1Tim 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
• Prov 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
• Ps 54:6 I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O Lord; for it is good.
• Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
• Isa 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
• Jos 24:15 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.
• Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: