The first problem when discussing the theory that human's have a free will is that most people don't actually know what it means. People think that free will means making choices, and since we all make choices, then it must be obvious that we all have a free will, right? But animals can make choices, so do they have free will? Your Pastor will tell you "no", that only humans were given this [what they call a "gift from God"] ability called free will. Well, then if it's not making choices, then what is it?

http://www.carm.org/christianity/dictionary-theology/ecclesiology-freethinker#Free%20will

Free will: Freedom of self determination and action independent of external causes.

[Emphasis Mine]

I purposely took this definition from a Christian site so that everyone can see that the Church knows what free will really means, even though they don't teach it according to it's true definition.

The first edict of the Universe is the Law of Causality--cause and effect. This law cannot be broken. Scientists use this in every study they do. Whenever something happens [effect], they know something caused it to happen. Even Creationists use this Law to prove that God exists. Yet, when it comes to human free will, EVERYBODY FORGETS THIS LAW!

Every choice you make, and every thought you have--is "caused" by something. You don't eat because you have free will, you eat because you get hungry. You cannot free will yourself to never get hungry. Your body needs energy, and it gets most of its energy from food. We all will someday die; you cannot free will your way out of death.

I've heard so many sermons on "chance", specifically in regards to "getting saved". First chance, last chance, will everyone get a chance, what about those who never get a chance...

We do not live in a world of "chance", we live in a world of LAW. Everything in the Universe is bound by laws. Gravity is a law that cannot be broken, or else life on Earth would cease to exist. Humans cannot fly, thus we invented airplanes. There are many things that we, humans, are simply not capable of doing.

We all "make choices", we all have "a will", but to say that our will is free is complete ignorance!

But what saith the Scriptures? Do "free-willers" have a Scriptural Argument to their claim? Hardly:

Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?

- Does man have free will? Does man control his own destiny? No:

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

- But surely God gave all mankind that "ability" to do good things, right? Wrong again:

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

[Excuse me, but there are 6 BILLION people on this planet. If every one of these 6 BILLION people have a "free" will, then how pray tell can "all" of these 6 BILLION people be "sinners"? Surely SOME of them must be able to exercise their "free" will to the fullest--and never, EVER sin?]

- Okay, fine. But we all have the ability to choose or reject Jesus Christ as our Savior, right?

John 6:44 No man can come to Me [that's Jesus...], except the Father which has sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day

- If man has a free will, then there are lots of stuff that man can do without Jesus or God...

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

- Can we choose Christ by our own free will? Here's Jesus' reponse:

John 15:16 Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you,

- Do these Scriptures bother you? If they do, then I'll tell you why--PRIDE. It's pride that tells you that you alone have control over your own life. It's pride that tells you that God has no authority over you. Pride... not God's Word.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast

- Your faith is a "gift of God", not of your free will--so how can you brag as if it were you?

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

- Oh, but I choose by my own free will to repent and accept Jesus as Lord! No, you did not:

I Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

It is by the power of God that you declare that Jesus Christ is your Lord, not the power of your "free" will!!

- But if we don't have free will, then we're just a bunch of stupid robots!

Slap yourself! Does it hurt? Good, then you're probably not a robot; robots don't feel pain...

Many people--even non-believers--do good things. But the Scriptures are clear that by our own, we cannot do good [Jeremiah 13:23, Romans 3:10-12, etc]. So how do we explain this? Where does this "ability" to do good things come from, if not from ourselves?

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Even Christ--the man without sin--was offended when someone called Him "Good Teacher":

Matthew 19:17 And He said unto him, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, GOD: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."

Whenever a fireman saves a small child from burning to death--It's an act of God!

Whenever a policeman stops a man from murdering another--It's an act of God!

Whenever a doctor cures someone from a disease--It's an act of God!

Whenever someone loves another--It's an act of God!

Whenever a person helps the poor and needy--it's an act of God!

Whenever YOU are able to do something good for someone else--It's an act of God! So give the glory to HIM, and thank Him for the opportunity that HE GAVE YOU.

Nobody "chooses" to be who they are. You are who you are because of everything that you've experienced throughout your entire life. If you add or take away any of these experiences, you'd no longer be yourself... you'd be somebody else.

CONCLUSION:

If you have faith in God, if you are a believer in Christ--stop taking all the credit! It was GOD who led you to repent [Rom 2:4, Phil 2:13], and it is ONLY "by the grace of God" that you are who you are today [I Cor 15:10].

Every day that you wake up, and every breath you ever take--is a gift from God--not from yourself. GOD GAVE YOU EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE, AND HE CAN TAKE IT AWAY.

Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, on earth also.

This isn't a "request", this is FACT: GOD'S WILL [not man's...] BE DONE.