Do Humans Truly Have Free Will?

DO HUMANS TRULY HAVE FREE WILL? 

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

If the context of this question relates to the sinner's responsibility for choosing to accept or reject God's grace, my answer is in the affirmative. I believe this context is contemplated in the question. I will therefore proceed to present my response with that assumption in mind. 

In Genesis 2:16-17, God reveals that Adam was capable of making a free will decision. The consequences for disobedience are outlined. Genesis 3:1-6 confirms that the woman exercised her free will choice in eating the forbidden fruit. Of course Satan tempted her but she was apparently aware of the implications of her disobedience. God did not manipulate the outcome of the fall! It arose from the exercise of free will.

My view is that nothing in Scripture forbids or restrains a sinner from responding to God's grace when they hear the gospel proclaimed and are convicted of sin. If anything, Scripture reveals in a number of passages that the gospel is predicated on the sinner's free will response. The sinner must choose obedience so that God's saving grace is applied to him.

We learn from Romans 10:5-8-11 that the sinner has a moral responsibility in choosing to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. The text proclaims thus:

" 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” (NKJV).

The exercise of libertarian free will by the sinner is further upheld in John 3:16-17 that says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (NKJV).

The sinner has an open choice for coming to Christ or rejecting the gospel.

To teach that the sinner is incapable of making a conscious choice for obedience because of the extent of his sinful depravity is to contradict  the revelation and authority of Scripture, in my view. 

Contrary to the doctrine advanced by deterministic soteriology groups, God does not selectively regenerate some sinners or deny some His saving grace. His grace is available to all sinners in all ages since Calvary. Secondly, no sinner is justified or chosen outside the works of the cross either in eternity past or in the world to come. This is gospel truth. 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2025

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[This article was originally posted as an answer article on e-bible.com. Dr Kimosop is a regular contributor on e-bible.com. He holds a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Africa International University, Nairobi].

Should the 1000 Year Reign of Christ be Understood Literally or Symbolically ?

SHOULD THE 1000 YEAR REIGN OF CHRIST BE UNDERSTOOD LITERALLY OR SYMBOLICALLY?

By Ezekiel Kimosop 

The number "1000" in Scripture can either be construed in a literal or poetic/figurative sense depending on its context. The use of the number has connotations of a multitude, a long time, totality, divine completeness, and a few other meanings in Jewish tradition and ancient writings. Here are some of the ways in which the number 1000 is employed in Scripture:

A)    Literal usage of 1000 in Scripture

The literal application of the number 1000 in the Bible can be noted in the following Old Testament Scripture texts: I Chronicles 29:1-7 describes offerings presented to the temple in Jerusalem. The context of this numbers suggests a literal application of the 1000 number. In 2 Chronicles 30:24, king Hezekiah’s gifts during the Passover celebration naturally fall under a literal numbering. The use of the 1000 number in this context is best interpreted in its literal context. Job 42:12 applies the 1000 number in a literal sense to describe the blessings of Job. In I Chronicles 29:21 Solomon offers sacrifices based on a literal number of animals in the thousands mentioned. In I Samuel 25:2, the thousands of sheep and goats owned by Nabal in Carmel were based on literal thousands of numbers. In Ezra 1:8-10 the thousands of temple articles which had been stolen by Nebuchadnezzar during the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC were counted and returned by King Cyrus. The mention of thousands of articles should best be understood in a literal context. 

 B)    Literal plus Symbolic usage of 1000 in Scripture

There are circumstances in Scripture where a literal and symbolic application of the number 1000 is contemplated. The symbolic usage can be identified in 2 Peter 3:8 where the Bible says in part “…with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day” (NKJV). Notice the use of a simile in this context to portray the incomprehensibility and mystery associated with divine numbers in the context of time.

C)    Poetic Uses of the number 1000

The poetic application of the 1000 number is notable in a number of Old Testament Scripture texts including Deuteronomy 32:30. In Psalm 91:7 the writer makes reference to a thousand and ten thousand in a poetic or allegorical sense. Isaiah 7:23 poetically speaks of a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver. These numbers should be construed as a figurative reference to large numbers of great value in view of the poetic structure and context of the passage. Daniel 5:1 reports that king Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords. Bible scholars consider this number as allegorically describing a large number of guests. 

In Judges 15:15 the writer states that Samson used the jawbone of a donkey to kill a thousand men. Again, the number 1000 is employed in an allegorical sense to refer to a large number of men rather than a numerical sum.

D) Prophetic application of the number 1000 in Scripture

The prophetic use of the number 1000 is evident in Isaiah 60:22 where the prophet speaks of a little one becoming a thousand. This is a reference to an exponential growth rather than a literal number. In Amos 5:3, the prophet predicts that the city will fall and people will go out in droves of a thousand. This is an expression of a large exodus of people taken to captivity following the fall of Israel under God’s judgment. The thousand measurements in Ezekiel 47:4 have been understood by some scholars to fall into the figurative context. They illustrate the considerable depth of the water rather than a mathematical specification in height.

However, sections of Scripture are complex and may not be simplified under a literal vs. figurative/symbolic spectrum without due consideration. Often literal verses can be categorized further in detail based on word choice, word frequency, numbers, symbols, or spelling. The Hebrew language is especially complex. For instance, 2 Peter 3:8 reveals not only God's patience with sinners but His unchanging nature. On the flip side, symbolic verses may have literal components that should be marked out by the reader.

E) The 1000-year reign with Christ

In Revelation 20:1-3, Satan was bound in the bottomless pit for 1000 years so that he could not deceive the nations during the thousand-year period. In Revelation 20:4-6, the writer describes a vision in which the souls of those who had been beheaded for the witness to Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshipped the beast or his image, and had not received the his mark on their foreheads or on their hands, lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not live on again until the 1000 years were over.

How should the reader of Scripture interpret the meaning of the 1000 years reign? Should this be understood as a literal or allegorical period of time? 

There are a number interpretations that Bible scholars have drawn from their study of these passages. Some have understood the 1000 years as a reference to a futuristic literal millennial period during which Christ will come down to earth with the saints and rule the nations from Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:1-15). This view is popularly embraced by Premillennial Dispensationalism groups and is popular in Western Christianity. Other scholars interpret the 1000 years as a symbolic reference to the period coinciding with Christ's messianic reign. They reject the literal application of the number. The two interpretations of the 1000-year reign outlined above have divided Christian traditions down the middle. 

The third view holds that the 1000-year reign is a symbolic reference to a long period of time rather than a literal futuristic period. This minority view is embraced by Amillennialism groups who reject the futuristic literal view. Another category known as Full Preterists argue that whatever was prophesied in Scripture concerning the end times have been historically fulfilled and that only the coming of Christ is awaited. Partial Preterists argue that some of the end time prophecies have been historically fulfilled while some are futuristic. 

Other groups claim that the millennial period commenced right from Calvary when Christ defeated Satan at the cross and would come to a close when Christ returns to take away the church. They reject the futuristic literal millennial reign view. Each school of thought have a set of Scripture texts that they cite in support of their eschatological view.

No matter what view one subscribes to, what is perhaps of paramount significance for a believer is their hope in Christ; the assurance of Christ’s coming to take his church at God’s appointed time. This is the resurrection of believers mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. This anticipation should unite Bible-centered believers across all Christian traditions.

 

 

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2025

 

[This article was articulated from a comment posted by Jennifer Rothnie on e-bible.com on 27th August 2014 under the topic: What is the Purpose of the Thousand Year Reign of Christ?]

 

What can we Learn from the Life and Ministry of Nehemiah?

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF NEHEMIAH?

By Ezekiel Kimosop

The book of Nehemiah is believed to have been written by Nehemiah in its entirety. This is by reason that Nehemiah speaks in the first person in most of its passages. Some Bible scholars however suppose it may have been written by Ezra the priest, given the similarities between Nehemiah 7:5-73 and Ezra 2:1-70. There is no doubt however that Nehemiah is the principal character of the book.

Q. WHEN WAS THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH WRITTEN?

Bible scholars believe that the earliest that the book of Nehemiah could have been written is circa 425 BC given the historical context of the events that it captures. Historians place its authorship between 458-420BC during the reign of Arterxerxes I.

The book can be theologically divided in two major sections with their outlines which for the purposes of this article shall not be examined. The rebuilding of Jerusalem walls captures a significant portion of the book. This is the task that informed Nehemiah's vision. The rebuilding account lies between Nehemiah 1:1-6:19.

The second part of the book is dedicated to the religious and spiritual restoration of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. This effort is credited to both Nehemiah and Ezra. It appears that the two men had agreed on their respective tasks or that each received their specific mandates from God. The restoration effort is recorded in Nehemiah 7:1-13:31.

Q. WHO WAS NEHEMIAH?

Nehemiah's royal position is indicated in Nehemiah. 1:11 where he discloses that he was the King's Cup Bearer. This was a senior royal position through which he served and interacted with the king. He was probably in charge of royal banquets. This suggests that Nehemiah, like Daniel, may have been of royal Jewish descent.  It was the practice among ancient kings to use members of the royal family or senior officials in the imperial service because of the training and public relations skills they had received. Little is known of Nehemiah outside his book.

NEHEMIAH'S BURDEN AND INITIATIVES

The book of Nehemiah opens with a dramatic depiction of a shaken Nehemiah reacting to a disturbing report from one of his Jewish brothers called Hanani who had just returned from Judah, perhaps having been sent by Nehemiah to assess the situation.

The report depicted a grim state of affairs in Jerusalem. The walls of Jerusalem had been destroyed and the gates burned with fire. The Jews were living in great reproach in the city.  It is difficult to deduce from the report who had committed this heinous act but we can clearly rule out the involvement of king Arterxexes under whose administration Nehemiah served. 

The damage may have been inflicted by the enemies of the Jewish people who sought to humiliate the vulnerable remnant Jews. This could be in addition to the previous damage caused by Nebuchadnezzar during the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

Nehemiah was pushed to his knees and he broke down and bitterly wept. He mourned and interceded for his people. He understood the affliction as part of God's judgement on His people for their disobedience. After his mourning days were over, Nehemiah rose up and took deliberate steps towards resolving the problem.

SEQUENCE OF STEPS AND ACTIONS 

We can break down the sequence of actions and steps as follows:

Step 1:  Prayer confession and supplication. 

Nehemiah took time to pray. We too need to earnestly pray for divine intervention on the affliction of our community, society, and nation. Prayer is the beginning point.

Step 2: Petition to the king for royal assistance.

Nehemiah's timing was perfect and shows that his standing with the king was good. He was a  faithful royal official. Notice that he meticulously took time to pray before presenting his petition to the king. We need divine wisdom and favor whenever we approach kings and leaders. 

Step 3: Petition is graciously granted.

The issuance of the royal decree by the king reveals that God was with Nehemiah on this matter in the same way that He was with Esther and Daniel before him. God granted unusual favor through the king. We can never limit the hand of God no matter what circumstances we face in life.

Step 4: Logistics, travel to Jerusalem and assessment of the damage.

Nehemiah 2:11-20 reports on Nehemiah's arrival in Jerusalem and his immediate assessment of the damage. The emergence of opposition to the work began at this point. The task ahead was monumental and required faith and courage to surmount.

Step 5: Action: Restoration works commence.

Nehemiah mobilized the people into action amid opposition from the enemies of the Jews led by Sanballat the Horonite and Tobias the Amonite. Both men were non Jews. They appeared to enjoy some protection from unknown enemies of God's people.  These men belonged to Canaanite communities who were brought into Judah after the deportation of the Jews in 586 BC. They opposed the reinstitution of Jewish religious worship in Jerusalem. Make no mistake, Satan opposes the works of God's people and celebrate their humiliation and disgrace. These enemies had done nothing to assist in the rebuilding work but rather stood in the way of the works at a critical time. 

Nehemiah placed his trust in God and consistently prayed during discouraging moments. He kept his focus on God. Do you blame others for your problems or do you turn to God in your moments of distress?

Step 6: Dealing with the opposition.

There arose organized resistance to the works leading to suspension or cessation of the work at some point. The work was finally completed after 52 days.  (Neh. 6:15-19). The opposition to Nehemiah however continued with threatening letters sent to him by Tobiah (Neh. 6:19). Nehemiah was not cowed but soldiered on till he accomplished the task that God had laid in his heart. 

We should not be discouraged by the distractions of the agents of Satan who seek to derail our spiritual focus.  Instead, we ought to purpose to walk with the Lord all the way. 

Step 7. Religious Reforms.

The next part of the book records the religious restoration of the people. Ezra the priest led this noble effort. It appears that the priesthood had totally collapsed after the religious life of the remnant Jews was totally neglected. 

Nehemiah finally dedicated the finished wall and concluded the religious reforms began by Ezra (Nehemiah.12:27-13:31). This is evidence that the two reformers worked hand in hand.  This synchrony demonstrates that political and religious leadership can and should work together to accomplish God's purposes for His people.

We can observe this unity in the Book of Haggai where Zerubabbel the governor joined hands with Jehozadak the High Priest in leading the people to restore the ruined Temple. Before this point, things were "normal" until God rebuked the people for neglecting the restoration of the ruined temple (Haggai 1).

MORAL LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH 

What moral lesson we learn from the life and ministry of Nehemiah?

1) THE POWER OF A DIVINE VISION AND A PERCEIVING HEART.

Nehemiah was far from Jerusalem but his heart was with his people. He perceived the pain and disgrace of his people because he was in one spirit with them. He maintained strategic contact that kept him appraised of the going's on in Judah. 

We do not need to be physically close to people to perceive their pain.  We need a discerning heart that hears the voice of God and is moved by His Spirit. We do not even need a large number of people around us to get things started during moments of distress. The solution begins with a burden bearer who draws others in the joint effort.

Do you perceive the pain of grieving souls or broken homes around us? Do you grasp the extent of the spiritual decay in our communities of context? Start somewhere! You may not solve all their problems but you can at least make a difference by the grace of God and like Nehemiah leave an indelibly imprint on the lives of God's people.

2) THE POWER OF A BROKEN HEART.

Nehemiah was broken before God and he touched the heart of God when he confessed that the ruins were the result of the sin and rebellion of his people. He counted himself as part of the sinful society. 

It is easy to see others as the cause of the problems around us. God is looking for men and women who are willing to stand in the gap by first owning up the sin and guilt of the community or nation and crying for their restoration to God (Ezekiel 22:30). God will never despise a contrite and broken spirit which pours out before Him. (Psalm 51:17).

Do you sense the spiritual burden?

3) THE POWER OF DIVINE CONNECTION

Nehemiah wisely used his royal connections to seek assistance for his people. Joseph and Esther did the same in their time and God used them to save their people.

We should never despise the connections that God has placed at our disposal in our communities of context, including our employment environment, business community, family or political networks. We should use them to advance God's kingdom.

4) THE POWER OF SPIRITUAL UNITY.

When God's people unite together in spirit God leads them to accomplish things beyond their wildest dreams (Psalm 133). Not even the discouraging voices of their enemies can break their will.

Could there be a condition or situation that has perpetually stood in the way of your ministry? Pray and rally God's people to resolve it. Do not listen to the enemy's voice!

5) THE POWER OF SPIRITUAL REVIVAL.

God always works with a few people to introduce and sustain spiritual reforms in all ages of human civilization. 

These reforms are sorely needed by our Christian communities today more than ever before. Secularism is destroying our religious heritage and this must be confronted!

If there is something that Satan fights, it is perhaps the much needed revival in the Christian community. The "status quo" mentality makes us feel that all is well and leads us to succumb to religious legalism. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Some of the greatest revival movements were started by men and women who got fed up with the religious order of things in their time and God used them to bring spiritual transformation in their time.

Revival must be sustained so that we do not slip back to legalism and fall from grace (Gal.5:1-17). 

Do you feel the sense that we need change today and not tomorrow?  

You are not alone! Nehemiah and Ezra were in that state. Jabez too was "sick and tired of being sick and tired"! He cried to God and things were never the same again (1 Chron. 4:9-10)

Will you take the first step of faith and cry to God? That is where true change begins.

May we all be seized by the reformation vision for the religious advancement of our communities of context!

Shalom.

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2025