Will We Have Free Will In Heaven? How can freewill and the our existence in heaven be reconciled Can there be no evil if there is freewill? This is more than a mere academic question, it leads us to consider several important concepts such as why we sin and the nature of the resurrection

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3–4 (NASB95) How can freewill and the our existence in heaven be reconciled Can there be no evil if there is freewill? This is more than a mere academic question, it leads us to consider several important concepts such as why we sin and the nature of the resurrection

Action contrary to God’s Law The Process of Sin 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:14–15 (NASB95) Desire Enticement Action contrary to God’s Law The passage uses terms that would normally be reserved for hunting and trapping “carried away” - the idea of a hunter using bait to draw our the quarry “entice” - originally to catch by bait, then to beguile, entice by blandishments This process includes at least on unmentioned necessity - some missing desire that can be used to entice one to sin There must be an incompleteness to allow for the enticement to be enticing The passage describes the work of two parties 1)the enticer, 2)the enticed and goes on to describe a conception between lust and enticement Without enticement there is no sin

The Resurrection Body The raised body is substantially changed 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:42–44 (NASB95) The raised body is substantially changed We are raised imperishable, glorified, and empowered The resurrection body is suitable for a spiritual existence In the resurrection we are changed in such a way as to be suitable for the purpose that God has for us 1Cor 15 emphasizes this concept of a substantial change In vs. 42-44 those things which make us currently unsuitable for live in heaven are done away with and we are raised imperishable, glorified, and empowered 1Cor 15:35-41 - While we do not have the ability to understand precisely what is changed to accomplish this what we can be certain of is the facet that the resurrection body will be suitable for the purpose which God has for it

The Resurrection Body The raised body is substantially changed 50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed…. 1 Corinthians 15:50–54 (NASB95) The raised body is substantially changed Flesh and Blood refers to the body as it currently is This state is “perishable” Speaks to susceptibility to sin - Heb 2:14; Gal 5:19-21; 1Cor 6:9 In the resurrection we are changed in such a way as to be suitable for the purpose that God has for us 1Cor 15 emphasizes this concept of a substantial change In vs. 42-44 those things which make us currently unsuitable for live in heaven are done away with and we are raised imperishable, glorified, and empowered 1Cor 15:35-41 - While we do not have the ability to understand precisely what is changed to accomplish this what we can be certain of is the facet that the resurrection body will be suitable for the purpose which God has for it

The Resurrection Body The raised body is substantially changed … 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 1 Corinthians 15:50–54 (NASB95) The raised body is substantially changed Immortality is the goal of the resurrection This is no eternal existence What is described is peace with God - Rom 2:7-10 In the resurrection we are changed in such a way as to be suitable for the purpose that God has for us 1Cor 15 emphasizes this concept of a substantial change In vs. 42-44 those things which make us currently unsuitable for live in heaven are done away with and we are raised imperishable, glorified, and empowered 1Cor 15:35-41 - While we do not have the ability to understand precisely what is changed to accomplish this what we can be certain of is the facet that the resurrection body will be suitable for the purpose which God has for it

The Resurrection Body { { 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 2:7–10 (NASB95) { { In the resurrection we are changed in such a way as to be suitable for the purpose that God has for us 1Cor 15 emphasizes this concept of a substantial change In vs. 42-44 those things which make us currently unsuitable for live in heaven are done away with and we are raised imperishable, glorified, and empowered 1Cor 15:35-41 - While we do not have the ability to understand precisely what is changed to accomplish this what we can be certain of is the facet that the resurrection body will be suitable for the purpose which God has for it

The Resurrection Body 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? a death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:54–55 (NASB95) Final victory over sin is seen in the resurrection This change removes susceptibility to temptation The tempter is removed The process of sin is interrupted permanently

The Freewill Choice We have no reason to fear free-will 22 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. … 27 and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:22–27 (NASB95) We have no reason to fear free-will Without choice there can be no love Heaven is for those that choose to love the Lord and desire eternity with Him We should not fear free-will. Certainly suffering and loss are consequences of this gift God has given mankind, but none the less it is a gift. We were blessed with the ability to choose so that we might have genuine love for the Lord, a love that we have desired not one that is programmed or forced Heaven is for those that choose to love the Lord and desire eternity with Him - Rev 22:14-15