Analyse the relationship between free will and sin. 10 marks
Many Christians believe that human free will is a gift from God. Many Christians believe that
humans cannot be forced into a relationship with God. They must be free to choose. So, God
is in a sense obliged to give us few will if we are to have a meaningful relationship with him.
So, part of human nature is our ability to choose freely to do whatever we want. Christianity
believes that human beings have been given a special place within the world by God. We
have been given the ability to think and reflect on everything, make free and moral
decisions, create and form relationships.
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and
female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27
Genesis 1:27 tells us that humanity is created in the image of God and placed at the head of
God’s creation. The image of God is often referred to by the Latin phrase ‘Imago Dei’. This
idea has importance in the Christian understanding od human nature. In the same way that
we are called to a relationship with God, humans are also called to a relationship with each
other. Later in Genesis 2, God states that:
‘it is not good for man to be alone’
This suggests that part of out natural state as humans is to form close bonds with other,
which in turn brings people closer to God since all persons are made in his image and
likeness. At the time of creation, God gifted all human beings with intellect and free will. So,
people have the ability to think for themselves and make decision using those thoughts.
Intellect allows for persons to experience and understand the world in which they live in and
so, weigh up decisions as well as evaluate outcomes in order to make good moral choices.
St. Augustine described how humans have a moral conscience and are free to do what they
want. Even though he also believed that God knew everything, including future events,
humanity stull had the freedom to choose what path or direction they were to take.
Adam and Eve’s choice to disobey God led to suffering and death because the image of God
within them was damaged. The term ‘The Fall’ refers to the first man and first woman’s
disobedience of God’s instructions and as a result, sin enters the universe. In Genesis 3, we
read that God tells Adam and Eve that they may have anything in the Garden of Eden except
for the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Tempted by the evil in the form of a serpent, they
Many Christians believe that human free will is a gift from God. Many Christians believe that
humans cannot be forced into a relationship with God. They must be free to choose. So, God
is in a sense obliged to give us few will if we are to have a meaningful relationship with him.
So, part of human nature is our ability to choose freely to do whatever we want. Christianity
believes that human beings have been given a special place within the world by God. We
have been given the ability to think and reflect on everything, make free and moral
decisions, create and form relationships.
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and
female he created them.”
Genesis 1:27
Genesis 1:27 tells us that humanity is created in the image of God and placed at the head of
God’s creation. The image of God is often referred to by the Latin phrase ‘Imago Dei’. This
idea has importance in the Christian understanding od human nature. In the same way that
we are called to a relationship with God, humans are also called to a relationship with each
other. Later in Genesis 2, God states that:
‘it is not good for man to be alone’
This suggests that part of out natural state as humans is to form close bonds with other,
which in turn brings people closer to God since all persons are made in his image and
likeness. At the time of creation, God gifted all human beings with intellect and free will. So,
people have the ability to think for themselves and make decision using those thoughts.
Intellect allows for persons to experience and understand the world in which they live in and
so, weigh up decisions as well as evaluate outcomes in order to make good moral choices.
St. Augustine described how humans have a moral conscience and are free to do what they
want. Even though he also believed that God knew everything, including future events,
humanity stull had the freedom to choose what path or direction they were to take.
Adam and Eve’s choice to disobey God led to suffering and death because the image of God
within them was damaged. The term ‘The Fall’ refers to the first man and first woman’s
disobedience of God’s instructions and as a result, sin enters the universe. In Genesis 3, we
read that God tells Adam and Eve that they may have anything in the Garden of Eden except
for the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Tempted by the evil in the form of a serpent, they
