Mark,

I also think the two are somehow linked, but don't ask me how as I don't know how myself.

Regarding the whole free will vs predestination thing, I'm increasingly of the opinion that it is a false dichotomy as both are clearly scriptural as Viv points out.

I would argue that "predestination" is probably better understood in terms of the omniscience or all knowingness of God because of His existence ouside of the space-time continuum to use sci fi/ physics language. (I would also argue that the above doesn't exclude the Divine presence within space-time either, but that's back to the Panentheism thread.)

"Free will" by contrast describes the human ability to make choices & moral decisions from within space-time.

Using these two definitions and perspectives removes any clash that would otherwise occur.

The above suggestion isn't however necessarily the right answer and I would strongly recommend testing these views for their consistency with what we know from scripture!

the way I understand it is just my thoughts, not backed up by proper theology or Bible readings because it is just a personal way of understanding. I always think that it is all about God not being trapped in the same time frame that we have. Therefore we have freewill to make our own minds up, and make our own choices within our own timescale. God is not constrained to those timescales, therefore He knows what choices we will make, what choices we have made and therefore being all knowing can operate predestination hand in hand with our own freewill. I probably confused myself now, but basically I think the two issues can operate together purely because God is all knowing.

You are right that there is clear biblical evidence for both ideas:
God chose us and calls us to Himself while we are still sinners - John 15:16, Ephesians 1:4,5 etc
We are called to tell people the Gospel - Matthew 28:19,20, Acts 1:8, 2 Timothy 1:8-12 etc

I think John is right in saying both predestination and free will are true, but they are certainly not easy to reconcile on a human level.

There is a very relevant question and answer session at the end of session 4 of the Ready for Service seminars discussing these issues in some detail. In this session Nick refers to Genesis 50:20
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives
This shows that whatever our motivation, whether we are acting according to evil desires or trying to please God, everything takes place within God's divine plan, and God is still in control. That is, free will and predestination are in some ways both operating in the same situation.

Psalm 139 expresses really well God's control over all that we do and are, no matter what we do or where we go, we are completely within God's control, and yet verse 23 and 24 clearly suggest that this does not mean that our choices, thoughts and actions are inevitable or unimportant...

But the full working out of how our choices and God's Sovereign Will interact, especially in the achieving of our salvation is really hard to understand on a human level, and has been the source of huge debate through the centuries in the Church, so we're unlikely to come to a full understanding now... So I suppose in the end, it is matter of faith, in a Sovereign God, who is good and faithful, holy and just working actively to save the world which He made.

Romans 8:28-39 was the passage for yesterday's evening service. It seems to me this is a similar subject to Panentheism being a seeming paradox of the Christian faith. Some fall very firmly on the side of free will, others on the side of being chosen by God. John Ish taught last night both are true. Is this an issue that we can resolve on a human level or does it come down to faith? It is clear in the Bible that we are called to tell people the Gospel, however it is also clear that God calls us to Himself while we are still sinners. Thoughts ladies and gents?