The Divine Gift of Free Will: Choosing a Moral Path

Man created in the image of God is endowed with the unique gift of freedom, which allows him to choose between good and evil. This possibility is not the result of a predetermined plan but represents a personal decision born deep within the soul. At the heart of Christian teaching lies the idea that each of us receives from God not only everything necessary for salvation but also the ability to determine our own path—whether that be the way of righteousness or a turn toward darkness.

This perspective emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility: God’s omniscience and foresight regarding the outcome of our choices simply confirm the step we have already taken and do not cancel the possibility of free will. True freedom lies in the fact that every person has a genuine choice—to use the gifts granted to succeed in goodness or to turn away from it.

Thus, the freedom of choice appears not as a set of imposed circumstances but as a living, personal gift that shapes our moral development. This dynamic, yet serious, outlook helps us understand that our path is largely determined by ourselves—and that our destiny is formed in our own hands.

Is the possibility of not sinning a result of personal choice or divine predetermination?

According to the presented materials, the possibility of not sinning is seen primarily as a result of personal choice—a gift granted by God—rather than an imposed predetermination. Man, created in the image of God, possesses free will, which enables him to decide whether to act for good or to turn away from it.

For example, Saint John of Damascus notes:
"Saint John of Damascus says that man created by God 'had the possibility to abide in and excel in goodness… just as well as to turn away from the beautiful and find himself in evil by virtue of possessing free will.' In general, for any moral act to be performed, two conditions are necessary and sufficient: the possibility to perform the act while also having the option not to do it, i.e., having free choice (free will) and the desire (free volition) to perform the act." (source: link )

Another source emphasizes that the freedom of choice is a personal gift given by God:
"The question of human individuality. The bond between the believer and God, which Christian doctrine upholds, attests to the recognition of the personal element. This is manifested, in particular, in the concept of free choice that man possesses. The freedom to choose between good and evil does not contradict the idea of providence in early Christianity. According to this doctrine, providence and the gift of freedom come from God, while the choice of the moral path comes from man." (source: link )

At the same time, the concept of God’s providence encompasses the aspect of foreknowledge: God, being omniscient, knows the outcome of every individual’s choice, but this knowledge does not override a person’s independence and responsibility. As clarified:
"Predestination regarding each individual has two aspects: a) unconditional, in that God, regardless of everything, grants every person all that is necessary for salvation; and b) conditional, in that God determines a person’s fate based on how he uses the means given to him. Conditional predestination is founded on God's eternal foreknowledge. 'God foresees all, but does not predetermine everything.'" (source: link )

Thus, the possibility of not sinning is presented as a result of personal choice—when a person, endowed with the gift of freedom, decides to follow the path of goodness, and God's foreknowledge merely confirms that choice rather than deterministically shaping it.