My Thoughts on the Doctrine of the Freedom of God
Reading through Isaiah 40 has a doctrinal footnote from the "King James Study Bible" called "Freedom of God". The doctrine is stated as follows:
Freedom of God: God is the only Being in the universe that possesses independence from the Creation. The only limits to God's freedom are in His own nature and attributes. He is unlimited in His existence. Because His existence relates to His nature rather than His will, God will exist forever. He who exists by reason His nature than His volition must have existed-and must continue to exist-forever.
Illustration: When God revealed His name to Moses at the burning bush, He called Himself "I AM" (Ex. 3:13-15). This name emphasizes God's self-existence, the fact that He always existed and always will.
Application: Neither anyone nor any outside force will affect God's relationship to us. He will deal with us according to His nature because He is free from outside influence. (First Reference: Genesis 6:17, Primary Reference: Isaiah 40:13, cf. Romans 12:1).
The very thought that God's existence relates to His nature than His will is hard to understand. Science provides a limited understanding of the laws of matter and energy. Both chemistry and physics discuss the law of the conservation of both matter and energy are neither created nor destroyed. In short, God's self-existence is already shown by the study of science. Studying science means studying the very handiwork of God. Yet, there are some people who still foolishly believe that they're "too scientific" to believe that God really exists.
God's freedom also means that while I can't do anything without God - God doesn't require me to do anything at all. It would be wrong to say, "God can't do anything without me." because God is God. God called Himself "I Am that I Am" to Moses in the Burning Bush. God was stressing his eternal existence way before the world began. The very scientific truth that matter is neither created nor destroyed along with how complex living organisms can be defends Intelligent Design. Yet, God ends up calling people to do His will even if He can do anything without them. It shows how loving God really is in contrast to the cruel monster that skeptics want to portray Him to be.
The doctrine of the freedom of God may also further defend John Calvin's view of predestination. Predestination or unconditional election shows that God has selected certain people from eternity past. Ephesians 1:4 has God choosing the believers before the foundation of the world. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says that the believers were chosen for salvation. 1 Peter 1:20 talks about foreordination before the foundation of the world. 1 Peter 2:4 says that a living stone is chosen by God. I think that the doctrine of the freedom of God would probably be better understood with the doctrine called unconditional election than the quasi-Arminian view of the sinful man having the limited free will to believe.
This would also mean that true freedom is found not outside the Law of God but inside it. The Law is unable to save yet it points to the one who saves (Galatians 2:24). It's that wonderful Law of God that grants safety and security to all who follow it. God's Law was not given to restrict man but to protect man. The freedom of God is the only real guarantee of man's freedom. Any other so-called freedom will only lead to more captivity. To be a slave of Christ and to have Him as one's personal Lord and Savior would lead to that wonderful freedom that can't be experienced by Antinomianism and legalism. Instead, true freedom for people must rely on the freedom of God.
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