The concept of free will is not a new one in Christendom. It is an issue that has been argued for ages and ages. I’m adding my meager voice to the argument, in an attempt to thrash it out for myself.
What does it even mean? What are we talking about here?
I think when most Christians speak of “free will” they mean something like
“Having the capacity and the inclination at any given point in existence to choose to believe in God, and having the power within oneself of attaining salvation based solely on the general offer of salvation to all.”
At least, that would seem to be the idea, from what I’ve read and heard. The problem I have with that is, I don't think it's Scriptural.
There are a few points to make concerning this concept of free will.
What Does it Mean to Be Dead in Trespasses and Sins?
Ephesians 2:1-3
"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."
There is nothing you can do to help yourself be saved.
Being dead is a formidable problem. Death means separation. You, in your trespasses and sins, are separated from God by a chasm that you cannot overcome.
Not only are you dead, but you are under the power of Satan, walking in darkness.
Satan doesn’t give up his slaves easily.
Not only that, be you’re enslaved to abase passions!
Finally, you are a child of wrath.
These are four big problems. Just one of these would be enough to keep you from choosing God. Paul says that this is the natural man. Dead, enslaved to Satan and sins, being a child of wrath…it is a hopeless, helpless condition.
The most one can be in this state is a free agent within the boundaries of enslavement. Your choices may be voluntary, but they are not free.
You have certain freedoms, but you are in bondage. Free agency does not equal free will. We can do many things of our own choosing, but not when it comes to salvation.
As I’ve heard it said before, all you can do is roll around in the coffin whenever it goes over a bump on its downward slide into the dark depths of hell. You cannot escape your prison. More than that, you don’t even want to. You can’t go against your nature.
“Man, in his depraved state, is under an utter inability to do any thing truly good, as was proved before at large: how then can he obey the Gospel? His nature is the very reverse of the Gospel: how can he, of himself, fall in with that plan of salvation, and accept the offered remedy? The corruption of man’s nature infallibly includes his utter inability to recover himself in any way, and whoso is convinced of the one, must needs admit the other; for they stand and fall together. Were all the purchase of Christ offered to the unregenerate man for one good thought, he cannot command it (2 Cor. 3:5), ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to think any thing as of ourselves! Were it offered on condition of a good word, yet ‘how can ye, being evil, speak good things?’ (Matthew 12:35). Nay, were it left to yourselves to choose what is easiest, Christ Himself tells you (John 15:5), ‘Without me, ye can do nothing’!” ~ Thomas Boston
So, Christ has to rescue you. You can’t do it yourself. You’re dead. He brings you to life.
We need something outside ourselves in order that we might be saved.
By our own nature, we’re toast.
“But God, who is rich in mercy…” (Eph.2:4)
We didn’t save ourselves. We were dead.
“It may be you think that you cannot do all by yourself alone, yet Jesus Christ offering you help, you can of yourself embrace it, and use it for your recovery. But, O sinner, be convinced of your absolute need of the grace of Christ: for truly, there is help offered, but you cannot accept it: there is a rope cast out to draw shipwrecked sinners to land, but, alas they have no hands to lay hold of it. They are like infants exposed in the open field, who must starve, though their food be lying by them, unless some one put it in their mouths.”~ Thomas Boston
God saved us, by His sovereign grace. He doesn’t have to do it, but He does.
Can’t We Choose God Ourselves?
The problem with the idea of choosing God by our own free will is that humanity is not neutral. God is not morally neutral, so man cannot be by virtue of being created in His image. We are one side or the other. Since Adam, we’ve chosen the wrong side.
All men have sinned (Rom.3:23), and we are called enemies of God (Rom.5:10). That’s not neutrality.
Man by nature suppresses the truth, and is a sworn enemy of God.
He’s being bombarded with the truth of God, and instead of admitting the truth, he perverts it into something else. Being created for worship, he must worship something, and, refusing to give God the glory that is His due, man instead worships various versions of himself.
The heart of sin is rebellion, and we’ve rebelled against God since
Man is at enmity with God because he desires to keep his crown of autonomy. This is why people refuse to fall down in worship of God – and this is also why they cannot, by their very nature and debased desires, choose God of their own will.
Doing our own will, in our sinful, unregenerate nature, is called only one thing: sin.
What Can We Choose, Then?
There’s a specific problem one can run into when discussing free will. Most people think that people such as myself – Calvinists, Reformed Baptists, etc. – believe that God does everything and you don’t have a say. Basically, the stereotype for people like me is that we believe people don’t have a will at all. That’s not the case. On the flip side, I have personal stereotypes for the “other side”; they believe to strongly in their own abilities, and not enough in God’s sovereignty; the list goes on. Therefore, I must digress for a moment and say that this is not an attack on any specific denomination or what have you. I am merely outlining the truth of this issue as I see it presented in Scripture.
I’m not questioning one’s ability to choose what they want.
I’m questioning their ability to want anything but sin, Satan, and death.
"For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot."
I’ve heard it argued before that the sovereignty of God automatically means that we have to serve Him, whether we want to or not, rather than truly wanting to serve Him. This is not the case.
However, I have a question for people who say this. Why do they seem to need the choice to say no to God? Why do they even want that option? It seems like they’re holding on to idolatry, worshiping self, thinking they have enough power and authority to contribute to the entirely free and gracious gift of God.
"Whilst a man is persuaded that he has it in his power to contribute anything, be it ever so little, to his salvation, he remains in carnal self-confidence; he is not a self-despairer, and therefore is not duly humbled before God, he believes he may lend a helping hand in his salvation, but on the contrary, whoever is truly convinced that the whole work depends singly on the will of God, such a person renounces his own will and strength; he waits and prays for the operation of God, nor waits and prays in vain . . ."
- Martin Luther
Where Does The Holy Spirit Come In?
Without conviction of sin, we don’t see the need to turn to Christ. Without conviction of sin, we would still choose sin and self over God.
The Holy Spirit goes where Jesus commands; into the hearts of believers. He is here with Christians to help us while we are yet on earth. He is here to sanctify us, to lead us to the truth and help us understand.
How Then Are We Responsible For Our Own Actions? Isn't the Holy Spirit a Puppet-Master? Doesn’t a Completely Sovereign God Mean That My Choices Are Not My Own?
Scripture is not crystal clear on how God’s sovereignty co-exists with man’s responsibility; but both truths are in the Bible very clearly. It is a mystery that God has not chosen to reveal. Man is responsible for his actions, his choices, and his words; but God is sovereign over it all. These two truths can neither be denied nor understood by someone such as myself. But I will defend them both.
We still choose what we want, and so the decision is still our responsibility. Whether we choose life or death, sin or righteousness, Satan or Christ – that is our decision to make, and we are accountable for it.
Proverbs 16:33
"The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord."
Even random decisions are directed by God in His sovereignty. But be assured you are responsible for every choice you make.
What Does This Mean?
This means that the grace of God is inexplicable, wonderful, and mysterious, and the glory and praise goes entirely to Him. What a wondrous God He is, to help us in this way! What mercy is it to be able to turn to the cross, to throw off the weight of sin, and take on the easy load of Christ’s righteousness! To be able to stand before God, pronounced perfect, instead of receiving the punishment we so justly deserve. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised! His grace is astounding, in that He died for us when we did not choose Him; He loved us when we despised Him; He obeyed and lived righteously where we disobeyed and chose to sin. He died for us.
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