Human Will – Free or NotA Key Issue in the Predestination Debateby Daniel D. Goehring Copyright © 2000 Introduction The doctrine of predestination is clearly taught in Scripture. Though there are those that have an aversion to this Biblical term, the issue is not “if” the saints are predestined but rather “how” are they predestined. The first position believes that God predestines the believer based on His knowing beforehand that individuals amongst the unregenerate will, in the future, hear the truth presented and, of their own free will and ability, choose to do good and seek out God, His truth, and His righteousness. According to this position, God’s election and predestination is in response to man’s initiative and decision. The second position is that all of mankind is completely corrupt with sin and has neither the ability nor the desire to turn to God and His righteousness. God, even before creation, knowing that mankind would fall into sin and the entire race be damned and, chose, entirely according to His sovereign will, to reconcile/save a remnant of mankind. According to this view God initiates the contact with those He has chosen, opens their eyes and ears enabling them to hear, understand, and respond correctly to the truth. Defining the Term, “Free”The Merriam-Webster has the following definitions for “free” and “free will”: Free (adjective): 1) having liberty, 2) enjoying political or personal independence Free will (noun): voluntary choice or decision When it comes to the state of the human will in relation to God, such simplistic definitions will not suffice, since there are multiple issues to deal with. In his Systematic Theology, (p.331) Wayne Grudem states, Thus, when we ask whether we have “free will”, it is important to be clear as to what is meant by the phrase. Scripture nowhere says that we are “free” in the sense of being outside of God’s control or of being able to make decisions that are not caused by anything. Nor does it say we are “free” in the sense of being able to do right on our own apart from God’s power. We must insist that we have the power of willing choice; otherwise we will fall into the error of fatalism or determinism… While Grudem states that in some sense of the word free, everyone agrees that we are free in our will and choices, he notes that if we were to be totally free in our choices, we would be equal to God in our will, and that is something we may never expect either in this life or in the one to come. While I agree with Grudem’s quote above, I would suggest the need to consider at least two (I submit three) different states of human will which are dealt with in Scripture. While dealing with the proper sense of the word free that may actually be applied to man’s will, John Calvin explains that the term is so subject to misunderstanding that he himself tries to avoid using it. I agree with Calvin here and I would submit the use of the term “independent” will as preferred. The term free does still come into play appropriately.
In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary independent is defined as self-governing; also: not affiliated with a larger controlling unit. This perfectly describes humanity in the second state, the unregenerate state, whose will is governed completely by a will that is totally corrupt and enslaved to sin. Their self-governance is a state of rebellion against the Sovereign Creator. The unregenerate desires no subjection or submission to the “larger controlling unit” who is God. No human can make willing choices that are not affected by other forces outside themselves. And as regards mankind in the unregenerate state, their own will is so completely in bondage to sin, that they do not have a “free” will in any sense of the word but that of independent. Generally the scholars on both sides use the following definition of “free will”: 1) a human will that is not under the control of God, 2) a human will that has the ability, entirely in and of himself, to choose what is right over evil (solely of his own initiative, without any intervention from God) Discussions regarding the definitions can consume more time than we have, so we must move on to the testimony of Divine Scripture on the issue. The Three States of Man The Edenic State This was the state that Adam and Eve existed in when in the Garden of Eden, until the fall into sin. We are not provided with much information regarding that state other than they were living in perfect submission and harmony to their Creator for a time. When the temptation to self-pleasure and self-interest was presented they willfully chose to govern themselves and rebel against God. The independence they sought and achieved was their damnation. This only have I found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes."
Here we see the rebellious independence of man and the initiative of God, for when Adam and Eve fell, they did not seek for God, but rather hid themselves from Him. It was God who took the initiative to seek out man for the purpose of reconciling the relationship. God alone has the authority and ability to reconcile fallen man. The Unregenerate State This is the fallen state where we will spend the most time since herein lies the heart of the issue. Unregenerate is synonymous with the terms lost, pagan, sons of disobedience, rebels, wicked, and children of wrath. What we will discover in God’s revelation of truth is the following concerning the unregenerate. They are free from righteousness. Note that this is a different definition for the term free which is defined as the absence of (e.g. "fat-free", "sugar-free", "trouble-free"). The word is used in Scripture with this original definition as well). They are slaves in bondage to sin. There is none who is righteous. There is none who does what is good. There is none who seeks for God. They are entirely corrupt, full of evil imaginations, and completely inclined to wickedness. They have eyes that are blind to the truth and ears that cannot understand it. Genesis 6:5 Every imagination…was only evil continually Psalm 51:5; Psalm 58:3 From conception and birth they are corrupt Ecclesiastes 7:20, 29 God made man upright, but they have pursued evil…Isaiah 66:3-4 Have chosen their own ways, choose to ignore and rebel John 1:12-13 Being born again is NOT by the will of man, but by God’s will
John 6:43-45, 63-65 No one can come to Me… It is the Spirit who gives life
John 10:24-29 Cannot believe, the Father has given the elect to Christ
John 14:17 The unregenerate (non-elect) cannot receive the Spirit of Truth John 15:5 Apart from Christ, man can do nothing (John. 1:3; Rom. 11:36; Eph. 1:1) Romans 3:9-18 (ref. Psalm 14:1-3) None righteous, none seek God, none do good Romans 8:1-2, 5-14 (esp. 6-8, 14) Those in the flesh and those in the Spirit 1 Corinthians 2:14 Natural man cannot understand spiritual truth
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 God of this world has blinded their minds Ephesians 2:1-13 Dead in sin, God makes us alive, salvation is not of yourselves
Titus 1:15-16 Defiled mind and conscience, they are worthless for any good deed
1 Peter 2:7-9 ungodly destined to disobedience and stumbling Corruption can only produce and reproduce corruptionOnce mankind became corrupted with sin, all their offspring could only be corrupt.(Job 14:4; Matthew 7:16-21; Matthew 12:34-35). The Regenerate State Regenerate as an adjective means: 1) formed or created again, 2) spiritually reborn or converted. As the verb, to regenerate has the meaning of 1) to subject to spiritual renewal, 2) to reform completely, 3) to replace (a body part) by a new growth of tissue, 4) to give new life to; revive. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) One who has been regenerated by the Spirit of God, in contrast to the unregenerate, is free from the dominion of sin (the absence of it’s despotic power) and the fear of death. Having their eyes and ears opened to the truth by the Spirit of God, they have responded to Christ’s call (John10:25-30), willfully subjecting themselves to the legitimate authority of their Creator. Christ stated that if we are truly His disciples, abiding in His Word, we will come to know the truth and the truth sets us free. In our original sense of the word “free”, the true believer has “free” will to an extent, for he can truly choose to sin or to do what is truly good and God-pleasing for the glory of God. Yet we see in Scripture that the believer was not merely rescued from a condemned, enslaved state, but was transferred from one kingdom (darkness) into another (Light). We were slaves to sin and evil, but now we are slaves of Christ and His righteousness. Scripture states that the saints were “purchased at a price” from the slave block (Acts 20:26-30; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Pet. 1:20-2:3) Acts 20:26-30 "Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am innocent of the blood of all men. [27] "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. [28] "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. [29] "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; [30] and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. John 1:12-13But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, [13] who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? [20] For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, [21] for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. [2] And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; [3] and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. In the following passages we will find numerous descriptions of the saint, the new creation in Christ Jesus: Ezekiel 36:25-27 God is the one who will put His Spirit inside, cleanse from sin, and cause the chosen to walk according to His will (statutes, ordinances, etc.)
John 3:18-21 Wicked love darkness, hate light. Saints deeds are caused by God
John 8:31-36 Abide in Christ’s truth to be free. If the Son shall make you free…
John 15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you… Romans 6:11, 15-23 Were slaves to sin, now slaves to righteousness
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 God is the one who reconciles man to himself Ephesians 1:4-9 According to His will. He made known to us… Ephesians 2:1-3 “we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind Ephesians 5:7-11 Formerly darkness, now light, bear good fruit to please God 1 John 4:19 We love, because He first loved us The natural man, the unregenerate, cannot receive the things (truth) of the Spirit, therefore, when it comes to salvation, man brings nothing to the table. Humanity is not worthy of salvation – they are enemies of God Humanity can do nothing to merit salvation – their righteousness is filthy rags to God Humanity cannot understand salvation or “figure it out” – natural man can’t understand It is entirely God’s gift out of love and according to his will and not according to the will of man (John 1:12,13). As the Spirit initiates the work of reconciliation and redemption (salvation) by giving life to that which was dead (Rom. 6:1-) and opening eyes blinded by the evil one and enabling deaf ears to now correctly understand the truth, that person can then respond to and submit to the Spirit’s work and God’s truth. That is the gospel of Scripture. God out of his love, mercy, and grace, By the substitutionary atonement of his Son, Through the work of his Holy Spirit, chooses to rescue and give life to some of humanity, which is entirely dead and damned because of sin.
Everything under the Sovereign Will of Jesus Christ Our focus is on the state of the will of man and we do not want to enter into the voluminous material on the subjects of God’s Sovereignty and His Providence. Yet God’s sovereignty directly relates to the issue of man’s will so we will reference some passages on this topic (Psa. 103:19, Prv. 16:4; Dan. 4:35; Rom. 11:36; 1 Cor. 15:27; The most evil deed of all history was ordained/predestined by God (Acts 4:27) and during the course of this action God was at all times in total control (John 10:17-18; John 12:27; John 19:11, 30) ConclusionSo we are either slaves of sin and self, or we are slaves to God and righteousness. We can only be freed from sin and self if the the Father has chosen to adopt us, the Father has drawn us to His Son, the Son has chosen us, and the Spirit of God has opened our eyes and ears and is leading us in the truth which sets us free from sin and death. Only the one who has been born again has a “free” will and the saint has been freed from sin and death to love and obey his heavenly Father and serve his Savior and King.
There are only two types of soil (Matt. 13:1-23): The bad soil which either does not believe the truth, or though it hears and even mentally assents, believes temporarily, it does not understand and it does not bear any fruit for it has no root in the Truth (the first 3 soils) The good soil is the ONLY ONE that not only hears, but understands and bears fruit because it is rooted in the Truth of Jesus Christ. For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, [16] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. Test yourselves, whether you are truly of the faith (2 Cor. 13:5) for Christ seeks a pure bride (Matt. 22) and He will in the end separate the wheat from the tares that are growing together now (Matt. 13:24-30). Check your fruit. Are you studying God’s Word and growing in understanding? Are you walking in obedience to Christ Jesus? (John 3:36; Acts 5:29, 32; Rom. 2:4-10; Rom. 6:16; 2 Thess. 1:6-9; Heb. 5:9; 1 Pet. 1:1-2; 1 Pet. 4:17) Seek Him, study His Word, and obey Him. |