Two concepts of Free Will
It seemed like a good and profitable thing to write up a little article on the different views of man's freedom of will, and to argue which one is scriptural. It is absolutely necessary for everyone to set aside pride since this issue hits so close to home, and trust only in the Word of God and sound logic.
Why is it important? I will quickly scratch the surface in answering that question. It's important because depending on which view you take on the freedom of man's will, you will either glorify God as He ought, or deglorify Him as He should never.
1. Free Will (Historically) - throughout church history, the Church basically universally agreed that man's will was free in that no external power forces anyone to make a decision. For example, God does not entice men to sin, nor does He force men to sin (James 1:13); and He doesn't directly force a man to choose good either. Thus man does have a responsibility to refuse evil and choose good. However, man's will is subject to his nature at all times.
2. Free Will (Modern Times) - today it is almost universally taught that man's will isn't forced by an external power other than himself, and also that he is free from his nature in decision making.
Sounds like harmless differences? Once again I stress that the value of getting this straight is great, for many pastors past and present have warned people with loud cries of the great dangers of lifting man higher than he really is, and belittling God.
I would tell you that I believe in free will, but I certainly don't mean it, in it's most important respects, the way most pastors today teach it. Please bear with me as I explain.
What's wrong with the modern-day teaching of free will?
Today, free will means that man has the power in and of himself to freely choose God, apart from God's Spirit giving them the New Birth first. In fact, it is taught that once a man chooses to believe, then God gives him the New Birth of His Spirit. But there are many problems with this idea.
1. The Bible simply teaches that it is impossible for man to come to God on his own. Over and over, such statements arise so that there is no mistaking this truth. Why is it impossible? Because man's nature will not allow it. He is a slave to sin.
The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God,
for it does not submit to God's law nor can it do so.
(Romans 8:7)
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit
of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to
understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
(1 Corinthians 2:14)
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick; who can understand it?
(Jeremiah 17:9)
You refuse to come to Me that you may have life.
(John 5:40)
None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands; no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become
worthless;
No one does good, not even one.
Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.
The venom of asps is under their lips.
Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
in their paths are ruin and misery,
and the way of peace they have not known.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.
(Romans 3:10-18)
You were dead in 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.
(Ephesians 2:1-3)
...When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished,
saying, "Who then can be saved?"
But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is
impossible..."
(Matthew 19:25-26)
2. The Bible teaches that God must act first, before any man would come to him. Our nature keeps us from choosing God, so God must effectually act first.
All that the Father gives me will come to me
...
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me
draws him.
(John 6:37, 44)
You did not choose me, but I chose you...
(John 15:16)
But thanks be to God that you, who were once slaves to sin,
have become obedient from the heart to the standard
of teaching to which you were committed, and, having
been set free from sin, have become slaves of
righteousness.
(Romans 6:17-18)
...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.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love
with which he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved...
(Ephesians 2:3-5)
(also read Titus 3:3-7)
In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loves us,
and gave His Son for a propitiation for our sins.
...When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished,
saying, "Who then can be saved?"
But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible."
(Matthew 19:25-26)
God works in us, so what happens now?
I don't want to belittle this point, but I feel like my post has grown about long enough. All I simply want to say is that when God works the New Birth in the heart of a man and he becomes alive with a new nature, he can't help but choose Christ with all his being. God, in His wisdom, makes His work effectual, it accomplishes exactly what He desires. I'll only leave you with John 10:27-29. Neither the Son nor the Father lose a single sheep. Contrast too what Jesus says in verse 27 with verse 26, "You do not believe because you are not a part of my flock." Notice Christ did not say, "You are not my flock because you do not believe." The difference between these two sentences is exactly the same difference between historical free will and modern-day free will.
Quick Conclusion: To acknowledge the doctrines of the Bible that man is unable to come to God, and that He must do it all if it be done, praises God as He should be praised. To believe that it is your will that determines whether you are saved takes focus off of the grace of God and puts it on yourself, which isn't taught nor is the perspective of the Bible.
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