{Free will} Probably the most common definition of free will is the ability to make choices without any prior prejudice, inclination, or disposition, and specifically that these free will choices are not ultimately predestined by God. According to the Bible, however, the choices of man are not only ultimately determined by God, but morally determined by ones nature. Man is indeed a free moral agent and freely makes choices, but in his natural state he necessarily acts in accordance with his fallen nature. Man willingly makes choices that flow from the heart, and sin is also always attributed to the desires of the heart (James 1:13-15). When a person turns to Christ, he does so not because of his own free will, but because God has supernaturally enabled and moved him to do so through regeneration. God never coerces mans will, rather God gives the ability to believe through the work of the Holy Spirit. This is a doctrinal distinction between the theologies of Calvinism and Arminianism: In Arminianism, God saves those who believe of their own free will. In Calvinism, God saves those who willingly believe as a result of sovereign enablement by the regenerating work of the Spirit. Rather than mans will being free, Jesus tells us that, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin, (John 8:34). The heart, until born again, is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9). God saw in man that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (John 6:44). Man is most free in heaven, where he is morally unable to sin. True freedom isnt freedom to sin, but freedom from sin.
Posted on: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 20:00:13 +0000
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