The holy Scriptures are clear. When it comes to salvation, we do not have a choice in the matter.
Sure, we have the ability to make choices from moment-to-moment (and there are still times when God "hardened their hearts"; Exodus 14:8; 1 Samuel 6:6; Joshua 11:20; John 12:40), but the concept of 'free will' as it applies to the doctrine of salvation is not Biblical.
It's no secret that this subject comes up a lot here, but that's just because we try to challenge ourselves with God's Word, and not what we want it to say.
The Lord's sovereignty has a way of exposing us.
Dr. Reg Barrow once put together this brief study on the topic of 'free will' as it's found in the Holy Bible.
Let's try to clarify further, shall we?
Remember, we are examining the concept of 'free will' mainly as it applies to salvation.
As a quick follow-up to underscore these Biblical truths, I love what Charles Spurgeon once said about this subject of 'free will' too.
Of course, there's also, "A man's free will cannot cure him even of the toothache, or a sore finger; and yet he madly thinks it is in its power to cure his soul." by Augustus Toplady, which I dare say is one of the best ones yet.
Free will is "corrupted nature's deformed darling, the Pallas or beloved self-conception of darkened minds" according to John Owen.
And finally, Francis Turretin said, "The word 'freewill' (as also 'self-determining power' [autexousiou] used by the Greek Fathers) does not occur in Scripture... 1 Cor. 7:37 does not mean freedom of the will."
I know these truths are difficult to swallow because they run completely contrary to what a majority of us have been taught over the last several decades.
However, we must call it BIBLICAL TRUTH, shouldn't we? I mean, how can we argue with what proponents of 'Free Will Theology' teach when you put it side-by-side with the very Word of God itself like we did above?
That's where I was forced to face the truth and finally draw the line on this issue. No, I may not be able to quite understand all of it, let alone explain all of it as clearly as I'd like to, but I don't have to, and I'm ok with that (Deuteronomy 29:29).
Are you?
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Romans 9:16 (KJV) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Sure, we have the ability to make choices from moment-to-moment (and there are still times when God "hardened their hearts"; Exodus 14:8; 1 Samuel 6:6; Joshua 11:20; John 12:40), but the concept of 'free will' as it applies to the doctrine of salvation is not Biblical.
It's no secret that this subject comes up a lot here, but that's just because we try to challenge ourselves with God's Word, and not what we want it to say.
The Lord's sovereignty has a way of exposing us.
Dr. Reg Barrow once put together this brief study on the topic of 'free will' as it's found in the Holy Bible.
How things have changed! In 1563 the Council of Trent (an avowed standard of Popery) asserted: "If any one shall affirm, that man's free will, moved and excited by God, does not by consenting, co-operate with God, the mover and exciter, so as to prepare and dispose itself for the attainment of justification; if moreover, anyone shall say, that the human will cannot refuse complying, if it pleases; but that it is unactive, and merely passive, let such an one be ACCURSED! If anyone shall affirm, that since the fall of Adam, man's freewill is lost and extinguished; having title only, yea a name, without a thing, and a fiction introduced by Satan into the Church; let such an one be ACCURSED!" (cited from p. 139 of The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Pink)
More simply put, should anyone assert that man DOES NOT have a free will, let such an one be damned as a heretic! The seriousness and force of this statement, from the Vatican of that day, can easily be illustrated. For, for this cause, William Tyndale (as well as many others among the courageous reformers of the sixteenth century) were burned at the stake (cf. pp. 166-167, God's Outlaw: The Story of William Tyndale and the English Bible by Brian Edwards).
Martin Luther clearly saw the issue of free will as the primary cause of his separation from Rome. In his book, The Bondage of the Will, Luther replied to the Romanist Erasmus and his diatribe The Freedom of the Will. Though disagreeing with just about everything else Erasmus wrote, Luther commended Erasmus for at least recognizing the crux of the matter at issue between Rome and the Bible believers, the debate over "free will." In this regard Luther said, "that unlike all the rest, you alone have attacked the real issue, the essence of the matter in dispute," -- i.e. man's so-called "free-will."
As opposed to the Roman Catholic/Arminian view on free will, we find the Biblical doctrine summed up, on pages 52-53, of the Westminster Confession of Faith, (Ch. 9, sec. 3 and 4, 1647 edition reprinted by Free Presbyterian Publications) "Man by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation (Rom. 5:6, 8:7, Jn 15:5), so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good (Rom. 3:10-22), and dead in sin (Eph. 2:1, Col. 2:13), is not able by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto (Jn 6:44, 65, Eph. 2:2-5, 14, Titus 3:13). When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin (Col. 1:13, Jn. 8:34-36) and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good (Phil. 2:13, Rom. 6:18, 22), yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly nor only will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil (Gal. 5:17, Rom. 7:15-23).
Two opposing and irreconcilable views have been placed before you today and only one question remains, Who do you stand with? The Bible, Christ, His prophets, Reformers, martyrs, Puritans, etc., (against man's free will) or with the Roman Catholic (Papal Antichrist) and Arminian teachings and traditions of men (for fictional "free will")? (Jn. 10:3, 27, Matt. 15:7-14, 16:6-12).
For further study see Jn. 1:13 and Rom. 9:16. In John 15:16 you will notice: "many are called" (that is the outward call, through preaching, etc.) but few chose? oh no, the scripture reads: "few are chosen," that is, chosen of God's will, receiving the inward effectual call and enablement of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 110:3), as they are predestined to (Rom. 8:29-30).
In light of the short study above, it is easy to see how a lack of doctrinal and historical study is leading many into serious compromise with the false ecumenical apostasy espoused by Rome and other deviant beliefs. In this area, many "Protestants," even now, bow down to Rome's humanistic, anti-Christian, idol of free will (including Norman Geisler, Dave Hunt, William Lane Craig and a host of others). May God grant the "free-willers" repentance (2 Tim. 2:24-26) and give you the strength to remain faithful to His word!
"Let all the 'free-will' in the world do all it can with all its strength; it will never give rise to a single instance of ability to avoid being hardened if God does not give the Spirit, or of meriting mercy if it is left to its own strength." - Martin Luther, The Bondage of the Will, p. 202
"The Papists... hold that man, through his own free will, returns to God; and on this point is our greatest contest with them at this day." - John Calvin, Commentary on Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:19)
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:13
"Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." - John 6:65
Let's try to clarify further, shall we?
Remember, we are examining the concept of 'free will' mainly as it applies to salvation.
"Free will" is represented by "Arminianism teaches"...
Arminianism teaches: "... and as many as believed were ordained to eternal life."
THE BIBLE TEACHES: "AND AS MANY AS WERE ORDAINED TO ETERNAL LIFE BELIEVED." (Acts 13:48)
Arminianism teaches: "For many are called, but few choose."
THE BIBLE TEACHES: "FOR MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN." (Matthew 22:14)
Arminianism teaches: "Make your decision for Christ."
THE BIBLE TEACHES: "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." (Matthew 11:27)
Arminianism teaches: "I accepted Jesus as my personal savior."
THE BIBLE TEACHES: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you" (John 15:16). Also: "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me." (Paul's testimony in Galatians 1:15,16)
Arminianism teaches: "God can't save you unless you let him, it is your choice."
THE BIBLE TEACHES: "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy...Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth." (Romans 9:16, 18).
Arminianism teaches: "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life."
THE BIBLE TEACHES: "(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth:) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated." (Rom. 9:11-13).
Arminianism teaches: "God wants everyone to be saved."
THE BIBLE TEACHES: "And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand." (Mark 4:11,12).
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:13).
Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures (James 1:18).
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul (Acts 16:14).
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will (Prov. 21:1).
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy (Rom. 9:15-16).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved... In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will (Eph. 1:3-6, 9).
As a quick follow-up to underscore these Biblical truths, I love what Charles Spurgeon once said about this subject of 'free will' too.
"I will go as far as Martin Luther, in that strong assertion of his, where he says, 'If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ aright.' It may seem a harsh sentiment; but he who in his soul believes that man does of his own free will turn to God, cannot have been taught of God, for that is one of the first principles taught us when God begins with us, that we have neither will nor power, but that He gives both; that he is 'Alpha and Omega' in the salvation of men."
- Charles Spurgeon, Sermons, Vol. 1, p. 395, Free Will A Slave (1855), emphases added.
Of course, there's also, "A man's free will cannot cure him even of the toothache, or a sore finger; and yet he madly thinks it is in its power to cure his soul." by Augustus Toplady, which I dare say is one of the best ones yet.
Free will is "corrupted nature's deformed darling, the Pallas or beloved self-conception of darkened minds" according to John Owen.
And finally, Francis Turretin said, "The word 'freewill' (as also 'self-determining power' [autexousiou] used by the Greek Fathers) does not occur in Scripture... 1 Cor. 7:37 does not mean freedom of the will."
I know these truths are difficult to swallow because they run completely contrary to what a majority of us have been taught over the last several decades.
However, we must call it BIBLICAL TRUTH, shouldn't we? I mean, how can we argue with what proponents of 'Free Will Theology' teach when you put it side-by-side with the very Word of God itself like we did above?
That's where I was forced to face the truth and finally draw the line on this issue. No, I may not be able to quite understand all of it, let alone explain all of it as clearly as I'd like to, but I don't have to, and I'm ok with that (Deuteronomy 29:29).
Are you?
Share|
8 Comments:
The view that mankind has free-will to either choose to follow God, obey His commands and do what is right and reject the wrong is the unanimous view of the early church, long before Joseph Arminius (or whatever his name was) came along. Calvin and Luther got it wrong.
Again, please keep in mind that we're talking about 'free will' as it relates to one 's salvation, and not the free will of one to choose to sin or obey God's commands after they've a Christian.
YBIC,
Jeff
A sinner must repent and turn to Christ to be forgiven. The same must have faith and follow Christ (to the end of his/her days) to be saved. With God's help, we can do so. Without it, it is impossible.
God provided the way of salvation, but the individual must walk in the way.
What about 1 Tim 2:3-4?
That's a GREAT question!
1 Timothy 2:3-4 "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."
Well, let's remember to take these verses in context because if we read the verses preceding these two, then we learn that the words "For this is good and acceptable" is referring to...what? What is "good and acceptable"?
The answer? In a SPECIFIC SENSE (based on verses 1-2), that it is "good and acceptable" to God that we pray for all legally constituted authorities. That is considered "good" in itself because they are God-ordained and also useful to ourselves and to the public at large, and so it is "acceptable" in the sight of God (it is "good", or it is well pleasing to Him).
In a GENERAL SENSE, that it is "good and acceptable" to God that we should pray for all people. The reason is that He desires their salvation, and so it is agreeable to Him that we should pray for a person's salvation too.
The meaning is not that God will save every man (if that were true, then we must conclude that He was a 'failure' because of those who are in Hell, right?), but that the promises which were given to but one people originally (the Jews) are now extended to all the world (the Gentiles). Furthermore, the context suggests that He is referring to 'all conditions of men' as opposed to 'all men' like many conclude.
To be blunt, I defer to something I once read...
"How these two sides of God’s truth -- His sovereignty in choosing us (Romans 9) and our responsibility to confess and believe (Romans 10) -- reconcile is impossible for us to understand fully. But Scripture declares both perspectives of salvation to be true (John 1:12-13). It’s our duty to acknowledge both and joyfully accept them by faith."
We need to keep in mind things like John 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father, which hath sent me draw him" too. Why does God choose one and not another? I don't know, but I'm ok with that lack of understanding (Deuteronomy 29:29) because I trust that whatever He wills is just. Like we read in Ephesians, before the world was made God chose some as it pleased Him, and we don't know the reasons for His preferences.
I appreciate the thoughtful question though and will continue seeking His wisdom on this subject myself.
In Christ,
Jeff
Actually, it is very easy to reconcile God's choosing of us, with our responsibility to confess and believe (live in faith).
God has chosen based on His foreknowledge. God knows all things. He knows who will both have faith, and remain in the faith to the end, therefore God can declare beforehand who will be saved, yet He does not determine beforehand who will be saved.
All men can indeed be saved. That is why we are to be witnesses. That is why we pray for the lost. That is why we preach the Gospel. If God has already predetermined who will be saved, all that stuff is completely meaningless, as is the need for us to obey His commnands.
Jesus says He will give to everyone according to what they have done whether good or evil. We would do well to believe it.
"If God has already predetermined who will be saved, all that stuff is completely meaningless, as is the need for us to obey His commands."
My friend, I have to ask how you can believe that when His Word is clear?
Ephesians 1:5 "Having PREDESTINATED us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"
Ephesians 1:11 "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being PREDESTINATED according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:"
Romans 8:29-30 "For whom he did FOREKNOW, he also did PREDESTINATE to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did PREDESTINATE, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."
1 Corinthians 2:7 "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ORDAINED before the world unto our glory:"
We can't just ignore these verses because they don't fit with the perspective we want to maintain, right?
Besides, there's no conflict because of Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." We preach the Gospel because we are commanded to, because we don't know who God's elect are, and because they can only become the elect once they receive God's Word as this verse from Roman plainly says.
Why did God design it to work this way if He already predestined people? I don't know (Deuteronomy 29:29), but what a glorious privilege that He allows us to be a part of it! And I'm ok with not being able to fully understand it all.
YBIC,
Jeff
By 'accident' I fell into a sermon on this entire debate when I went to Alistair Begg's Truth For Life website to listen to his latest sermon there.
Since I promised you that I would keep an open mind on this subject (meaning that I would keep studying what God's Word has to say about it), you'll be happy to know that I've arrived at a new point where I now understand that it can't be an 'either or' type of situation here because both are equally true.
Without giving too much away, Begg cites something he once heard that summarizes things. I'll paraphrase...
"Jesus Christ died for sinners. Jeff Radt is a sinner. Jesus Christ died for me."
Please take some time to listen to this brief 30-minute sermon:
http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/truth-tightly-packed-part-one/
Grace And Peace,
Jeff
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