THE WILL OF MAN- FREE WITHIN BOUNDARIES

1689 LBCF Chapter 9:4- “When God converts a sinner and translates him into the state of grace, He freeth him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone [enables him freely to will] and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions, he doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.”

The choice of unadulterated ‘good’, comes only in proportion to regeneration. Therein, and thereby alone, the regenerated heart, or the heart to which salvation has been applied, alone by its Giver, is enabled to choose that which is spiritually [pleasing to God]. This ‘free’ will is only experienced in Christ as being bound to Him and His will; not a concept merely lending itself to one’s choice for Christ, and yet withdrawn from this spiritual good. A sinner is unable to choose or even desire any good that pleases God while outside of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no will that is free except for that will which alone belongs to God. Therefore, spiritually speaking, a Biblical rendering of the will that chooses good, is to know it as the free gift given only to those who are bound to Christ alone, for Christ alone, to experience all of their benefits of this freedom in Christ alone. Therein, our choosing has now been given a second option which we did not naturally have, being the ability now to choose that which is good, right, and Godly. A ‘lively’ free will therefore, is only a description of the will that one has as they are in Christ alone. It is not a self-derived deception that should be understood in any manner as an option of choice for Christ the Son, or any good that is pleasing to God the Father while being outside of Christ.

Free will therefore, rightly understood and applied spiritually, is to merely debate about the heart of man and his choice for either a selfish desire of his own corrupt spiritual nature, or his choice for God. A free will, in its right context Biblically, as we speak of, has nothing to do with someone choosing to go out to dinner, or have dinner at home. Rather, its implications have to do with the heart and conscience; or the spiritual state of man.

The will of man is bound to love one and hate the other. Love God and hate self, or love self and hate God. You cannot love the God who is love, without a hatred for passions lending love only to self! However I, although needless to say, with sympathy assert, if one must insist that the will of man be free, may it be understood first that it is only free to choose within the confines and stipulations of that to which it is bound- to self, or to Christ.

Romans 8:5 says- “For those who live [according to the flesh] set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live [according to the Spirit,] the things of the Spirit.’’

Inevitably, the will is bound. Our spiritual ‘freedom’ acts and responds based on this verse of Scripture, and is a practical and applicable reality against the skewed, possibly blasphemous rendition of ‘free will’ being a grace given by God, all while misrepresenting God by using it to justify a desire to pick and choose God, as relates to salvation, on our own terms.

It is of a soul-wrenching detriment to the heart of man to even slightly consider being good enough on his own, to choose, and have for himself, the goodness of God, by his own initiation.

Free will, in relation not specifically to us having the ability to choose, but in direct relation to that by which it is bound, (the flesh or the Spirit) we understand better that God alone is the very essence of good, and our choice thereof is directly affected by His effectual call; i.e God’s choice to save sinners for His own pleasure, for Himself, by Himself, according to Himself, for the glory of Himself alone.

The only will that is totally, completely, and perfectly free, is the will of God Himself. It is clear, evident, and comprehensive that when men argue about such an attribute, they want the ability to choose not only what they want, [natural ability and will of man], but they also want to think that they can, in and of themselves, choose righteousness whenever they want, which is [only a supernatural ability and will of God]. Yet, of their own volition, somehow encourage God to grant them the peace they search for.

Realistically, this perspective reaps the consequences of self deprivation and a heart bent towards self exaltation over Christ Jesus, the Lord of Glory- the only One worthy of this honor!

Soli Deo Gloria!

(References)

-1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith Ch.9-10.

– Philippians 2:13; John 12:37-40; Ezekiel 36:26-27.