As one explores the many mysteries of the Christian faith, one question is bound to come up. Do I as a human control my choices or is it God? What is the freedom of choice and how has it shaped our behaviour and in fact our ultimate destiny? Let us explore this in depth and see what the Lord has got to say through the scriptures.
To understand Free Will, one really has to go to the very beginning- And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17. And we all know what Man did and the consequences. And that was due to the Free Will. According to Libertarian freedom, in the very moment of choice, we can choose to obey God or disobey God. If we don’t have this power of contrary choice, we cannot be rightly held accountable for our actions. But Freedom of Desire — emphasizes the root cause behind every choice and states that humans perform- choices out of the desires of their hearts. We are made in the image of God. And God has not abolished the Free Will within us- it is essentially what differentiates us from the other created beings. For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13
But having said that how we exercise that Free Will also depends on who we have to counsel us- the human heart or the Holy Spirit. You see, all human beings in their fallen state freely do what they want to do. But those in the flesh don’t want to choose God. They only want to live for their own kingdoms and desires. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:7-8 God, however, chooses some for salvation, in accordance with his pleasure and will. And for those whom God chooses, he sends his Spirit to regenerate them and transform their hearts so that they truly want to turn to him. Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:4-5. But even if we are predestined we still have to make that choice.
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20. We need to open that door to Jesus in our free will for him to act on us.
So the picture we have is of all humanity choosing freely to reject God and do what they most want to do in their sin. God, however, shows grace towards some by choosing them for salvation and sending his Spirit into their hearts to make them want to turn to him. In the end, all people freely choose what they want to choose. They either choose to keep sinning in the flesh, or because of the Spirit’s effectual call, they choose God. But it is his desire that everyone Chooses to follow him in their own free will and he is waiting patiently for that. The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Free Will of man makes enduring faith and belief in Christ hard. It always opens and shows the broad path to destruction rather than the narrow way to God. And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8:34
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. John 7:17
Without faith we will be driven to exercise our free will. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6
So having been saved by the Grace of God, does the Free Will of Man make us stumble in our Lives. Indeed it does. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. Matthew 15:19. The Devil is always tempting us to go the other way. For us to again be his slave. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1
Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. John 5:40 Why? Because of the Free Will of man.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. James 1:13-16
But the good news is God always is wanting to help us. He give us the means and the power to resist the Free will that the devil always tries to use to his advantage. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7
The counsel of the Holy Spirit is key to using our Free Will in the right direction. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. Galatians 5:16-17
We should follow the Lord willingly- Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 1 Peter 5:2
