The will: free or a slave?
Feb. 2, 2003 Northwest Bible Church
Worship Service Alan Conner
Total Depravity
The will: free or a slave?
INTRO
The doctrine of freewill has been a lightning rod for controversy in the church from about the 5th century onward.
I. THE CONTROVERSY EXPLAINED.
A. The doctrine of Original Sin.
1) Pelagian – man is spiritually well.
2) Semi-pelagian/Arminian – man is spiritually sick.
3) Calvinism – man is spiritually dead.
B. Freewill vs. enslaved will.
1) Arminianism – freewill. Though all men are sinners, there yet resides in us the ability to choose either to accept or reject Jesus Christ as our Savior.
2) Calvinism – enslaved will. Our wills are slaves to our sin nature. Consequently, it will never choose Christ, rather it will always choose sin. Only regeneration, the new heart, can change this condition and effectually enable us to come to Christ.
II. THE CONTROVERSY EXAMINED.
A. The Bible does not teach freewill.
1) The will of man is not free to seek God.
Rom. 3:11; Jn. 6:44
2) The will of man does not determine one’s election.
Rom. 9:16; Acts 13:48
3) The will of man is unable to obey God.
Rom. 8:7-8
4) The will of man is by nature spiritually dead.
Eph. 2:1-3; Col. 2:13; Rom. 5:12
5) The heart of man cannot change itself.
Mt. 7:16-18; Jer. 13:23; Jn. 3:6; Job 14:4
B. The Bible teaches that saving faith is a gift from God.
Acts 16:14; Phil. 1:29; Rom. 12:3; 2 Tim. 2:25; Heb. 12:2; Eph. 2:8-9; 1 Jn. 5:1, etc.
III. A CRITIQUE OF THE ARGUMENTS FOR FREEWILL.
A. The Bible mentions freewill so it must be biblical.
B. The “whosoever will” passages in the Bible prove freewill.
C. It is not fair for God to command us to do what we cannot do.
CONCLUSION: Practical considerations from this doctrine