What is free will?

Free will is a foundational concept in Christian theology and philosophy, representing the ability of individuals to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or divine intervention. The doctrine of free will addresses crucial questions about human responsibility, the nature of sin, and the relationship between God's sovereignty and human freedom. To fully understand the concept of free will, it is essential to explore its biblical basis, theological significance, different perspectives within Christian thought, the relationship between free will and salvation, and the implications of free will for the Christian life.

1. Biblical Basis for Free Will

1.1 The Creation of Humanity with Free Will:

The Bible begins with the account of God creating humanity in His image, which includes the capacity for free moral agency. This means that humans are endowed with the ability to make choices and are responsible for those choices.

- Genesis 1:26-27: "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."

Being made in the image of God implies that humans possess certain attributes of God, such as rationality, moral discernment, and the ability to make free choices.

1.2 The Fall of Humanity and the Exercise of Free Will:

The account of the Fall in Genesis 3 is a clear example of free will in action. Adam and Eve were given the freedom to obey or disobey God’s command concerning the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Their choice to disobey God was an exercise of their free will, with profound consequences for themselves and all of humanity.

- Genesis 2:16-17: "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 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 3:6: "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate."

This narrative underscores that humanity’s ability to choose—free will—was central to the relationship between God and His creation, and that the misuse of this gift led to the fall of humanity.

1.3 The Call to Choose Between Life and Death:

Throughout Scripture, God consistently calls His people to make choices, underscoring the reality of free will. These choices often involve a decision between obedience and disobedience, life and death, blessing and curse.

- Deuteronomy 30:19-20: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days."

In this passage, God presents a clear choice to the Israelites, urging them to choose life by following His commandments. This highlights the responsibility of individuals to make decisions that align with God’s will.

1.4 Jesus’ Teachings on Free Will:

Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament further affirm the concept of free will, particularly in His calls to repentance, discipleship, and obedience.

- Matthew 23:37: Jesus laments over Jerusalem, saying, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"

This expression of sorrow reflects the reality that the people of Jerusalem had the freedom to accept or reject Jesus’ message, and they chose the latter.

- John 7:17: "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority."

Here, Jesus emphasizes the role of human will in discerning and following God’s truth, suggesting that individuals have the capacity to choose to seek and follow God’s will.

2. Theological Significance of Free Will

2.1 Free Will and the Nature of Love:

One of the most significant theological reasons for the existence of free will is that love, to be genuine, must be freely chosen. God desires a relationship with humanity that is based on love, and love cannot be coerced or predetermined—it must be an act of free will.

- Romans 6:23: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." While this verse contrasts the consequences of sin with the gift of eternal life, it implies that the "death" referred to is not just physical death but eternal separation from God, which is fully realized in hell.

- 1 John 4:19: "We love Him because He first loved us." This verse indicates that our love for God is a response to His love for us, but it is a response that we must freely choose to make.

If humans were not free to choose, they could not genuinely love God. Free will allows for the possibility of a loving relationship between God and humanity, where people freely respond to God’s love with love, devotion, and obedience.

2.2 Free Will and Moral Responsibility:

Free will is also foundational to the concept of moral responsibility. If humans did not have the freedom to choose between right and wrong, they could not be held accountable for their actions.

- Romans 14:12: "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God." This verse highlights the accountability that each person has before God, which presupposes the ability to make free choices.

Moral responsibility is central to Christian ethics and theology. The doctrine of free will ensures that individuals are responsible for their actions and that justice is meaningful.

2.3 Free Will and the Problem of Evil:

The existence of free will is often invoked in discussions of the problem of evil—the question of how a good and omnipotent God can allow the existence of evil in the world. The free will defense argues that evil is a result of the misuse of human free will.

- Genesis 6:5: "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."

The free will defense suggests that God allows humans to make free choices, even though this means that some will choose evil. This freedom is necessary for genuine moral agency and the possibility of a loving relationship with God, but it also entails the risk of sin and evil.

2.4 Free Will and Divine Sovereignty:

A key theological question is how free will relates to God’s sovereignty—His supreme authority and control over all things. Some theological perspectives emphasize God’s sovereignty to the extent that they see human free will as limited or even illusory, while others maintain that human free will and divine sovereignty coexist.

- Proverbs 16:9: "A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." This verse suggests a balance between human planning (free will) and divine direction (sovereignty).

Different Christian traditions have approached this relationship in various ways, leading to different views on predestination, election, and human freedom.

3. Different Perspectives on Free Will in Christian Thought

3.1 Arminianism:

Arminianism is a theological perspective that strongly affirms human free will. It holds that God’s grace enables, but does not coerce, human response, allowing individuals to freely accept or reject God’s offer of salvation.

- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Arminians interpret "whoever" as indicating that anyone has the potential to choose to believe in Christ.

Arminianism emphasizes that salvation is available to all and that human beings play a role in their own salvation through their response to God’s grace.

3.2 Calvinism (Reformed Theology):

Calvinism, or Reformed theology, emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation and often espouses a doctrine of predestination, where God has chosen, or "elected," certain individuals to be saved. While Calvinism acknowledges human free will, it sees it as subordinate to divine sovereignty.

- Ephesians 1:4-5: "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will."

Calvinists argue that God’s sovereign will is ultimately decisive in salvation, and that human will is bound by sin and only freed by God’s grace.

3.3 Compatibilism:

Compatibilism is the view that free will and divine sovereignty are compatible with each other. It suggests that humans can be free in their choices even if those choices are determined by God’s sovereign will.

- Philippians 2:12-13: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

This passage reflects the compatibilist view that human responsibility and divine action can coexist. Humans are called to work out their salvation, but it is ultimately God who works in them to will and act according to His purpose.

3.4 Open Theism:

Open Theism is a more recent theological perspective that posits that while God knows all possible outcomes, He does not know with absolute certainty what free agents will choose. This view maintains that the future is open and that God allows humans genuine freedom to shape the future.

- Genesis 22:12: After Abraham is willing to sacrifice Isaac, God says, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."

Open Theists argue that God’s knowledge is dynamic and that He genuinely interacts with human choices, responding to them in real-time.

4. Free Will and Salvation

4.1 Free Will and the Call to Repentance:

Free will plays a crucial role in the Christian understanding of repentance and conversion. The Bible consistently calls individuals to repent and turn to God, implying that they have the ability to do so.

- Acts 17:30: "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent."

The command to repent assumes that individuals have the capacity to choose to turn away from sin and toward God. This is an exercise of free will, made possible by God’s grace.

4.2 Free Will and Faith:

Faith is also an exercise of free will. While God’s grace is essential for enabling faith, individuals must still choose to place their trust in Christ.

- Romans 10:9: "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."

The act of confessing and believing is a response to God’s invitation, involving a free decision to trust in the gospel message.

4.3 The Role of Grace in Free Will:

Christian theology emphasizes that while free will is essential, it is also influenced and enabled by God’s grace. Without God’s prevenient grace (grace that comes before), human will is bound by sin and unable to choose God.

- John 6:44: Jesus states, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day."

This verse highlights the necessity of God’s grace in enabling human will to respond to the gospel. Grace does not negate free will but empowers it to choose rightly.

4.4 Free Will and the Perseverance of the Saints:

The doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, particularly in Reformed theology, holds that those who are truly saved will persevere in faith to the end. This raises questions about the role of free will in maintaining faith.

- Philippians 1:6: "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

While this doctrine emphasizes God’s role in sustaining believers, it also acknowledges that believers must continue to exercise their free will in faithfulness and obedience.

5. Implications of Free Will for the Christian Life

5.1 The Call to Personal Responsibility:

Free will underscores the importance of personal responsibility in the Christian life. Believers are called to make choices that align with God’s will and to take responsibility for their actions.

- Galatians 6:7-8: "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."

This passage emphasizes that individuals are responsible for the choices they make, and those choices have real consequences.

5.2 The Necessity of Daily Decision-Making:

The exercise of free will is a daily reality for believers. Every day presents opportunities to choose to follow Christ, resist temptation, and pursue holiness.

- Joshua 24:15: "And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

This call to "choose this day" reflects the ongoing nature of free will, where believers must continually make decisions that reflect their commitment to God.

5.3 The Role of the Holy Spirit in Empowering Free Will:

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in guiding and empowering believers to make godly choices. While believers have free will, the Spirit helps them to discern God’s will and to choose it.

- Galatians 5:16: "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

Walking in the Spirit involves cooperating with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to influence and guide one’s decisions, while still exercising free will.

5.4 The Assurance of God’s Sovereign Plan:

For believers, free will exists within the context of God’s sovereign plan. While they are free to make choices, they can trust that God is ultimately in control and that His purposes will be fulfilled.

- Romans 8:28: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.""

This assurance provides comfort, knowing that even as they exercise free will, God’s sovereignty is at work to bring about His good purposes.

Conclusion

Free will is a deeply significant concept in Christian theology, reflecting the capacity of humans to make meaningful choices and to bear responsibility for those choices. The Bible affirms that God created humanity with free will, allowing for genuine love, moral responsibility, and the possibility of a relationship with Him.

Theological discussions of free will have led to various perspectives within Christian thought, including Arminianism, Calvinism, compatibilism, and open theism. Each of these perspectives offers a different understanding of how free will relates to God’s sovereignty and grace.

Free will plays a crucial role in the process of salvation, repentance, and faith. It underscores the importance of personal responsibility in the Christian life and the need for believers to make daily decisions that align with God’s will. At the same time, free will operates within the context of God’s sovereign plan, where the Holy Spirit empowers and guides believers to choose rightly.

Ultimately, the doctrine of free will emphasizes the dignity and significance of human choices, the necessity of God’s grace, and the assurance that God’s purposes will be accomplished in and through the lives of those who trust in Him.