Chapter 9, Paragraph 1: Summary
This paragraph introduces the doctrine of free will, affirming that God created humans with the freedom to make choices. It teaches that humans are not forced or determined by external factors to act against their will, nor is their freedom overridden by God’s sovereignty. Instead, they have the ability to choose freely according to their nature.
Before the fall, Adam and Eve had the ability to choose either good or evil. Their free will allowed them to obey God’s commands, but it also made them capable of disobedience. This original freedom highlights both the dignity and responsibility of humanity in their created state.
Historical Context
The doctrine of free will was central to the Reformation’s debates with Roman Catholic and Pelagian teachings. The Reformers rejected Pelagianism, which overstated human freedom and denied the necessity of grace, as well as deterministic views that denied human responsibility. This paragraph establishes that while humans have free will, their choices are consistent with their nature, whether in their original state, fallen condition, or state of grace.
Key Biblical References
- Genesis 1:27: Humans were created in the image of God, reflecting their dignity and freedom.
- Genesis 2:16-17: God gives Adam the command not to eat from the tree, requiring a free choice to obey or disobey.
- Deuteronomy 30:19: God sets before His people life and death, calling them to choose life.
- Ecclesiastes 7:29: God made humanity upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
- Joshua 24:15: Joshua calls the Israelites to choose whom they will serve.
Summary
Chapter 9, paragraph 1 teaches that God created humans with free will, enabling them to make real choices. This freedom is not constrained by external compulsion but operates according to their nature. In their original state, Adam and Eve had the ability to choose either good or evil, highlighting the dignity and responsibility of humanity before the fall. This doctrine affirms the balance between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility.
Chapter 9, Paragraph 2: Summary
This paragraph explains the state of human free will after the fall into sin. It teaches that, as a result of Adam’s sin, humans have lost the ability to choose spiritual good or to seek God on their own. While humans remain free to make choices, their will is now enslaved to sin, making them incapable of doing anything that pleases God or contributes to their salvation.
In this fallen condition, humans are spiritually dead, unable to respond to God without divine intervention. This doctrine underscores humanity’s need for God’s grace to overcome their sinful nature and to restore their ability to seek and choose what is good.
Historical Context
This teaching counters the Pelagian and semi-Pelagian views that humans retain the ability to choose righteousness apart from God’s grace. The Reformers, following Augustine and Paul, emphasized that the fall resulted in total depravity, leaving humanity unable to pursue or achieve salvation by their own efforts. This doctrine highlights the necessity of God’s grace for regeneration and salvation.
Key Biblical References
- Romans 3:10-12: No one is righteous or seeks God, demonstrating the inability of fallen humans to pursue spiritual good.
- Romans 8:7-8: The sinful mind is hostile to God and cannot please Him.
- John 6:44: No one can come to Christ unless drawn by the Father.
- Ephesians 2:1-3: Humans are dead in their trespasses and sins, following the desires of the flesh.
- Jeremiah 13:23: Just as a leopard cannot change its spots, humans cannot do good while accustomed to evil.
Summary
Chapter 9, paragraph 2 teaches that, after the fall, humans are free to make choices but are entirely incapable of choosing spiritual good or seeking God due to their enslavement to sin. This doctrine highlights the fallen nature of humanity, their spiritual deadness, and their total dependence on God’s grace for salvation and renewal.
Chapter 9, Paragraph 3: Summary
This paragraph describes the state of free will after God’s work of grace in regeneration. When God transforms a sinner’s heart through the Holy Spirit, He frees them from their bondage to sin and enables them to will and do what is spiritually good. However, even in this renewed state, the believer’s will is not perfectly free from sin, as the remnants of their sinful nature persist. While they now have the ability to choose spiritual good, they still struggle with sinful tendencies.
This paragraph highlights the transformative power of God’s grace in freeing sinners from their inability to seek Him and empowering them to live in obedience. Yet, it also recognizes the ongoing battle between the flesh and the Spirit in the life of a believer.
Historical Context
The doctrine of free will in the state of grace reflects the Reformers’ understanding of sanctification as a process. This teaching contrasts with perfectionist views, which claim believers can achieve complete freedom from sin in this life. The Reformers emphasized that while regeneration renews the will, believers remain dependent on God’s grace to grow in holiness.
Key Biblical References
- Philippians 2:13: It is God who works in believers to will and to act according to His good purpose.
- Romans 7:18-25: Paul describes the struggle between the desire to do good and the presence of sin in the believer.
- Galatians 5:17: The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, describing the ongoing conflict in the believer’s will.
- John 8:36: If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed, emphasizing the liberty found in Christ.
- Ezekiel 36:26-27: God promises to give His people a new heart and spirit, enabling them to follow His commands.
Summary
Chapter 9, paragraph 3 teaches that, in regeneration, God frees the sinner’s will from its bondage to sin and enables them to will and do what is spiritually good. However, believers still struggle with sin due to the remnants of their fallen nature. This doctrine highlights the transformative power of God’s grace while acknowledging the ongoing need for sanctification in the believer’s life.
Chapter 9, Paragraph 4: Summary
This paragraph explains the state of free will in the life to come, when believers are glorified in heaven. In this state of glory, the will of believers will be made perfectly free to choose and do only what is good. All remnants of sin and corruption will be removed, and they will no longer struggle with sinful desires or the inability to fully obey God. Instead, they will be perfectly and eternally inclined to love, worship, and obey Him.
This teaching assures believers of the ultimate victory over sin and the complete restoration of their ability to glorify God without hindrance. It reflects the culmination of God’s redemptive work in the believer’s life.
Historical Context
The doctrine of glorification affirms the Reformed understanding of salvation as a process that moves from justification to sanctification and finally to glorification. This teaching offers hope and assurance to believers, emphasizing the certainty of their future perfection in Christ. It also contrasts with views that diminish the significance of the eternal state by focusing solely on earthly sanctification.
Key Biblical References
- 1 John 3:2: When Christ appears, believers will be like Him, for they will see Him as He is.
- Revelation 21:27: Nothing impure will enter the New Jerusalem, affirming the sinless state of glorified believers.
- Ephesians 5:27: Christ will present the church to Himself as holy and blameless, without spot or wrinkle.
- 1 Corinthians 15:49-53: Believers will be transformed, putting on immortality and incorruption.
- Jude 24: God is able to keep believers from stumbling and present them blameless in His glorious presence.
Summary
Chapter 9, paragraph 4 teaches that, in the state of glory, believers will be perfectly freed from sin and fully able to choose and do only what is good. Their wills will be completely aligned with God’s will, enabling them to glorify and enjoy Him forever. This doctrine provides believers with the hope of ultimate victory over sin and the promise of eternal perfection in Christ.
Chapter 9, Paragraph 5: Summary
This paragraph emphasizes the distinct states of human free will across the four stages of existence: (1) in creation, (2) after the fall, (3) in regeneration, and (4) in glorification. It summarizes that:
- In creation, humanity had the freedom and ability to choose good or evil, with Adam and Eve able to obey or disobey God.
- After the fall, humanity lost the ability to choose spiritual good, becoming enslaved to sin and incapable of pleasing God without divine grace.
- In regeneration, God restores the ability to will and do what is spiritually good, though believers still struggle with sin.
- In glorification, believers will be perfectly free to do only what is good, as all sin will be eradicated.
This paragraph reinforces that humanity’s will operates differently depending on their state, while consistently under God’s sovereign rule.
Historical Context
This teaching reflects the Reformed understanding of free will in relation to God’s sovereignty and humanity’s spiritual condition. It contrasts with Pelagian and semi-Pelagian views, which overemphasize human free will, and deterministic views, which deny its meaningfulness. The Reformers emphasized that human freedom operates according to the state of one’s nature—original, fallen, renewed, or glorified.
Key Biblical References
- Genesis 2:16-17: Adam’s freedom to obey or disobey God reflects humanity’s original state of free will.
- Romans 3:10-12: After the fall, no one seeks God or does good, illustrating the loss of spiritual ability.
- Philippians 2:13: In regeneration, God works in believers to will and act according to His purpose.
- 1 John 3:2: In glorification, believers will be like Christ, free from sin and perfectly holy.
- Revelation 21:27: Nothing impure will enter the New Jerusalem, affirming the sinless state of the glorified.
Summary
Chapter 9, paragraph 5 summarizes the four states of human free will: freedom to choose good or evil in creation, enslavement to sin after the fall, restored ability to choose spiritual good in regeneration, and perfect freedom to do good in glorification. This doctrine highlights the progression of God’s redemptive work, from humanity’s original dignity to their ultimate perfection in Christ.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 