Free Will

 

There is much confusion surrounding the words “Calvinism” and “Arminianism” since they have been used throughout the centuries as a means of dividing Christians along denominational lines. They create schisms within the family of God - true believers in Christ, that are very destructive within the Body of Christ and its call to evangelize the world with the Gospel. This confusion is complicated by the fact that the definition of each term has been altered from its original meaning such that the labels create more dissension than agreement. I have come to the conclusion that utilizing these terms, because of misperceptions is less advantageous and more divisive. 

J.I. Packer wrote a provocative article entitled “Arminianisms” addressing this very subject.  When comparing the two alternatives, Packer determined: 

To Calvinism, predestination is essentially God’s unconditional decision about the destiny of individuals; to Arminianism it is essentially God’s unconditional decision to provide means of grace, decisions about individuals’ destiny being secondary, conditional, and consequent upon foresight of how they will use those means of grace. To Calvinism, predestination of individuals means the foreordaining of both their doings (including their response to the gospel) and their consequent destinies; to Arminianism it means a foreordaining of destinies based on doings foreseen but not foreordained. Arminianism affirms that God predestined Christ to be man’s Savior, and repentance and faith to be the way of salvation, and the gift of universal sufficient inward grace to make saving response. 

Calvinism vs. Arminianism

I have been trying to wrap my head around the nuances of the conflict and what are the real issues that separate these two alternatives. In this way, I can move on from these polarizing positions. Since Calvinism subscribes to

predestination of individuals means the foreordaining of both their doings (including their response to the gospel) and their consequent destinies, this leaves a serious question of the role of a person’s free will in accepting the free gift of salvation. Is it truly free will or rather a response to “irresistible grace” based on God’s predestination? On the other hand, to Arminianism it is essentially God’s unconditional decision to provide means of grace, decisions about individuals’ destiny being secondary, conditional, and consequent upon foresight of how they will use those means of grace. This position presupposes that the believer chooses salvation independent of any holy influence on God’s part other than His providence. Whereas to Calvinism, election is God’s resolve to save, and the cross Christ’s act of saving, for Arminianism salvation rests in the last analysis neither on God’s election nor on Christ’s cross, but on a man’s own cooperation with grace, which is something that God does not himself guarantee.

Rather than get lost in the word salad of this exercise, determining the role that God the Father and God the Son play can be understood in looking at the principle of the drawing of God, as seen in John 6:44-45 and John 12:32. 

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws [helkoe – to draw or induce to come] him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.' Everyone who has heard [akouo – to comprehend] and learned [manthano – to know more fully] from the Father comes to Me.          John 6:44-45 

Drawing

These verses suggest that there is an energy originating with the Father that is inducing individuals to come to Him. According to John 12:32, that drawing (same Greek word) occurs when Jesus is lifted up, in reference to the bronze serpent to which the people needed to look to (Numbers 21:9) in order to heal the serpent’s bite. If the snake venom is compared to man’s sin condition, it is Jesus and His sacrifice that become the healing source.   

In Verse 45, it is the one who comprehends the instructions of God and is motivated to know those instructions more fully is the one who comes to the Father, through His Son (John 14:6). According to Barnes Notes regarding this verse: 

In the conversion of the sinner God enlightens the mind (John 6:45), he inclines the will (Ps 110:3), and he influences the soul by motives, by just views of his law, by his love, his commands, and his threatenings; by a desire of happiness, and a consciousness of danger; by the Holy Spirit applying truth to the mind and urging him to yield himself to the Saviour. So that, while God inclines him, and will have all the glory, man yields without compulsion; the obstacles are removed, and he becomes a willing servant of God.                Barnes Notes 

Grace vs. Works

This explanation suggests that the drawing energy of the Father can be characterized as right motives, accurate views of His Word and laws, consequences of ungodly actions, and a strong urging to recognize Jesus as Lord. In this cause, God gets the glory for all of His influences while the believer still maintains the free will to resist these urgings if he so chooses. This position does not mean that exercising faith is work. According to Jeremiah 31:2-3, this drawing is motivated by His lovingkindness to deliver the believer to find his rest. The grace of God is always the environment whereby salvation is received, on the basis of faith (Ephesians 2:8) and the believer exercises his faith independent of God’s complete control over his actions. The strength of the relationship with Christ (in Christ) as new covenant believers is in the structure and power of that relationship, thus guaranteeing a finished work. 

"But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go work today in the vineyard.' And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he regretted it and went. The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, 'I will, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.              Matthew 21:28-32

Willing and Obey

Free will is not only an important part of becoming a believer, but it is critical in determining the quality of the believer’s life as he finds his calling and his place in the kingdom of God. In the above parable, Jesus was addressing the Pharisees and their questions about where His authority came from. He was teaching that the Pharisees were not accepting the ministry of John the Baptist while the prostitutes and tax collectors did believe him. Exercising free will is not just an agreement in word, but it must also include a completion of the act from a believing heart. Isaiah 1:18-20 speaks to this principle and the blessings related to that completion: 

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. “If you consent [abah – be willing] and obey [shama – to hear, pay attention to], you will eat the best of the land; “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken. 

God is Gracious

The completion of exercising one’s free will in reference to his relationship with God is obedience (hupakouoe –to hearken with stealth, stillness, or attention in order to respond), an interest in paying close attention to the will and purposes of God. This process is the end result of Jesus becoming high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. In Hebrew 5:9-10, And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey [hupakouoe] Him the source of eternal salvation. 

And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. “Go and proclaim these words toward the north and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares the Lord; ‘I will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious,’ declares the Lord; ‘I will not be angry forever. ‘Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God and have scattered your favors to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ declares the Lord. ‘Return, O faithless sons,’ declares the Lord; ‘For I am a master to you, and I will take you one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.’             Jeremiah 3:11-14 

The Lord will continue to draw each one to Himself, no matter how much he is faithless, as Judah was, or which Christian doctrines govern his life, Calvinist, Arminian, or whatever with the goal that the reconciled believer will learn to freely exercise his will and walk with his God.