Discussions about human ‘free will’ are always interesting but often run afoul and accomplish very little, except for those engaged in the debate coming away convinced more than ever that their particular opinions are the absolute truth of the matter. I think it safe to say that most of the difficulties that render objective discussion rather difficult revolve around not basing the discussion on a particular definition of the term ‘free will’ at the outset. We end up with individuals supporting whatever definition each of them brought to the discussion, designingly unavoidable arguments, and even shattered friendships. Sometimes, but not often, the ‘free will’ discussion ends amicably, with everyone patting each other on the back for their ‘insights’, proud of their individual opinions, having only skimmed or totally avoided what scripture tells us of the state of the human will.

Much of the time when we talk about ‘free will’, all we really mean is that we have freedom of choice, which is certainly true! Our lives are filled with instances of having to weigh options and choose one thing over another, from what cereal to eat for breakfast or what shirt to wear, that merely indicate ‘preference’, to other issues of far greater ethical or moral significance. Does the fact that we make ‘free’ choices necessarily mean that we are equally ‘free’ to choose any of the set of options available to us? 

Is the human will in some sort of neutral state, uninfluenced by anything outside of itself? That’s what ‘free will’ means to the vast majority of evangelicals these days. But is that true? What does scripture tell us about the human will?

Paul, in describing the characteristics of a good workman for Christ in relation to opponents of the gospel, says to treat them gently so that:

“. . .God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. – 2 Tim 2:25-26

Paul seems to  be saying that those who oppose the gospel are in ‘the snare of the devil’ and prisoners to to the will of the one holding them captive. Even more emphatically, Paul, in his letter to the Romans describes the condition of the man apart from Christ:

“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.” – Rom 6:6

Here Paul states that before encountering Christ and trusting in Him for salvation, we were ‘enslaved’ to sin. Sin is the ‘master’ of anyone who is apart from the saving grace of Christ.

In using the slave/master analogy Paul was only echoing Christ:

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

“They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.   . . .So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” – John 8:32-34, 36

Jesus told them, despite their objections, that before they believed in Him (the Son) and were set free, they were ‘slaves’ to sin.

Does that sound like ‘free’ will? Slaves do not have free will and are obligated to serve their masters. Concerning the matter of a lost person ‘choosing’ Christ all on his/her own, listen to Paul once again:

1Co 12:3  Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. (Emphasis mine)

The word ‘can’ is significant here. It means what it says – no one is able without the Holy Spirit to say Jesus is Lord. Put another way – it is not possible for anyone to ‘decide’ for Christ on his/her own, as the common definition of ‘free will’ would have us believe.

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) summarily describes the human will from the creation of Adam to it’s eventual state in glory.

CHAPTER IX.

Of Free Will.

1. God has endowed the will of man with such natural liberty that it is neither forced nor—by any absolute necessity of nature— determined to good or evil.

2. Man, in his state of innocence, had freedom and ability to will and to do what was good and well-pleasing to God, and yet not unalterably, so that he might fall from it.

3. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has completely lost all ability to choose any spiritual good that accompanies salvation. Therefore, an unregenerate man, because he is opposed to that good and is dead in sin, is unable by his own strength to convert himself or to prepare himself to be converted.

4. When God converts a sinner and brings him into the state of grace, he frees him from his natural bondage to sin, and by his grace alone he enables him freely to will and to do what is spiritually good. Yet, because of his remaining corruption, he does not perfectly nor only will what is good, but also wills what is evil.

5. The will of man is made perfectly and unchangeably free to do good alone, only in the state of glory.

So the question remains How ‘free’ is the human will? No soapbox or opinion here, just a question that needs asking in light of how ‘free will’ is these days commonly defined. Let the Bible speak.