Two Definitions
Here are two alternative definitions of free will. The first is the typical definition demanded by Arminians (those who believe that a free will choice to believe brings about salvation): “The ability to choose between options, either of which could be actualized by the act of choosing.” The second definition was proposed by Jonathan Edwards: “The ability to choose as one pleases.” I will explain these in the pages that follow and defend the second one. In so doing I will discuss several problems that arise in seeking to understand free will.
The Bible Does Not Directly Address Free Will
Free will is assumed from passages that teach human responsibility.
Free will is never directly addressed in the Bible. Even in passages where prophets and others asked God why He allowed so much evil to harm the innocent, it was not discussed. The answer was never that God was committed to the principle of free will and determined that allowing evil was a necessary by-product of free will. The will of humans is discussed in the Bible and the New Testament has a Greek word for it, but its relative freedom of choice is not directly discussed. To derive our understanding we have to go by implications from other Scriptures.
The bible clearly teaches that humans are responsible, and the ‘free will’ assumption is that, if we are responsible, we must have free choice in the matter. However, if we say that in order for a person to be responsible, that person must be perfectly able to make correct choices to obey God—it is the same as rejecting the teaching of the Bible. The Bible teaches that humans are both responsible for their sin and in bondage to their sin. It teaches that God’s grace is necessary to deliver us from sin. If man were free to perfectly choose obedience, then someone other than Christ could have lived a sinless life and escape judgment based on human merit. That idea denies Paul’s teaching in Romans 3:9-18. Also, Paul teaches in Galatians 3 that the command to obey all of the Law or be cursed proves that those who are under the Law are cursed. Logically, if people had the ability to obey the Law perfectly, then it would not follow that being under the Law insured that they would be cursed. But Paul said that it did. This provides a fatal counterexample to any universal claim that responsibility implies ability.
Most free will theology is based on philosophical considerations that are imported to the discussion from outside the Bible. Since the Bible does not directly discuss the meaning of “free will,” the concept must be derived from passages about human bondage to sin and human responsibility and culpability before the Law of God.
________________
Above adapted from Critical Issues Commentary, Issue 92 – January / February 2006
The Battle Cry 
One of the other arguments I hear is directly out of pelagianism. The argument that states that God will never ask one to do something that they are unable to do….AND YET…does God not tell us to be PERFECT as our Father in heaven is perfect? This would seem He DOES ask us to do what we can not.
LikeLike
I think God does just that, ask us to do what we are unable to do, do demonstrate his power and sovereignty even over our salvation. Anyone who has ever been a parent has asked their own child to do something at some time that he/she could not do to demonstrate a point or two!
LikeLike
Rom12:1-2 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. [b]Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. [/b]
LikeLike
It’s funny that you are writing on this topic. We have just finished studying John 18:28-19:17. We had a lot of good discussion about Pilate and wether he was operating as a free-agent or not. It really caused me to think because Jesus told him that he would have no power of Him if the Father had not allowed it.
I have come to the conclusion that a lot of Christians mistake the terms “will” and “choices.” Sure we make choices on a daily basis and I do not think that God has us as puppets. We have brains and the ability to take in and cogitate the information.
The decisions and choices we make are controlled by a will by design. We are born into a fallen world and into a fallen nature. We are born into slavery. Now a slave can make choices on a daily basis, but the extent and realm of those choices are determined by his master. When we become Christians we are no longer a slave to sin (biblical proof that we are slaves and not free agents before salvation). I once heard a good illustration that when I go to the store I can buy anything I want — that’s free choice, but those choices are restricted to the inventory of that store and my budget. Someone else has already superimposed restrictions on my choices. When we are dead in our sins, we can make daily choices, but how can we choose to live and choose the highest good for ourselves? The last time I was at a graveyard I noticed that dead people are incapable of doing anything for themselves. There’s a reason that illustration was used in scripture to depict our condition as sinners.
We then becomes slaves of God when we are saved by His amazing grace. Bond Servants to the King. We cling desperately to Him for all things! We are still not a free agent. We have more freedom in Christ because we are no longer a slave to the prince of this world and our birth-nature.
Even Jesus Himself did not act as a free agent while on this World. He clung out of perfect love to the Father’s will! Now, if Christ Himself submitted His Will to the Father’s will, why do we ever think we have free will? If we are truly serving the Lord it is not in our strength and not of our own will. It is a fruit of His Spirit!
I am convinced that the only true free will that ever was and ever will be is the Triune God and that’s because God is the only One who can never be influenced by evil — anything else is subject to that influence, and therefore is not a true free will agent. Even satan is not a free will agent. He is restricted by God too.
Just some thoughts that have spinning around in my head! lol
LikeLike
Bob Dykan had it right – “You Gotta Serve Somebody”, It’s not a question of being a slave to something/someone, it’s ‘whose’ slave are we?
We do get confused between choice and free will. I really like the way Edwards put, a man is free to do what he pleases, What is ‘pleasing to do for the one living apart from Christ is altogether different from what a child of God through Christ is ‘pleased to do”, and we still have ‘issues’ with the old man rising up.
It pleased Christ to be obedient to his Father and ‘he set face like flint to the cross’!
LikeLike