This paragraph from Phil Johnson nicely describes the dilemma many non-"doctine of election" types have. They insist that we are arguing that man doesn't have a will when we are actually arguing that man does have a will, the question is to what extent is it free.
Our will is free to choose according to our desires, but it is not free to determine those desires. The will is free in the sense that our choices are not forced upon us or compelled by external pressure. But our will is not "free" in the sense of being sovereign over our moral nature. We cannot by an act of will change our character for the better. That is the whole point of Jeremiah 13:23: The sinner has exactly as much ability to turn his own heart to do good as a cheetah has to will his spots away.
Here's the rest of Johnson's post.
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2 comments:
No argument here. I say stay stuck.. it's best. Nice post by Phil too.
Rick
Irenaeus wrote:
"But if some had been made by nature bad, and others good, these latter would not be deserving of praise for being good, for such were they created; nor would the former be reprehensible, for thus they were made [originally]. But since all men are of the same nature, able both to hold fast and to do what is good; and, on the other hand, having also the power to cast it from them and not to do it,-some do justly receive praise even among men who are under the control of good laws (and much more from God), and obtain deserved testimony of their choice of good in general, and of persevering therein; but the others are blamed, and receive a just condemnation, because of their rejection of what is fair and good."
I recommend reading through Irenaeus' view on "free will". It seems very much that as Paul pointed out, man made choices from his will "Romans 1 speaks of rejecting the truth in exchange for a lie" and that even Angels were created with the ability to do good or not.
I see that the core of this comes to what Irenaeus concludes that we offer up ourselves as part of creation and that He makes us "good".
"Offer to Him thy heart in a soft and tractable state, and preserve the form in which the Creator has fashioned thee, having moisture in thyself, lest, by becoming hardened, thou lose the impressions of His fingers. But by preserving the framework thou shalt ascend to that which is perfect, for the moist clay which is in thee is hidden [there] by the workmanship of God. His hand fashioned thy substance; He will cover thee over [too] within and without with pure gold and silver, and He will adorn thee to such a degree, that even "the King Himself shall have pleasure in thy beauty."625 But if thou, being obstinately hardened, dost reject the operation of His skill, and show thyself ungrateful towards Him, because thou weft created a [mere] man, by becoming thus ungrateful to God, thou hast at once lost both His workmanship and life. For creation is an attribute of the goodness of God but to be created is that of human nature. If then, thou shalt deliver up to Him what is thine that is, faith towards Him and subjection, thou shalt receive His handiwork, and shall be a perfect work of God."
It is in the choice of humility versus pride we find Life in Christ... for God gives grace to the humble and resists the proud. True submission comes from realizing apart from God there is not salvation for our own sins... it is owning our sins and knowing we must pay, yet turning to God and falling into His mercy to receive His Grace through the works of Christ Jesus and not our own.
Be Blessed,
iggy
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