DOES MAN HAVE A FREE WILL?
Without question a man is free
to do anything he wants to do and has the ability to do. But all reasonable
people must acknowledge that a man's desires and abilities are limited by his
nature. A mother has the ability to strangle her nursing baby, but she has no
desire to do so; it would be contrary to her nature. The Ethiopian may desire
to change the color of his skin, but he has no ability to do so. No, man's will
is not absolutely free. It is limited and bound by his nature.
Because man by nature is a fallen, guilty, sinful,
and depraved creature, altogether without life toward God, our Lord declares
that with regard to righteousness, faith, and eternal life, man has neither the
desire nor the ability to obtain these things. They are altogether contrary to
his nature, and beyond his ability. The Lord Jesus Christ says, "Ye will
not come to me, that ye might have life" (John
Yet, in order to be saved, a man must come to Christ
in true faith, surrendering to him as Lord with a willing heart. How can this
be? God the Holy Spirit sovereignly comes to men and women who are dead in sin,
and gives them life in Christ. He creates a new heart and a new nature within
them. By the preaching of the gospels he calls them to Christ, with
irresistible grace and power; and they always come. Grace makes men willing to
come to Christ. Grace gives men the ability to come. And grace sees to it that
they do come. Well might every sinner cry out, "Heal me, O Lord, and I
shall be healed, save me, and I shall be saved" (Jer.