Free Will

God created man with the freedom to make choices!

When man was created he was given the will, ability, and power to make choices which pleased God. Man, in the fall into a sinful nature, retained the free will to make choices, but the power and ability to will spiritual good toward salvation has been lost…. “there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Romans 3:11).  This is not just some or most people but is all people.  This means the sinner is dead in sin and unable to convert himself by his own strength.  Yes, man has the freedom to make choices, but salvation is from God as Jesus said in John 6:44 and he re-emphasizes the point in verse 65, “He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.’” The ‘Father’ must make it happen or a person will not come to Jesus.  The doctrines of grace, original sin, being born again and others all fit together and they lead to God and his will and not the will of man.  Praise God for his marvelous grace.