Free Will is a central concept in Christian theology that refers to the ability of human beings to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by divine intervention. The doctrine of free will is crucial for understanding human responsibility, sin, salvation, and the nature of the relationship between God and humanity. From a Christian perspective, free will is often discussed in relation to God’s sovereignty, grace, and predestination, with varying views across different theological traditions.

Biblical Foundations of Free Will

Human Responsibility and Choice

The Bible presents numerous examples of God giving individuals the freedom to choose, emphasizing human responsibility and moral agency.

• Deuteronomy 30:19: “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.” This verse highlights the ability and responsibility of individuals to choose between obedience to God and disobedience.
• Joshua 24:15: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua’s challenge to the Israelites emphasizes the freedom and responsibility to choose whom they will serve.
• Genesis 2:16-17: “And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.'” The command given to Adam and Eve implies that they had the free will to obey or disobey God, which they exercised when they chose to eat the forbidden fruit.

The Offer of Salvation and Human Response

The New Testament presents salvation as a gift offered to all, but it also emphasizes the necessity of a personal response to that offer, suggesting the exercise of free will.

• John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The phrase “whoever believes” indicates that belief is an act of the will, a choice to accept or reject God’s offer of salvation.
• Romans 10:9-10: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” This passage emphasizes the personal decision to believe and confess, underscoring the role of free will in salvation.
• Revelation 3:20: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Jesus’ invitation suggests that individuals have the freedom to respond to His call.

The Call to Obedience and Repentance

The Bible frequently calls people to repent and turn to God, which assumes that individuals have the capacity to make such a decision.

• Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, let us settle the matter, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” God invites Israel to reason with Him and repent, implying that they have the free will to choose repentance.
• Acts 17:30: “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.” The universal call to repentance assumes that people have the ability to respond to God’s command.

The Consequences of Choice

The Bible also teaches that the choices individuals make have real consequences, further supporting the concept of free will.

• Galatians 6:7-8: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Paul emphasizes the moral responsibility of individuals and the consequences of their actions.
• James 1:13-15: “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James underscores the role of personal choice in the process of temptation and sin.

Theological Perspectives on Free Will

The Early Church and Patristic Thought

The early church fathers generally affirmed the reality of free will, seeing it as essential for moral responsibility and genuine love for God.

• Justin Martyr (c. 100-165 AD): Justin emphasized that free will is a gift from God that allows humans to choose between good and evil. He argued that without free will, there could be no moral responsibility.
• Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 130-202 AD): Irenaeus taught that human beings were created with free will, which allows them to choose obedience or disobedience. He believed that free will was necessary for genuine relationship with God.
• Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD): Augustine is often associated with the doctrine of predestination, but he also wrote extensively on free will. Early in his career, Augustine argued that free will was essential for moral responsibility, but he later developed a more complex view that emphasized the necessity of God’s grace for the exercise of free will in a fallen state.

Medieval and Scholastic Theology

During the medieval period, theologians like Thomas Aquinas explored the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human free will, seeking to harmonize the two.

• Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274): Aquinas affirmed the reality of free will, arguing that human beings have the capacity to choose between different courses of action. He taught that God’s grace is necessary for salvation, but that grace does not override free will; rather, it enables the will to choose the good.
• Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109): Anselm also emphasized the importance of free will, arguing that free will is the ability to maintain righteousness and that it is necessary for moral accountability.

Reformation and Post-Reformation Views

The Reformation brought significant debate over the nature of free will, particularly in relation to God’s sovereignty and predestination.

• Martin Luther (1483-1546): Luther, in his work The Bondage of the Will, argued against the notion of free will as it was commonly understood, emphasizing that human will is bound by sin and that only God’s grace can enable a person to choose rightly. Luther believed that without divine intervention, human will is incapable of choosing God.
• John Calvin (1509-1564): Calvin emphasized God’s sovereignty and the doctrine of predestination, arguing that human free will is limited by sin. He taught that while humans make choices, these choices are ultimately determined by God’s sovereign will. Calvin is often associated with the doctrine of “total depravity,” which teaches that human nature is so corrupted by sin that, apart from God’s grace, individuals cannot choose to follow God.
• Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609): In contrast to Calvin, Arminius argued for the compatibility of God’s sovereignty with human free will. He taught that God’s prevenient grace enables all people to respond freely to the gospel, but this grace can be resisted. Arminius’ views laid the foundation for Arminianism, which emphasizes conditional election based on foreseen faith and the possibility of resisting God’s grace.

Modern Perspectives

In the modern era, views on free will continue to be shaped by the ongoing debate between Calvinist and Arminian perspectives, as well as broader theological and philosophical discussions.

• John Wesley (1703-1791): Wesley, the founder of Methodism, strongly emphasized free will and the role of human cooperation with God’s grace in the process of salvation. He taught that God’s grace enables, but does not coerce, human will, and that individuals must respond to God’s offer of salvation.
• C.S. Lewis (1898-1963): Lewis, a prominent Christian apologist, argued that free will is essential for genuine love and relationship with God. He believed that God’s desire for a loving relationship with humanity necessitates the existence of free will, even though it allows for the possibility of sin.
• Contemporary Evangelicalism: Many evangelical traditions emphasize the importance of free will, particularly in the context of evangelism and the call to make a personal decision for Christ. This perspective often emphasizes the universal availability of God’s grace and the responsibility of individuals to respond to the gospel.

Practical Implications of Free Will in the Christian Life

Moral Responsibility and Accountability

The doctrine of free will underscores the moral responsibility of individuals for their actions, including their response to God’s call to salvation.

• Romans 14:12: “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” This verse emphasizes personal accountability, which is grounded in the belief in free will.

The Call to Evangelism

Free will motivates evangelism, as it emphasizes the importance of inviting others to freely choose to follow Christ.

• Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The Great Commission reflects the belief that individuals have the ability to respond to the gospel, making evangelism a central task of the church.

The Experience of Temptation and Sin

Free will plays a crucial role in understanding the Christian experience of temptation and sin. Believers are called to exercise their will in resisting temptation and choosing to obey God.

• James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This verse highlights the active role of the believer’s will in resisting temptation.

The Importance of Discipleship and Spiritual Growth

Free will is also essential for understanding the process of discipleship and spiritual growth, as believers are called to actively cooperate with God’s grace in their sanctification.

• Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Paul emphasizes the cooperative relationship between God’s work and the believer’s will in the process of salvation and spiritual growth.

Conclusion

From a Christian worldview, free will is a foundational concept that underscores the moral responsibility of individuals, the genuine nature of love and relationship with God, and the importance of human response to God’s grace. Rooted in Scripture and developed through the history of Christian thought, the doctrine of free will has been variously understood and emphasized across different theological traditions. In practical terms, free will plays a crucial role in evangelism, moral accountability, and the process of discipleship. While the relationship between free will and God’s sovereignty remains a complex and debated topic, the Christian understanding of free will affirms that individuals are called to freely respond to God’s grace and to live lives of faithful obedience.