Can I choose to open the gates of heaven and let myself in? Is it my free will to decide if I’m a follower of Jesus Christ? Let’s look at a classic conundrum of the church; the role of Free will and Predestination.
It seems the mere mention of “free will” always gets my engines revving. Why? First I think the term “free” will requires a definition. The Bible teaches (Romans 6:20-23) that people have a will, but in our fallen state, that will is a slave to sin and any choices made will always reflect a choosing of selfishness and evil. We cannot ever choose to believe in Jesus as the savior or even make decisions that are righteous. To interpret or believe otherwise amounts to an attempt to elevate man’s sovereignty above God’s.
Desiring to be our own god is a recurring temptation of man’s original sin. satan’s (lowercase intentional hehe!) encouragement to defy God’s rules and become a god ourselves is captured in Genesis 3 – “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” satan (lowercase again!) misled Eve telling her that she could become more like God by defying His authority. She could take God’s place and decide for herself what was best for her life. She could become her own god.
Here are some assertions of my thinking on this perplexing subject (which I believe accurately reflect Reformed/Presbyterian doctrine) in Q&A form. Remember, we can be loving brothers and sisters in Christ and not completely agree with these assertions and doctrines. There is only one line-in-the-sand assertion for a Christian – that we are saved from God’s right and just punishment for our sin only by His gift of Jesus and the sacrifice of a sinless death and resurrection – Jesus is the way, truth, and life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.
Predestination – It’s an Explicitly Biblical Term
“The Golden Chain” found in Romans 8:29-30 states – “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
Ephesians 1:4-5 – “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
What role then does our “free will” play regarding our final destination?
As a baseline, by our own efforts, no one is “good” enough to reunite with the Holy Creator after death – Paul in Romans 3 quotes Psalms and says, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
Until we are redeemed, our will is not free at all but enslaved by sin – Romans 6 – “When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.” The Good News is we are immediately and irreversibly redeemed the moment we first believe. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
Does our will/our decisions impact anything?
If one is not numbered among the elect, their decisions/choices/efforts/works cannot make them righteous enough to earn their way into heaven – Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
If one is among the elect, their will cannot affect their destination, but does seem to affect their reward (i.e. they cannot change their heavenly destination – that is a done deal but effort does impact their reward once in heaven) – Matthew 16:27 – “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.”
This is echoed in Paul’s letter to the Romans 2:6 – “God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” And again in 2 Corinthians 5 “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad” And finally from Revelation Jesus said, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done”.
If the chosen are already “in” and not-chosen are “out”, why do Christians bother to evangelize at all?
First, it is commanded – Matthew 28 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Second, as Christians we testify/preach the Good News to all since outwardly, we cannot know who is among the elect. Some who exhibit actions unbecoming a follower may be merely “lost” (like the thief on the cross) and need to hear the Word. Luke 19 – “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Romans 14 – “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”
Can one decline election or lose their salvation?
Not if you’re chosen by God. While many hear the gospel and reject it, the elect respond positively because of the Spirit’s work within them, not of their own intelligence, residual goodness, decision, insight, or luck. The elect cannot decline the gift of salvation because God’s grace is irresistible for those He has chosen. This does not negate human responsibility but underscores the transformative power of divine grace, ensuring that the elect will come to Christ willingly and joyfully. Philippians 2:13 states, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
John 6:37: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.”
Philippians 1 – “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
How do I know I’m among the elect?
Acts 16 – “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved”.
If I (think I) believe, what must I do or how does this manifest in my life? Do the chosen have any role or responsibility in their actions?
Matthew 5 – “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”
John 14:15 – “If you love me, keep my commandments.” which are enumerated in Matthew 22:36-40 – “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
So salvation is out of my hands, but do I do any of the work (of sanctification) or does the Holy Spirit do this for me?
John 14 – “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you”…”Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
By praying for the Spirit to rule your life, surrendering the will of your human spirit, one can finally repent (changing one’s mind) to understand and accept that the work of salvation has been done by Christ. Our role is to apply any gifts we’ve been given to glorify God.
James 2 – “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?”