What About Man’s Will? Is man free to choose God in his fallen state? Some Christians say yes. Or, is he unable to choose God because he is bound by sin as others say? This question has been around throughout church history. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin and Jonathan Edwards were all united in saying that apart from the grace of God in quickening the mind and soul, no one would ever willingly turn to God or embrace the offer of salvation. Instead of turning to God man runs from God. Edwards said the problem is not with the will itself, since the will is simply the mind choosing what the mind deems best. The problem is with man’s moral nature which is opposed to God, is filled with sinful motives that flow from his corrupt nature. Edwards declared that the will is always free, we always choose what we judge best in a given situation. But as sinners we always judge wrongly. We think God is undesirable so we always resist Him and reject the Gospel. What can be done? The sinner cannot save himself. The state of the unsaved man or woman is humanly hopeless. But what is impossible for men is possible with God. A radical problem requires a radical solution and God provides it. “But God, who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (By grace you have been saved).” (Eph.2:4-5).
“But God” — these two words in and of themselves, in a sense, contain the whole Gospel. They tell us what God has done. They tell how God has intervened in a hopeless situation. We were dead in our sins but God performs resurrections. God reaches down to lost, ruined, trapped sinners and brings them spiritual life again. Paul just described the most desperate, deplorable, hopeless condition you could imagine. And then with just two words “But God”, he shows us what makes all the difference. Because I believe this I will not rest my hopes or my affections on anyone or any thing in this world— “But God”.
No comments:
Post a Comment