Luther gives Erasmus’ definition of ‘free-will” in the following quote: “‘Moreover, I conceive of “free-will” in this context as a power of the human will by which a man may apply himself to those things that lead to eternal salvation or turn away from the same.’” Luther then responds to that definition with words that applied to Erasmus but should also make people wake up today. The definition that Erasmus gave was what so many think is true today and is the root of so many so-called “gospel appeals.” Luther’s reply is a shot across the bow of practically every denomination today as well.
What shocking language Erasmus writes here. It is shocking in light of Scripture which teaches us that the human soul can do nothing apart from Christ. It is shocking in light of God who is absolutely sovereign in all matters and in all places. It is shocking in light of the nature of grace which does not and cannot respond to anyone or anything but God alone. God only saves to the praise of the glory of His grace (Eph 1:5-7). When a soul is saved by grace, it is not saved because of a decision it makes or what it does. It is saved because of the choice of God and His choice is always because of Himself.
Luther, in response to Erasmus, says this: “Erasmus informs us, then, that ‘free-will’ is a power of the human will which can of itself will and not will the word and work of God.” This is also what people today assert when they stand up for ‘free-will.’ Luther gets at the heart of the situation and what the real issue is. For a will to be able to do what Erasmus says it can (and all others who assert ‘free-will’) that is a will that can will the work of God. If the will can will the work of God, then “what is here left to grace and the Holy Ghost? This is plainly to ascribe divinity to ‘free-will’! For to will the law and the gospel, not to will sin, and to will death, is possible to divine power alone.”
While Luther would be hated today by many who think of themselves as Reformed he had a knack for getting to the heart of the situation and laying it bare for all eyes to see. When the real teaching of ‘free-will’ is set out, it can be seen that for a will to be free in the sense of being able to apply to self the things of God that means that the will is able to do what God alone can do. God alone is free to give grace as He pleases. While Scripture sets out so clearly that it is God alone who is able to be gracious to whom He will be gracious, at the heart of the ‘free-will’ teaching is the idea that man can apply grace to himself or not or at least make a decision that God responds to and so gives grace. In Exodus 33:18 Moses prayed this: “I pray You, show me Your glory!” The Lord responded with this in verse19: “And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.””
So Scripture shows that the glory of God is bound up with His showing grace to whom He will show grace to. Yet the teaching of ‘free-will’ is that man is able to apply grace to himself. Despite the protestations of others regarding this plain way of putting it, Luther was right. The teaching of ‘free-will’ is not only opposed to the Gospel of grace alone, it is also opposed to the sovereignty and glory of God. In a very real way ‘free-will’ is man trying to share in the glory and works of God. Yet Scripture tells us that God will not share His glory with another and that He saves to the glory of His grace. ‘Free-will’ is an attempt of man to be sovereign over himself and wrest that from God. ‘Free-will’ is the attempt of man to share in the glory of salvation. ‘Free-will’ is the attempt of man to apply grace to himself rather than look to the Lord to apply grace to him.
The Gospel of grace alone is under attack today from many places. One of those places is from those who assert ‘free-will’ and then those who will not stand up and declare what the teaching of ‘free-will’ really is. John Owen and many Puritans referred to ‘free-will’ as the idolatry of man. They were right. Yet today there are many in Reformed circles that think of ‘free-will’ as something that may not be quite right but does not effect the Gospel. It may not effect the gospel they preach, but the biblical Gospel of Christ alone and grace alone stands in opposition to ‘free-will” and its desire to ascend to the throne of the living God. The refusal to fight the teaching of ‘free-will’ and to join hands with those who teach it is a decision to stand against the Gospel of grace alone. You cannot have free grace and free-will at the same time unless it is God who has both of them. You cannot defend ‘free-will’ or those who teach it and free grace at the same time either. We live in a day where free grace is not truly defended much at all.
God Loves... Himself 
December 8, 2010 at 2:47 pm |
Your right! What you have said is what most hate. Why? because man is so full of pride, he thinks there must be something he can do. Most people are more R.C. than they want to admitt, most seek to add to what God alone can do. I just do not see why people do not see that these two cannot mix, they are like water and oil. It is either God’s way or Man’s way you cannot have a mixture but a mixture is what most believe.