I here pass by arguments of great strength drawn from the purpose of grace, from the promise, from the power of the law, from original sin, and from God’s election; every one of which by itself could utterly overthrow ‘free-will’, thus: If the source of grace is the predestinating purpose of God, then it comes by necessity, and not by any effort or endeavour on our part. (Luther, The Bondage of the Will)
In these few words Luther points to something which actually does overthrow the doctrine of ‘free-will’ and any hope that those who place in their ‘free-will’ may think they have. In other words, this is not just about some metaphysical teaching which has little to do with anything if anything at all. This is at the heart of the Gospel of grace alone. The doctrine of ‘free-will’ cannot be maintained in face of the covenant of grace, the promises of grace, and from the doctrine of election which shows that men are saved by the choice of God and not their own choice. These things show that men are saved entirely by the grace of God and not by anything they are, have done, are doing, or could possibly do. Salvation is by grace alone and God alone can show grace as He pleases for grace to be grace.
Ephesians 1: 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
Ephesians 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Romans 9:23 And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,
1 Timothy 1:14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. 15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
Luther takes us back to the source of grace and the reason for grace, which is precisely what the Bible does over and over again though it may not use that exact language. The source of grace is either in God and His purposes or from man and his purposes. This is utterly vital in terms of the nature of grace and the Gospel. Sinners must not just know about Christ; they must actually and really have Christ. Sinners must not just know that Christ is life; they must actually have Christ as their life. The source of this life is either Christ or the will of self. The source of this life either comes as a result of God’s choice or of man’s choice. I Corinthians 1:30 states that “it is by His doing you are in Christ Jesus”, which shows that it is the work and will of God that puts man in Christ rather than the work and will of man that does so. The source of grace is God Himself and cannot be by the choice of man.
The reason for grace is either God showing grace to the praise of His glory or of man choosing grace to save himself. The reason for grace in the life of those who profess to be saved is either the grace of God in a person moving that person to share in the life and love of God and so that person desires grace that God may be glorified or a person choosing grace from selfish (includes selfish religious purposes or reasons too) reasons. The doctrine of ‘free-will’ is an attack on both the source of grace and the reason for grace. A will that is truly free is free from sin and from grace and so does not need grace and as such will never choose true grace for the glory of God. A will that could be truly free (hypothetical) would never have the same purposes for grace that God does and so the ‘free-will’ would overthrow God’s purposes of grace. This is precisely what happens in churches where the doctrines of grace are not loved and the doctrine of ‘free-will’ is set forth. Though the name of God is used along with the names of Jesus and the Spirit, they are just there to help the ‘free-will’ along. But true grace shows us that the triune God does not just help people, but true grace is the triune God working in people by grace to make them lovers of His grace and glory. Grace comes to human souls because of God and His purposes rather than because of the human will and human purposes. It is the difference between a God-centered universe and one in which all things are contingent on the arbitrariness of the human will free of God.
God Loves... Himself 
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