Of Free Will
1689 London Baptist Confession · 9.1–9.5
9.1. Of Free Will
God hath indued the Will of Man, with that natural liberty, and power of acting upon choice; that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.
Proof texts
- Matthew 17:12 — [12] But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.”
- James 1:14 — [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
- Deuteronomy 30:19 — [19] I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Matthew 17:12 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 3 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WCF 9.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WCF 9.1 · WCF 9.2 · WCF 9.3 · WCF 9.4 · WCF 9.5 · WLC Q57 · WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · HC Q53 · SD 9.1 · SD 9.2 · SD 9.3 · SD 9.4 · SD 9.5
9.2. Of Free Will
Man in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power, to will, and to do that which was good, and well-pleasing to God; but yet was mutable, so that he might fall from it.
Proof texts
- Ecclesiastes 7:29 — [29] See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.
- Genesis 3:6 — [6] So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Ecclesiastes 7:29 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 2 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WCF 9.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WCF 9.1 · WCF 9.2 · WCF 9.3 · WCF 9.4 · WCF 9.5 · WLC Q57 · WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · HC Q53 · SD 9.1 · SD 9.2 · SD 9.3 · SD 9.4 · SD 9.5
9.3. Of Free Will
Man by his fall into a state of sin hath wholly lost all ability of Will, to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in Sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself; or to prepare himself thereunto.
Proof texts
- Romans 5:6 — [6] For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
- Romans 8:7 — [7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
- Ephesians 2:1, 5 — [1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved —
- Titus 3:3-5 — [3] For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. [4] But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
- John 6:44 — [44] No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Romans 5:6 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 5 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WCF 9.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WCF 9.1 · WCF 9.2 · WCF 9.3 · WCF 9.4 · WCF 9.5 · WLC Q57 · WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · HC Q53 · SD 9.1 · SD 9.2 · SD 9.3 · SD 9.4 · SD 9.5
9.4. Of Free Will
When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of Grace he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin, and by his grace alone, enables him freely to will, and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that by reason of his remaining corruptions he doth not perfectly nor only will that which is good; but doth also will that which is evil.
Proof texts
- Colossians 1:13 — [13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
- John 8:36 — [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
- Philippians 2:13 — [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
- Romans 7:15, 18, 19, 21, 23 — [15] For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. [18] For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. [19] For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. [21] So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. [23] but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Colossians 1:13 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- 4 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
- WCF 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WCF 9.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WCF 9.1 · WCF 9.2 · WCF 9.3 · WCF 9.4 · WCF 9.5 · WLC Q57 · WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · HC Q53 · SD 9.1 · SD 9.2 · SD 9.3 · SD 9.4 · SD 9.5
9.5. Of Free Will
The Will of Man is made perfectly, and immutably free to good alone, in the state of Glory only.
Proof texts
- Ephesians 4:13 — [13] until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
For discussion
- The Assembly cited Ephesians 4:13 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
- WCF 9.1 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
- WCF 9.2 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
Read alongside
WCF 9.1 · WCF 9.2 · WCF 9.3 · WCF 9.4 · WCF 9.5 · WLC Q57 · WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · HC Q53 · SD 9.1 · SD 9.2 · SD 9.3 · SD 9.4 · SD 9.5