WCF 9.4

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 corruption, he doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.

Proof texts

• Col. 1:13 — [13] He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
• John 8:34, 36 — [34] Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
• Phil. 2:13 — [13] for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
• Rom. 6:18, 22 — [18] and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. [22] But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
• Gal. 5:17 — [17] For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
• Rom. 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

1. The Assembly cited Col. 1:13 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
2. 6 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
3. WSC Q29 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
4. WSC Q30 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q29 · WSC Q30 · WSC Q31 · WSC Q32 · WLC Q57 · WLC Q149 · HC Q53 · BC 6.1 · BC 6.2 · BC 6.3 · CD 3.1 · SC60 2.2 · IAR 4.5 · SHC 2.3 · SHC 2.4