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Theophile2 -> RE: The Christian and free will. (9/13/2008 12:42:24 PM)
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As one who prefers the way Reformed Theology explains the means and ways of God, I would offer the following as food for thought:
Reformed Theology sees the Bible as clearly stating that everyone begins spiritually dead (e.g. Ro 5:18-19, Eph 2:1-5, etc.). If we begin this way, if follows that a dead man can't get up off of the coroner’s slab, walk over to the doctor, and say “I hear you have a cure and can bring me back to life. I want you to do that for me.”
Within the natural world, humans are spiritually separated in separate “circles” (for lack of a better metaphor) to the left and to the right, much like they will be at the end of time. These "circles" do not have open doors, there are no bridges from one circle to another, there is no way for a human in his or her own power to traverse from one to the other. There is nothing any human can do of him or herself that can change what circle they find themselves in, as will be seen shortly, and what circle they find themselves in is awakened within them through the preaching of the Word of God (Ro 10:14)
On the left are the “goats” (Mt 25:32-33) … those who are spiritually dead (Eph 2:1-5). EVERYONE starts here, and called “natural man.” (1Cor 2:14, 15:44, 15:46; Ro 3:23; Ga 3:22; Eph 2:3).
Within the “Natural Man” circle, human beings are “spiritually dead” in their “old man” state (Ro 6:6; Gal 2:20, 5:24, 6:14; Eph 4:22; Col 3:5, 3:9-10) … being dead means you cannot do anything yourself – you can’t get up, you can’t walk, talk, think or believe, spiritually speaking (Mt 12:34).
Within the “Natural Man” circle, some grow worse and gravitate toward obviously evil activities (Ro 1:28-32). Some learn to behave in polite society, and gravitate over to the “I’m a good person” side of the line (Mt 19:17-22) – but this does not mean that they are regenerated to everlasting life in Christ (you being evil, know how to give good gifts – Mt 7:11). Theologians call this civil virtue. It is not being saved.
Everyone who is in the “Natural Man” circle, has the freedom of will to do whatever is according to their nature … their natural man, unregenerate, spiritually dead nature. (Ro 1:26, 28-32; Eph 2:3). Understand that the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, both end up being influential in a person’s decisions, those decisions being made in accordance with the person’s nature (Ex 4:21; De 2:30; Josh 11:20; 1Ki 22:22; Pr 16:9; Jn 12:40: Ro 1:21-32, 9:18; 1 Pe 2:8).
Everyone who remains to the left when it is time for the harvest are considered “Tares” and “dead branches” and “goats” and all found there will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (Mt 13:25-40, 25:41; Jn 15:6)
On the right are the “sheep” … those who are spiritually regenerated. Only those whom God picks up out of the left and places in the right (“translated” or “transferred” Col 1:13; Rom 8:28-30, 1:6-7, 9:11, 9:23-24; Acts 13:48; Gal 1:15; Eph 1:9-10, 3:11; 1Th 5:9; 2Th 2:13-:14) are found here, and undergo a process called “sanctification.”
Within this “Sanctification” circle, human beings are “spiritually regenerated” in their “new man/new creation” state. (1 Cor 6:11; 1Ti 4:5; He 2:11, 10:10; 2Ti 2:19; Php 1:6; 1Pe 5:10)
Within the “Sanctification” circle, some grow worse and backslide for a time (Mat 15:11-32; Lk 22:31-32), but never lose the gift of salvation given to them by God (Jn 6:37-40; Rom 8:15-17, 23; 2Co 1:22, 5:5; Gal 4:6; Php 1:6) through a faith in Christ that is also given to them, that not of their own (Ro 3:24-25; Eph 2:8-10).
Within the “Sanctification” circle, some learn to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and gravitate toward walking in “the way” / walking “in the Spirit” / “bearing much fruit” etc. that exhibits a life wholly submitted to Christ, such as could be found in the lives of Mother Theresa or Billy Graham. This is not to say they are super-beings or without sin (1Jn 1:8), rather they have learned to die to themselves daily (2 Cor 5:15; Ga 2:20).
Everyone who is in the “Sanctification” circle, has the freedom of will to do whatever is according to their nature … their regenerated, new creation, spiritually alive nature that is upheld, strengthened, guided, and motivated by the Holy Spirit to please God. (Ro 8:1, 4; Ga 5:16, 25; 2Pe 1:4). Understand that the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, both end up being influential in a person’s decisions, those decisions being made in accordance with the person’s nature (Ro 8:28; 1Jn 4:19).
Everyone whom God places on the right (Col 1:13; Eph 1:4), at the time of the harvest are considered “wheat” and “olive branches” and “sheep” and all found there will be awarded an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. (Mt 13:25-40)
HOWEVER … notice two things:
First, that those in the “natural man” circle who have learned to be civilly virtuous may be difficult to differentiate at time from those in the “sanctification” circle. Likewise, those in the “sanctification” circle who are backslidden may be difficult to differentiate from those in the “natural man” circle (1Ki 18:21; Josh 24:15). It can be difficult to tell the difference.
For this reason, secondly, there is a comment about both Tares and Wheat being in the same field (Mt 13:25-40). Although natural man and regenerate man are in different “worlds” (circles) spiritually, physically they are in the same world, and can find each other in the same job environment, or even in the same church together. When wheat and tares are immature plants, it is very difficult to tell the difference. But when they are full grown and it is time for the harvest when they each bear their own fruit according to their nature (Mt 7:17-20; 12:33), THEN the tares will be cut down and the wheat will be harvested.
The reason Jesus says to wait to the end when HE does the harvest, not allowing other stalks of wheat to do the harvest, is because we humans do not know what is in another person’s heart. Only Christ can see what is in someone else’s heart (1Sa 16:7; 1Ki_8:39; 1Chr 28:9; 2Chr 16:9; Ps 7:9, 139:2; Pr 15:11, 16:2; Jer 11:20, 17:10, 20:12; Acts 1:24; Heb 4:13; Rev 2:23) and what His good and perfect timing is to pluck someone from the natural man circle and plant them in the sanctification circle – if at all. Therefore, we are admonished to bear with one another (Col 3:13; Rom 15:1-2; 2Co 6:6; Gal 6:2; Eph 4:2, 4:32), and realize that our ONLY job is to speak the Good News, allow the Holy Spirit to plant, water, and harvest, and God will sort people out in the end. This does not mean that we cannot admonish people for their bad behavior (1Cor 5:9-13; Ga 6:1), but what we cannot do is judge people in terms of whether or not they are going to heaven or hell. Only God knows that (Mt 7:21-23; Lk 23:39-43).
The Westminster Large Catechism has a plethora of scripture references to back up this line of thinking and do so in a much more comprehensive manner.
The Westminster Large Catechism
Institutes of the Christian Religion
Charles Hodge Systematic Theology
Blessings to all ... “preserve unity in essentials, liberty in non-essentials, and charity in both” (- Rupertus Meldenius, circa 1627)
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