Free Will or Free Grace?
Calvinism. Predestination. Foreordination. Foreknowledge. Election. These are good, Bible words that have become the focus of a whole lot of debate. I used to be a Calvinist, but have come to define my own beliefs about God’s sovereignty without referencing the famous theologian. I still struggle with the issue of God’s sovereignty, and one of my great pet peeves is those who think they have it all figured out and neatly packaged in five nifty points.
As the debate rages on over the specific nature of God’s sovereignty, I can’t help but be struck by a well-known quote from our hero, Charles Spurgeon.
I do not come into this pulpit hoping that perhaps somebody will of his own free will return to Christ. My hope lies in another quarter. I hope that my Master will lay hold of some of them and say, “You are mine, and you shall be mine. I claim you for myself.” My hope arises from the freeness of grace, and not from the freedom of the will.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Though I’ve come to reject much of what modern Calvinism affirms, I actually love this quote. Why? For one thing, it affirms that it isn’t our free will that saves us. We sometimes make the successful leap from salvation by works to salvation by grace through faith, but then faith almost becomes a work, an effort on our part, and this is far from the truth. Salvation is by grace and is all of God.
It also affirms that grace is free to roam about, to divide and conquer. Often we see grace as passively available instead of actively working, but the New Testament presents to us a grace that is powerful and sufficient. So grace is free to save people within the sovereign will of the Creator. ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved.’
I’m still not a Calvinist. (Neither am I an Arminianist by any stretch of the imagination.) But I do affirm that our theology at times tends to trust God less and man more, to rely on human choice rather than divine intervention, and revolves around our energy and efforts rather than the work of God among the human race. Salvation is still and always will be a God thing – all God, without our help. Grace is free!
Brandon is first and foremost a follower of Jesus Christ. He's a husband to 
Greetings,
I do have a testimony to share on God’s Sovereignty . The Lord made Himself known to me by revelation, using the example of the potter and the clay . Romans 9:21
There is no teacher like the Holy Spirit ! No man could ever teach like that ! To see yourself as clay in the Hand of God will quickly teach you the “Myth” of Free-Will !
@Harold Brown -
Harold, thanks for weighing in. I rejoice in your coming to a thorough knowledge of what it means to be clay in the Potter’s hand. But I’d also have to advise you to be very careful when talking about receiving revelations. The Bible is the ultimate teacher and the Holy Spirit certainly speaks to the heart, but always in confirmation to the fully revealed Word of God.
I believe very strongly in God’s sovereignty, but also that every person makes free choices in perfect conjunction with God’s will.
Brandon,
Thanks so much for your insight. I love Spurgeon’s quote when asked how he reconciled free will and election. You likely know it but he said, “You don’t have to reconcile friends.” The danger is when we take an extreme view of one or the other at the expense of the “opposing” view. I believe, like you, that every person makes a free choice that is perfectly in line (or conjunction as you stated) with the sovereign will of God.
Bro. Brandon, I’m sorry to dig up one of your old posts and comment on it. :) But I have to say that I find myself in the exact same boat you are in. While I can’t say I’ve been a Calvinist, I do find myself very interested and exploring it. Mainly because of all the ruckus that has been stirred up toward those that lean that direction.
Like you, I honestly think the correct answer lies dead in the middle. God is indeed sovereign and maintains control over all the affairs of the world and mankind. Yet, the Holy Spirit draws all men unto Christ, and that is accomplished through the presentation of the Gospel. At the same time, man has the prerogative to either accept that message or reject it.
Frankly, when I look at the 5 points of the “TULIP”, I can honestly see some truth in all of those points. However, I cannot see a just and loving God choosing to save some, yet willingly condemn others to Hell. I can, however, see him willingly allowing someone to make that choice to reject Him, although He would be deeply grieved by anyone that would consciously reject such eternal hope.
Myself, I’ve always found myself wrestling with the concepts of predestination and election and figuring out how it all fits within the scope of how I believe. I reckon it shows that we’ll all know one day when we get to Heaven for sure!
Sorry to be so long, and thanks for your insights!
Tom,
I hear that question a lot, “How can a just and loving God choose to save some and willingly condemn others to Hell?”
I think the better question is, “Why would He ever choose to save any?”
We know that in the days of Noah, He wiped out the entire population except for six lone survivors because of the wickedness of the people. It is not outside of His character to direct His wrath at sinners. The thing is to understand that He is JUST; that is not diminished because of His love. He is JUST, and He is MERCIFUL. And as the prophet Hosea relates, He will have mercy on those whom He will have mercy. Ultimately, HE is God, and He can pretty much do whatever He likes (except sin). Doesn’t make it easy for our little minds to understand, but there it is.
Blessings,
Simple Mann
Simple Mann’s last blog post..Am I Really a Christian?