In the book of Genesis at the creation of man an example of free will is seen in light of Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were created in the image of God with a free will. They were free to choose right from wrong concerning the Divine Law of a Creator. Unfortunately they chose wrong and violated Divine Law. By choosing wrong (violating Divine Law) the original sin was committed. Through that offense humanity would no longer be in perfect harmony with God. As a result of the Original Sin... God cursed the serpent, the earth, the man, and the woman. Humanity was now subjected to sins natural dominion. The affects from the curse of the fall formed a divide between the spiritual and natural man and his eternal life or eternal death. Adam’s disobedience affected the natural and eternal make-up of man which thus changed mans future relationship with God. Only a Saviour could restore humanity with what Adam lost.
• Rom 5:19…For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
The moral make-up of all humanity was changed after Adams divine nature from creation was lost. After the fall, a natural man was no longer born with free will like Adam had at creation. Why? Darkness crept into the soul of man as a consequence from the Original sins' broken communion with the Creator. Eternal life like Adam had when he was created ceased within humanity. Death and separation from God for humanity began at that point of time and thus passed into human conception. As communion ceased like Adam and Eve shared with God in the Garden of Eden a natural born child was thus separated from a God given Eternal life from birth. Unlike Adam and Eve who were divinely created beings in perfect holiness, the natural born child in a fallen state of being is born under the self-centered dominion of sin. For this reason the sinful nature within every child conceived was a direct product of the Original Sin. Darkness from Adams sin passed into the make-up of every child born throughout the history of mankind and thus produced spiritual death and a natural separation from God.
• Ps 51:5…Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
• Ps 58:3…The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
Although not guilty (until the age of accountability) a child’s fallen state of being is unholy and morally polluted. A propensity of sin through human nature has sway within every child’s action, every child's intellect, and every child's mental process. The mind and will of man is controlled by a carnal faculty within the human being itself. The natural inclination of man outside the Spirit of God is ruled by self sufficiency and opposition to the Law of God. There is by no means any indication of free will here. This negative inclination proves what a natural man is without Christ. It also indicates how a natural man will choose and decide according to the Divine Law of God.
• Eph 2:3…whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath
• 1 Cor 2:14…But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them
With the exception of Adam and Eve before the fall the doctrine of free will is not recorded or taught anywhere else in the Bible. The Bible doesn’t teach the will of man is free to do right. Only the opposite is true. The subject of mans will being free is based only on opinion and tradition…not the language of the Bible. Contrary to the free will doctrine the Bible does teach the will of man is enslaved to indwelling sin.
• Rom 7:18-20…For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
The first Biblical account of inherited depravity was seen in Cain who murdered his brother Abel. Murder had never been witnessed in humanity nor did it come through example. It was birthed in the heart of Cain.
• Gen 4:9-10…And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground
David in the Psalms confirms that a child in the womb of its mother is conceived in sin.
• Ps 51:5…Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
• Ps 58:3…The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
David emphasizes the fact that the inclination of a child to lie isn’t imparted through association from the paren or sinful man...but comes through conception itself.
Isaiah the prophet taught that the mind and ways of man were contrary to the mind and ways of God.
• Isa 55:8-9…For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Jesus knew the condition of mans heart was to love darkness and hate light.
• John 3:19-20…men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Outside of creation the doctrine of free will is not recorded or taught anywhere in the Bible. The Bible doesn’t teach the will of man is free to do right. Only the opposite is taught. The subject of mans will being free is only human opinion or religious tradition. Contrary to such teaching the Bible does teach the will of man is enslaved to indwelling sin.
• Rom 7:18-20…For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Granted, Adam was created by God with a free will. Adam and Eve did have the ability to choose right from wrong but the carnal nature didn’t exist then. The propensity of sin comes through the seed of a natural man and is birthed into humanity since the fall of Adam and Gods curse upon humanity. Its ripple affect throughout the covers of the Bible was indwelling sin which thus affects human choice and reasoning to do right in the eyes of God. Man is no longer free to do right but under the control of sin.
• Rom 3:9-10…for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
• Rom 7:14…but I am carnal, sold under sin.
So the question arises, “How does man whose will is controlled by sin reunite to a right standing with God?” The only bridge between the frailty of man and the power of God is for a penitent sinner to believe from the heart...the death of Christ for personal forgiveness of sins. Gods Grace and the Holy Spirits presence through hearing the Word of God affects the human will enough to help man to change his mind to repentance. Godly sorrow which comes from the presence of the Holy Spirit works repentance in the soul of sinful man. Believing and trusting the person of Christ opens the heart and frees the conscience of sinful man from the guilt of sin. Justification, God's declaration of man's pardon from sin (when he believes in Christ), grants the penitent a right standing in the presence of God.
The affects of Gods Grace touch the human will when sinful men hear the word of God through preaching. The power of Christ affects the human will enough to lead men to repentance. In repentance the Holy Spirit's witness gives man a new desire to recognize Christ and quit doing wrong. This convicting work of the Holy Spirit helps carnal men to change their minds and trust Christ alone for the forgiveness of sins. Regeneration of the soul in the new birth takes place when man changes his mind and believes the person of Christ from the penitent heart.
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