1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, Chapter 9.1 The Freedom of the Will

Table of Contents

• The Text
• The Chapter
• The Confession
  • God hath endued 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

The Text

Genesis 1:27 (CSB) So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

The Chapter

God hath endued 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.

The Confession

God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice

Because we are made in the image of God, we have been gifted with a mind, heart, soul, emotions and a will. God has made us to achieve, work, create, love, and to choose and act upon that choice.

Matthew 17:12 (CSB) “But I tell you: Elijah has already come, and they didn’t recognize him. On the contrary, they did whatever they pleased to him. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

that it is neither forced

James 1:14 (CSB) But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire.

This is not a forced decision. This is a not a reprogramming or a flip of the switches. Again, our wills are corrupted. Our souls are in decay. Our minds follow the flesh. Our hearts are cold as rocks. Try reprogramming a rock. Doesn't make sense, does it? Then why would God flip a couple switches in our minds, hearts, and wills as though we are some kind of robots?

nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil

Deuteronomy 30:19 (CSB) I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,

There is nothing in nature, circumstance, fixed, destiny, mechanical, or physical forcing you to choose life or death. This decision that stands before you is not coerced. It is not forced.

We outright reject fatalism--that our predetermined actions are inevitable and there is nothing you can do.

Make no mistake: there is a choice to be made. Follow God or descend into death.