FREE WILL "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land" (Isaiah 1:19) -- Monday:
The term "free will," as ordinarily used, is not found in Scripture. Under the Law, there were "free will" offerings (Lev 1:3; 19:5; 22:19,29, NKJV). These were offerings for which no specific commandment concerning "amount" was given. Rather than being given out of sense of obligation, it was the individual's personal desire to give them. They were not compelled to do so. Paul wrote to Philemon of this kind of will. He appealed to Philemon to be gracious, "that your goodness should not be as it were by compulsion, but of your own free will" (Philemon 14, NASB). Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the churches of Macedonia who gave to the needs of others "beyond their means, of their own free will" (2 Cor 8:3, RSV). These are the ONLY references to "free will" in the Bible. It does not speak of a freedom of choice, but of an uncoerced desire to something for God.
When it comes to submission to the Lord, or the belief of the Gospel, Scripture presents the human will as requiring Divine empowerment. Thus the era of salvation was prophesied to be a time when God's people would be "willing in the day of Thy power" (Psa 110:3). It would be a time when the people would react to the Word of the Lord like Israel did to the building of the tabernacle, "whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work" (Ex 35:21-29). For Israel, the only earthly nation ever cultured by God, this was most unusual.
Nothing in Scripture suggests that the human will is exempt from the status of the unsaved, which is that of being "SERVANTS of sin" (Rom 6:20. Nor, indeed, is being "dead in trespasses and sins declared to exclude the human will. In fact, outside of Christ, the will is never said to be free, nor is it remotely suggested that such a condition exists. The "will" is not something that requires no deliverance at the hands of the Savior.
APPEALS TO THE WILL. Both God and Satan appeal to us through our will. We have been created so that sin and righteousness cannot be coerced. Satan cannot make us sin, any more than he could make Eve sin. Because man is in the image of God, our adversary appeals to our will; he draws us into sin through our own "lust," or desire (James 1:14). Using the lie and deception, the enemy of mankind strives to make us WANT what is wrong, and not want what is right. It ought to be noted that, in the natural realm, he has not failed in these efforts in a single instance, the Lord Jesus Himself being the solitary exception. Every son of Adam has failed the test of the will, confirming that it is not free. The Spirit does not diagnose every situation, or lead us to theorize about this. Rather, he simply escorts us to the end of time and says: "For ALL have sinned, and COME short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23). That is not an appropriate description for those who are, in any sense, "free." Yet, apart from Christ, that is the actual state of all people –they have sinned, and are coming short of God's glory.
God, on the other hand, also appeals to our will. The Gospel preeminently, and warnings secondarily, are appeals to us to prefer and choose the blessing. No one will ever come to the Lord until they want to. Nor, indeed, will anyone choose to embrace the Savior and live for Him until their desires are for Him and Him alone. If you hear the Gospel with an open heart, it will make you want Jesus, forgiveness, and an inheritance in heaven. What is more, this desire will not be casual, but dominating and compelling. This effect of the Gospel upon us confirms that it is "the power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16). In this regard, it ought to be noted that the Lord "opens" hearts so the people can respond appropriately to His appeals. Thus is it said of Lydia, "whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul" (Acts 16:14).
DIVINE APPEALS NECESSITATE CHOICE. The fact that God and Satan make appeals to us corroborates that our wills are involved. Although bond slaves to sin (Rom. 6:17), the blessing God offers must be chosen before it can be received. As simplistic as that may appear, you will also contend with contradictory thoughts – fiery darts thrown at you by the devil. If Satan can convince you that choice is not important, you will invariably choose the wrong thing. Every sin is, in fact, a result of choice, which is compelled by the will.
One glorious aspect of our salvation is its empowerment of the will. Of itself, the will is as impotent as the other aspects of our fallen nature. If men imagine that the Divine demand to "choose" assumes that we are, of ourselves, free to do so, then let them think again. Is it possible that when Jesus tells a man with a withered hand to "stretch it forth," the man has in himself the power to do so? When an impotent man is told, "take up thy bed and walk," does that suggest he has the power in himself to do so? It is obvious that this is not the case. Christ's word is accompanied by His power. As it is written, "His word was with power" (Luke 4:32). Jesus has jurisdiction over all things, including man's will.
This does not suggest men are to sit in despair, imagining that Jesus may not want them to receive the blessing. Jesus looks upon the heart, beholding both its capacity and inclinations. Where there is a soul that will behold him, who is intrigued with His Person and words, He will loose that soul from the grip of the wicked one. It is His nature to do so.
Those who want to come to Christ are empowered to do so – they have been made "willing in the day of His power." Those who want to repent are enabled to do so, for Jesus has been exalted to "give repentance" (Acts 5:31). Those who fervently desire to draw near to God and resist the devil are strengthened to do so. The lame man at the pool of Bethsaida confessed he WANTED TO BE MADE WHOLE, yet was powerless to make it happen (John 5:6-8). But when he believed the Word of Jesus, he was empowered to do what he wanted to do – take up his bed and walk!
Now, what about you? Do you want what Jesus offers? Then give God the glory. It is His presence and word that have enabled you to be such a person.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You that you did not leave me with a corrupt and failing will.