Different Conceptions
As language deteriorates, fewer words remain in our common vernacular for us to express ourselves. This has an effect on how we think. With fewer phrases to express nuance, we may use the same word to express two similar concepts without regard for the subtle differences between.
This happens often when it comes to discussions regarding “free will”. On the surface, a person has free will if they are not forced into making choices. An extreme opposite would be some concepts of fate, where people are effectively stuck watching their lives unfold without any meaningful input of their own. Should they desire to resist their destiny, they will be fighting uphill and (in many cases) find their efforts land them doing the very thing they intended not to.
Our life experiences are that our choices are always our own. Sure, we may be tempted by outside influence, but ultimately even caving to temptation is a choice we know we could have made differently. Then it’s settled right? We have free will.
However, digging a bit deeper there are more distinctions to be made. Is a choice “free” only if the person makes it entirely arbitrarily or can they be free even if there are reasons for them? If their desires are determined by their own nature, in a sense, their choices are “predetermined” but every one of them is exactly what they, themselves, willed. They were free to will as they would but they only “would” a certain way.
If we have a will that is free even from our own natures, it makes no sense to jail murderers. They’re no more likely to choose violence the next morning than the grandma down the street who gives the neighborhood kids cookies (you trusted what was in those cookies?!) However, if our natures determine our desires than our choices are deterministic even though nothing else is forcing them.
To The Word!
By now a lot of readers are probably thinking this is an unnecessary philosophical distinction that really doesn’t matter, but it has a huge impact upon our understanding of the nature of man, God, and even our salvation. Therefore, it is important for Christians to consider this topic and to do that we’re going to need to depend upon God’s word!
First, is our will determined? If so, how?
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Luke 6:43-45
This is a reoccurring theme in the earthly ministry of Jesus. The things which a man does and says are a direct reflection of what is in his heart. Often discernment is needed. A kind word spoken may be a reflection of a person’s kindness or of the deceptive intent to flatter. However, in either case, the statement demonstrates the nature of the person (whether kind or deceptive). Out of the heart the mouth speaks.
This has massive theological significance in itself. If we make our choices out of our natures than the difference between belief and unbelief is one of nature. If we assume that man must first choose God, this would mean that believers are those who were born in some way superior to those who do not. Lest a humble heart be unable to bear these statements, I want to make clear that is not my understanding. However, it exposes the arrogance of what is often considered the more “humble” position regarding predestination (that all are equally called and believers are simply those who respond).
How Can Any Be Saved?!
If it’s true that none are born with a nature which seeks God, how then are any saved? After all, if our choices are determined by our desires and our natural desires are bent toward sin, than none of us would come to have faith. As Jeremiah rhetorically asked, “Can a leopard change his spots?” Yet even if we could change our nature, our will would be not to do so!
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthains 5:16-17
This is the way in which our faith itself is a gift from God and not of ourselves (Ephesians 2:8-9). He grants to those who are his a new creation. Though the flesh desired only base, sinful things, this new, God given nature longs for spiritual things. The gospel, which is the stench of death to those who are dying becomes a beautiful thing for those who are being saved (2 Corinthians 2:16). You do accept the gospel according to your will, but your will is different because God graciously saved you first.
God forces none to believe who do not wish to. He does not prevent any who do will to come to him either. Instead, he gives to those whom he wills a new nature which longs for him. All who remain in their sin do so because the choose to. All who come to Christ also do so because they choose to. The missing factor is why they choose to in the first place.
This is answered by the constant concept found both in the Old and New Testament that God is the one who grants a new heart according to his own will.
What’s The Point of Justice?
If only God can change the nature of man and to do so is the only way to truly change his will, what is the point in the justice system? It is a reasonable question given our (myself included) indoctrination into the idea that justice ought to be primarily rehabilitative.
Even if our desires remain the same, we have more than one. Even our base desires compete with each other. I may desire to avoid discomfort but also desire to be healthy. These competing desires may see me working out or consuming lazy entertainment. The availability of satisfying one or the other as well as the relative strength of those desires plays into the actions I take.
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:11
It’s not that these “children of man” wouldn’t desire to do evil if there were justice. However, seeing that they could get away with it, they had less competing interest to restrain themselves. They may desire to avoid jail or harsher punishments if they saw that as a consequence of doing evil. However, those desires are fulfilled either way when there is no enforcement of the good.
This is why God’s commands to government is about disincentivizing what is criminal (and rewarding what is right) rather than about “reeducating” and attempting to change a person fundamentally. Only God changes the hearts of men. Our job is to make being evil miserable and doing good rewarding.
Speaking of Competing Desires
If competing base desires makes a person complicated, the conflicts between the desires of the flesh and those of the spirit make things even more complex for a believer. This is the struggle that Paul talks about in Galatians 5.
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Galatians 5:17
He even refers to it as a war in Romans 7.
For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.
Romans 7:22-23
Gods law wasn’t evil or pointless but it wasn’t sufficient to save us from our old nature. Rightly followed, it would restrain sin nature (as all good laws do) but it was incapable of eradicating it nor could it produce true desire for what is good. Believers now are encouraged to live in the spirit and for the higher order desires that God has given to us, because in doing so we not only fulfill the purpose of the law of God but do so willingly rather than as a matter of mere obligation.
Understanding the role of being or nature in the discussion of will or desire is an important part about understanding how much we owe to God (for none, in themselves, could be saved) and even our own selves. Being honest about our desires and recognizing the competition between them can help us to stay focused on what is spiritual and not entertain the desires of the flesh.
