John MacArthur – “I would define free will as this, man is free to choose whatever sin he wants.”
Steve Lawson – “Man does not have free will.”
John Calvin – “Men do nothing save at the secret instigation of God.”
What does the Bible say?
Lev 23:37-38 “These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day- besides the Sabbaths of the LORD, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the LORD.”
2Co 9:7 “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Jos 24:15-16 “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” So the people answered and said: “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;”
Gen 4:7 “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
Rev 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”
Jhn 7:17 “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority .”
1Co 7:37 “Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.”
If you believe the Bible then decide for yourself what you believe about free will. If you believe MacArthur then you have no choice in what you believe so go choose your preferred sin.
John MacArthur – “You cannot believe the gospel precisely because it is true. You are incapable of comprehending truth.”
This is a self defeating statement. If it is true then it is not true. Or, as stated, if you believe it to be true then that proves it is not true and that proves it is true. -Head spinning yet?
If man has no free will to believe truth then we cannot believe that man does not have free will, assuming it is true. The statement is self-defeating nonsense. If the argument is true then it is false.
The Bible never states you cannot believe the gospel. On the contrary, it plainly says over and over that you can and should.
Act 16:30-31 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Free Will Offering
If there is no free will then how can there be a free will offering? And if our free will can only choose sins then is the free will offering, instructed by God, an instruction to sin?
And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. – Lev 22:21
Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. – Lev 22:23
And will make an offering by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the LORD, of the herd, or of the flock: – Num 15:3
And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: – Deu 16:10
That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform; even a freewill offering, according as thou hast vowed unto the LORD thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. – Deu 23:23
And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. – Ezr 1:4
And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD. – Ezr 3:5
And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. – Ezr 8:28
Keep in mind that no one is claiming that we can save ourselves or that our free will in any way saves us. God saves. [period]. But when the bible tells us to repent, we can repent. When God’s word tells us to place our faith in Jesus Christ we can. And when we don’t we are responsible.
Dear Beloved Reformed Brother,
If Calvinism is true then I am wrong. If Calvinism is true then God determined for me to be wrong. If Calvinism is true then God has determined that I believe that I am right. If Calvinism is true then how do you know that God has not determined you to be wrong and believe that you are right?
If Calvinism is not true then you are wrong. If Calvinism is not true then God has not determined for you to be wrong. If Calvinism is not true then God has not determined that you believe you are right. If Calvinism is not true then you can know that God has not determined you to be wrong and believe that you are right.
“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – Jesus
Yours sincerely,
The rest of Christianity
by 