A Little Noticed Contradiction in "Freedom"

It is plain wrong to say both that a person (1) has the “Free Will” to have faith in Christ but (2) not the “free will” to be justified by law, by one’s own righteousness. All Christians agree with the latter; many also assert the first statement even though these two claims (as will be shown) are contradictory.

 

All of Scripture attests to the fact that the fruit of our lives reflects. The condition of our hearts (Mt 7:16, 12:33; Lk. 6:43-44; Rom. 7:4-5). True faith is evidenced by good works (see James, 1 John, Hebrews) Faith without works is death (i.e. is not genuine faith). Yet, notice that in the above two statements, a person says that we are able to have faith in Christ (independent of grace, since the will is “free”; otherwise, it’s not free) YET this ability for faith should therefore imply the ability to do good works [again, independent of grace].  Does this not mean that we could be saved by works by virtue of our own inherent good, “free will” [apart from grace]?

 

However, this has never and can never be done. In fact, to assert such would be to deny the gospel. Galatians 2:21 plainly states, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”

 

That so-called “freedom” which theoretically makes faith possible without grace (hence, “freedom”) is the same that makes works based salvation theoretically possible. Yet, this is impossible!!! The key point often overlooked by “Free Will” advocates is that is it contradictory to say both that the will is “free” and in need of grace. {It is a simple side step and not a real solution to say grace makes free will…grace does not make one as if there was no grace}. If it also needs Spiritual grace, then it is not free of itself!! It is still a slave to impotence of sin.

 

How can we call slavery “freedom”?