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The Believing Heart, Calamba (2025)

31/07/2025

Reformed Covenant Theology

The Bo***ge of the Will – A Modern English Abridgement

Argument 8: A whole fistful of arguments.
________________________________________
Romans 5:12 NASB
[12] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

1 Corinthians 15:22 NASB
[22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
________________________________________

The concept of free will—that human beings have the inherent ability to choose good or evil without being determined by their nature—is inconsistent with the biblical teaching about the condition of humanity after the Fall. The Scriptures teach that:
“We are all under God’s condemnation because of Adam’s sinful disobedience (Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 15:22). We all come under this condemnation at our birth, including those who have ‘free will’—if any such people exist! How then can ‘free will’ help us—except to sin and earn condemnation?”
________________________________________
Argument:
• The will is not morally neutral but is bound to sin (cf. John 8:34).
• What people call “free will” is in fact a will that is enslaved to sinful desires.
Thus, “free will” only serves to deepen condemnation, not to enable righteousness.
____________________________________

*Romans 5:12 (ESV)
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
• The “one man” is Adam. Through his sin, death (both physical and spiritual) entered the world.
• All people are counted guilty in Adam (federal headship), not merely by imitation but by imputation.
• This verse establishes original sin: we are born condemned—not neutral.
• John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans: “The sin of Adam is not to be understood merely as the first sin but as a sin that constituted all in guilt.”

*1 Corinthians 15:22 (ESV)
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
• “In Adam all die”: our union with Adam brings death.
• “In Christ shall all be made alive”: only those united to Christ are given spiritual life.
• Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 3: “There is no autonomous realm of human freedom that stands apart from the fall. The will, after the fall, is free only to sin.”

*We reject the doctrine of free will insofar as it teaches that the human will is morally neutral and that God passively waits for our consent in salvation. According to Scripture, the will of fallen man is in bo***ge to sin, and it is God who sovereignly initiates and accomplishes salvation by regenerating the sinner’s heart.”

*Moral Inability: We are not only unwilling but unable to choose God apart from grace (Rom 8:7–8; Eph 2:1–3).
• The so-called “free will” does not liberate; it condemns. It allows man to act according to his nature—and that nature is corrupt.
• As Martin Luther wrote in The Bo***ge of the Will: “Free will, without God’s grace, is not free at all, but is the permanent prisoner and bondslave of evil.”
•Jonathan Edwards, Freedom of the Will: argues that true freedom is acting according to one’s nature, but fallen man’s nature is bound to sin.
• R.C. Sproul, Chosen by God: “Free will does not mean that man can choose righteousness on his own.”

Soli Deo Gloria

31/07/2025

Reformed Covenant Theology

The Bo***ge of the Will – A Modern English Abridgement

Argument 8: A whole fistful of arguments.
________________________________________
Romans 5:12 NASB
[12] Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

1 Corinthians 15:22 NASB
[22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
________________________________________

The concept of free will—that human beings have the inherent ability to choose good or evil without being determined by their nature—is inconsistent with the biblical teaching about the condition of humanity after the Fall. The Scriptures teach that:
“We are all under God’s condemnation because of Adam’s sinful disobedience (Rom 5:12; 1 Cor 15:22). We all come under this condemnation at our birth, including those who have ‘free will’—if any such people exist! How then can ‘free will’ help us—except to sin and earn condemnation?”
________________________________________
Argument:
• The will is not morally neutral but is bound to sin (cf. John 8:34).
• What people call “free will” is in fact a will that is enslaved to sinful desires.
Thus, “free will” only serves to deepen condemnation, not to enable righteousness.
____________________________________

*Romans 5:12 (ESV)
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”
• The “one man” is Adam. Through his sin, death (both physical and spiritual) entered the world.
• All people are counted guilty in Adam (federal headship), not merely by imitation but by imputation.
• This verse establishes original sin: we are born condemned—not neutral.
• John Murray, The Epistle to the Romans: “The sin of Adam is not to be understood merely as the first sin but as a sin that constituted all in guilt.”

*1 Corinthians 15:22 (ESV)
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
• “In Adam all die”: our union with Adam brings death.
• “In Christ shall all be made alive”: only those united to Christ are given spiritual life.
• Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 3: “There is no autonomous realm of human freedom that stands apart from the fall. The will, after the fall, is free only to sin.”

*We reject the doctrine of free will insofar as it teaches that the human will is morally neutral and that God passively waits for our consent in salvation. According to Scripture, the will of fallen man is in bo***ge to sin, and it is God who sovereignly initiates and accomplishes salvation by regenerating the sinner’s heart.”

*Moral Inability: We are not only unwilling but unable to choose God apart from grace (Rom 8:7–8; Eph 2:1–3).
• The so-called “free will” does not liberate; it condemns. It allows man to act according to his nature—and that nature is corrupt.
• As Martin Luther wrote in The Bo***ge of the Will: “Free will, without God’s grace, is not free at all, but is the permanent prisoner and bondslave of evil.”
•Jonathan Edwards, Freedom of the Will: argues that true freedom is acting according to one’s nature, but fallen man’s nature is bound to sin.
• R.C. Sproul, Chosen by God: “Free will does not mean that man can choose righteousness on his own.”

Soli Deo Gloria

26/07/2025

Reformed Covenant Theology

The Bo***ge of the Will – A Modern English Abridgement

Argument 7: “Free will” has no value because works have nothing to do with a man’s righteousness before God.
_______________________________________
Romans 4:2-5 NASB
[2] For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. [3] For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” [4] Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. [5] But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

Works—even the best of them—cannot justify a sinner. The doctrine of total depravity (TULIP’s “T”) holds that fallen humanity is morally incapable of doing anything truly good in relation to God (Romans 3:10–12).
This is the heart of imputed righteousness—God declares sinners righteous on the basis of Christ’s righteousness credited to them through faith, not on the basis of anything inherent in them. (2Corinthians 5:21)
John Calvin, Institutes, III.xi.2: “Justification by faith is the hinge on which all true religion turns.” This underscores the monergistic nature of salvation: God alone works to save. There is no synergism—human cooperation in initiating salvation is excluded. rejection of neutral free will: Paul speaks of the one “who does not work” but believes. This supports the doctrine that faith itself is a gift (Ephesians 2:8–9, Philippians 1:29). following Augustine and Calvin, denies that the human will is morally neutral after the Fall.

• Martin Luther in The Bo***ge of the Will (1525) argues forcefully against Erasmus that the human will is enslaved to sin and cannot choose God apart from divine grace.
• John Owen, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, argues similarly: Christ died for the elect precisely because they could not and would not come to Him on their own. Abraham was justified by faith, not works, as an example of how all are justified before God.

• Faith itself is a gift, not a human work; it is the instrument of justification.
• Free will is not neutral; without regeneration, it is enslaved to sin.
• Justification is forensic—a legal declaration by God, not based on any inherent righteousness.

"God does not wait for your decision to save you. He sovereignly regenerates the dead heart and creates faith where there was only rebellion.”
— R.C. Sproul, Chosen by God

Soli Deo Gloria

26/07/2025

Reformed Covenant Theology

The Bo***ge of the Will – A Modern English Abridgement

Argument 7: “Free will” has no value because works have nothing to do with a man’s righteousness before God.
_______________________________________
Romans 4:2-5 NASB
[2] For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. [3] For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” [4] Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. [5] But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

Works—even the best of them—cannot justify a sinner. The doctrine of total depravity (TULIP’s “T”) holds that fallen humanity is morally incapable of doing anything truly good in relation to God (Romans 3:10–12).
This is the heart of imputed righteousness—God declares sinners righteous on the basis of Christ’s righteousness credited to them through faith, not on the basis of anything inherent in them. (2Corinthians 5:21)
John Calvin, Institutes, III.xi.2: “Justification by faith is the hinge on which all true religion turns.” This underscores the monergistic nature of salvation: God alone works to save. There is no synergism—human cooperation in initiating salvation is excluded. rejection of neutral free will: Paul speaks of the one “who does not work” but believes. This supports the doctrine that faith itself is a gift (Ephesians 2:8–9, Philippians 1:29). following Augustine and Calvin, denies that the human will is morally neutral after the Fall.

• Martin Luther in The Bo***ge of the Will (1525) argues forcefully against Erasmus that the human will is enslaved to sin and cannot choose God apart from divine grace.
• John Owen, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, argues similarly: Christ died for the elect precisely because they could not and would not come to Him on their own. Abraham was justified by faith, not works, as an example of how all are justified before God.

• Faith itself is a gift, not a human work; it is the instrument of justification.
• Free will is not neutral; without regeneration, it is enslaved to sin.
• Justification is forensic—a legal declaration by God, not based on any inherent righteousness.

"God does not wait for your decision to save you. He sovereignly regenerates the dead heart and creates faith where there was only rebellion.”
— R.C. Sproul, Chosen by God

Soli Deo Gloria

23/07/2025

Reformed Covenant Theology
The Bo***ge of the Will – A Modern English Abridgement

Argument 6: There is no place for any idea of merit or re-ward.

Romans 3:24
[24] being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
__________________________

These supporters of “free will” have given us a perfect example of ‘jumping out of the frying pan into the fire’.”
“In trying to preserve human responsibility through the doctrine of free will, Erasmus and his followers abandon the biblical doctrine of grace and plunge into the greater error of self-righteousness—substituting God’s sovereign mercy with human effort, thereby denying the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement and the very heart of the Gospel.”
Supporters of free will, like Erasmus, attempt to escape what they see as the fatalism of predestination by positing human cooperation in salvation.”this is not an improvement”—it’s a greater danger, because:
• It diminishes God’s sovereignty in salvation.
• It undermines sola gratia (grace alone).
• It leads to boasting in human merit, which Paul explicitly forbids.

For if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”— Galatians 2:21

In attempting to solve the “problem” of divine sovereignty by upholding free will, Erasmus inadvertently reintroduces the very works-based righteousness that Romans 3 and Galatians 2 condemn.

For further reading: Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 11:6

Soli Deo Gloria

23/07/2025

Reformed Covenant Theology
The Bo***ge of the Will – A Modern English Abridgement

Argument 6: There is no place for any idea of merit or re-ward.

Romans 3:24
[24] being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
__________________________

These supporters of “free will” have given us a perfect example of ‘jumping out of the frying pan into the fire’.”
“In trying to preserve human responsibility through the doctrine of free will, Erasmus and his followers abandon the biblical doctrine of grace and plunge into the greater error of self-righteousness—substituting God’s sovereign mercy with human effort, thereby denying the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement and the very heart of the Gospel.”
Supporters of free will, like Erasmus, attempt to escape what they see as the fatalism of predestination by positing human cooperation in salvation.”this is not an improvement”—it’s a greater danger, because:
• It diminishes God’s sovereignty in salvation.
• It undermines sola gratia (grace alone).
• It leads to boasting in human merit, which Paul explicitly forbids.

For if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”— Galatians 2:21

In attempting to solve the “problem” of divine sovereignty by upholding free will, Erasmus inadvertently reintroduces the very works-based righteousness that Romans 3 and Galatians 2 condemn.

For further reading: Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5-7; Romans 11:6

Soli Deo Gloria

20/07/2025

Blessed Lord's Day to everyone! (After Sunday Service)

Soli Deo Gloria.

I remember back in 2015, I began using the John MacArthur Study Bible as a guide for expository preaching. At that time, I was still new to theology as a seminary student. I was truly grateful to God for discovering John MacArthur’s work, especially his study Bible. His Reformed view of soteriology, along with his faithfulness and commitment to the truth of God’s Word, had a profound impact on me. For that, I give all the glory and thanks to God.

20/07/2025

Blessed Lord's Day to everyone! (After Sunday Service)

Soli Deo Gloria.

I remember back in 2015, I began using the John MacArthur Study Bible as a guide for expository preaching. At that time, I was still new to theology as a seminary student. I was truly grateful to God for discovering John MacArthur’s work, especially his study Bible. His Reformed view of soteriology, along with his faithfulness and commitment to the truth of God’s Word, had a profound impact on me. For that, I give all the glory and thanks to God.

18/07/2025

Reformed Covenant Theology

The Bo***ge of the Will - A Modern English Abridgement

Argument 5: The doctrine of salvation by faith in Christ proves "free will" to be false.
_____________________________

Romans 3:21-25 NASB1995

[21] But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, [22] even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; [25] whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
______________
Even the highest expression of natural human effort, or “free will,” falls under the condemnation of unbelief because it does not originate from faith nor is it empowered by the Spirit. As Martin Luther forcefully argued in The Bo***ge of the Will, “free will” after the Fall is a misnomer—it is “a servant and bondslave of sin and death.” This affirms that any movement toward God must be the result of God’s initiative, not man’s autonomy.

John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (Book II, Chapter 2), denies that man has any spiritual ability in himself, stating, “Man, by nature, labors under the delusion that he is capable of choosing good. But Scripture teaches otherwise—our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9), and it is only through the renewal of the Spirit that we can will what is truly good.”

The natural will of man is opposed to the things of God. A thunderbolt against the doctrine of autonomous free will: God acts according to His sovereign will, not waiting for man’s consent.

Soli Deo Gloria

18/07/2025

Reformed Covenant Theology

The Bo***ge of the Will - A Modern English Abridgement

Argument 5: The doctrine of salvation by faith in Christ proves "free will" to be false.
_____________________________

Romans 3:21-25 NASB1995

[21] But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, [22] even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; [25] whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
______________
Even the highest expression of natural human effort, or “free will,” falls under the condemnation of unbelief because it does not originate from faith nor is it empowered by the Spirit. As Martin Luther forcefully argued in The Bo***ge of the Will, “free will” after the Fall is a misnomer—it is “a servant and bondslave of sin and death.” This affirms that any movement toward God must be the result of God’s initiative, not man’s autonomy.

John Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (Book II, Chapter 2), denies that man has any spiritual ability in himself, stating, “Man, by nature, labors under the delusion that he is capable of choosing good. But Scripture teaches otherwise—our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9), and it is only through the renewal of the Spirit that we can will what is truly good.”

The natural will of man is opposed to the things of God. A thunderbolt against the doctrine of autonomous free will: God acts according to His sovereign will, not waiting for man’s consent.

Soli Deo Gloria

17/07/2025

Reformed Covenant Theology

The Bo***ge of the Will - A Modern English Abridgement

Argument 4: The Law is designed to lead men to Christ by giving a knowledge of sin.
___________________________

Romans 3:20
[20] because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Recommended Scripture reading:

Romans 7:7
[7] What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

Galatians 3:21-24
[21] Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. [22] But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. [24] Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
_____________________

Erasmus believed the law implied we have the power to obey. But Luther,Calvin,R.C.Sproul,teach that the law was never meant to show our ability, but our inability. It reflects God’s holiness, exposes our sin, and drives us to depend on Christ alone.

The law doesn’t offer life—it reveals death and the need for grace (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 3:24; Rom. 7:7).

Soli Deo Gloria

17/07/2025

Reformed Covenant Theology

The Bo***ge of the Will - A Modern English Abridgement

Argument 4: The Law is designed to lead men to Christ by giving a knowledge of sin.
___________________________

Romans 3:20
[20] because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.

Recommended Scripture reading:

Romans 7:7
[7] What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

Galatians 3:21-24
[21] Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. [22] But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. [24] Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
_____________________

Erasmus believed the law implied we have the power to obey. But Luther,Calvin,R.C.Sproul,teach that the law was never meant to show our ability, but our inability. It reflects God’s holiness, exposes our sin, and drives us to depend on Christ alone.

The law doesn’t offer life—it reveals death and the need for grace (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 3:24; Rom. 7:7).

Soli Deo Gloria

The Believing Heart

31/07/2025

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