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CHAPTER XI, "Of Free Will"
1. God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature determined to good or evil. (6.059)
This is an introductory affirmation of the reality of our God-given free will. However, as indicated in the following, we are now living in a history of what we have done with and therefore to that free will.
2. Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which is good and well-pleasing to God; but yet mutably, so that he might fall from it. (6.060)
First, we were created "Able to Sin," or, as it is sometimes put, and perhaps better, "Able Not to Sin." Either way it is put, we were created with free will. We could choose to sin or not to sin. So far, everyone except Jesus Christ has chosen to sin, but we were not compelled to do so. We have each freely chosen self over God.
3. Man, by his Fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. (6.061, emphasis added)
Second, we have fallen into sin and therefore are "Not Able Not to Sin." Note carefully the words I have italicized above. This is a very narrow and precise doctrine. It does not say that we have lost all freedom of the will (or freedom of choice, as in whether to have rice or potatoes for supper). What is does say is that we cannot turn to God on our own; we cannot overcome our self-centeredness by any action of the self; we cannot cease sinning; we cannot save ourselves. Everything we do is tainted with self-centeredness and self-interest.
4. When God converteth a sinner and translateth him into the state of grace, he freeth him from his natural bondage under sin, and, by his grace alone, enableth him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so as that, by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil. (6.062)
Third, when we are forgiven, converted, and saved, we are made "Able Not to Sin." I always say this applies on a good day, for a brief moment! Again, this is very narrow and precise. And even this does not mean that we can save ourselves (see all the qualifiers after the semi-colon above). What is being described here is the result of God's having saved us, through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and of the Holy Spirit in our minds and hearts. But it is possible now, for example, for the redeemed to sing God's praises, to rejoice in the gospel, to offer prayer, and to worship God. It is possible for the redeemed, occasionally, to do something that is not utterly self-centered. Note that this does not say that we are without sin! That comes later. But it does say that we are able, from time to time, in broken and partial ways, freely to will and to do something that is at least partly good. This is at least a partial healing and restoration of free will.
5. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone, in the state of glory only. (6.063)
Fourth and finally, in the next life, in heaven, we shall be made "Not Able to Sin." That may seem to be a limitation to our human freedom. But actually, thanks be to God, that will be our greatest freedom, when evil is no longer even an option at all. Come, Lord Jesus!
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