As we said in the previous article, we launched a new type of article in Let’s Go to the Gospel: Back to the Classics, where we will read and discuss together a book that is a classic of Christian literature. For this discussion, it was necessary to read up to page 41 of the book Nascido Escravo.
Before we begin, it is a good place to clarify a few things, in any debate about free will the first thing to do is to ask yourself ‘what is your definition of free will’, after all we cannot forget that even the definition of such free will?Agency is free. Nerd jokes – setting aside jokes, it is worth clarifying, because some people when they hear that man does not have free will – they soon think that man is said to have no desires, that he is a robot. it’s not about whether man has a will or not. Of course there are! And this will is not forced. What some people call free agency not to confuse, do you see Calvin using the term?Free will? In the last sense: “Thus shall it be said that man is endowed with free will: not because he has the free choice of good and evil; on the contrary, because he acts badly by will and not by coercion. . ?
- So the question is whether man’s will is free for what?When we address this issue.
- In my opinion.
- The debate on free will can take place in two areas and.
- Although linked.
- There will be more progress if we limit ourselves to one.
- The areas: salvation and providence.
- When we think of providence.
- We are faced with issues such as determinism.
- Compatibility or libertarianism or whatever the relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility (if you want to study this.
- Buy a good systematic theology; in fact.
- Buy several).
But that is not what is debating Lutero. La most important question in the book concerns the role of will in salvation. In other words, can man also bow his will to good or evil?By sin or by God?Does man have his own, though small, ability to turn to God (p. 22)?
Robert C. Walton, in Church History in pictures (quoted by Franklin Ferreira in The Christian Church in History), shows four positions of pelagian debate with Augustine (see RC Sproul explains this debate here and here) on this topic:
Luther defended the Augustinian position and Erasmo, as Luther points out, seems to fluctuate among the other options, mainly pelagianism and semi-Pelaagianism.
One final comment, although it has implications for the debate between Calvinism and Arminianism, this debate took place only almost 100 years after the debate between Luther and Erasmus.
After this long introduction, let’s move on to a summary of the first chapter. For Luther, “The scriptures are like many armies that oppose the idea that man has a “free will,” he chooses and receives salvation. But is it enough for me to bring two generals to the front?Paulo and Joo, with some of their strengths? (18); And that’s what he does. It shows, in 19 arguments, how the Romans (especially chapters 1 to 3 and 8) and the Gospel according to John (especially chapters 1, 3, 6 and 16) destroy the idea of “free will”. In my opinion, the main argument is that free will condemns only man.
Luther holds that if it is a fact that man can incline his will to both sin and loss, to God and to being saved, then that free will did not do a good job, because Romans 1:18 says that God’s wrath is revealed . against all the perversion of all men. “If there really is ‘free will,’ doesn’t it seem to be able to help men achieve salvation because it leaves them under the wrath of God? (19) Yes, man has a will, but that will is madly in love with darkness (John 3:19). The natural man does not seek God and does not understand the things of God (Rom. 3:11; 1 Cor. 2:14). As Paul clearly says in Romans 8: 5-7 (NIV ): “Everyone who lives according to the flesh has a spirit turned towards what the flesh desires; but who, according to the Spirit, has his mind turned towards what the Spirit desires. The thought of the flesh is death, but the thought of the Spirit is life and peace; the mentality of the flesh is the enemy of God because it does not submit to the law of God and neither can it? That is, in himself, man, who is carnal, has a mind turned against God and cannot submit to God’s law (reread the part in bold) It is only by the action of the Spirit that man becomes goodbye.
Besides being powerless, since he cannot justify anyone before God?(25), is he?(25). Man needs the law to teach him what sin is and his need for Christ (Romans 7:7). As I said earlier, the carnal man cannot understand the things of God (Romans 3:11; 1 Corinthians 2:14).
Finally, even this agency does not come to Christ! Luther says
In John 6. 44, Jesus Christ said, “No one can come unto me if the Father who sent me does not bring it. “This leaves no room for “free will. ” And the Lord Jesus went on to explain how someone is brought by the Father: “Wherefore, does he who has heard and learned from the Father come to me?(V. 45). The human will, in itself, can do nothing. “come unto Christ in search of salvation. The message of the Gospel itself is heard in vain, unless the Father Himself speaks to the heart and brings the person to Christ. (37)
Thank you for nothing, “free will”!
A typical argument in favor of “free will” is: but if man is unable to comply with God’s law, why did he give it?If God tells you to obey, then you have a natural ability, within you, to obey. ? (a very pelagian vision?heretic, for that matter) Luther answers this argument masterfully: ignorance of the purpose of the law!
The argument in favor of “free will” is that the law would not have been given to us if we had not been able to obey it. Erasmo, you have repeatedly said, “If there is nothing we can do, what is the purpose of laws, precepts, threats, and promises?”The answer is that the law was not given to show us what we can do. Not even to help us do the right thing. Paul says in Romans 3:20, “By law comes the full knowledge of sin. “Was it the purpose of the law to show us what sin is and where it takes us?death, hell, and the wrath of Dieu. La law can only emphasize these things. you got out of it. Liberation comes exclusively from Christ Jesus, who is revealed to us by the Gospel. (25)
When someone affirms that God only grants saving grace to the elelected, someone quickly says that “God does not accept people?(Taking out the context text, of course). But what is interesting is that Luther changes roles and says (p. 28) that they are the ones who claim that God grants saving grace only to those who go through free will?what they choose is that they fall into this accusation, after all God chose those who chose him, he made respect between those who used his good and those who did not.
However, I think Luther also ended up taking out the context text. In Acts 10. 34, the fact is that God does not accept between Jews and Gentiles, but receives people who fear his name from any nationality. In Romans 2. 11, the fact is that God will judge both the Jews and the Gentiles, without prejudice against the Jews because they are God’s people. In Ephesians 6. 9, the question is to make sense of the “social class”, slaves and slave owners. 1 Peter 1:17, is God judging each other’s work without prejudice. Therefore, read the context before raising the “friendly” flag.
Finally, understanding that our salvation ultimately depends not on our will, but on God’s grace, is a comfort to the soul. Are you so confident in your will that you think you can remain a Christian for the rest of your life?if you trust yourself, you don’t trust God!And it’s idolatry! See what Luther says:
I admit that I would not like to have free will? even if it was granted to me! If salvation remained, I would not be able to face victoriously all the dangers, difficulties and demons with which I would have to fight. However, even if there were no enemies to fight, he could never be sure of succeeding. I could never be sure if I pleased God, or if there was something else I needed to do. I can prove it from my own painful experience of many years. However, my salvation is in God’s hands, not mine. He will fulfill his promise to save me, not on the basis of what he does, but according to his great mercy. God does not lie and will not allow my adversary the devil to take me out of his hands. By “free will” no one can be saved. But, thanks to “free grace”, many will be saved. And not only that, but I’m also happy to know that as a Christian I love God, not because of what I do, but because of his grace. If I work too little or too badly, He will gracefully forgive me and make me better. It is the glory of every Christian. (39-40)
It’s your turn!
1) Why will you go to heaven and this non-believer?Why did you choose Jesus and he did not, or why has God given you the grace to receive Christ?
2) How would you summarize Luther’s arguments?
3) Which argument caught your attention the most?
4) Don’t you agree with something?
5) Questions?